“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Cor. 3:17
When we gather together in fellowship and lack liberty, we may blame it on the rules that the elders have put in place, or we may make statements like we are too religious around here. However, the only answer can be is that the Spirit of the Lord isn’t present. Of course where two or three meet in His name the Lord is there. People that are saved can get together and bring the Lord with them because God is in them, but if the Spirit’s presence isn’t the front-runner, if the Spirit isn’t given control of our lives and our gathering together, there will be a lack of liberty. The more we lack liberty the greater we will feel the bondage. Saints, make it your prayer that when you meet together with your local assembly that the Holy Spirit will have preeminence.