(This is a great follow-up to my post entitled “Feelings……What’s Up With ‘em?”)
As I meet and observe the ecclesia (Church), I’ve come to realize that so many are living in bondage today. We have become spiritually weak and anemic. Please here me! I am not saying this out of condemnation, but from a heavy heart burdened for the body of Christ; for I too lived a life in bondage for almost 20 years.
This is why this message is the cry of my heart to so many brothers and sisters in Christ I meet. It is a message I believe today’s Church needs to here: we were born for freedom!!!
IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off] Galatians 5:1 (Amplified)
Are you living in bondage? What is YOUR “flavor” of bondage? Is it a behavior? A substance? Another person? An attitude? Religion? etc…etc…etc!!!! Why are so many of us living in bondage and therefore living a life of fruitlessness?
In John chapter 11 there is a story that beautifully illustrates the predicament many believers find themselves. It is the story of the resurrection of Lazarus. Now, although I know there is much to learn from this chapter, I merely want to paint a picture for you.
Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days (so by this time he had stinkith…lol). Jesus then “cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ ” It is at this point I want to focus.
“The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him,and let him go.” John 11:44
So, when he came forth he had to be hopping, because it says he was BOUND UP still. Here are the questions I want us to consider (thanks to Dennis Jernigan for these???):
1) Was Lazarus as alive as he was ever going to be? YES!!!
The bible says he did come forth. Can’t you just see him hopping out? Just picture a mummy hopping all bound up. He was definitely alive. So, if you are alive, you can’t get any more alive can you? J
BUT……..(AND HERE IS THE POINT)
2) Was he as FREE as he was going to be? NO…..NO…..and a resounding NO!!!
He was alive yet still bound up in the grave clothes. Therefore, he could NOT enjoy the resurrection life Jesus just gave him. He was restricted by the clothes of death.
There are several points that need to be made that are very liberating. They are all centered on IDENTITY!
First of all, the grave clothes are symbolic of your flesh. Please note….they are separate from Lazarus. For years in my sincerity for righteousness fueled by legalism, I was confused by what I identified as thoughts, actions, desires, etc. and IDENTIFIED myself with them and by them. Why? Well, did Lazarus’ grave clothes have the stench of death? Absolutely! So, just because he stunk like death didn’t mean he was dead. NO! So too, because my thoughts, actions, etc. were very real and stinky, I would condemn myself because of them, and would beat myself up.
Like Lazarus, our flesh stinks, is filthy, (please get this) it CAN NOT be cleaned up (changed) and IT….IS….NOT….YOU!!!! Your “flesh” is not a “sinful nature” as though you have another one. You do NOT have two natures if you are in Christ. You have the NATURE OF JESUS!
The Greek word used for flesh is “sarx”. It is used 126 times in the NT and is ALWAYS used for the body (“flesh and blood”) or the “carnality” of man. Now hear me, our “flesh” is merely what is left over from our OLD MAN. It is the “grave clothes” if you will, of your old nature that is now dead.
“knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” Romans 6:6-7
If you are in Christ “you are a new creation”……period. This is your new (and only) nature. Lazarus, who WAS dead,
was now a new alive man, but he was not enjoying this new life. Like Lazarus, many of us are identifying with the flesh because it APPEARS to be real……to be part of us. But in reality, like the grave wrappings, they are all together separate from you. They are NOT you!!! You are not what you do….what you think…or what others say. You are who Jesus made you to be:
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that WE might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21
BELIEVE IT!!!
“for we walk by faith, not by sight—“ 2 Cor. 5:7 [nor by feelings]
The story continues. Lazarus was brought forth to life in order to WALK…..to MOVE…..to function as he was intended. So, too were you. But how do we walk free from bondage.
“…you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32
If the truth sets you free, what binds you? Lies…..period!!! Figure out what lies you are believing and substitute them with truth, and my dear friend you WILL walk in freedom. The grave clothes of bondage will fall free not as you work hard in a 12 step program, or by utilizing psychological strategies, etc. NO! We live free as we walk in truth.
Finally, Lazarus had a little help did he not? John 11 says that “Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” WOW! What a beautiful picture of the ecclesia (the Church) today! When we see a brother or sister in bondage, are we supposed to condemn them, talk about them, and shun them? Absolutely not!!! If we TRULY understand this message of grace and freedom, we will excitedly and with joy, share the truth of their new identity and of their LIFE in Jesus with them…..all the while encouraging them to simply believe.
As the body of Christ here and now we desperately need each other to help “take off” the each other’s grave clothes. How? By walking in truth ourselves and simply and lovingly share that truth.
My dear family Jesus IS “the resurrection and the LIFE,” and if you are truly born again, then you were dead and bound, but now you are alive; alive to walk in freedom.
“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:29-30
Will you believe today?
John Wilson
Jul 19, 2010 @ 13:20:02
great truth! Living together in a shared life with the body of Christ organically helps each other learn to “put off” the flesh, to accept that it died with Christ, and to “put on” Christ who is our life! That is how our faith in Christ is strengthened and built up in Him, when we live by His life!
Trace
Jul 19, 2010 @ 13:24:55
Beautiful picture of how to live. A renewed understanding of being “free”! I love your insight! Thank you for sharing!
Bonnie Sasher
Jul 19, 2010 @ 19:02:14
Really timely message, Anthony! Jason Duncan is saying about the same thing in his post in http://www.searchingformore.com where he talks about immature christians and our mission to disciple. How it must break the Father’s heart to see his children all bound up in their grave cloths and no one helping to remove them. That’s the message I took most from this – our obligation to love one another as He loved us. How awful that there are so many looking out with sad eyes needing help to take those stinking wrappings off!!!
Kathy
Jul 20, 2010 @ 00:25:54
Anthony, Beautifully written my brother! WELL PUT.
Juliet
Jul 21, 2010 @ 15:48:20
Thanks for the Miraculous reminder. Good work!
Mark
Jul 22, 2010 @ 20:21:34
Anthony,
Great post. Just a couple thoughts.
“For years in my sincerity for righteousness fueled by legalism, I was confused by what I identified as thoughts, actions, desires, etc. and IDENTIFIED myself with them and by them.”
Romans 8:12-13 says: “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
The key there is “by the spirit”. I find myself taking the issues that the Spirit has convicted me of, and trying to change it in my own power. Just as Romans promises my flesh rises up all the more, the harder I try. I believe that if I successfully control my flesh by my own will-power I have ultimately failed. The key is to accomplish that “by the Spirit.”
Second thought:
“If you are in Christ “you are a new creation”……period. This is your new (and only) nature. Lazarus, who WAS dead, was now a new alive man, but he was not enjoying this new life. Like Lazarus, many of us are identifying with the flesh because it APPEARS to be real……to be part of us. But in reality, like the grave wrappings, they are all together separate from you. They are NOT you!!! You are not what you do….what you think…or what others say. You are who Jesus made you to be…”
Romans 7:14-25 speaks to this, and Paul says “it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me”. That doesn’t remove our responsibility for our actions, but it shows the complete separation between who we are, in Christ, and what we do. Obviously if we are in Christ, there will be fruit in our lives, and the same issues of sin won’t continue to plague us indefinitely.
Anthony
Jul 22, 2010 @ 21:05:05
Wow….thanks Mark for posting those verses. I was really hoping folks would do that, because I was trying to be brief in my post. So, thank you for substantiating what I said with further truth!!!
Manny Jack
Jul 22, 2010 @ 23:33:29
Very Good Anthony, people walk around in grave clothes & we have communities full of people bound in the IC as well as Organic Church…the problem is they are renewing their minds with high sounding books rather than the truth of Gods word, who clearly explains who they are in Christ………..we have many who backslap each other & say they love each other, but if you try to help them remove their grave clothes they get defensive…..people feel cosy & warm in their grave clothes………its a nice analogy, but the fact is people are idolatrous & dont want to give up their idols…..they want the fire insurance of heaven, mixed with the pleasures of Egypt…….
Anthony
Jul 22, 2010 @ 23:46:14
Manny, well put brother! It saddens my heart seeing what you described…..BUT here is the joy and confidence we have: “He who began a good work in you WILL perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” If someone is TRULY born from above, God WILL bring them to the end of their self-sufficiency….EVERY TIME!!! So, if someone refuses to here the truth of God’s wonderful grace, just wait & pray. God will complete His work.
Blessings!!!
Thursday Thoughts – Volume 1 | Called Out In Kansas
Jul 29, 2010 @ 19:38:16
LindaLou
Aug 06, 2010 @ 13:40:46
I have just discovered this site, and I am very glad about it. This post was awesome and gets to the heart of the matter of why we as Christians feel defeated and downtrodden. I like what you said in your response to Manny, that if someone is TRULY born from above, God WILL bring them to the end of their self-sufficiency. This can be a painful process, giving up the ideas you’ve spent a lifetime developing, in some cases, but it was all lies and not anything we could really depend on. I’ll keep reading.
Anthony
Aug 06, 2010 @ 17:35:17
Hey LindaLou!
I am so glad you found this site. Thanks for your encouraging words. My heart is to reach Jesus’ body with the truth of what “The Normal Christian” life looks like.
http://gracefuillwomen.com
Jul 03, 2011 @ 04:21:24
I love this post and teach this same truth to as many people as I can reach. legalism is a killer and zi lived bound by it for many years as a Christian because I wasn’t taught any different and I interpreted the Bible they way I had always been taught.
Today I live under God’s amazing grace and understand more every day my identity in Christ. I call the flesh in a believer “flesh patterns”. We are new creations in our spirit but we have to allow out new spirit to transform our soul (will, emotions) and our body. Oops the teacher in me trying to come out…
Great words of truth.
Johnson Ameh
Apr 23, 2012 @ 21:25:04
I always love to walk in the part of christ but the things of the world keep weaking my spirit. What will i do?
Anthony
Apr 23, 2012 @ 21:51:44
“What will I do?” My brother…..nothing! Simply rest. The subtle lie in your comment is that your “spirit is weak.” In reality, your FLESH is the thing that is weak. Your spirit is in Christ which is in God. Your spirit has been recreated IN Christ Jesus.