Are You Still Tied Up?

“The danger is to be out of the grave, but not being loosed.” –Reverend Andy Rubin

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:38-44)

For me, the most compelling part of Sunday’s sermon was the moment when Pastor Andy illustrated the plight of Lazarus. Our pastor took a long strip of fabric, symbolic of the cloth that would have been used to wrap Lazarus, and began wrapping a man. As Pastor Andy bound the man in the cloth, he spoke of the things that bind, cripple, and ultimately kill people.

After sharing with us the reality of Lazarus having been called out of the grave, Pastor Andy shared a second point that was critical: Lazarus was alive, but Lazarus was still bound. And this is where we, as people of God, are warned. There are forces, seen and unseen, that have a vested interest in keeping God’s people bound.

We have an enemy whose goal is to destroy us, and many in the body of Christ are as tightly bound as the volunteers Pastor Andy wrapped in our two morning services. Some people are physically ill. Others are under the curse of witchcraft. Still others are in psychological crisis. And, as in the case of Lazarus, it has been “four days”: that is, it seems as though it’s far too late for anything to be done.

But it’s not too late! Our pastor shared another point during this illustration that I have received as personal encouragement. It is this: Although Jesus could have done the unwrapping Himself, He told the people standing by to unloose Lazarus. The Lord has invited us to be participants in the process of setting people free from bondage. What a privilege we have! Though we may have stood by helplessly as we waited for Jesus to work a miracle, we are now commissioned by our King to “unloose” those who are bound. We have seen the power of the Lord as He calls people from death to life, and we have been authorized to appropriate His power as we call people from bondage to freedom.

Do you know believers who are still tied up? Don't stand at the edge of their grave as a spectator. Loose them.

Lord God, thank You for empowering us to speak Your word of deliverance to those who are bound. Help us not to be discouraged by the number of years gone by, nor to be fearful of the depth of their bondage. We know Your word can break every stronghold. So we rest in Your word, we stand on Your word, and we speak Your word to a world that is tightly bound. We rejoice in anticipation of complete deliverance of Your people, to the glory of God. In Jesus’s name we pray in expectation. Amen.

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.