Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
Throughout history, prisoners have experienced many different types of physical restraint, one of which was the ball and chain. The prisoners’ legs were shackled together with a short chain, and attached to a heavy iron ball, which could weigh up to 30 lb, making it very difficult for them to move, thus restricting any possibility of running away or escaping. Whenever they were outside doing manual labor, they would walk along slowly, carrying their heavy burden with them wherever they went.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Many people in the world consider themselves to be free, while the truth is that they carry their own ball and chain. They are shackled to the unrepented deeds of the flesh and held captive by their own sinful living. Like an animal that has become trapped in a snare, they are held prisoner by their own iniquities. In order to obtain eternal life, each of us must cut away the chains of darkness, and walk in the light, repenting of dead works and learning to go and sin no more.
John 8 ³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; ³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ³³ They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? ³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. ³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. ³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Jesus and His disciples preached the truth of God’s Word so that people would turn away from their wicked living and repent of their sins. Genuine repentance is the acceptance and application of biblical truth in our lives, insomuch that it frees us from the daily routine of sin. God’s Word is like a Spiritual hacksaw, cutting away everything that is displeasing unto Him. It is a Spiritual Sword, plunging deep within our hearts to convict us of our sins, and unlocking the leg irons of bondage.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
To ultimately be freed from our sins, we must turn away from them, serving the things of Christ rather than the deeds of the flesh. Many people believe that they have never sinned, but they are only deceiving themselves. They might have a clean record and no moving violations. They might feel that they are upright citizens and have never been charged with a crime. But in the eyes of God, each of us are sinners. Whether it’s a judge, a King, or a prisoner behind bars, all of us have come short of the glory of God. We are like sheep who have gone astray, who need to turn around and return to the Shepherd of our souls. Prophets and Apostles have been preaching this same message for thousands of years, and the Apostle Paul was sent for this very reason.
Acts 26 ¹⁸ To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. ¹⁹ Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: ²⁰ But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
God is perfectly just, and will punish sin, not only here on the Earth, but eternally at judgment Day. This is one of the reasons why we must rid our lives of it right now. Out of love and obedience for what Jesus did for us at the cross, we must make great efforts to free ourselves from sinful living. We must prepare ourselves today for what is coming in the future. True children of God will walk in the Spirit and mortify the sinful deeds of the flesh. Mortification is the process by which we subdue sinful activities through self denial and discipline. In fact, If you are going to be good at anything in your life, it will require discipline.
Colossians 3 ⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
⁶ For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Romans 8 ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The true servant of Christ will become obedient to the teachings of Christ.
Romans 6 ¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? ¹⁷ But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Many people desire God’s blessings, but they are granted to those who humbly submit to His will.
James 1 ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Running away from the will of God is not freedom, it’s rebellion. Running away from scriptural obligations is not freedom, it’s slavery. Many people perceive freedom as the ability to do whatever one pleases, but that is not the liberty that is spoken of throughout the scriptures. True freedom happens when you turn away from sin, and become obedient to the will of God. Only then can you permanently break away from the chains of bondage, and walk in the liberty of the children of God.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12
God wants to bless us and take us to a better place, but it’s going to require your cooperation. It begins with a humble heart and submitting yourself to the will of God rather than your own. The reward is huge because it will result in eternal life! Remember, that nothing gets done without putting some effort into it. We must actively strive to enter in at the straight gate, breaking free from the old sinner that we used to be, and becoming a faithful and obedient Saint of God.
So if you really want freedom, we must first place our hearts upon the anvil of God’s Truth and allow the sharp hacksaw of Holy Scripture to do its work, as it begins freeing us from the bondage of sin, and cutting away…..
……The Ball and Chain
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
tlkjbc.com♥️
Note: Any copies may be printed and freely distributed among those who have no internet service. There is no AI creative involvement in my writings, and must be left intact because they are very personal to me. These are not to be sold, and are made public only for the free benefit of Spiritual knowledge to those who are genuinely seeking the will of God.
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 