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.
How many of you have been driving around town and noticed a dog sitting in their front yard? They are not in a kennel, nor are they attached to a chain, but as you slowly drive by, they run up, but then stop suddenly in their tracks. This is because buried underneath the ground is a network of wires creating a perimeter that you cannot see. A transmitter that is connected to the wiring sends a radio signal that travels through the wire, and is received through a collar that is worn on the pet. Although the pet appears to be free, it really isn’t, held in captivity by invisible forces.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Many people are surrounded by their own invisible fence. Although we cannot see it, it is there, hidden just below the surface of their hearts. They may look free, but the truth is that they are in bondage, held captive by their own unconfessed and unrepented sins.
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.
In order to experience the true freedom that is found in Christ Jesus, requires repentance from dead works. Some people have sinned more and some less, but all of those sins need to be completely forsaken in order to obtain the eternal world that is coming. Just by looking at someone, we cannot tell the burdens of sin that they carry deep within their heart, but it is those unrepented sins that prevent them from experiencing the true freedom that is available in Christ. As the Lord Jesus teaches us, it is the knowledge of the truth that makes us free. This is because all of the lies that have been ingrained in us since our youth are exposed to the light. We finally see them for what they really are, which gives us an opportunity to turn away from them and walk in the truth. We must grow in the knowledge of God’s will and apply the teachings of scripture to our daily lives, using the sharp sword of God’s Word to break the chains of bondage that have held us in captivity for so long.
“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
In order to serve the Lord Jesus Christ we must believe in the teachings of scripture enough,…. that it results in a changed life. To obtain eternal life we must mortify the sinful nature and learn to go and sin no more, which is the truest freedom of all. This will only happen through humble submission to the teachings of Christ. Like a bird that is freed from its cage, faith is the key that can free us from our sins. Those who are involved in sinful living are like a plane that is spiraling out of control and in order to safely recover the aircraft, they will need to take hold of the wheel and correct their flight path before it’s too late.
“And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:26
You are enslaved to whatever it is that you obey, whether it’s the sinful desires of the flesh, or the Spirit-filled doctrines of Christ. Many people perceive bondage as being tied up or imprisoned in jail, yet they don’t even recognize that it is they who are in prison because of their own sinful living.
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. ¹⁸ Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. ¹⁹ I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. ²⁰ For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. ²¹ What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. ²² But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In order to obtain eternal life, we must overcome the temptations of this world, but even during our temptations, God mercifully shows us a path to escape.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Those who truly love Christ will prove it by overcoming temptations.
“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
When people hook up an invisible fence, it is connected to a power source of some type. It makes sense that if you disconnect the power, then the pet would be set free. We must do the same, by disconnecting ourselves from the power of sin that holds us in bondage. The Apostle Paul was sent for this very reason. His Divine goal was to get people to flip the switch, and disconnect the power of darkness, so they could turn on the light of righteousness in Christ.
“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.” Acts 26:18
The only way to let your light shine brightly is by ridding yourself of the filthiness of sin.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18
Many people appear to be free in this world, but deep inside of their heart, they are still held as prisoners. Their sins are what holds them back from becoming all that God wants them to become. In order to be released from our own captivity, it will require humble submission and obedience to the will of God, because only through repentance will you ever be able to break free from your own….
…. Invisible Fence
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.
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 