SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Lamentations 1:1) "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary."
(Lamentations 1:2) "She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies."
(Psalms 107:10-11) (10) "Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;" (11) "Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:"
(1 Corinthians 10:13) "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
(Romans 12:2) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
(Romans 6:6-7) " Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (7) " For he that is dead is freed from sin."
(Galatians 5:1) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
(Romans 8:15) " For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
(Luke 4:18) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Saints, do you remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus found in (Luke 16:19-31) and do you remember that the rich man had everything handed to him but the poor beggar named Lazarus whose body was full of sores, lay at the rich mans gate begging the left overs that would come from the rich mans table?
Beloved, did you know that there are people in church today that are living with sores on the inside consisting of past hurts they have suffered from abuse causing them to be resentful toward others?
Saints, did you know that the whole first chapter of Lamentations speaks of a people who were suffering because of a judgment that had befallen them and do you notice how verse one speaks of people in the city being lonely and shedding tears?
(Lamentations 1:1) "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary."
(Lamentations 1:2) "She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies."
Beloved reader, notice that we find in verse two the words, "there is none to comfort her" which is speaking about the Spirit of comfort which is the blessed Holy Spirit.
Saints, notice how the writer speaks of this city so vile that it opened a door for evil spirits to come in and notice how the writer also speaks of people missing the feasts which could mean church fellowship.
Saints of God notice in verse seven of this chapter that her enemies are actually laughing at her which I believe Saints, can be linked to Psalms one hundred seven and verse ten which speaks about Christians sitting in darkness and being bound in affliction and iron.
(Psalms 107:10-11) (10) "Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;" (11) "Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:"
Beloved, notice that we discover in verse eleven that their bondage came about because they rebelled against the word of God, and contemned the counsel of the most high.
Dear reader, did you know that the old English word for contemned here means contempt as if being found in contempt of court which could result in jail time as a form of punishment?
Beloved, the bottom line to this message would be, that because of people in the city's intent to do things their way, there is no pasture or word to feed their spirit man and the bitter end to the people in this city is, "they have been turned over to judgment."
Dear reader, this message is about people we meet every day that claim to be Christians or followers of Christ but are still not delivered from their past mistakes including past hurts that are keeping them from being all they can be for the body of Christ, therefore beloved, my prayer is that we can glean from this message and apply what we have learned from it to help set others free.
Beloved reader, when David hiding out in his caves made the statement. "let us look unto the hills of the Lord from which cometh our help and our strength, please note that he was not speaking of the physical hills surrounding him and I know that one bible version describes the hills as being mountains, but beloved, if he had been describing the physical mountains around him, then he would be describing them while noticing all the camp fires of his enemies scattered throughout those mountains.
Dear Saints, we cannot live our future and relive our past at the same time therefore may we realize that we need accountability in our life and ministry including the help of others to reach into our eternity and pull it into our past.
WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER
Dear reader, did you know that our dreams can die quick deaths right before our eyes and sometimes, relationships have a way of dying leaving us devastated and feeling used?
Beloved, did you know that in the face of overwhelming trials, even our faith can find a way of fading which can cause us to lose focus even to the point of dimming our vision?
Saints, do you remember reading the story in John the eleventh chapter speaking of Lazarus being sick and when word was sent to Jesus of his sickness that he informed his disciples that his sickness was not unto death?
Beloved, do you remember how the Lord tarried two extra days before coming to see about him and when he had got there, Lazarus had already been dead four days?
Beloved, do you remember how Jesus wept at the tomb then asked the men to roll away the stone and do you remember when the Lord called his name to come forth?
Beloved, do you remember the reaction of the people when Lazarus who had been dead four days came forth but still had was still bound by his grave clothes?
Dear reader, the interesting point here is that although Lazarus was raised from the dead and came forth to the entrance of the tomb, it took others to free him from the bandages referred to as grave clothes.
Dear reader, is it not true that we want people around us that are healthy and dress like we do because it causes us to feel comfortable being around them, but beloved, what about the people we meet in the street that are living for just another day?
Beloved reader, can we be safe in saying that God calls people out of their spiritual tombs from death through the preaching of the gospel for beloved the word of God is alive and is able to give life and give it in abundance to all who will open their hearts and respond to it's call ?
Beloved, the truth is that even though we are now saved and our name is written in the lambs book of life, we are still bound up in our old problems and some of us are so bound up in our past mistakes that we need some counseling, training and yes someone who is trained in deliverance ministry to help get us free from those terrible grave clothes.
Saints, the truth is, this deliverance does not always happen at conversion and sometimes, it can take an entire lifetime to be set free from those stinking grave clothes that we call bandages hindering us from achieving our goals and dreams.
Dear reader, you might want to ask, "what are the bandages that you are referring to in this message" and I would reply that they consist of our old emotions, brought on by unhealthy habits, the wrong way of thinking, broken relationships, former friends which could involve close members of our own family?
Beloved, the word of God teaches that after accepting the Lord as our Savior, we become new creatures with a new outlook on life however our mind is still programmed to interact with a fallen world and although we are now children of God, we will soon encounter new challenges that are going to cause our flesh to war against our spirit.
Dear reader, did you know that It can take an entire lifetime to unwrap our bandages and get free from the bondages of our past and beloved, that is why God has called other believers into our life to help unwrap the bandages that attempt to pull us back into sin and cause us to lose focus on our dreams?
Beloved, Jesus says in (Luke 19:13) for us to "occupy until he comes" and beloved, it is now past time to advance his Kingdom on earth and bloom where we are planted.
Beloved reader did you know that all too often, some church leaders today do not know how or even want to fulfill the great commission which is to spread the greatest news on earth that God loves sinners enough that he sent his Son to pay the ransomed price for sin that man his greatest creation can be redeemed?
Saints, did you not know that it is our job as the body of Christ on earth to help someone get out of their bandages, therefore, if you know someone that is struggling with the urges of their flesh, or maybe you find yourself consumed by anger and hatred toward others, then you need to seek help getting rid of those old grave clothes so you can reach out to a hurting world that is looking for answers and a reason to live?
Dear reader, did you know that our world is beginning to reject everything that represents God and the truth is that we have lost entire generation who are mixed up in their identity thinking that they are pure in their own eyes when the word of God declares that "they have not been washed from their filthiness?"
(Proverbs 30:11-12) (11) "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother." (12) "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness."
Beloved reader, the truth is, "we can’t get rid of those grave clothes by ourself and that is why the church is so important, for it our job as the body of Christ on earth to do what those bystanders did to Lazarus which is to help people get rid of those old grave clothes maybe even setting free a little boy or girl inside that has never had a chance to enjoy life.
Beloved, if you or someone you know is struggling with things from your past, please find someone to help you such as a close friend to pray with you and hold you accountable as you hold them accountable for remember that the word declares one can chase a thousand and two ten thousand. (Deuteronomy 32:30)
Saints, the bottom line to this message is, We need each other" and we need to glean from the preacher of all preachers as he gave the command, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:1-44).
Beloved Saints, how should we treat people who call themselves Christians, but live like they are wearing their feelings on their shoulders shielding themselves from past hurts and disappointments.
(Galatians 6:1-2) (1) “Brothers, if someone is caught up in a fault (sin), you who are spiritual should restore them back into the faith by the spirit of meekness which means, do it gently considering ourselves lest we be tempted." (2) "Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (THE ROYAL LAW)
THE WEAKNESS OF THE CHURCH
Dear reader, did you know that we are encountering a gospel today that allows the flesh to stay alive, it requires no accountability for sin and no sacrifice on the part of the believer?
Beloved reader, God’s word is plain when it sates that we must die daily to our agendas, desires, including self-righteousness, and desires of the flesh, therefore beloved let’s face it, every problem that is in the world today can be found in some of the churches of our day and more and more people attending these churches are living below the standards that the atoning blood of Jesus has purchased for them.
Beloved reader, the scriptures may not teach that a Christian is able to be possessed by an evil spirit but some professing Christians have allowed tormenting spirits to come against them through their wrong pattern of thinking and the attitudes they have developed toward other believers such as unforgiveness which has been used by the enemy to cause sicknesses in their physical body.
Beloved, did you not know that it is our stinking thinking and wrong attitudes that become an open door of opportunity for our enemy to keep us in bondage, and beloved the truth is obvious, these people are living in spiritual bondage because they have not dealt with past hurts and disappointments.
Beloved, you might ask the question, “how can this affect my body and my walk with God,” and I would reply, "because it affects your immune system and these undealt with emotions open the door for evil spirits to come in and attack?"
Saints, did you know that our emotions are deeply tied to our overall physical well-being, therefore beloved, when our minds and spirits are suffering, our physical bodies suffer also?
Beloved, did you know that the magnitude emotions can have on our bodies can result in anxiety and depression which is very harmful to us because they cause our bodies to feel overtired, run down, and can greatly reduce our immune system?
Did you know that unforgiveness makes us feel angry, cold, hard, bitter, and resentful toward someone and the impact of unforgiveness on our life can affect us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually?
Beloved, did you know that unforgiveness is listed in some medical journals as a disease, and according to Dr. Steven Standiford, the Chief of surgery at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America made a statement (quote) "refusing to forgive makes people sick and keeps them that way," therefore beloved, forgiveness therapy is now being used to help treat diseases, such as cancer?
Beloved, did you know that when we decide not to forgive others that have hurt us, we are choosing to hold onto the offense, and beloved, when we hold onto the offense, we are choosing to focus on our pain reliving the moment that offended us, especially when we encounter the offender on the street or in a church service.
(Ephesians 4:31-32) "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Dear reader, did you know that there are people today harboring deep rooted unforgiveness and they are not even aware of it?
Beloved, in their minds, they feel as though they have dealt with it but the truth is that there is a little boy or little girl inside that is hurt so bad that they have learned to build walls up to protect themselves from being hurt again?
Beloved, just like Lazarus whom Jesus later raised from the dead came forth to stand in the entrance of the tomb in his grave clothes, it took others to remove those old grave clothes from him to set him free.
Saints, the bottom line to this message is realizing that we need each other to help get the grave clothes (bandages of past hurts and disappointments) unwrapped from our own life and may we be willing to forgive those that have wronged us.
(Matthew 6:14-15) (14) "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:" (15) "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
MY CONCLUSION
Dear reader, I pray this message has been used of the Lord to help open your eyes to the truth that we need each other to help get rid of some past hurts, past memories including painful relationships and we can't do it on our own therefore may we together reach out to free others with the love of Jesus that they may see our good works and glorify the father which is in heaven.
Beloved, we can illustrate the affect of our witnessing in this dark world by lighting a match in a dark room which bring us some hope as our eyes adjust to the flicker of the match causing us to realize that our mind was playing tricks on us and the door was not where we thought it was.
Dear Saints, have you now understood our little illustration how using the lighted match to light up the room can be likened to what little bit we do for God in a dark world especially one that is looking for answers and a reason to live?
Saints, the bottom line to this message concerning Christians in Bondage can be better understood by asking ourself, "how can I love somebody else if I do not love myself, and how can I comfort someone else in need when I am in pain needing help for my own discomfort?
Beloved, have you known someone in college taking courses to be a councilor when they themselves are addicted to powerful pills which could cause them to break down in the middle of a counselling session causing the councilor to need a councilor?
Church, we are entering a climax with the kingdom of darkness and we need to be trained in dealing with trauma and emotional crisis but beloved, how are we going to fulfill that role if we need counseling and deliverance ourself?
Beloved, the truth is we need each other which reminds me of the time when my mentor Don Stewart pulled me aside saying, "Jerry my boy, people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Beloved, did you know that the way we extend mercy to others could be compared to someone bringing sunshine into the life of a hurting person because the reality is that if we strive to be that kind of person, we will be unable to keep it from shinning in our own life for beloved, "God is love and it is that character that distinguishes him from all others."
Saints, may we absorb this teaching and use it to make us a better person, one that is willing to look past the faults of others considering ourselves lest we be tempted understanding that if God were to pull back his Spirit from us, we are just as capable of doing even worse things than people have done to us.
Dear reader, the outline to this entire message would be to realize that we can be "better together" especially when we come together working in unity and harmony for it is there we find the writer speaking in (Psalms 133) where the Lord has declared the blessing.
Beloved, may we humble ourselves before God's loving arms and pray that he would cause the words of our lips and the meditation of our heart to be acceptable in his sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer which is my favorite verse in the entire bible. (Psalms 19:14)
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
MY CLOSING PRAYER
Dear Lord, I want to thank you for the opportunity to close this message in a word of prayer to all who will take time out of their busy schedule and read this message with an open heart, and Father, I ask that you move to bless each one that through this message have surrendered their life more to your purpose and I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their life and ministry.
Lord, I ask that you bless them spiritually, financially, physically, relationally and emotionally that their life may be blessed to enrich the lives of others, and Lord, from this day forward, I ask that your will, your purpose, your word and your Spirit will have free course in their life and everyone that they meet.
Dear Lord I ask in Jesus mighty name that you will touch, heal and deliver all that read this prayer and call upon your wonderful name, that you will meet their need right where they are.
Father, I pray that all curses and words spoken against them would be broken and I ask that you stand up in them in these last days and make their life count for your cause and purpose and lord, as you awaken the gifts and talents placed in them from birth that they may become unified in the faith with other believers realizing the need to work together in harmony like a fine tuned orchestra in the masters hands.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your great love and blessing over our lives, for we rest in knowing that you promised to never leave nor forsake us as your children, and you promised to go with us all the way even to the end of the world.
Dear Lord, please forgive us for failing to remember that you know our needs before we ask, for you were once one of us that was tempted in all points as us and you went to the cross to pay our sin debt that we could be adopted into your royal family as Sons and Daughters sharing with you in your glory. "Thank You Jesus"
Dear Lord, we ask for you to enlarge our borders and place your hand of blessing upon us to guide us in the path you chose for us for we need your divine guidance that we might walk fully in your blessing and goodness as you lead us by your Spirit to divine appointments, and Lord, please deliver us from evil that we will not be tempted or cause pain.
Dear Lord, I pray that your blessed holy name might be glorified throughout the Earth as you leave your signature through us to future generations., and Lord I ask that you assign an Angel to accompany this work into the home of every person that will take time to read it.
Lord, help us stand firm together activating our faith, for it is in these trying times through your grace that we can find rest in knowing that we can depend on you our God, "Our Father", to come on the scene to direct our path and to guide our footsteps.
Dear Lord help us to understand our dependence for survival is upon you and Lord, help us realize that we represent your glorious body on Earth, therefore Lord help us also understand that there is strength in numbers and we need each other to be fruitful and live a prosperous life as your people.
Lord, please help us to not be careless and prideful in our Christian walk, or resemble a bunch of used body parts, but help us realize Lord, that we are apart of something bigger than ourselves; that we are a part of your glorious body as sons and daughters in your royal family and kingdom.
Dear Lord, my prayer is that you stir us up and burden our heart for true revival, yes Lord, in every country throughout the world and demonstrate to the people in these countries that you are the Unchanging God, for your word declares it, that what you were yesterday, you are today, and will be tomorrow! (Hebrews 13:8)
Dear heavenly Father, I ask that you move to bless each one that has taken time to read this message and have humbly surrendered their life more to your purpose and I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their life and ministry in Jesus mighty name.
Father, I ask that you bless them spiritually, financially, physically, relationally and emotionally that their life may be blessed to enrich the lives of others, and dear Lord, I ask that your will, your purpose, your word and your Spirit will have free course in their life and everyone that they meet.
Father, I pray that all curses and words spoken against them would be broken and I ask that you stand up in them in these last days and make their life count.
Dear Lord, I ask you to awaken the gifts and talents that was placed in them at birth, that they may become unified in the faith with other believers, realizing the need to work together in harmony like a fine tuned orchestra in the masters hands.
Father I pray that if any reading this prayer should need deliverance from some oppressing spirit including some illnesses that may be attacking their body, Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would raise up a standard against these attacks and set these people free.
Lord, I pray that the power of your written and spoken word be activated through the authority that is made available unto us that is in the name of Jesus, and we apply the following scriptures to our prayer.
(John 16:23) "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." and (Psalms 34:15) "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."
Father, we close our prayer believing that you have heard and answered us according to your divine will and purpose, for it is in Jesus mighty name we pray and ask these favors. A-Men
