|
|
Those That Satan Has Bound
It is hard to understand but as Jesus went about doing good and teaching He faced many adversaries. Even while trying to help those bound by Satan Jesus was resisted by so-called religious people. Luke 13:10-17 tells one such story. "Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound -- think of it -- for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath? And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him."
This account is of a poor soul that had been bound by Satan. She had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. She could not raise herself up. But the “Lord raises those who are bowed down." (Psalm 146:8.) Multiplied numbers of people are bound by Satan today. Perhaps it is not in the same sense as this woman, but none the less there are those whom Satan has bound.
Satan has bound some with alcohol and other drugs. The evil fruits of alcohol and other drugs continue to be reaped in our society as more people continue to drink and use drugs more and more. "Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1.) Drinking and using other drugs is just too costly and harmful -- physically, mentally, socially, economically, morally and especially spiritually. Satan has the "user" bound but "the Lord raises those that are bowed down."
Satan has bound some with sexual immorality. Adultery, fornication and homosexuality have become a way of life for many. Our society has become so confused that it calls evil good and good evil. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20.) Immorality is condemned in God's word. Romans 1:18-32 condemns all types of sexual immorality including men with men and women with women. Sexual immorality is a work of the flesh which will condemn one eternally. "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissension's, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21.) Some people would like to edit this list and take out those sins of a sexual nature and say "God made us this way so it must be all right to do these things." God didn't do it -- Satan is the author of this kind of thinking because he wants to keep the immoral in his bondage. Satan has the immoral bound but, "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."
Satan has bound some by religious ignorance. Satan does not want you to study the Bible for if you do you will find spiritual light and understanding. "The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130.) Satan does not want you to study the Bible for if you do you will acquire spiritual knowledge. "For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6.) Satan does not want you to study the Bible for if you do you will be able to abide in God's word. "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32.) Since Bible study is so important, how could a person be so negligent and indifferent toward it? Satan has bound many in religious ignorance, but, "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."
Satan has bound some with indifference. Because God and His work are so important we cannot afford to be indifferent in our service. By "indifferent" I mean, "of middle quality, having only a moderate degree of excellence, ordinary." Our work for God demands more. Read the words of Matthew 22:34-40. “But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” We cannot afford to be indifferent in our work for God. Satan has the "indifferent" bound but, "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."
Satan has bound some through abortion.
In the
Satan has bound some with gambling. Gambling is motivated by characteristics of selfishness, covetousness and greed. (Luke 12:15, Romans 12:10) Gambling demands a trust in chance and material things rather than a trust in God and His will. (Matthew 6:19-34, Luke 12:13-21) Gambling is contrary to both the first and second greatest commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40.) Gambling goes against God's work ethic and is not good stewardship. (Ephesians 4:28, Galatians 6:9-10.) Gambling violates the Golden Rule. "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12.) Satan has bound many with gambling, but, "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."
Let us arise and fight Satan. You must become
a child of God and stand strong in the faith. To become a Christian you must
hear the gospel (Romans
-
-
- - Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Linda Bender, Mae Beverly,
Janice Box, Marie Curlee, Chris Duncan, Roy Goodwin, Montine Hardin, Latrelle
Harrell, Evan Hartsell, Billy Heartsill, Mary Jo Hoffman, Jerry Johnson, Wanda
Kyser, Mary Lawrence, Glenn Phillips, Mary Powell, Jack Queener, Ottey Simno, Ralph
Sims, Brenda Stallings (mother of Kimberly Hittell), Earl Walden (brother-in-law
of Elizabeth Perdue), Mary Williams and Melissa Woodruff. Crowne Health Care: Mable
Harrell, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou Wright.
2. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in
3. Mail For Jason Godwin: The only way to
communicate with Jason Godwin is through his e-mail,
jason.e.godwin@us.army.mil. This will be used until he comes home. The mailing
address is no longer any good.
4. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: July
16th Charles Box, July 17th Mary Riley, July
18th Baker Bozeman, and July 21st Kathy Johnson.
5.
6.
7. VBS On A Regular Schedule: We are
planning to do
8. Thank You: Dear Walnut Street Family, I want to thank you for
the hospital visits, cards, phone calls, food and the pretty plant. You have
always been so supportive of me and my family through all our trials and grief.
It is a blessing to be a member of
9. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) July 15th-17th – Gospel Meeting – County Line Church of Christ – Speaker Kyle Butt – weeknights 7:30 (b) July 15th-18th – Gospel Meeting – Brewton Church of Christ – Speaker Jeremy Houck – weeknights 7:00 (c) July 15th-19th – VBS – Walnut Street Church of Christ – 6:30-8:30 nightly (d) July 22nd – Homecoming – Center Point Church of Christ – Speaker James Glass – 10:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. (e) July 22nd-25th – Gospel Meeting – Gateway Church of Christ – Speaker Elisha Freeman – Time Sunday Bible Study 9:30 a.m., Worship 10:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. weeknights 7:30 (f) July 22nd-26th – Gospel Meeting – Salem Church of Christ – Speaker Steven Foster – weeknights 7:30 (g) July 22nd-26th – Gospel Meeting – Cedar Grove Church of Christ – Speaker Billy Lambert – Time Sunday Worship 9:30 & 10:30 a.m., Singing 1:30 p.m. and Worship 2:00 p.m., weeknights 7:00 and weekday devotions 7:00 a.m. (h) July 27th – Singing – Elba Church of Christ – 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. (i) July 27th-29th – special sermons for youth – College Street Church of Christ – July 27th 6:00 p.m., July 28th 5:00 p.m. and July 29th 2:45 p.m. (j) August 5th-8th – Gospel Meeting – Flatwoods Church of Christ – 7:30 nightly (Charles Box will speak on Monday night) (k) September 24th – 26th – Regions University – Spiritual Enrichment Forum – Embassy Suites, Montgomery.
Keys To The Father’s House
Most
people possess keys to many things. I personally have two hefty sets of keys
that I carry around virtually everywhere I go. It’s a bit funny to think about,
but the majority of the keys that I lug around every day, I rarely use. Yet I
still keep them handy for the simple fact that I might need them. A key is more than just a jagged metal object; it
represents everything that lies behind its corresponding
door. In order to enter in to heaven, we need to lay hold on the keys. I’d like
to mention some things that I consider to be keys to the Father’s house.
The
first key needed to enter heaven is hunger. Jesus said, “Blessed are they which
do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew
5:6) Our desire for righteousness should be as intense as the desire for
physical nourishment, for there is no unrighteousness
in heaven. (Revelation 21:27)
The
second key to the Father’s house is determination.
To obtain most anything worthwhile, one must be determined. Just as Daniel
“purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the
king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank,” (Daniel 1:8), we must purpose
in our hearts that we WILL enter the gates
of heaven.
Next, we must be focused on our goal. This
means forgetting our past failures and successes. Paul said, “Brethren, I do
not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I
press toward to goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:13-14)
The
final key to heaven is perseverance. Never give up. We are well equipped to
achieve this goal, so let us use the tools that God has given us. (Ephesians
6:14-17) Many keys you will possess in this life that will be all but useless.
But may you never be caught in need of the keys to the Father’s, but with empty
hands.
- - - - Darrell Powell
July 15th – 19th
The Forecast for Today…
Classes for all ages including adults
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)