ITS TIME TO CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES. TAKE OFF THE GRAVE CLOTHES.
“… He that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV). “…the dead man[‘s]…. hands and feet … [were] … bound in graveclothes …Jesus told them, “Unwrap
him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).
*
Grave clothes, wrappings, linen strips are the garments that are
worn by those who were being entombed. Lazarus was given NEW life, but was
still bound with grave clothes. “…the
dead man[‘s]…. hands and feet … [were] …
bound in graveclothes …”
(John 11:44 NLT).“…Jesus
told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).
THE HANDS HELP YOU DO
THINGS THE MIND TELLS YOU TO DO. THE FEET HELP YOU WALK WHERE THE MIND TELLS
YOU TO WALK. The grave clothes prevented Lazarus from truly experiencing his NEW resurrected
LIFE. Lazarus was physically alive again, but could NOT freely do or walk in
the newness of his life, because he was STILL bound up with grave clothes
(which represent the residuals of his DEAD CONDITION. “…Unwrap him and let him
go!” (John 11:44 NLT).Lazarus
was “… bound in graveclothes …”
(John 11:44 NLT). Jesus commanded: “…loose
him and let him go…”
(John 11:44 KJV).
The grave clothes HAD to be removed in order for Lazarus to freely
move about in his NEW resurrected life. The command to unwrap Lazarus’ grave clothes were
directed at Mary, Martha, and those listening. What CAN be done in human
strength God leaves to human strength. “…The
dead man[‘s]…. hands and feet … [were] …
bound in graveclothes …Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and
let him go!” (John 11:44 NLT).
What
CAN ONLY be done in supernatural strength or POWER is entrusted to Jesus, the
WORD OF GOD. “…Lazarus, come forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV).
The Holy Spirit GIVES NEW "LIFE." “…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT). The OLD life must be,
voluntarily, TAKEN OFF or UNWRAPPED. “…Ye (YOU) put off
concerning the former conversation
the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts…” (Ephesians 4:22 KJV). “…
[YOU]…Throw off
your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by
lust and deception…”
(Ephesians 4:22 NLT).
Becoming physically ALIVE was no longer a problem. He was
ALIVE again!! Lazarus needed to choose
to LIVE as if he was physically ALIVE again. Like
the prodigal son, “… [He was]…. DEAD and [had been made]… ALIVE AGAIN…” (Luke 15:24 NIV).
If the body
was DEAD; so was the MIND. Grave clothes are symbolic for the OLD dead, sinful nature
and its mindset. Therefore, the bible says “…be
transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). “…Be renewed in the spirit
of your minds, and …put on the new self…”
(Ephesians 4:23-24 NASB). “…Let the Spirit renew
your thoughts and attitudes.
Put on
your new nature…” (Ephesians 4:23-24
NLT).
First of all, Lazarus had become a NEW creation. Jesus, THE WORD, had empowered him through his RESURRECTION POWER to LIVE again.
“…Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: OLD THINGS are passed away; behold, “ALL” THINGS are become NEW…” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
The grave clothes were evidence that Lazarus was DEAD or had passed away. NOW, however, he was ALIVE again and REMOVING the grave clothes was the
next step in the process. “… Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self …”
(Colossians 3:9-10 NASB).
The grave clothes represent “that” which WAS
DEAD. Lazarus was completely RESURRECTED and
restored to LIFE and HEALTH. Lazarus could not RAISE himself from the DEAD nor could
he restore LIFE to his soul. “…[IN THE BEGINNING] ... the LORD God …breathed into [man's] ... nostrils the breath of life (the HOLY Spirit) and
man became a living soul…”
(GENESIS 2:7 KJV). “…BY THE WORD of the Lord … All things came into being … and
apart from [the WORD] nothing came into being that has come into being… ”
(Psalms 33:6 NASB & John 1:1-4 NASB). “….Apart from [Jesus,
the WORD], you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
It
is DONE (resurrection and life) through God’s GRACE and by the POWER of his HOLY WORD. “…by the GRACE of God I am what
I am…” (1
Corinthians 15:10 NIV). I am RESURRECTED to LIFE again!
Mary
and Martha could NOT RESURRECT their brother nor restore LIFE to him, but they
could HELP remove the grave clothes, which refers to assisting him in WALKING in his new found FREEDOM through the instructions of God’s HOLY truth, ensuring that he
LIVES “FREE INDEED!” “…if the Son (Jesus Christ, the WORD)…shall
make you FREE, ye
shall be FREE indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).
When the grave clothes are not removed, through the instructions of
God’s truth, those restored to LIFE will continue to WALK around “looking” and acting like
a DEAD person. “…Thy word (God’s
HOLY instruction) is truth...” (JOHN
17:17 KJV). “…The truth (God’s HOLY instructions) shall MAKE YOU FREE…”
(JOHN 8:32 KJV).
Removing the grave clothes, through the instruction of God’s
HOLY truth, FULLY FREES those, who are made ALIVE again, to produce fruit
through the indwelling Holy Spirit. “...
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in
our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” (Galatians 5 NLT). “…Ye shall know them by their
fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
The DEAD look and behave DIFFERENT from those who are TRULY ALIVE spiritually! The DEEDS of the
DEAD (the deeds of the corruptible, decomposing sinful nature) is EVIDENT. “…The
acts of the flesh (the DEAD) are obvious: sexual
immorality, impurity and debauchery …selfish ambition, dissensions … and the like…”
(Galatians 5:19-21 KJV). “…THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL…”
(John 3:18-20 KJV).
You can not CLAIM you are spiritually ALIVE and still be wrapped up in sexual immorality. You can not CLAIM your are spiritually ALIVE and still be wrapped up in impurity and debaunchery.
The MIND of the DEAD (is corruptible, decomposing, and) is
DARKENED. “…Being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God
because of the
ignorance that is in them, because of the
hardness of their heart…”
(Ephesians 4:18 NASB). “…Their minds are full
of darkness;
they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts
against him…” (Ephesians 4:18
NLT).
The DEAD (old mindset) is still affected and heavily influenced by the old sin nature.“…The mind set on
the flesh (sinful nature) is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life
and peace, because the mind set on the flesh (DEAD) is
hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the
law of God, for it is not even able to
do so, and those who are in the flesh (sinful nature) cannot please God…”
(Romans 8:6-8 NASB). “…So letting your sinful nature control
your mind leads [back] ... to death. But letting the Spirit
control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.
It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s
why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature (DEAD
past) can never please God…”
(Romans 8:6-8 NLT).
Removing grave clothes, through the instruction of God’s
HOLY WORD, removes the residuals of spiritual DEATH. Residuals of the old sin nature are usually found in the old, DEAD mindset and is hostile toward God too. “…The trouble is with
me, for I am all too human, a slave
(bound, wrapped up within) … [the past, dead, sin nature and its mindset]…. I don’t really
understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.
Instead, I do what I hate. So I am not the one doing wrong;
it is ... [the past, dead, sin nature and its mindset]…that does it. And
I know that nothing good lives in...[my grave clothes] … that is, in my [past, dead] sinful nature… [and its mindset]… I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t.
I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. I have discovered this
principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is
wrong. I
[am] …a slave (bound, wrapped up within) … the …[past dead, sinful nature and its
mindset] … that is … [still trying to affect, influence, corrupt,
decompose, and cause me to rot) ” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT). “…Who
will free me
from this life that is dominated by [the past dead] sin…[nature and its
mindset]? Thank God! The answer is in
Jesus Christ our Lord (the WORD of GOD)…” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
The answer is Jesus Christ.
Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). Jesus
Christ is the WORD of God. The WORD of God is TRUTH. The TRUTH sets YOU FREE
INDEED!! “…Thy WORD is truth…” (JOHN
17:17 KJV). “Jesus saith…I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life…”
(John 14:6 KJV). “…ye shall know the
TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you
free…” (John 8:32 KJV).
God had RESURRECTED Lazarus from the
DEAD and restored him to LIFE, but he INSTRUCTED Mary, Martha, and others to
remove the grave clothes in order to FULLY loose him. Lazarus
was “… bound in graveclothes …”
(John 11:44 NLT). Jesus commanded Mary, Martha, and others to “…loose him and let him go…”
(John 11:44 KJV). “…Unwrap
him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).
God’s OWN people HEAR very LITTLE of the WORD
of truth that sets them “FREE INDEED” and often live a lifestyle DOING and
WALKING about like DEAD pagans (in grave clothes). “… My [OWN] people are gone into
captivity… [or stay in captivity], because [they have] no knowledge...”
(ISAIAH 5:13 KJV). “…My [OWN] people are destroyed for lack of knowledge …” (HOSEA 4:6 NASB). “…[ONLY]…The truth shall make [them]… FREE (INDEED!)…”
(JOHN 8:32 KJV). “…Thy WORD is truth” (JOHN 17:17 KJV).
Is it NO
DOUBT that Lazarus returned from the DEAD and was restored to LIFE.
“… He that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV). Like Lazarus, believers WERE
DEAD too! “…YOU were dead in your sins and ... [NOW]…God made you ALIVE with Christ…”
(Colossians 2:13 NIV).
Like the prodigal son, “… [YOU
were]…. DEAD and [you have
been made]… ALIVE AGAIN…” (Luke
15:24 NIV).
What PROOF do you have that you are ALIVE? “…God has given
[you] HIS Spirit as PROOF that [you]… live (are ALIVE) in him and he [dwells]…in
[you]…” (1 John 4:13 NLT). “…God has sent forth the
Spirit
of His Son “INTO” [Y]OUR… HEARTS…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…The
Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT).
“…Jesus Christ is in
you…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Christ in you, …” (Colossians 1:27 KJV).
“…The Spirit of God dwell[s] in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…GOD IS
SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV).
AND “…The Lord
is that Spirit…” too (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s] in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). The
indwelling Holy Spirit COMES with spiritual side effects such as: “…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “... The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives…”
(Galatians 5 NLT). Therefore, “...I live by the faith of the Son of God…”
(Galatians 2:20 NASB). “…Jesus Christ is in
you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
The
DEAD rely on what is SEEN, but the spiritually ALIVE choose to rely on FAITH or
dependency upon God’s WORD of TRUTH. They don’t HOPE in or expect anything from
the things which are “SEEN.” “…HOPE that is seen is not HOPE…”
(Romans 8:24-25 KJV). “… BY FAITH (or dependency upon God’s HOLY WORD)
we understand … that what we now SEE
did not come from anything that
can be SEEN…” (Hebrews
11:3 NLT).
“…The invisible things (HIS HOLY SPIRIT)
of him (GOD) from the creation of the world are CLEARLY SEEN, being understood by the things that are made…”
(Romans 1:20 KJV). “…Since the creation of the world God’s invisible (HOLY SPIRIT) qualities—
HIS ETERNAL
POWER AND DIVINE NATURE—have been CLEARLY SEEN, being UNDERSTOOD FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, so that people are without excuse…”
(Romans 1:20 NIV).
God “….made [you]… ALIVE with Christ…”
(Ephesians 2:5 NIV). However, the grave clothes need to be removed and the FREE
MAN or WOMAN loosed. HOW? By telling them the TRUTH about their FREEDOM. “…The TRUTH shall make [them]… FREE…” (JOHN 8:32
KJV). “…Thy WORD is TRUTH....”
(JOHN 17:17 KJV). “…ye shall know the
TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you
free…” (John 8:32 KJV).
You ARE FREED from sin and resurrected
to LIFE, but removing/unwrapping the grave clothes is symbolic to TRANSFORMING
the “dead” mindset in order to be FREE INDEED. The bible says “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). “…Be renewed in the spirit
of your minds, …”
(Ephesians 4:23-24 NASB). “…Let the Spirit renew
your thoughts and attitudes…”
(Ephesians 4:23-24 NLT). “…if the Son (Jesus Christ, THE WORD OF GOD)…shall
make you FREE, ye
shall be FREE indeed (absolutely, completely in all
areas, including the mind)...” (John 8:36 KJV). Lazarus was “… bound in graveclothes …”
(John 11:44 NLT). Jesus commanded: “…loose
him and let him go…”
(John 11:44 KJV). “…Unwrap
him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).
HUMAN KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WORD IS JUST A COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.
REVELATION KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WORD IS BECOMING AWARE OF WHO GOD IS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING EMPOWERED BY THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.
UNDERSTANDING EMPOWERED BY THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT ENABLES YOU TO APPLY GOD'S WORD.
APPLYING GOD'S WORD IS THE SAME AS TAKING OFF THE GRAVECLOTHES AND WALKING IN THE TRUTH THAT "TRULY" SETS YOU FREE!!
YOU MUST CHOOSE TO TAKE OFF THE GRAVE CLOTHES!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT TODAY'S LESSON: SHORT BIBLE STUDY!
BOUND
IN GRAVE CLOTHES
1.
God, without a doubt, resurrected life to lazarus, BUT
what else needed to be done in order for him to enjoy his new FOUND FREEDOM? The grave clothes needed to be removed. “…the dead man[‘s]…. hands and
feet … [were] … bound
in graveclothes …”
(John 11:44 NLT).“…Jesus
told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).
WHAT
IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR HANDS AND FEET? THE HANDS HELP
YOU DO THINGS THE MIND TELLS YOU TO DO. THE FEET HELP YOU WALK WHERE THE MIND
TELLS YOU TO WALK. Lazarus
was “… bound in graveclothes …”
(John 11:44 NLT).
WHAT
DID THE GRAVE CLOTHES REPRESENT? THE OLD NATURE.
WHAT WOULD THE GRAVE CLOTHES PREVENT
LAZARUS FROM DOING? IT WOULD PREVENT HIM FROM FULLY
EXPERIENCING HIS “NEW” RESURRECTED LIFE.
WHO DID GOD COMMAND TO HELP LAZARUS REMOVE THE
GRAVE CLOTHES? MARY, MARTHA, AND THOSE WHO WITNESSED
HIS RESURRECTION TO LIFE. “…Unwrap
him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).. Jesus commanded: “…loose
him and let him go…”
(John 11:44 KJV). “…The
dead man[‘s]…. hands and feet … [were] …
bound in graveclothes …Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and
let him go!” (John 11:44 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.
GOD TOLD THOSE WATCHING TO REMOVED THE GRAVE CLOTHES
AFTER HE DID WHAT? AFTER HE RESURRECTED LAZARUS TO LIFE
AGAIN. “…Lazarus, come forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV). “…The Holy Spirit gives
birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT).
DID LAZARUS ALSO HAVE TO CHOOSE TO ALLOW
HIS GRAVE CLOTHES TO BE REMOVED? YES, The OLD NATURE
must be, voluntarily, ALLOWED TO BE TAKEN OFF or UNWRAPPED.
“…Ye
(YOU) put off concerning the
former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts…”
(Ephesians 4:22 KJV). “… [YOU]…Throw
off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is
corrupted by lust and deception…”
(Ephesians 4:22 NLT).
LAZARUS WAS DEFINITELY RESURRECTED
TO LIFE, BUT WHAT NEEDED RENEWING? HIS MIND NEEDED TO
BE RENEWED. “… [He was]…. DEAD and [had been made]… ALIVE AGAIN…” (Luke 15:24 NIV). “…be
transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). “…Be renewed in the spirit
of your minds, and …put on the new self…”
(Ephesians 4:23-24 NASB). “…Let the Spirit renew
your thoughts and attitudes.
Put on
your new nature…” (Ephesians 4:23-24
NLT).
WHY DID LAZARUS
NEED TO RENEW HIS MIND? BECAUSE HE HAD BECOME A “NEW”
CREATION AND OLD THINGS HAD PASSED AWAY AND ALL THINGS HAD BECOME NEW.
“…Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW
creature: OLD THINGS are
passed away; behold, “ALL” THINGS are become NEW…” (2 Corinthians
5:17 KJV). “… [laY]... aside the old self (GRAVE CLOTHES) with its evil practices, and have put on the new self …”
(Colossians 3:9-10 NASB).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
IF LAZARUS WAS RESURRECTED TO “LIFE” WHAT KIND OF SOUL DID
HE HAVE NOW? A LIVING SOUL. “…And
the LORD God …breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (the HOLY Spirit) and man
became a living soul…”
(GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
DID
LAZARUS DO ANYTHING TO EARN, DESERVE OR BE WORTHY OF HIS NEW RESURRECTED LIFE? NO, HE WAS FREELY GIVEN RESURRECTED LIFE through God’s GRACE
and the POWER of his HOLY WORD. “…by the GRACE of God I am what
I am…” (1
Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “…a person is made right with God by faith [or depending
upon the WORD]… Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16 NLT). “I do not treat the
grace (unearned and undeserved favor)
of God
as meaningless. …” (Galatians 2:21 NLT). “…BY GRACE have ye been saved…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…We … [choose to
receive]… the GRACE
of the Lord Jesus Christ [by faith and then]… we
[are] SAVED…” (Acts 15:11 KJV). “…The grace
of our Lord
was poured out (transferred) on me abundantly, ALONG WITH FAITH (the power to depend upon God’s WORD)
and [his] love that
are in Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 1:13-14 NIV).
WHO
RESURRECTED LAZARUS TO LIFE? THE WORD OF GOD DID. “… [THE WORD;] It is the power of God at work (miraculously), saving
everyone who believes (depends)…”
(Romans 1:16 NLT). “….TO [THOSE]…WHO
ARE SAVED, [THE WORD] IS THE POWER OF GOD….” (1
Corinthians 1:18 KJV). “…if the Son (Jesus Christ, the WORD)…shall
make you FREE, ye
shall be FREE indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4.
LAZARUS IS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD AND RESTORED TO LIFE,
BUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO HELP HIM REALIZE HIS “NEW” RESURRECTED LIFE. IF HE SO CHOOSES, HE CAN ALLOW OTHERS TO HELP HIM REALIZE
HIS NEW LIFE BY REMOVING THE GRAVE CLOTHES AND LOOSING HIM WITH THE WORD OF TRUTH.
“…Thy word (God’s HOLY instruction) is truth” (JOHN
17:17 KJV). “…The truth (God’s HOLY instructions) shall MAKE YOU FREE…”
(JOHN 8:32 KJV).
Removing the grave clothes, through the instruction of
God’s HOLY truth, FULLY FREES those, who are made ALIVE again, to produce WHAT?
PRODUCE SPIRITUAL FRUIT. “... The Holy Spirit
produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
HOW
WILL YOU KNOW THOSE WHO ARE ALLOWING THE GRAVE CLOTHES TO BE REMOVED? BY THEIR FRUIT.“…Ye
shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5.
WHAT ARE THE DEEDS ARE THOSE WHO ARE
STILL WEARING THEIR GRAVE CLOTHES? THEY DEMONSTRATE
ACTS OF THE PAST, DEAD SINFUL NATURE. “…The acts of the
flesh (the DEAD) are obvious: sexual
immorality, impurity and debauchery …selfish ambition,
dissensions … and the like…”
(Galatians 5:19-21 KJV). “…THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL…”
(John 3:18-20 KJV).
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE MIND, IF THOSE
WITH A RESURRECTED LIFE DON’T REMOVE THE GRAVE CLOTHES? TheIR MINDS CAN BECOME DARKENED. “…Being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God
because of the
ignorance that is in them, because of the
hardness of their heart…”
(Ephesians 4:18 NASB). “…Their minds are full
of darkness;
they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts
against him…” (Ephesians 4:18
NLT). “…The mind set on
the flesh (sinful nature) is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life
and peace, because the mind set on the flesh (DEAD) is
hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the
law of God, for it is not even able to
do so, and those who are in the flesh (sinful nature) cannot please God…”
(Romans 8:6-8 NASB). “…So letting your sinful nature control
your mind leads [back] ... to death. But letting the Spirit
control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.
It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s
why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature (DEAD
past) can never please God…”
(Romans 8:6-8 NLT).
TRUE
OR FALSE: Removing grave clothes, through the instruction of God’s HOLY WORD,
removes the residue of SPIRITUAL DEATH and DEAD mindsets that are hostile toward
God. TRUE. “…The trouble is with me, for I am all too
human, a slave (bound, wrapped) to …
[the past, dead nature and its mindset]…. I don’t really
understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.
Instead, I do what I hate. So I am not the one doing
wrong; it is ... [the past, dead nature and its mindset]…that does it. And
I know that nothing good lives in...[my grave clothes] … that is, in my [past,
dead] sinful nature… [and its mindset]… I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t.
I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. I have discovered this
principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is
wrong. I
[am] …a slave (bound, wrapped) to the sin …[past, dead sinful nature and its
mindset] … that is … within (corrupting,
decomposing, rottening, etc;) me…” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT). “…Who
will free me
from this life that is dominated by [the past, dead] sin…[nature and its
mindset]? Thank God! The answer is in
Jesus Christ our Lord (the WORD of GOD)…” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT). The answer is Jesus Christ.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6.
WHO IS THE WORD OF GOD?
JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD. “… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). Jesus
Christ is the WORD of God.
WHAT IS GOD’S
WORD? TRUTH. The
WORD of God is TRUTH. The TRUTH sets YOU FREE INDEED!! “…Thy WORD is
truth…” (JOHN 17:17 KJV). “Jesus saith…I am
the way, the
TRUTH,
and the life…” (John 14:6 KJV). WHAT WILL GOD’S
TRUTH DO FOR YOU? IT WILL SET YOU FREE.“…ye shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you
free…” (John 8:32 KJV).
LAZARUS WAS RESURRECTED TO “LIFE,” BUT
DID HE NEED TO REMOVE THE GRAVE CLOTHES? YES. HOW? BY CHOOSING TO ALLOW THE GRAVE CLOTHES TO BE REMOVED. Lazarus was “… bound
in graveclothes …”
(John 11:44 NLT). Jesus commanded Mary, Martha, and others to “…loose him and let him go…” (John
11:44 KJV). “…Unwrap
him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).
BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN RESURRECTED TO LIFE
TOO, BUT ARE ALL OF THEM WALKING IN THEIR FREEDOM? NO. WHY
OR WHY NOT? BECAUSE OF A LACK OF GOD’S TRUTH THAT
UNWRAPS THEIR GRAVE CLOTHES. “… My
[OWN] people are gone into captivity… [or stay in captivity], because [they have] no
knowledge...” (ISAIAH 5:13 KJV). “…My
[OWN] people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge …” (HOSEA 4:6 NASB). “…[ONLY]…The truth shall make [them]… FREE (INDEED!)…”
(JOHN 8:32 KJV). “…Thy WORD is truth” (JOHN 17:17 KJV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7.
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, IS THERE ANY DOUBT
that Lazarus returned from the DEAD and was restored to LIFE? THERE IS NO DOUBT. “… He
that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV).
BEFORE SALVATION WERE YOU DEAD too? YES, SPIRITUALLY DEAD. “…YOU were dead in your sins and ... [NOW]…God made you ALIVE with Christ…”
(Colossians 2:13 NIV). Like the prodigal son, “… [YOU
were]…. DEAD and [you have
been made]… ALIVE AGAIN…” (Luke
15:24 NIV). What PROOF do you have that you are ALIVE? “…God has given [you]
HIS Spirit as PROOF that [you]… live (are ALIVE) in him and he [dwells]…in
[you]…” (1 John 4:13 NLT). “…God has sent forth the
Spirit
of His Son “INTO” [Y]OUR… HEARTS…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB).
HOW DID YOU BECOME SPIRITUALL ALIVE
AGAIN? THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES YOU ALIVE AGAIN.“…The Holy Spirit gives
birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT). W
HERE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, THAT MAKES
YOU ALIVE AGAIN. THE HOLY DWELLS WITHIN YOU.
“…Jesus Christ is in
you…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Christ in you, …” (Colossians 1:27 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s] in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
WHAT
IS THE EVIDENCE THAT THE HOLY IS DWELLING WITHIN YOU? THE
EVIDENCE OF The
indwelling Holy Spirit IS: “…love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “... The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives…”
(Galatians 5 NLT). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8.
SINCE THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT IS WITHIN YOU, CAN YOU
LIVE BY THE FRUIT OF FAITH? YES. HOW? THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS YOU TO LIVE BY “HIS”
FAITH. “...I
live by the faith of the Son of God…” (Galatians 2:20
NASB). “…Jesus Christ is in
you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
WHAT
DOES THE INDWELLING FRUIT OF FAITH EMPOWER YOU TO DO?
THE INDWELLING FRUIT OF FAITH EMPOWERS YOU TO
DEPEND UPON THE POWER OF GOD’S HOLY WORD. “… BY FAITH (or
dependency upon God’s HOLY WORD) we understand
… that what
we now SEE did not come
from anything that can be SEEN…” (Hebrews
11:3 NLT). “…The invisible things (HIS HOLY SPIRIT)
of him (GOD) from the creation of the world are CLEARLY SEEN, being understood by the things that are made…”
(Romans 1:20 KJV). “…Since the creation of the world God’s invisible (HOLY SPIRIT) qualities—
HIS ETERNAL
POWER AND DIVINE NATURE—have been CLEARLY SEEN, being UNDERSTOOD FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, so that people are without excuse…”
(Romans 1:20 NIV). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. DID GOD RESURRECTED YOU TO SPIRITUAL LIFE? YES. God “….made [you]… ALIVE with Christ…”
(Ephesians 2:5 NIV).
DO YOU NEED YOUR GRAVE CLOTHES (THE OLD, DEAD, SINFUL MINDSET)
REMOVED? YES, DOES THE grave clothes need to be removed
SO YOU CAN BE FULLY loosed FROM THE OLD SINFUL LIFESTYLE. YES. HOW? THROUGH the FREEDOM that comes from GOD’S TRUTH. “…The TRUTH shall make [them]… FREE…” (JOHN 8:32
KJV). “…Thy WORD is TRUTH....”
(JOHN 17:17 KJV). “…ye shall know the
TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you
free…” (John 8:32 KJV).
WHAT PART DOES
THE TRUTH PLAY IN YOUR RESURRECTED LIFE? IT HELPS
TRANSFORM OR RENEW THE MIND. “…be
transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). “…Be renewed in the spirit
of your minds, …”
(Ephesians 4:23-24 NASB). “…Let the Spirit renew
your thoughts and attitudes…”
(Ephesians 4:23-24 NLT).
ARE YOU FREE
THROUGH YOUR RESURRECTED LIFE? YES. “…if the
Son (Jesus Christ, THE WORD OF GOD)…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE
indeed (absolutely, completely in all areas, including the mind)...”
(John 8:36 KJV).
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO "WALK" IN THE FREEDOM OF YOUR NEW RESURRECTED
LIFE? REMOVE THE GRAVE CLOTHES THROUGH THE TRUTH OF
GOD’S WORD. Lazarus was “… bound
in graveclothes …”
(John 11:44 NLT). Jesus commanded: “…loose
him and let him go…”
(John 11:44 KJV). “…Unwrap
him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10.
ARE YOU TRULY FREE FROM SPIRITUAL DEATH? YES. “….If the Son (Jesus) sets you free, you will be FREE INDEED…”
(John 8:36 NIV). “…the dead man[‘s]…. hands and feet … [were] … bound in graveclothes …Jesus told
them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).
“..Loose him, and let him go.’” (John 11:44 KJV). BY DWELLING WITHIN YOU. “… [They are]…strengthened with might
(POWER) by his Spirit in the inner man…”
(Ephesians 3:16 KJV).“…the
power of the life-giving
Spirit has freed you from
the power of sin that leads to death.
…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
WHO
IS THE INDWELLING, LIFE-GIVING POWER? GOD, THE HOLY
SPIRIT IS “THAT” LIFE-GIVING POWER. “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Lord (HIS WORD)
is that Spirit…” too (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s] in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
HOW DO YOU LEARN HOW TO WALK SPIRITUALL ALIVE? BY RENEWING THE MIND, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO REMOVING
THE GRAVE CLOTHES. “…be transformed
by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). BECAUSE “…all things are BECOME NEW…” (2 Corinthians
5:17 KJV). “…put off concerning the
former conversation the old man …”
(Ephesians 4:22 KJV). “…Throw off
your old sinful nature and your former way of life…”
(Ephesians 4:22 NLT). “… I the Lord (THE
WORD) have spoken, and I have done it
(RESURRECTED YOUR LIFE)...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV). “…Walk in NEWNESS of
life…” (Romans 6:4 KJV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TRANSFORMING LOVE
