HOPE: BOUND AND WRAPPED UP WITH LIMITATION

            

NEW BOOK COMING SOON!

CHAPTER 10: HOPE: 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).

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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 grave clothes prevented Lazarus from being fully ALIVE. Lazarus was physically alive again, but could NOT freely walk in the newness of life while STILL bound up. “…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 experience his NEW life.

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. “…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. 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 nature and its mindset. Therefore, “…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 had endowed him with indwelling 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 had DIED or passed away. NOW, however, he was ALIVE and REMOVING the grave clothes was the evidence. “…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 is DEAD. When people don’t REMOVE the grave clothes they will continue to WALK around “looking” like a DEAD person. “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).

The DEEDS of the DEAD (corruptible, decomposing flesh) 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).

The MIND of the DEAD (corruptible and blind) 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 THINKING of the DEAD (corruptible, unspiritual) is AGAINST God. “…The mind set on the flesh (dead) 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 (DEAD) cannot please God…” (Romans 8:6-8 NASB).

“…So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads 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) can never please God…” (Romans 8:6-8 NLT).

Removing grave clothes removes DEAD actions, DEAD mindsets, and hostility toward God. “…The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave (bound, wrapped) to … [the 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 sin nature and its mindset]…that does it.  And I know that nothing good lives in...[my grave clothes] … that is, in my 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) to the sin …[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 (bound, wrapped) by [the] sin…[nature and its mindset]? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).

The answer is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Living WORD of God. The Living WORD of God is TRUTH. The TRUTH sets YOU FREE!! “…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).

Is it NO DOUBT that Lazarus returned from the DEAD. “… 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).

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; that which is NOT “SEEN.” “…HOPE that is seen is not HOPE…” (Romans 8:24-25 KJV). “… BY FAITH we understand  … that what we now SEE did not come from anything that can be SEEN…” (Hebrews 11:3 NLT).

“…The invisible things (SPIRIT) of him 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 (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).

Those who are MADE ALIVE choose to LIVE by FAITH. “…LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT…” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV). “…WE LIVE BY FAITH…” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV). “…Walk by faith...” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). “…FAITH IS the EVIDENCE of things NOT SEEN…” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). One of the fruit of the Spirit is “…FAITH…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).

What did Ezekiel see MADE by FAITH in the POWER of God? “…As I was prophesying (SPEAKING GOD’S WORD by FAITH), there was a noise, a rattling sound, and THE BONES CAME TOGETHER, BONE TO BONE. I LOOKED, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them...’” (Ezekiel 37 NIV).

The BONES were DEAD.  They were MADE a new BODY, but they were “NOT” yet ALIVE. “… there was no breath in them. …So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army…” (Ezekiel 37 NIV).

Their BONES “were” DEAD. They “were” MADE a new BODY. They “were” MADE ALIVE by the “breath of life” or the HOLY SPIRIT. They “were” MADE into “LIVING” souls again. “….let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV).  “…..God created man in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV).

The FIRST BIRTH: “….God formed man of the dust of the ground (BODY), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (SPIRIT); and man became a living soul (SOUL)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). “…Except a man (or woman) be BORN AGAIN, he (or she) can “NOT” SEE the kingdom of heaven…” (John 3:3 KJV).

“…How can a man (or woman) be BORN…[AGAIN]?...” (John 3:4 KJV). ).  “…God … [sends] … forth the Spirit of His Son “INTO” [Y]OUR… HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…Jesus Christ is …[NOW] … in you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT).   “…The Spirit of God dwell[s] in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).

The BONES have been restored to LIFE, FAITH, ACCEPTANCE, and the indwelling SPIRIT. “…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…[to]…FAITH …accept[ance] … in the beloved …[and]…God… works in [them]… to will and to act …” ((John 3:6 NLT & Galatians 5:22-23 & Ephesians 1:6 KJV & Philippians 2:13 NIV).

“…God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power…” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). “…I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). .“…it is God which worketh in [me]… both to will and to do...” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “….Apart from Me, you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).

The BONES are no longer DEAD. They were MADE ALIVE. With the HELP of the indwelling POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT they CAN come OUT of the GRAVE. “…They say, ‘Our bones are dried up (DEAD) and our hope (FAITH) is gone; we are cut off (UNACCEPTABLE).’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them … I will put my Spirit in you and you will live…” (Ezekiel 37 NIV).

WHO brought them OUT of the GRAVE? “..I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them …” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). WHAT did God Do FIRST?  “… I will put my Spirit in you and you will live…” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). How is the DEAD enabled to LIVE? “… [They are]…strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV). WHAT enables YOU to LIVE? “…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 LIFE-GIVING POWER? “…The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).  

ARE you TRULY FREE from spiritual DEATH? “….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).

Therefore, LEARN about being ALIVE and “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).  BECAUSE “…all things are BECOME NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).

 “… [you “were”] … bound in graveclothes …Jesus told them, “…let him go!” (John 11:44 NLT).  “….you ...[are] … FREE INDEED…” (John 8:36 NIV).  “…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 have spoken, and I have done it...’” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). “…Walk in NEWNESS of life…” (Romans 6:4 KJV).