Imagine there is a meeting in the halls of the Evil One. You are the subject under discussion. Yes, you. Which of these three words would THEY use to describe your spiritual condition and the risk you pose to the kingdom of darkness?
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- DEAD
- DEFEATED
- DANGEROUS
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DEAD
John 11:1-35 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead‘… he had lain in the grave four days already… Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live… And said, Where have ye laid him?’ They said unto him, ‘Lord, come and see.’
There is no awareness. No activity. No interest. No appetite for the things of God. Spiritual things are dull and foolish, a waste of time. You are really not interested in a relationship with the Lord Jesus or reading His Word. Your heart is more concerned about the things of earth. You are worldly. ‘Earth dwellers.’ (And this is possible even if you may be enthusiastic about church.)
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DEFEATED
John 11:38-44 Jesus said, ‘Take ye away the stone’… He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth’. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin.
You are alive, but bound. Defeated. Going through the spiritual motions, but there is no growth. The grave clothes of the past still haunt you, keeping you back, bogged down in bitterness, fear, and unforgiveness. There is no resurrection power to say NO to sin, so when temptation comes, it grabs you and throws you in the dirt. Again. You are afraid to offend people and are unable to speak out about Jesus. Your heart is more concerned about the approval of man and the things of earth. You are worldly. ‘Earth dwellers.’ Your work mates and neighbours would be surprised to find that you even have a relationship with the Lord Jesus. This is where many Christians live.
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DANGEROUS
John 11:44 – John 12:11 Jesus said unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many… believed on Him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man does many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on Him… Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death… and they [the people] came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
He posed a great threat to the kingdom of darkness. Everywhere Lazarus went, there was a testimony of the resurrection power of Jesus and people met Jesus.
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PRAYER
Lord, help us all to have the courage to reach out to You, to step out from being ‘earth dwellers’ and embrace You completely, to strip off the sin that entangles us to tightly and to follow You with our whole heart. To obey You and be prepared to sacrifice everything for You, and be more excited about You and love YOU than anything or anyone else. Help us to step out of our old grave clothes, to be released from everything that binds us and holds us back, and each day, to walk in the power of Your name, the precious name of Jesus, and to be dangerous for You. Amen.
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RELATED LINKS
Greater is He ~ FREE Scripture Doodle
Be strong and of good courage ~ FREE Scripture Doodle
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