“And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:44
Dear Lord, we pray you would use Deeper Still, as your hands and feet, to loose those coming out of the grave bound by the pain of an abortion-wounded heart to step into the light and freedom of your truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Have you ever tried on an outfit in a department store that was too tight? Or something in your closet that fit last year but now you have to suck in and hold your breath to button? *Sigh. This can lead to an awkward situation needing help getting said tightness off!
When you are wearing tight clothes, you are hindered, limited in your ability to move and do all you need to do.
In the last post, Take Away the Stone , we also looked at John 11. We saw how Jesus used people to roll away the stone that was over Lazarus’ grave. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, his grave clothes were still tightly wrapped on him. He needed help to be unwrapped, loosed, and set free. It would have been difficult for Lazarus to move and live his life still wrapped in tight cloths.
Death can come in many forms. Every day people who are very much alive choose decisions that lead to a death in their lives. Abortion does lead to an actual death of a person. There is no denying that death is real in abortion. However, there is a spiritual and emotional death in the person who has the abortion as well.
Here is the important point we all need to realize. Jesus has conquered death. He has already done everything that needs to be done to bring us out of darkness into His marvelous light. On the cross, He declared, "It is finished. "
Our Jesus is the giver of life. His death was to pay the penalty for all our sins. He died to give us new life. And He died not only to forgive us of our sins, but also so we could be free of our grave clothes.
Lazarus experienced a death in his life. Jesus gave him life. However, the grave clothes still bound him. Jesus called others to gather around him to help him get free.
Deeper Still comes alongside those who are still wearing their tight grave clothes and helps them get loosed and free!
More importantly, Deeper Still provides an environment for an encounter with the living God. And when those grave clothes are hit with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, Lord Almighty, the grave clothes just start falling off!
Are you bound by the clothes you are wearing? Is the tightness cutting off the circulation and keeping you from breathing in the truth of God’s grace and love?
Jesus wants to loose you from these clothes that bind you. He wants you to be able to breathe. He wants you free to be and do all He has for you.
