"Tied?

Friday, 13 March 2009 18:56

I saw a TV program once about how to train animals for the circus that I found very interesting, and I want to share with you today. As everybody knows the circus use various types of animals to entertain people. Used in the circus lions, tigers, elephants and other wildlife.
What I call attention to me and reporters was a huge elephant that they had, and that the elephant is not out of a plastic circle around him. They focused their camera well in this huge and powerful animal, and you could see that the only thing that prevented the animal from getting out of that circle was a thin string tied to a hind leg, which was attached to a steel spike was stuck into the ground.
I'm sure if that animal into a bit of force, or break the chain, or steel stake would leave the ground without difficulty. I am sure that the power of this animal could not be resisted by something as weak. The reporters made the same observation, and asked the manager as it could be possible that this powerful animal could be restrained by anything that compared to the animal's strength was so weak.

The manager replied that it was all part of the training that was given to a very young animal. The manager explained that normally receive the elephants in circuses or toddlers who were born in the circus, and from that age they tied him with a string tied to something solid, so when the animal is trying to walk further along the chain of , the tie will stop.

As the manager explained, the elephant is a very intelligent animal, and soon learns that he can not be released, so after growing up with only a slight resistance felt the animal did not try to do harder and more progress is not found chain length. What's interesting, right? But some must already be wondering what this has to do with us? We now turn to the Word of God and see Romans 12:2 - Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good will of God, pleasing and perfect.

As I usually say, to have a better understanding of the message God has for us, we will require a brief review of history. The letter to the Romans was written by Paul as we find in Romans 1:1 to read "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for proclaiming the gospel of God."
The Epistle to the Romans was addressed to Christians living in the city of Rome as we find in Romans 1:7 we read "I write to you, the beloved of God who are in Rome, who are called to be saints ...."
It is important that we know this because Rome was the center of the empire and was an ethnically diverse city. In the first century AD the city had a population of around one million people in an area of less than ten square miles. Within this large population is estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 Jews.
As we can see by the number of the population, the city was predominantly inhabited by Gentiles. This means that the Christian church in Rome was composed of both Jews and Gentiles. It is also important to know that Paul was writing to a church he had never visited and that he was not focusing on any particular problem in the church. Paul wrote this epistle to reveal the doctrine of soteriology (derived from the Greek word "Soter" which is defined as savior.) In other words to teach the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, to teach them as Jews and Gentiles were part God's plan and urging them to righteous lives lived in harmony. With these things in mind, let's continue now with our study today.

Comparing the city of Rome at that time to ours, I think everyone will agree when I say that there is not much difference between them and us. I say this because a great reality is that our city is a city of great ethnic diversity. That is, here in our city can find a wide diversity of nationalities, and this of course leads us to observe a great diversity of characters or personalities. For example, the Latin man is traditionally described as proud, vainglorious, and very confident of their manhood.
These are as I call them, the three M's, or "very macho guys." The problem that exists is that many times the believer tries to maintain this type of character or personality in his Christian life, and it definitely does not work. It does not work and therefore the person ends up being tied to the things of this world, the person ends up like the elephant, bound and restricted to live his life in a small space. In this small part of the Epistle to the Romans Paul tells them and us, two things that every Christian must do to prevent this from happening and to liberate those who may be tied. Now continue with our study.

First. We see that tells us: "Be not conformed to this world." With that Paul told them clearly that they could not lead his life the same way as the rest of the population. As I said at the beginning, most of the population of that city was a heathen and pagan traditions they observed, they worshiped various gods of Roman religion, so I can already imagine what kind of example would this population to new believers in faith. What Paul was saying and tells us today is that as Christians, we can conduct our lives following the example given us by the world.

What examples are all around us? What example gives us the world?
Think about it for a brief moment. Things that are accepted by the world and we see daily examples of it are things like the lack of love, lust, lust, depravity, pride, vainglory, religions, and others. The list is rather lengthy, so do not follow naming things, I think we all have very good idea of what I say, right? That's why as Christians we can not behave in the way the world behaves, we have to behave the way God wants, as the Word tells us in 1 Peter 1:16 we read "... it is written Be holy, for I am holy. "

As Christians we must be the example to follow. But unfortunately, we often come across as people who profess to be believers try to keep personalities or characters that are nevertheless accepted by the world, goes directly against what God wants us to be.

We found that as many believers make or accept what they have seen or learned, find as many believers can be influenced by what surrounds them, and instead of what the Word says in Romans 12:21 "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good ", the believer is overcome by evil, and fall into the trap of sin. But everyone should know that when the believer is shaped and maintained the way the world works, when the believer enters or is influenced by the thinking of those who do not know Christ, then there is this serving God. Take heed as the Word says: 1 Corinthians 10:21 "You can not drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils: you can not partake of the Lord's table and the table of demons."

A great reality about this world is that it has changed the truth of God, just and perfect, the devil's lie. The world sees evil as good, and good and bad. So when a person takes is shaped or the way the world thinks and acts, then that person is essentially tied.

Brothers, sad thought, and even sadder to say, but most believers are circus elephants. What pastor told me? They listened well, circus elephants are! Why say this? I say this because most believers still remain tied. There are many believers who are still tied to the things of this world because they fear taking the next step. There are many believers who are still bound by chains that were placed on his life from an early age, and these are chains that prevent or stop spiritual growth. Brothers there are many believers who can be free, they can move forward, it must already be at a higher spiritual level still tied.

Continue bound by the chains of pride and vainglory; still bound by the chains of religion and tradition are still tied chains towards rituals and customs. Chains that bind them and restrict their growth and movement, which in turn are tied to the post of rebellion. None of this should be, God made us free.

These are things that can not take part in the life of a believer. But unfortunately, as I said a brief moment, many times people try to keep personalities and characters in your Christian life, we definitely do not work. Why not work? It works because the Word tells us in Proverbs 21:4 "Haughty eyes and a proud heart, And thought wicked, is sin." Why not work? It works because the Word tells us in 1 John 2:16 "For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, not from the Father but from the the world. "Why not work? It works because the Word tells us in Proverbs 17:11 "The rebel seeks only evil, and cruel messenger shall be sent against him." As believers, as children of God, we are called to break these chains that bind us, we are called to turn away from all this, watch closely as it says in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 "Therefore, Come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive, And will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. "But how can overcome all this how can one person freed from these chains that bind him yet? The answer lies in The second point that Paul makes here.

Second. The Word tells us "but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." In this small portion of the verse Paul tells us clearly that we have to do is change our thinking. This is something we also find in Ephesians 4:23-24 and says "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man created by God in righteousness and true holiness." Renewing our mind action is essential that we allow to be processed. In other words, the renewing of our minds is the memory to clear our whole character, personality, or attitude that is established as a result of the experiences we had. This is something that can only be achieved through developing an intimate relationship with God. And an intimate relationship with God can only be established when we feed the Holy Spirit now dwells in us. Brethren, when we feed the Holy Spirit who dwells in us now believe we will receive our thoughts and actions. When we feed the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us we will be guided through every situation. When we feed the Holy Spirit who dwells in us now we will move always towards the presence of God. As the Word tells us in Galatians 5:25 "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." In other words, we must stay in constant communication, keeping us in step with our heavenly Father. How can we feed the Holy Spirit who dwells in us? We feed through study and meditate on the Word of God, we feed when we gather to listen to the studies, we feed when we pay honor and praise that God deserves.

A person who does not develop a more intimate relationship with God is a weak believer, and this is exactly what you searched the devil, watch closely as the Word tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 when he warns "Be sober, be vigilant , because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. " Brethren, when not taken the time to develop a more intimate relationship with God, it becomes very easy to justify the mistakes, it becomes very easy to justify all those things we know are not pleasing to God. But remember that these things only justified in our minds. Remember Jesus' words in Luke 16:15 when he said "Then I said, Ye are they which justify yourselves you before men, but God knows your hearts, for what men are exalted before God is abomination. "As I've said many times, we can deceive man but God never can deceive; watch closely as the Word says," but God knows your hearts. "Tell your brother you have to hand," God knows your heart. "
Never forget that God does not want people who fit the Word and his teachings according to the times we live. Instead, God wants people to live according to his teachings at all times.
To conclude. In this small and powerful last verse we find that Paul tells them and us "to prove what is the good will of God, pleasing and perfect." We can not conform to the things of this world, and we have to change everything what we are to experience what God has for His people, that is all that is good, pleasing and perfect. Do not let your character or personality you away from God. Do not let the pride and the pride you away from God. Do not let the religious spirit you away from God's presence. Do not let the rebellion you apart from His holy and divine presence. Do not let your chains bind, and stop your spiritual growth.

Remember what the Word says in 1 Peter 1:14-15 "... as obedient children, do not be conformed to the wishes that you had before being in your ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you too holy in all your conduct ... " Do not allow yourself to be bound and restricted by things of this world. Examine your life today and ask yourself, what chain ties me?

In many cases it is believed, does not agree with what the Word teaches us, and this is the primary reason why many believers are still tied. As the Word says in Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The battle can be difficult. I know it is easy to put aside everything we are, know it is not easy to change completely, but I also know that if it is something everyone can achieve. The battle can be difficult, but something I am sure that the war is already won.

Remember what we find in Hebrews 2:14 "... So, because the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in the same, to destroy through death to which had the power of death, that is, the devil ...." Tell the brother you have at your side, Christ won for me. Christ won for you and me, and freed us from the yoke of slavery to sin. Christ broke the chains that tied us and made us free. Do not get tied again, you are stronger than the chain. All chains that the devil has at its disposal can not hold a true believer. All chains that the devil has at its disposal can not restrict a true believer. These chains can not hold you because the Word tells us in Philippians 4:13 "I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me ...." Fear not to take the next step, remember that He will be with you. Do not be afraid to take the next step remember that the Holy Spirit who will guide you.

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