A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (March 10, 2017)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free. (Luke 4:18-19, NLT)
Chains have many different purposes. The three basic purposes of chains are to help keep things locked up, locked out, or restrained. They are meant to be a hindrance to the freedom of movement. When Jesus started His ministry the first scripture that He read in the synagogue was from Isaiah 61 which is our scripture for today (Luke 4:18-19). In today’s language, what He said was He had come as “The Chain Breaker”.
There are a lot of chains that hold people captive and keep them from accomplishing all that God has for them in this life. Some of the most dangerous chains that we have witnessed over the years have been:
Religion vs. Relationship – Religion binds you. Relationship with Jesus frees you. Religion is hard. His ways are easy and His burdens are light (Matthew 11:30). Religion tells you what to believe. Relationship spends time in the Word of God and lets the Spirit of God show you the truth. Religion tends to confine you to one group and one building. Relationship releases you to the world.
Letter of the Law vs. the Spirit – Many people read the Bible without the Spirit. When they do, they only see rules, regulations, and works. The “Letter of the Law” killeth but the Spirit giveth life (2 Corinthians 3:6). Without a relationship, the Bible can become a chain around your neck because you will never be able to measure up. We are saved by grace, not by works. We can never be good enough. If any of us could be good enough, Jesus would not have had to come and die for our sins.
Habits and Addictions (Otherwise known as Sin) – The world tells you that once you are an addict you are always an addict. The world tells you that this addiction has been passed down from generation to generation through certain genes. Your mind will tell you that this habit or addiction actually helps you perform better. Those are all lies! The truth is, when Jesus sets you free you are free indeed. (John 8:36)
I can remember going through all these things when I was an alcoholic. I didn’t need Jesus because all those church people were hypocrites anyway and besides there was no way I could ever measure up. If I walked into a church the walls would probably fall down or I would get struck by lightning. My alcohol use was not all that bad, I thought. It made me more sociable and I performed certain functions better when I was drinking, I thought.
You have to realize that you and I have an enemy. He is the “Father of Lies”. That means he is very skillful at the art of lying. All these rationalizations that are floating around in your head are meant to convince you that there is no hope for you. You’re okay. It’s really not a problem. You’re not okay! God wants you to be “free indeed” to accomplish what He has placed you on this planet for. You have a calling! You are not an accident! You have a divine purpose, and you
cannot fulfill that purpose in chains!
Please take a few minutes and listen to the following song by Zach Williams:
Don’t forget! We are raising funds for a U.S. Marine in Albany, GA to help his family rebuild their home that was totally destroyed by a recent tornado. You can send
your donation to New Life Network at PO Box 70459, Albany, GA 31708, or go to www.newlifenetwork-org-staging.smwnm894-liquidwebsites.com and make your donation online (just click on Marine flag).Thank you for your help and generosity!!
