My Chains are Gone

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. – Acts 16:25-26

During our church family worship time this past Sunday, we sang the words, “All the chains are broken, I have been set free” (from “On My Lips” by Darren Morehouse and Ross Parsley).  As those words came out of my mouth, I was struck by the magnitude of that seemingly simple statement.  Think about that phrase by placing emphasis on the various words.  

“All my chains are broken.”  Not some, but all.  

“All my chains are broken.  I have been set free.”  God’s forgiveness and grace extends not only to others who may appear more deserving, but to me.  

“All the chains are broken, I have been set free.”  I don’t have to wait for some future unknown miracle to occur.  My chains ARE broken - here and now.  I AM free.  Jesus’ cry on the cross was, “It is finished.”  The work is done.  I need only leave the chains behind me and walk out that freedom.  

“All my chains are broken.”  Satan has no hold on me.  I am in the hands of the Almighty Creator of the universe.   

“I have been set free.”  I am free.  I don’t have to give in to sin.  I don’t have to be led astray by Satan.  I am not in bondage to the old sinful nature.  I am free. 

The enemy is defeated.  He knows it.  We can know it, too.  Let’s not let ourselves be fooled by his lies and deceit.  All our chains are broken and we have been set free. 

Amazing grace, our chains are gone!

His Blood Was Not In Vain

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. – Ephesians 1:7-10

I sin.  You sin.  With but One exception in the person of Jesus Christ, everyone sins.

We have an enemy who wants each one of us to believe that our sin is too big, too bad, and too dark to warrant forgiveness.  He whispers tales of guilt and condemnation into the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds.  He is the accuser and he doesn’t want us to experience the forgiveness that Christ made available to each one of us through His death on the cross.  Jesus paid the ultimate price – the blood that would cover over all sins.  Not some sins.  All sins.  Not only your sins.  My sins.  Not only the “little white lie” kinds of sins.  The murderous, slanderous, defiling kinds of sins. 

Don’t let the enemy convince you that Jesus’ blood was not sufficient to cover your sins.  His blood was more than sufficient!  In Him, we have redemption – the forgiveness of sins!  Forgiveness given in all wisdom and insight.  Jesus knew how very bad the worst of our worst sins would be.  It doesn’t matter.  His blood was more than sufficient.

Trust in Jesus and claim the truth that is found in His Word:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  - I John 1:9

Don’t fall prey to the lies of the enemy.  Don’t believe that you could never be forgiven.  Believing such lies would mean that you believe Jesus’ sufferings, humiliation, pain and agony were for nothing; that what He did for you and for me had no power and no meaning.  His blood was not in vain.

Thank You, Jesus,

for Your sacrifice for me! 

That my forgiveness is full and free

 because of the price You paid on Calvary.

The Plot to Steal Your Abundant Life

John 10:10 – The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

 John 10:10 sets our life’s stage very clearly.  There is a thief who is out to steal from us, to kill us, and to destroy us.  Armed with this knowledge, we might think it would be easy to remain on our guard - that those with personal relationships with the Lord would easily recognize the enemy’s advances.  Yeah – we might think that to be the case, but we’d be wrong.  Upon further reflection, we realize the truth in II Corinthians 11:14 – “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”  Genesis 3:1 tells us “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field.”  So, we realize that the attacks of the thief are subtle.  Sure, there may be times when he comes at us head on with blatant attacks.  While it may be difficult in those times for us to claim the victory we already have in Christ, at least we recognize what we’re up against.  I find myself much more often falling prey to the subtle attacks – the ones that I don’t even recognize are occurring.  The little voice that tells me I was wronged and have a right to feel bitter or that it will feel better to withhold forgiveness than it will to humble myself and forgive.  The urgency of my to do list that cries out to me saying there’s too much to do and no time for prayer, meditation and Scripture reading, no time for family, no time for friends.  The perfectionism that wages a quiet war against me heralding that my worth is wrapped up in my performance - that I won’t attain the approval of others if I don’t shine in everything I do.  The voice that tells me I’m in over my head, that I can’t do it, that I’ll never keep up, I’ll never learn what I need to know, I’ll never get it right.  I Peter 5:8 tell us “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  These subtle attacks are the attack of a roaring lion seeking to devour me and seeking to devour you.  But, praise God, there’s a second sentence in John 10:10.

Jesus tells us that he came that we may have life abundantly.  Abundant life is not a life of defeatism.  It’s not a life of striving for perfectionism.  It’s not a life of bitterness and unforgiveness.  Because of the subtle attacks of the enemy, we sometimes unwittingly strive for these lesser and ungodly things.  But, these are not the components for abundant life!  Friends – we’re settling.  We’re being tricked.  We’re being defeated and we don’t even recognize it.  If the life you’re living today is anything less than an abundant life, you’re not living the life that Jesus came for you to be able to live.  He came that You might have life and to have it abundantly!  Now, I don’t believe that an abundant life is a perfect life, or a life without hardship or difficulty.  As long as we’re on this side of Heaven, these things will all be a part of life.  But, abundant life will be the life we live in the face of adversity.  Abundant life will be the life we live in the valleys as well as the mountaintops.  Abundant life is about peace that passes understanding, love that is directly from God, joy unstoppable, compassion, care, and confidence that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (from Romans 8:28).  If you’re not living in this abundance, the thief is stealing it from you, working his plan to kill and destroy you.  Don’t be fooled any longer.  Don’t let the enemy have that power over you or in you.  Stand up and claim the victory You already have in Christ!  Live the abundant life our steadfast God intended for you to live!