Liberation Day

I’m Rev Jay Stuart Glover and you are listening to Faith Talk. 

There is a well know story in the Bible in the Gospel of John the 11th chapter that we we can draw relevancy from for navigating through  today’s complex world.

John 11 Verse 43-44 tells us:
⁴³   Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
⁴⁴  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." ---

I would like to entitle this brief reflection as “Liberation Day.” 

Lazarus, a beloved friend of Jesus had passed away and was laid to rest in a tomb. Lazarus was laying in the tomb dead  as a doornail. Not alive truly unequivocally deceased. Everything about him was dead. He wasn’t breathing, his eyes were closed, he wasn’t moving. He wasn’t talking and,  Lord have mercy,  he didn’t smell very nice, because he had been there for a little while. As a matter of fact he had already been dead for four days. The cultural  thought of  the day believed that immediately after dying the spirit hovered over the body for while with a chance of it re-entering the body. But, after three days there was no hope of the spirit returning to the body. But Jesus showed up past the three day period after all hope was gone. When he got there he called Lazarus by his name and he spoke just two words, two powerful words “come out.” Now this is important, check out Lazarus’ response.  It didn’t take Lazarus a long time to figure out that this would be a good time to start obeying the Word of the Lord. When he heard the Voice of the Lord, the Word of God, it says the dead man came out,  he departed from the grip of death, he checked out of death and into life , --he was still wrapped up in the dead man’s clothes, the attire of a dead man, you know linen cloth and wrappings. Jesus said to those standing around take that stuff off of him and let him go!!!!  -- 

Maybe there are some of us listening in today that are wrapped up in some stuff that is robbing us from the fullness of life. Stuff that you need to be liberated from. But I have some good news. If Jesus,  can call Lazarus out of the grave,  out of death and into life, then I suggest to you  that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit can lift you, resurrect you,  from anything that tries to keep you down and out.  Anything that has you all tied up, suffering in a place that is not the will of God for your life be reminded today that God is able to liberate you truly set you free. 

Although Lazarus emerges from the tomb, in answer to the call of Jesus,  he is still bound by the restraints of death, wrapped up in linen symbolizing the various burdens and struggles that can hinder a person's full potential to embrace life and freedom. 

Even after we are born again, identify as being a Christian, there are things that we remain attached to the we need to be liberated from. 

What are some of the grave clothes that try to stay attached to us and us attached to them? What do they look like today? 

The metaphorical "grave clothes" that keep people from true freedom can show up in many ways: emotional, psychological, and spiritual burdens that prevent them from experiencing the fullness of life. 

Let me give you a few examples of the  "grave clothes" that individuals might struggle with today: persistent negative emotions, unhealed remnants of a sinful nature, bad habits, poor self-image, and crippling fear . Rebellious attitudes, bitterness, and unforgiveness. 

 Addictions to alcohol, drugs, food, unhealthy relationship dynamics, and the pursuit of worldly possessions. Unresolved issues of  abuse, brokenness, self withdrawal and isolation. Guess what,  some of us are also bound by poor theology, poor images of God, and poor images of self. 

The good news is that, like Lazarus, anyone, no matter how long they have been held back, can be freed from these constraints through the power of God's word, that  has the ability to lift, resurrect, and liberate from anything that tries enslave us.  Therefore, hearing, embracing, obeying, and living in response to God's word are essential steps toward experiencing this transformative freedom. 

So a good place to start along this journey of liberation is prayer. Ask God to come into your life and free you from anything that enslaves you. 

Join a faith community to surround yourself with people of faith and a support system. God answers pray but He needs your cooperation. 

I’m Rev Jay Stuart Glover. You are listening to Faith Talk. These episodes are available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube and other podcast platforms. Then you for joining our listeners from around the world. My prayer is for your wellness. God bless you, Amen.