Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:11
Have you ever wonder what keeps a grown elephant weighing between three and six tons, tethered to a post with just a rope? A trainer explains it the following way:
They take the elephants when they are still small and tie a rope around their necks or back leg and attach that rope to a very secure pole. Naturally, the baby elephants try to walk away, but the rope ensures they stay fastened to the pole.
They can pull, twist, push and turn, until they finally give up figuring they are just not strong enough to break free of their shackles, so they stop resisting and just stay where they are. The next time the trainer ties up the baby elephant they try once more to break away, pulling on the rope to see if they can go free. Sadly, they learn that once again it is futile, so they stop pulling and settle down to stay where they have been put.
This continuous training is done over and over until eventually, when the rope is over their heads or around their leg, they no longer pull and push to try and break free. Convinced it is futile to even try, they give up, making their captivity possible for us to walk by elephants at fairs or a circus.
The elephants become so accustomed to being held back by the rope, that merely the rope itself keeps them in check!!
Oh, if they only knew how powerful they really are. If they could only realize that by the time they have grown up, even a rope "secured" to a pole could not hold them back! Then they would know what true freedom is!
What keeps you bound, my friends?? Are you tethered by sin, going through life bearing guilt, condemnation or fear?? Are you bound be a narrow perspective of God's limitless love and mercy for you? Have you failed to see that through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, our God's compassion and favor is endless and eternal??
When we lapse into sin and the enemy seems to come in like a flood, does it create fraudulent bondage that keeps you from walking freely in God's grace?? Does guilt and shame fill hearts with fear and then, does helplessness overwhelm our souls?
My friends, we don't have to believe the lies from the Satan!! When he speaks falsehoods that say, "You're done, you keep doing the same sin over and over again! God will never forgive you again, because He knows you will just do it again! Why don't you just give up, you don't know how to live for God!!"
The Devil loves to keep you bound and in the dark, away from the vastness of God's great love and mercy, he tries to keep you bound even though the price for your sins has been "PAID in FULL!" When we transgress and disobey, God is always ready to forgive and restore us, if we confess our sins and never give up!
God's grace is more powerful than any tricks of the enemy, as we learn to accept that grace more each day, we find freedom to live joyfully in Christ Jesus. Paul tells us in Romans 7 that grace is never to be misunderstood by saying, "grace gives us a license to sin" but that our loving God is ready to forgive us when we do sin.
God doesn't delight in our sin and struggles, He feels our pain and frustrations. He always responds with goodness, and a tender heart that is ready to forgive us when we truly repent.
So my friends, break away from your "elephant ropes" and the belief that God is condemning us for our sin. Our God is patient and loving, He makes all things possible as we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit to "Victory Over Sin!!!
Keep your eyes focused on the Lord our God, constantly being filled with His joy, His endless love, mercy and grace that He has for you! You can be Bound... or have Boundless Freedom in Christ our Lord!!
James 5:11
Have you ever wonder what keeps a grown elephant weighing between three and six tons, tethered to a post with just a rope? A trainer explains it the following way:
They take the elephants when they are still small and tie a rope around their necks or back leg and attach that rope to a very secure pole. Naturally, the baby elephants try to walk away, but the rope ensures they stay fastened to the pole.
They can pull, twist, push and turn, until they finally give up figuring they are just not strong enough to break free of their shackles, so they stop resisting and just stay where they are. The next time the trainer ties up the baby elephant they try once more to break away, pulling on the rope to see if they can go free. Sadly, they learn that once again it is futile, so they stop pulling and settle down to stay where they have been put.
This continuous training is done over and over until eventually, when the rope is over their heads or around their leg, they no longer pull and push to try and break free. Convinced it is futile to even try, they give up, making their captivity possible for us to walk by elephants at fairs or a circus.
The elephants become so accustomed to being held back by the rope, that merely the rope itself keeps them in check!!
Oh, if they only knew how powerful they really are. If they could only realize that by the time they have grown up, even a rope "secured" to a pole could not hold them back! Then they would know what true freedom is!
What keeps you bound, my friends?? Are you tethered by sin, going through life bearing guilt, condemnation or fear?? Are you bound be a narrow perspective of God's limitless love and mercy for you? Have you failed to see that through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, our God's compassion and favor is endless and eternal??
When we lapse into sin and the enemy seems to come in like a flood, does it create fraudulent bondage that keeps you from walking freely in God's grace?? Does guilt and shame fill hearts with fear and then, does helplessness overwhelm our souls?
My friends, we don't have to believe the lies from the Satan!! When he speaks falsehoods that say, "You're done, you keep doing the same sin over and over again! God will never forgive you again, because He knows you will just do it again! Why don't you just give up, you don't know how to live for God!!"
The Devil loves to keep you bound and in the dark, away from the vastness of God's great love and mercy, he tries to keep you bound even though the price for your sins has been "PAID in FULL!" When we transgress and disobey, God is always ready to forgive and restore us, if we confess our sins and never give up!
God's grace is more powerful than any tricks of the enemy, as we learn to accept that grace more each day, we find freedom to live joyfully in Christ Jesus. Paul tells us in Romans 7 that grace is never to be misunderstood by saying, "grace gives us a license to sin" but that our loving God is ready to forgive us when we do sin.
God doesn't delight in our sin and struggles, He feels our pain and frustrations. He always responds with goodness, and a tender heart that is ready to forgive us when we truly repent.
So my friends, break away from your "elephant ropes" and the belief that God is condemning us for our sin. Our God is patient and loving, He makes all things possible as we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit to "Victory Over Sin!!!
Keep your eyes focused on the Lord our God, constantly being filled with His joy, His endless love, mercy and grace that He has for you! You can be Bound... or have Boundless Freedom in Christ our Lord!!
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