Bound

<<tied up, constricted>>

The major consequence of The Fall is that humans have been bound up by their sin and are unable to escape its effects. Jesus came to release us from this bondage. In Christ we can experience freedom, “If you hold to my teaching...you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free...So if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed” (Jn 8:31,32,36). Jesus asked, “Should not this lady who Satan has kept bound eighteen years be set free?” (Lk 13:16). The gospel is a liberating message, so don’t put unnecessary burdens [restrictions] on others (Mt 23:4).

The commands of God, “You shall not...” are not restrictive if viewed correctly, as obeying brings freedom from enslavement to sin, fear and destructive habits. “By dying to the sinful passions that once bound us, we have been released so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit...Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty” (Rom 7:5,6; 2 Cor 3:17).

Paul said he was bound physically but not in spirit (Act 28:20; Eph 6:20). Conversely, many Christians are free in the natural realm yet they remain in emotional and spiritual bondage through experiences, destructive habits, ungodly alliances, unforgiveness or some other controlling influence because

Am I dealing with what is hindering me from experiencing more of God?

they have not been dealt with. Habits can develop into addictions and sometimes demonic spiritual forces take control of people, binding them in misery and fear. A concerted effort is required to deal with such evils and release (deliver) the sufferers. Then they will say, “Praise be to the Lord…we have escaped like a bird out of the snare” (Ps 124:6,7). Is there something preventing or hindering me being all I could or should be for Christ? Paul declared, "The Spirit of life [the Holy Spirit] set me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom 8:2).

Metaphorically we can be bound or ensnared by our words for “life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Prov 5:22, 6:2-5, 18:21). By our words we will either be acquitted or condemned (Mt 12:37).

“Everyone who sins is a slave to sin...A man is a slave to whatever [habit or vice] has mastered him” so don’t be bound by what is not of God for Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work of preventing us from experiencing spiritual freedom (Jn 8:34; Rom 6:16-22; 2 Cor 6:14-18; 2 Pet 2:19; 1 Jn 3:8). Paul said, “I won’t be mastered by anything” (1 Cor 6:12). He only submitted to and allowed Christ to control him. He exercised strict self-discipline so nothing could gain the dominance and entangle him (1 Cor 9:27).

Jesus spoke of binding and loosing, in relationship to setting people free from troublesome evil spirits (Mt 16:19, 18:18).

The act of binding can be positive as well as negative [limiting]. For example, the Good Samaritan bound up the wounds of the man who was attacked (Lk 10:34). The writer of the Proverbs said, “Bind [the Word of God] to your heart forever, fasten [it] around your neck” (Prov 6:21, 7:3). Rather than just as a symbolic gesture, the Bible should be an ever-present guide to bring about a life changing transformation. God has bound Himself to fulfill His word, keeping the promises He has made, for “He is not a man to lie. Has He not said and shall He not do it?” (Num 23:19).

Satan, although roaming freely through the earth at the present time is ultimately under God's control and for a period of 1,000 years will be bound and unable to influence world events then shortly after will be banished to the lake of fire forever (Rev 20:2,3,7-10).