Those That Satan Has Bound

 

   It is hard to understand but as Jesus went about doing good and teaching He faced many adversaries. Even while trying to help those bound by Satan Jesus was resisted by so-called religious people. Luke 13:10-17 tells one such story. "Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound -- think of it -- for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath? And when He said these things,   all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him."

 

   This account is of a poor soul that had been bound by Satan. She had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. She could not raise herself up. But  the “Lord raises those who are bowed down." (Psalm 146:8.) Multiplied numbers of people are bound by Satan today. Perhaps it is not in the same sense as this woman, but none the less there are those whom Satan has bound.

 

   Satan has bound some with alcohol and other drugs. The evil fruits of alcohol and other drugs continue to be reaped in our society as more people continue to drink and use drugs more and more. "Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1.) Drinking and using other drugs is just too costly and harmful -- physically, mentally, socially, economically, morally and especially spiritually. Satan has the "user" bound but "the Lord raises those that are bowed down."

 

   Satan has bound some with sexual immor­ality. Adultery, fornication and homosexuality have become a way of life for many. Our society has become so confused that it calls evil good and good evil. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20.) Immorality is condemned in God's word. Romans 1:18-32 condemns all types of sexual immorality including men with men and women with women. Sexual immorality is a work of the flesh which will condemn one eternally. "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissension's, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who prac­tice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21.) Some people would like to edit this list and take out those sins of a sexual nature and say "God made us this way so it must be all right to do these things." God didn't do it -- Satan is the author of this kind of thinking because he wants to keep the immoral in his bondage. Satan has the immoral bound but, "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."

 

   Satan has bound some by religious igno­rance. Satan does not want you to study the Bible for if you do you will find spiritual light and understanding. "The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130.) Satan does not want you to study the Bible for if you do you will acquire spiritual knowledge. "For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6.) Satan does not want you to study the Bible for if you do you will be able to abide in God's word. "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32.) Since Bible study is so important, how could a person be so negligent and indifferent toward it? Satan has bound many in religious ignorance, but, "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."

 

   Satan has bound some with indifference. Because God and His work are so important we cannot afford to be indifferent in our service. By "indifferent" I mean, "of middle quality, having only a moderate degree of excellence, ordinary." Our work for God demands more. Read the words of Matthew 22:34-40. “But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” We cannot afford to be indifferent in our work for God. Satan has the "indifferent" bound but, "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."

 

   Satan has bound some through abortion. In the United States it is legal for a physician to kill a baby for social reasons at any time prior to birth. You can call it abortion but murder by any other name is still murder. The Bible condemns abortion. Although the word "abortion" is not in the scriptures, God's word speaks very clearly about it. God warned Noah's descendants that murder would be punished. "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man." (Genesis 9:6.) God hates those who shed innocent blood. (Proverbs 6:16-17.) Abortion is murder. Satan has bound many by abortion, but "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."

 

   Satan has bound some with gambling. Gambling is motivated by characteristics of selfishness, covetousness and greed. (Luke 12:15, Romans 12:10) Gambling demands a trust in chance and material things rather than a trust in God and His will. (Matthew 6:19-34, Luke 12:13-21) Gambling is contrary to both the first and second greatest commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40.) Gambling goes against God's work ethic and is not good stewardship. (Ephesians 4:28, Galatians 6:9-10.) Gambling violates the Golden Rule. "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12.) Satan has bound many with gambling, but, "the Lord raises those who are bowed down."

 

   Let us arise and fight Satan. You must become a child of God and stand strong in the faith. To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17); believe in Jesus (John 8:24); repent of sins “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30), Confess Christ “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10); and be baptized into Christ (I Peter 3:21). After bap­tism give Satan a fight!

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