“Unbind Him”

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Read: Ezekiel 37:12B-14

“Behold I will open your graves and raise you from your graves. O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

I imagine that at this time you feel you are in a black hole and you are doubtful of where the opening lies. You know that you are breathing but you have a numbness. As if you are in a room but the lights aren’t on. Perhaps now you are ready to move on but you don’t know how. You feel stuck. Hang onto this promise, “Behold I will open your graves and raise you from your graves.” It is time to let God open the door. Do you feel afraid of the light? Don’t worry. For a moment it may be so glaringly white but your eyes will adjust. It always happens this way after being in a dark room. You will not be blinded forever. It is okay if at the moment you feel frozen. God will help you out. He wants to see if you are reaching for him. It is okay if you feel like all your strength is used up. I am only asking you to open your hands to receive the blessing that God desires to give you. If you feel like you are up against a brick wall, then it is time to rely on others to help you over, around, or under it. Perhaps you didn’t even know that you were hurting but suddenly it has come to focus.

Let me describe for you the room and turn on the light switch.  This room is a wound. It is one place that the Evil One has stuck his finger and gained access to your ways of thought. There has been a penetration. Like a gloomy fog that obscures your vision. I am not suggesting that you are possessed. No, that calls for a full consent of the will. I am suggesting that you have a case of oppression, meaning he has attacked a portion of your heart. Through no fault of your own, he has built a stronghold around your perceptions of fatherhood and most specifically of your vision of God. He cannot win because God is greater. Now is your chance for victory. Let God turn on the light and the Devil will flee. Yes, you will have a wound but it will heal with time and the proper medicine. God knows exactly what you need. Right now I am asking you to at least glance at God and in that pained glance God will see you. He will rescue you but you have to ask him, because He will not force His hand. He wants to see that you intend to be helped. Let him show you the first step and do not take it until he calls you out. Let me show you the desires of God’s heart right now in the situation you find yourself. Don’t be worrying about moving it is time to let God do that. He has a home for you in His heart.

Read: John 11:1-44

“Father I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me.”

Lazarus was dead and Jesus told his disciples that he was asleep. The disciples questioned him saying, “Lord if he is asleep then he will recover” Jesus then says to clarify, “Lazarus is dead.” But what does he say? “I am glad for you that I was not there so that you might believe.”  Instead of hurrying right away to the rescue they stayed in the same place for a couple of days. You can tell that Jesus is still thinking about him and he says at the proper time, “Let us go to him.”  Mary and Martha bring him to the tomb after his arrival and Jesus wept. This is the shortest verse in the bible and what does it show us? Jesus is grieved, He is saddened over death. The Jews that were present said, “See that He loved him.” Mary says, “LORD, if you would have been here he would not have died.” You might be saying, “Lord why have you allowed this wound? You could have saved me!” Yes he could have. Why didn’t he come right away? He desires some greater glory to come about.

Let’s see what the truth of this event reveals and dig a little deeper. In examining our selves, we can see there are different levels of wounding in our hearts. This particular story shows the wound of a spiritual death. In this state it is hard to take any steps by one’s self. It is hard to see clearly of where we are at. It is hard to recognize God. It is the truth to say that part of the heart died. We are stuck in a bleak and dark place and can’t get anywhere; trapped in the grave of our heart. We are stifled and blind to the fact that God wants to beckon us forth. Our trust is broken. In this state, the soul cannot move on its own power or at least finds great difficulty in moving. It may be closed off to hearing or nearly closed. The only thing that can help us is the miracle of God to restore us.

What does Jesus do in this passage? He weeps over the death. God does not relish death it is the consequence of sin. Then He says, “Take away the stone.” Hmm. Can Lazarus take away the stone? No. Um it is kinda obvious, you might be saying to me, he is laying in his grave and is not alive anymore. Others had to move the stone. Precisely. It takes someone else to move the blockade so that air and light and grace can come in to remove the stench. His sister Mary says, “Lord he has been dead four days there will be a stench!” What does this mean for us? We are covered with the stench of sin. This wound is deep and ugly. Some of this wound is in no way our fault. We experience the consequence of the our own decisions but we also feel the consequence of what others have done to us. In fact, the result of these follies is that you have been shaped to believe that God will not be helping you out. That He has left you. That He does not truly care for you as a father does. Jesus answers her, “Did I not tell you that if you would believe that you would see the glory of God?”  This is a good testament to the fact that sometimes we have to rely on another’s faith when we do not have the strength ourselves. Here is where the beauty lies. God can use our wounded condition to manifest his glory and bring about great good by showing others His power in you and that He is trustworthy and lovingly tender. 

What does Jesus do next? He lifts his eyes up to heaven, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that you sent me.” He turned to the Father in heaven. What do we learn in this prayer? God the Father always hears our prayers. Let this soak in. A true father is always available to his children. If your father was not and has caused you wounding by long absences it is time to rest assured that even if he forgot you, God has not forgotten you and He hears and cares. He will never abandon you. Make an act of faith to forgive your earthly father and allow this new reality to enter into your heart; Father I thank you that have heard me. I know you always hear me.
But here is the most marvelous thing! “Lazarus, come out.” And he does bound in bandages. God is speaking to you in a loud voice, come out. In the state of spiritual death, we have many things bound around us holding us in like a mummy; many behaviors, negative thoughts, aggressions, coping mechanisms, habits and what have you. Yet by the consent of the Father, Jesus brought Lazarus to new life. He is speaking to you right now and desires to bring you out and to new life. But you still have all the bandages sticking to you. In the most loving fashion Jesus says, “Unbind him and let him go.” Let those who love you help to take off your burial shroud. You cannot do this on your own. Those around you who are trying to help see the obvious and can objectively help you see things in a new light. Rely on their prayers. Rely on their hands. You will see more clearly. And once these bandages are off, you will be amazed at the joy and peace that will result. It will take time. Now pray the following canticle and get ready for your quiet time with the Lord.