TEXT:  Mark 15:1

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE ENEMIES OF JESUS BOUND HIM TO SEND HIM TO PILATE.

B.      OUR HEARTS ARE FILLED WITH INDIGNATION.

C.      DO WE BIND THE HANDS OF JESUS?

I.      BY REFUSING TO OBEY THE GOSPEL.

A.      IN HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US, JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS.

          1.       The desire of the Father and the Son( 1 Tim. 2:3-5;  1 Pet. 2:24 ).

          2.       His tender invitation is still being offered today( Matt. 11:28-30 ).

B.      WHEN ONE REFUSES TO OBEY THE HANDS OF JESUS ARE BOUND!

C.      IS THIS TRUE OF YOU?

          1.       Jesus is the author of salvation for whom?( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

          2.       The importance of obedience to you( 2 Thess. 1:7-9 ).

II.     BY REFUSING TO BE TRANSFORMED.

A.      CHRIST'S WILL IS THAT WE BE TRANSFORMED.

          1.       This involves renewal of the mind( Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 4:20-24 ).

          2.       This occurs as we study and learn the Word( 1 Pet. 1:23-2:2;  Phil. 4:8 )

B.      THE POWER OF THE WORD.

          1.       Jas. 1:21b.  Receiving the word is salvation.

          2.       It is the mind of God( 1 Cor. 2:16 ).

          3.       It is instruction in salvation( Titus 2:11-12;  2 Tim. 3:14-17 ).

          4.       God's wisdom as opposed to man's( 1 Cor. 1:23-24 ).

C.      DO WE BIND THE HANDS OF JESUS?

          1.       By putting other things first( 1 Tim. 4:13-14 ).

          2.       If we walk in our own wisdom( Eph. 4:17-20 ).

          3.       If we fail to make application of the word to ourselves( Eph. 4:20-24 ).

III.    BY REFUSING TO PRAY.

A.      JESUS HAS BECOME OUR "HIGH PRIEST"( Heb. 2:17-18 ).

          1.       Matking it possible for us to boldly approach God's throne( Heb. 4:14-16 ).

          2.       As our high priest:

                   a.       He is able to save those who come to God through Him( Heb. 7:25 ).

                   b.       He "ever lives" to make intercession for us( Heb. 7:25 ).

B.      WHEN WE DON'T PRAY JESUS' WORK AS A PRIEST IS LIMITED.

IV.   BY REFUSING TO DO OUR PART IN THE CHURCH.

A.      THE CHURCH IS DESCRIBED AS THE "BODY OF CHRIST"( Eph. 1:22-23 ).

          1.       As His body, we are individually members of one another( 1 Cor. 12:27 ).

          2.       As members of one another, we are to care for one another( Eph. 4:15-16 ).

B.      BUT WHEN WE FAIL TO DO OUR SHARE, AGAIN JESUS IS "BOUND"!

          1.       Our physical head can do little if our members fail to follow its leading!

          2.       Jesus could do more for us, if only we did our part!

          3.       By failing to do our part, we "handicap" the body of Christ?

                   a.       Either the whole body of Christ suffers...

                   b.       Or others are forced to do "double duty" in order to make up for us.

V.    BY REFUSING TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH THE LOST.

A.      CHRISTIANS ARE HIS "HANDS" IN TAKING THE GOSPEL TO THE LOST.

          1.       The Great Commission( Matt. 28:19-20;  Mark 16:15-16 ).

          2.       In every conversion in Acts, Jesus used a disciple to tell the good news.

          3.       God's plan( 2 Tim. 2:2 ).

B.      ARE WE "BINDING THE HANDS OF JESUS" IN THIS?

          1.       The abundant work( Matt. 9:36-38;  James 5:19 ).

          2.       Are we too busy to do it?( 2 Tim. 2:3-4 ).

          3.       "You never mentioned him to me."( Ezek. 33:7-9 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      OUR BINDING OF JESUS' HANDS HAS GREATER EFFECT( Mark 15:1 ).

B.      WHY NOT RESOLVE TO "LOOSE THE HANDS OF JESUS.

          1.       To SAVE us!                                   3.       To USE us!

          2.       To TRANSFORM us!