Thursday, February 16, 2006
Do You Feel Trapped?
Several years ago while exploring the highlights of Italy, France, Switzerland and England, including the basilica of St Marks in Venice, the Louvre in Paris and the Vatican in Rome, my travels led me to 60 Via Ricasoli, in Florence, Italy. A tour guide led us reverently into the Galleria dell'Accademia where stands Michelangelo's “David.” Tourist from around the globe stood around this marble marvel, admiring the handiwork of one of the world’s most celebrated sculptors.
A few moments later, however, my eyes were drawn to four sculptures that were more intriguing to me than any of the other wonders of antiquity that Europe had put on display. These four massive blocks of marble stood only a few yards distance from David in an adjoining room. Michelangelo had begun to carve four slaves from these blocks of stone leaving their backs and legs trapped in the stone from which they were being hewn. As I studied these works I could almost feel the frustration of the men who were trying to walk out of their marble prison into freedom.
As I pondered the plight of these “unfinished slaves” I could see a parallel to the lives of many people I have met who are seeking peace, joy and freedom but feel trapped by habits, mind sets, family feuds, fears and addictions. Such people often feel they are bound by fate and cannot wriggle free. They may have attempted freedom in many ways, but each time they mustered enough will power or attempted a new gimmick, they were deeply disappointed. The sense of helplessness can be daunting.
Fortunately there is a great Sculptor who can set anyone free. He has designed a way in which people can be empowered to overcome. Unfortunately the term “born again” has been so often misrepresented that people often just consider it to be a cheesy expression used to comfort people who are weak minded. When, in reality, those who are born again are believers who are simply choosing to live life God’s way, with His power. They embrace a process that moves them into a relationship with God. Their new way of living allows them to live the kind of full life mankind was created to live. They let God take them from their prisons into a life of peace and power.
For many believers, this need for power is what makes the baptism of the Holy Spirit such an important event in their life. In the biblical book of Acts (chapters 2, 8, 10 & 19) history records that the first century Christians were all baptized with the Holy Spirit. This group of people included the disciples and Mary, the mother of Jesus. They prayed until God gave them power to leave their lives of fear and live in power.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that in the recent past many more believers are experiencing the same kind of empowerment as is described in the New Testament; by being born again of the Spirit they are getting a fresh start, a clean heart, and a life empowered by God. The numbers are staggering: It is estimated that there are over “90 million Spirit-filled believers who make up China's underground House Church movement.” (www.forerunner.com). “In the year 2000... there were just over 500 million people on earth who had been touched by the pentecostal/charismatic experience. The prognosis for the year 2025 points towards 800 million people.” (www.purposeinlife.org)
Do you feel trapped in a lifestyle, habit, or emotional state? Perhaps your hunger to be free is God’s way of leading you to experience His strength and power in greater measure.
A few moments later, however, my eyes were drawn to four sculptures that were more intriguing to me than any of the other wonders of antiquity that Europe had put on display. These four massive blocks of marble stood only a few yards distance from David in an adjoining room. Michelangelo had begun to carve four slaves from these blocks of stone leaving their backs and legs trapped in the stone from which they were being hewn. As I studied these works I could almost feel the frustration of the men who were trying to walk out of their marble prison into freedom.
As I pondered the plight of these “unfinished slaves” I could see a parallel to the lives of many people I have met who are seeking peace, joy and freedom but feel trapped by habits, mind sets, family feuds, fears and addictions. Such people often feel they are bound by fate and cannot wriggle free. They may have attempted freedom in many ways, but each time they mustered enough will power or attempted a new gimmick, they were deeply disappointed. The sense of helplessness can be daunting.
Fortunately there is a great Sculptor who can set anyone free. He has designed a way in which people can be empowered to overcome. Unfortunately the term “born again” has been so often misrepresented that people often just consider it to be a cheesy expression used to comfort people who are weak minded. When, in reality, those who are born again are believers who are simply choosing to live life God’s way, with His power. They embrace a process that moves them into a relationship with God. Their new way of living allows them to live the kind of full life mankind was created to live. They let God take them from their prisons into a life of peace and power.
For many believers, this need for power is what makes the baptism of the Holy Spirit such an important event in their life. In the biblical book of Acts (chapters 2, 8, 10 & 19) history records that the first century Christians were all baptized with the Holy Spirit. This group of people included the disciples and Mary, the mother of Jesus. They prayed until God gave them power to leave their lives of fear and live in power.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that in the recent past many more believers are experiencing the same kind of empowerment as is described in the New Testament; by being born again of the Spirit they are getting a fresh start, a clean heart, and a life empowered by God. The numbers are staggering: It is estimated that there are over “90 million Spirit-filled believers who make up China's underground House Church movement.” (www.forerunner.com). “In the year 2000... there were just over 500 million people on earth who had been touched by the pentecostal/charismatic experience. The prognosis for the year 2025 points towards 800 million people.” (www.purposeinlife.org)
Do you feel trapped in a lifestyle, habit, or emotional state? Perhaps your hunger to be free is God’s way of leading you to experience His strength and power in greater measure.
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