Introduction: We read of how the enemies of Jesus bound Him and delivered Him to Pilate. There are very few today who are not guilty of binding the hands of Jesus, in a "figurative" sense.

1. By Refusing to Obey the Gospel:
   1. Jesus stretched out His hands and died for sin.
   2. When one refuses to obey the gospel
      1. His hands are bound
      2. Blessings are missed
      3. For him/her, Jesus died in vain.
   3. Is this true of you?
      1. It is if you have not accepted the gospel
   
   {But even those who obey the gospel can be guilty of "binding His hands"

2. By Refusing to be Transformed
   1. Christ's will is that we be transformed
      1. This involves a renewing of the mind(Rom. 12:12, Eph. 4:20-24
      2. This occurs when we read, study, and meditate upon the Word of God.
   2. Many Christians neglect the means to be renewed.
      1. We do not receive with meeking the Word Jas. 1:21
      2. Allow other things to take precedence in our lives and "Bind the Hands of Jesus"
   3. Are we guilty of this?
      1. We are if we neglect to study the Bible on our own
      2. If we neglect the transforming power of the Word

3. By Refusing to Pray.
   1. Jesus is our "High Priest"
   2. We are taking the praying hands of Jesus and binding them
   3. Are we doing that? What a travesty.
      1. For here is Jesus who lives "to intercede"
      2. We prevent Him by not praying.

4. By Refusing to do our Part in the Church.
   1. The Church is the "Body of Christ"
      1. As His body, we are members of one another.
      2. As members, we are to care for one another
   2. When we fail to do our part, Jesus is "BOUND"
      1. Just as the physical head can do nothing if the body refuses.
      2. Jesus could do so much more if members did their part.
   3. Have you considered?
      1. By refusing, we "handicap" the body
      2. Because of our neglect the whole body suffers

5. By Refusing to Share the Gospel with the Lost.
   1. Jesus made His disciples to be "His Hands" to share the gospel
      1. Jesus used His disciple to tell the "Good News"
      2. Jesus works the same today.
   2. When we keep the "Good News" to ourselves"
      1. We bind the hands of Jesus once again.
      2. We hinder Jesus from telling others.
   3. Are we "Binding the Hands of Jesus" in this way?
      1. Many souls are dying with no hope
      2. This would not be if we made sharing the gospel a priority
      3. Sad to say, the primary concern is pleasure & material things.

CONCLUSION:

1. We do not have to literally "bind the hands of Jesus" to be guilty of the same sort of offense we read about in Mark 15.
2. Why not resolve to "loose the hands of Jesus" so that IN us and THROUGH us He may accomplish His full purpose? Which is:
   1. To SAVE us!
   2. To TRANSFORM us!
   3. To USE us!