A FAMILY, executing their carefully planned escape at midnight, dashing for the border…a man standing outside prison walls, gulping fresh air, awash in the new sun…a young woman with every trace of the ravaging drug gone from her system… they are FREE! With fresh anticipation, they can begin life anew.
Whether fleeing oppression, stepping out of prison, or breaking a strangling habit, freedom means life. There is nothing as exhilarating as knowing that the past is forgotten and that new options await.
EVERYONE YEARNS TO BE FREE
Freedom is an innate, universal desire. Everybody everywhere, irrespective nationality, age, sex and status desire freedom-the condition of being free; the power to act, speak or think without externally imposed restraints. Freedom is the reason for the struggles for independence from colonial masters. No human being wants to be under any form of slavery.
THE REALITY OF BONDAGE
Bondage or slavery is the state of being under the control of a force, influence or abstract power. Slavery is living and acting against your wish. A life under bondage has lost the right to life as he pleases. Such life is controlled and ruled by external influence or force. A life under bondage is a life of servitude, abuse, humiliation, beating, subjugation and loss of freedom.
But there is a worse slavery that the Bible discusses, spiritual slavery. It is the greatest of all slaveries. It is the root of every other form of bondage and slavery. It is the slavery to sin! Someone can be physically prosperous and yet be under this spiritual bondage. The children of Israel were prosperous slaves in the land of Egypt! Physical prosperity without spiritual freedom is the worst kind of slavery. Spiritual slavery is the slavery to sin! Jesus said everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Sin has a way of enslaving us, controlling us, dominating us, and dictating our actions. A nation can gain independence from its colonial masters while all its citizen remain spiritually enslaved. And only Jesus can set a man free from his spiritual bondage and give him a life of true freedom.
SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL BONDAGE
“What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time (Romans 7: 15, 18-20 MSG).
“Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do. They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, and malice. They gossip and speak evil of one another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful; they think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents; they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others. They know that God’s law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them” (Romans 1:28-30).
A life under spiritual bondage is a life that lacks the will to do the good they ought to do. Hence, behind the global evil is spiritual slavery. The reason for political unrest across the world is spiritual slavery. Slavery is first spiritual and then it becomes physical. The world is filled with people who lack the inner power to do the right they ought to do. Behind every act of rape, masturbation, corruption, fornication and adultery, divorce, killings, deceptions, drug addiction, abortion, nudity, lesbianism, gay marriage, embezzlement of public funds, hypocrisies and all forms of wickedness is spiritual slavery: people knowing the right thing yet bound by a stronger force that makes them do otherwise. Being a slave to sin is the ultimate bondage!
YOU CAN BE FREE!
Jesus can free you from the slavery that keeps you from becoming the person God created you to be. A sinful lifestyle is the exact OPPOSITE of the life God created you to live. If sin is restraining, mastering, or enslaving you, Jesus can break its power over your life.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free- Jesus (John 8:32)
The freedom Jesus offers is a spiritual freedom from the bondage of sin-that is release from the lifestyle of habitual lawlessness
Jesus Himself is the Truth that sets man free (John 14:6). He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from continued slavery to sin, from self-deception and from deception by Satan. He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. Thus Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be. Jesus came to proclaim liberty to the spiritual captives (Luke 4:18). He offers us freedom from sin, condemnation and death (Romans 6:22; 8:1-2). He came to set the captive free!
EXPERIENCING FREEDOM!
And you shall KNOW the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall SET YOU FREE.
The pathway to freedom from spiritual bondage and slavery is KNOWING HIM who alone can set you free! He is Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter how many years you have spent in the slavery camp of sin, Satan and condemnation, the moment you know Him, he sets you free completely. You’ve got to know Him. He is Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world. He came to earth for the main purpose of bringing freedom to a world under the bondage of sin and Satan. He has paid the huge price for your freedom by His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. This is a great mystery yet it is true. You only need to BELIEVE on Him and freedom is yours! Any captives after this message of freedom is a willing captive.
If you are ready, say this prayer SINCERELY!
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I cannot help myself. I believe you died for my sin and rose again for my deliverance. I ask for Your forgiveness today. Please, blot out my sins and cleanse my conscience with your Blood. I invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to experience the liberty of the children of God. Come in to my heart to stay. Give me Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for hearing me. Amen.
Say to yourself, I am free!