Freedom from
captivity
Chapter 1 –
Seek God’s glory
Act
11:21: “And the hand of the Lord was
with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” (KJV)
Most of us would
like to have promises from the Lord for our personal benefit – we desire that
the Lord should protect us, lift us and bless us but instead, we need to yearn
for the hand of the Lord to rest on us in a powerful way, so we can lead many
people into the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are many
people unable to experience this power of God in their lives, because they are
in various kinds of bondages. Many are trying hard to give up habits that are
binding them but are unable to do so.
What are the things that keep people in bondage?
Let’s study the Bible to see some of the bondages that
the Bible talks about.
2 Peter 2: 19 (GNT) talks about being “slaves to destructive habits”
Many
people including believers are in bondage to various habits. They are aware
that these habits could destroy them, their health sometimes, their families
but are unable to break free. They try
hard and make a resolve to give these up but are incapable of doing so.
Titus 3:3 (NLT)
mentions those who are “slaves to many kinds of lusts and
pleasures.”
A lot of people are in
bondage to various kinds of lusts and pleasures.
Titus 2:3 (NIV) speaks about being “addicted to alcohol”
Today
addiction to alcohol has become a huge menace in our society. Many who are aware of its ill effects, are
seriously trying to give up the habit.
They make a resolve, and even are able to break away from the habit for
a while. In a short time, they are again
overwhelmed by the desire and fall back into the habit. This can sometimes be a vicious cycle.
Galatians 6:4(ISV) speaks about being “slaves to things that are not really gods
at all”
Before
we knew the true and living God, many of us were enslaved to so called gods,
that had nothing of the divine in them. People are sold out to some traditions
that they hope will deliver them from their bondage.
1 Corinthians 7:23(BSB) speaks about being “slaves of men”
A
lot of people are living in slavery to others.
A classic example of this is how some men actually immolate themselves,
because their leader or hero became sick and was hospitalised. Many youth are
slaves emotionally to another person so much so they can’t even think and
function normally.
Romans 6:20 (NIV) speaks about those who are “slaves to sin”
Think
about various other things that are also keeping people in bondage today. Many are imprisoned to drugs, gambling,
pornography, social media, love of money, cinemas, serials etc. There are others who are slaves to anger,
lies, lust and bitterness. There are many who are filled with bitterness, that
they are unable and unwilling to forgive or relate to the ones who hurt them.
When we give anybody or anything the place that is due to God alone, we become
slaves to that thing or person, whatever that is.
So
many people, including believers are trapped in some sort of bondage. Many are in despair, because they have tried
so hard, to give up and break free but are unable to do so. There are others who have come into a
personal relationship with Jesus and are still struggling with some secret
sins. They are overwhelmed by them, and
are unable to confess or be rid of them as they are not sure how others will
perceive what they are struggling with.
So the question is, is
there hope for deliverance from bondages that have tied us down? Here’s the good news to those who are in
bondage and wondering if there is a way of escape.
When Jesus went to
Nazareth His home town, he went to the synagogue and read from the Book of
Isaiah as recorded in Luke 4:18,"The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim release to the
captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are
oppressed....” (NET)
Jesus came to break our yoke of slavery to every form
of bondage. For those of us who feel, we are unable to be consistent in our
walk with the Lord, and that we are continually falling into the same sin,
there is the good news - Jesus is able to deliver us and set us free from all
our captivity.
John 8:36says. “If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye
shall be free indeed.”(ASV)
and that’s the greatest news for anyone who is in any kind of bondage. Jesus is
truly able to set us free from every form of slavery and sin. In order to
appropriate this in our life we firstly, have to accept our problem, confess it
to the Lord and decide to give it up, and seek the Lord for His intervention
and help.
What should be our reason to seek to come out of our
Bondages.
There
are several reasons why a person who is addicted or in bondage seeks to be
delivered from the same. There are
sometimes serious health issues due to an addiction, financial problems, family
problems, fear, anxiety and very often a deep sense of guilt which may prompt
someone to try hard to give up a particular habit or an issue that is binding
them.
Here’s
the most important reason that we should seek to be delivered from any sort of
bondage that we are in. Paul says in 1
Corinthians 10:31,So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever
you do, do everything to the glory of God. (GW)
So
whatever we are involved with in our lives, the thought that should be foremost
on our minds is, does what we do bring glory to God’s name or is it in some way
dishonouring Him. If in some way the things in our lives that have enslaved us
are bringing dishonour to the Lord, we definitely need to get rid of them. We need to honour God not only through our
singing, praying, preaching and teaching but in every little thing that we do.
The
very first line of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught his disciples in
Matthew 6:9, says, “Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honoured;”(GNT)
The mandate is very
clear. We need to honour God in every
area of our life – our words, our relationships, the things we see and hear and
do. God’s word is very clear that nothing that is defiled will ever enter into
the kingdom of God.
Psalms 115:1,“Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name be given glory on account
of your gracious love and faithfulness.” (ISV) We need
to constantly remind ourselves that we need to be free from everything that
enslaves us, and live in such a way that God’s name is glorified through us.
Let’s
look at a very crucial incident that took place in the life of Moses and Aaron,
towards the very end of their journey with the people of Israel from Egypt into
the land of Canaan.
Numbers 20:10:“Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and
said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for
you?” (GW)
Numbers 20:12:“But the Lord said
to Moses and Aaron, “You didn’t trust me! You didn’t show the Israelites how
holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I’m giving
them.”(GW)
The
people of Israel were at the desert of Zin, and were complaining because there
was no water for them or their animals.
As Moses and Aaron sought the Lord, the Lord commands Moses to go and
speak to the rock, and thereby bring water for the people to quench their
thirst. Moses and Aaron were so
frustrated with the people and their rebellion, that in anger, instead of
speaking to the rock, he rebukes the people of Israel and then strikes the rock
twice. Water did flow from the rock, and the people were satisfied that day,
but Moses and Aaron had to face a serious consequence.
The
Lord told them that both of them would never set foot into the promised- land,
because they not only did not trust in the Lord but more importantly they
failed to display God’s holiness to the people of Israel. Though they led
Israel for 40 long years, one single act of disobedience and dishonour to the
Lord, prevented them from entering the promise land. It is indeed a warning to
us that we need to honour the Lord in every area of our life. We need to desire
to be set free, and live the life of holiness that the Lord aspires for each
one of us.
It
is absolutely true that if Jesus sets us free, we will truly be free indeed. It
doesn’t really matter how long we have lived in bondage to something, the Lord
can set us free in a moment and help us live a life of freedom from every form
of bondage and captivity in our lives.
A prayer :
Our heavenly Father, I want to consistently bring glory to Your holy name through all my thoughts, words and actions. Please help me overcome all of those in my life which bring dishonour to your Holy name. You have said that if the Son shall set me free, I shall be free indeed. Set me free, Lord from every bondage that is not right. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
A prayer :
Our heavenly Father, I want to consistently bring glory to Your holy name through all my thoughts, words and actions. Please help me overcome all of those in my life which bring dishonour to your Holy name. You have said that if the Son shall set me free, I shall be free indeed. Set me free, Lord from every bondage that is not right. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
A.Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by : Ms. Esther Collins
Email : goodnewsfriends.net@gmail.com
For audio : Seek God's glory - Audio message in tamil
