Please pray – Father God, thank you for allowing me the time to study Your Word and giving me the opportunity to reach out to those who are in need of being released from affliction. Lord, place a desire in all of us to lift up the mighty name of Your Son, Jesus. Let us not be distracted dear Lord by the happenings in this world. We pray for our leaders Father and remind us to keep our eyes on You God in the midst of turmoil, in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
As a matter of fact – There are more than 168,000 Bibles either sold or given away per day in the United States according to the Gideon’s, Wycliffe International and the International Bible Societies. Historically it has been said that the Bible is the most sold book of all time. It is regularly on various best seller lists. The Bible has been translated into more than 1,200 languages.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
There were times my control of thoughts and actions were running out of bounds and I was unable to stop myself. The idea of not having self-control seems to be more predominating in these times than usual and there is a sense of helplessness. Today the world is faced with terrible problems; terrorism, crime, economical struggles, confusion, racial strife, and spiritual battles both personally and in the pulpit. There is false teachings and a complacent attitude in the body of Christ. We are intensely searching for solutions, regardless of what the issues are, for the source of the problem will be found with man being guided without God. We need not look at the psychologists, doctors, or sociologist or any other as such to find solutions for these problems. The answers we seek is in the Word of God. It is there that reveals to us the saving power of Jesus Christ. We can learn how this saving power can become ours personally and effectively. The Gospel was given to us by God to save us from sin and to guide us through this life.
Matthew 1:21 She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Many live according to their desires and the Lord gives them perfect freedom to do so but the fact is they are sinners (by definition). In contrast however, there are those who are striving to conform to the divine will of God. Those who lay hold to the power of the Gospel and by living in faith will be changed in love, patience and purity. These traits and a reverential fear of God, becomes part of one’s character which helps sustain from sin. The authority of God becomes more real to the believer as they walk in His power over the sins that had them bound.
It is only to the believer that the gospel is the power of God to salvation from sin.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
A believer can be guilty of disobeying God, but his conviction should not allow him to practice disobedience. To all others it is a theory, a story or a doctrine. There is a difference between a person who lives according to the flesh (an unbeliever) and one who lives according to the Spirit (a believer). Not saying believers are not prone to sin, we are, but the difference is we have an Advocate, a Defender and are under Grace; this gives us the advantage of having the divine authority over the enemy, (praise God for it church!). As faithful believers, we know when we are displeasing God and will do what is needed to turn from it. However, evil has a way of taking hold in a person’s
life, and bad habits are formed and are hard to break. For an unsaved person, sin forms a chain that only the Savior can break.
Hello to you all once again. I know that’s an intense intro but thank you for joining me in this very important topic about bondage. This will be an in-depth and informative look at one of the most destructive reasons why homes, families, and souls have broken or fallen. In some cases, it has been the reason for stealing salvation from committed and faithful Christian; (Refer to #10 – Gifted New Heart).
We live in a fallen world and because of this we all have been in some type of
bondage in our lives at one point or the other and may still be. We need to be aware and recognize it then deal with it. Certain types of bondage can and will cause more damage to not just one self but others who are close to the one in bondage. We need to keep in mind as we move through this subject that there are many types of bondage and as we get deeper into this study, I pray God will use this message to free someone from the enemies grasp today. You will have the knowledge to defeat the enemy and turn things around in your life. With that said, it is important for us to grasp the concept of the spiritual battle that is taking place and how it plays a part in either our demise or our victory.
Ephesians 6:12, 12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Now, I believe in transparency for this ministry (and with all of us) for many reasons. The enemy will not be able to hold the sins of our past over us through transparency. The enemy has no weapon to use against us once covered by the blood of Christ. All he knows is our past and there is where he finds our weakness. Transparency, meaning confession and repentance brings all things to light and is a part of the criteria for (having a ministry), loving God, doing His will and living in His word. When you walk with God you walk in the Light.
John 3:20-21, 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be clearly seen that what he has done has been accomplished in God.
When the Holy Spirit gave this assignment, I knew immediately this would be a difficult task to undertake on a personal level; however, this topic need be addressed. Those who know me, know that I had to break free from some very powerful principalities that had me bound and were destroying my spirit and salvation with a vengeance. Reading the previous messages, you are aware of my spiritual past. I battled the spirit of lust for many years and was victorious by the power of God and through His mercy He extended His grace and afforded me forgiveness. Although being saved and under grace, we can still be put into bondage. Chained and shackled to a familiar spirit and I couldn’t break free regardless how tough I thought I was. Many times I tried and many times I failed. Please remember the term “familiar spirit”. Allow me to put this topic into perspective so we can understand the process of bondage; we’ll look at – how it starts, how it develops, how to defeat it, but most importantly how to keep the victory. The Holy Spirit started me on this journey with this verse:
James 1:14-15, 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin: and sin, when it is full-grown brings forth death.
Definitions are an important step to getting deep into the meanings of some common words. This gives us the knowledge we need to change and grow.
Bond: something that binds or holds together a person to certain Circumstance or line of behavior.
Bondage: slavery or involuntary servitude The state of being bound by or subjected to some external power or control.
Lust: having strong desire for, crave, covet, sexual desire.
Desire: strongly wish for or want (something). Want, wish for, long for, yearn for, crave, desperate for, covet.
God created the human heart with the capacity for passionate desire so that we would long after Him and His righteousness.
Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
However, the concept of “lust” is now usually associated with a passionate desire for something God has forbidden, and the word is seen as synonymous with sexual or materialistic desires.
How it begins: Before there is bondage there is a lie. Every demon that inflicts bondage begins by injecting lies into our thoughts. A lie is introduced to what we think is in our hearts then we start to believe and justify it. Becoming acceptable temptation and not realizing this is an affliction, a symptom of a disease, it is the beginning of bondage. This is the “foothold” the enemy is looking for thereby harboring sins like anger or lust in our hearts, (Ephesians 4:27 “and give no opportunity to the devil”).
Desires that are not pleasing to God and are morally inappropriate are an evil desire. Jesus said, John 8:34 “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” and that He “came to set us free” (John 8:32).
Sinful lust, whether it’s carnal or spiritual, is a desire first perpetrated by the enemy. This desire can be seated deep within us whether generationally implanted or the first generation cycle. Once the lie is accepted the seed of temptation is being planted. Temptation is not the sin; in (Matthew 4:1) Jesus was tempted by the tempter himself.
How it grows: The next step in the downward progression of temptation, according to James 1, is that “desire conceives.” Temptation begins as a seed, a thought packed with wrong desire. If we allow the seeds to germinate, they will sprout into something bigger, more powerful, more difficult to uproot. Lust typically is a focus of pleasing oneself (internally) and it often leads to unwholesome actions to fulfill one’s desires with no regard to the consequences. Lust is about possession and greed.
Job 31:11-12, 11For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. 12 It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.
Temptation becomes sin when it is allowed to germinate. Desire takes on a life of its own and becomes a lust and ultimately bondage. Although there are many types of lust, Jesus made it clear that lust is sin, even if we do not physically act on it;
Matthew 5:27–28, 27 You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery. 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Our hearts are God’s domain, and when we allow evil to grow there, we defile His temple. These desires are placed in our hearts when we believe the lies and begin to justify it. If you recall (for those who read the previous messages), #10 – Gifted New Heart explains how not to trust your own heart because it can be deceived and the enemy relies on this fact to implant his bondage.
James 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
We have to choose when faced with temptation; we either refocus on God if we know Him or we give into it. Not having salvation is a game changer, chances are you will give into the tempter due to the lack of knowledge. There is a void with the character in your heart, (for more on this topic refer to #10). Desired lust is too powerful to handle alone and there will be times you think you’ve beat it only to slip again. Those who have been in bondage for many years have a “familiar spirit”. Meaning it has become a routine or a way of life that has or will take the place of family, friends and ultimately pulling us away from our salvation. It is a spirit that has been accepted with emotional ties to it which are very familiar and a part of their character. This takes us away from God and His influence in our lives. It will distract us of who we were and who we were meant to be. We are drawn to bondage by enticement. “Entice” in the Greek is referred to as “bait” as if on a fisherman’s fishing line. Imagine a worm dangling on the hook and a fish swims by and sees this tempting juicy worm. The fish is enticed to lunge at it and then swallows the bait. When the hook is set, he is dragged away, caught by what was tempting and desired. When we encounter temptation, we should immediately reject it as Joseph did when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:11–12). Hesitation opens the door to enticement.
Romans 13:14 but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Such hesitation is “making provision for the flesh” and like the fish, we grab hold of the tempting thought, believing it will delight and fulfill us. We savor the fantasy, imagine new and sinful scenarios, and entertain the idea that God has not provided all we need for happiness. This is the lie the enemy uses to entice us with. Tempting us to lunge at his lie to further his plot to destroy. In today’s society there are enough temptations to go around. Coupled with the ease of cyber stimulation, whether it be pornography, habitual social media, violent content or other perversions, those in bondage are heading for the destruction of all they care for;
Job 31:12 It will wipe out everything I own.
How to break free:
Genesis 39:11-12, 11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
If you are tempted or approached with a thought of temptation turn from it
immediately as Joseph did when tempted by Potiphar’s wife. Flee means to run away quickly and hastily from a place or situation of danger; run from something or someone. Do not give the enemy a chance to tell his lies. Salvation is the first and most important step if you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior. Without Him and His Holy Spirit, none of this will matter. At the end of this message I will lead you in a prayer for you to accept Salvation. Also, I will lead a prayer for those in bondage.
Five things that should be done to get out of the grasp of the destroyer. Are
you still with me? Let’s get you free!
1. Confess
You have to admit it to yourself and to someone you trust. Tell your spouse or a pastor or minister. It has to be brought to the light before anything can be done. Confess the bondage that is in your life. Be direct and brave. All demonic spirits have a name and we need to call them into the light. The enemy doesn’t want to be exposed, he has no power over you once he’s pulled from the secret shadows of your heart and mind.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
2. Repent
Turn away! Keep away! Stay away! Do not put yourself in a position to be tempted by anything that is associated to this bondage. Repentance (Greek; metanoia) Meta – ‘change’; noia – ‘mind’. Repentance means you have to change the way you think. Renew your mind means not to just turn away from sin, but to change your mind about your sin.
Matthew 6:13 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is week.
3. Repent to others
Repent to others not just to self. Who has this bondage hurt? Who have you lied to or deceived? To get release from the bondage, confession and forgiveness (either seek it or give it) are essential. For God to work within you and for you to get free, there has to be a complete cleansing, as the Lord had to do with Peter. (Refer to #7 – Related; and Luke 22:62). It may be the hardest thing you have to do but it has to be done to get this release.
4. Renounce the lies
Romans 16:17-18, 17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
The master plan of the enemy is to separate us from others, ourselves and from God. He has worked hard down through the generations to inflict hurt, trauma, deception and every sinful reaction he could into our families and ourselves. When you begin to renounce Satan’s lies and to receive the Truth, your eyes will be opened to receive God’s Truth and to walk in the light. As we pray to renounce Satan’s lies and to receive God’s Truth, light will cast out the darkness.
5. Sustain self-control
Guard your mind and control yourselves, denying human nature; its impulse to satisfy its desires, and even sacrificing ourselves (giving of ourselves to God; submit to the Holy Spirit) are necessary if we are to stop sinning as a way of life.
2 Peter 1:5-7, 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
To keep the victory. If you are married, confessing to your spouse is essential
and is the strongest defense you will find. They will be your support system and prayer partner. They can help you when you are tempted or weak. If not married then this confession needs to be with someone that will hold you accountable and is not afraid to tell you the truth. Accountability will keep the light shining into the bondage that kept you bound.
Luke 12:2-3, 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Saints, if I were not able to talk to my wife and confide in her about the struggles, especially while researching this topic and then addressing it in this format, I would have fallen on my face. I thank God for my loving wife and our relationship has grown in spite of the bondage that once held me. The enemy had a stronghold on me but our God is so much more powerful and merciful and with Him all things are certainly possible. (Not a cliché). During the researching phase, I recognized the temptations and the lies the enemy was throwing at me. I reached out and pleaded for prayers on Facebook and had received many. Some of you even called and prayed for me over the phone and I want to thank all those who did.
Bondage is very much like a substance addiction, like an alcoholic sitting in a bar full of booze and trying not to order a shot. It can be that powerful because of the temporary fix or rush as it were. This becomes very hard to break away from, at least it is when trying to on your own. How much more difficult would it have been for me if I had kept this bondage a secret from my wife? If I lived my life in secrecy, I would still be in held captive but the good news is by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit I can claim victory over the enemy even today! If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, please pray this prayer out loud, and mean it!
Lord God, I am a sinner. I know Your Son left His Throne to die on the cross to save me from my sins. I confess with my mouth Jesus is Lord and I believe in my heart that You God raised Him from the dead. I ask you Lord Jesus to come into my heart and save me from all of my sins. Renew my heart, my mind and my soul. Awaken my spirit Lord God and give me the hunger to know You and to follow Your Son, I ask this in the name of Jesus. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me, thank you Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins. Thank you Lord God for my salvation.
Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
If you prayed this prayer, and meant it in your heart, then praise the name of Jesus. The next step is very important. You must proclaim it to others, your spouse, children or friend; someone needs to hear about it. Jesus said, if we deny Him to others He will deny us to His Father. Tell someone. I have a gift for you if you did, so please let me know. For those who are in bondage, I want to pray for you. Do not read the prayer below unless you are saved and have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. This truly is nothing to be fooling around with.
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Lord God, cover me with the blood of the Living Savior; protect me from the enemy as I proclaim in the name of Jesus and stand on God’s Word to take authority over the enemy. Right now I command all principalities of bondage to go in the name of Jesus, by the power of Jesus the Living God, I stand over all spirits of torment to leave in Jesus Mighty name, the spirit of lust, the spirit of immorality, spirit of perversion all have to go right now in the name of Jesus, spirit of deceit, spirit of lies, of anger, of infidelity, of addiction all leave my brother and sister in Jesus name, spirit of sexual perversion, seduction, gossip, jealousy, selfishness you are commanded to leave right now in Jesus name, spirit of depression, of bitterness, of hopelessness, of suicide, of mental and physical sickness, I command you to go in Jesus name, all types of bondage of every kind that hinders mighty God to prosper and grow in His word, I take authority over you and command you to leave in Jesus name, I command you to go. By the power of Jesus and the Holy Father I cast you into the depths of hell from which you came, in the mighty glorious name of Jesus, hallelujah, in Jesus name free my brothers and sisters right now, in Jesus name! Amen and amen and amen! I thank you Jesus for Your power and might. I thank you Lord God for Your glory, I praise Your Holy name! Thank you for taking charge over the enemy and setting us free. Amen, amen and amen! Praise God!
I would like to know if you have received this prayer. We need to follow up with more prayer and hold you up to the Lord for protection. It doesn’t end here, this is a battle that you will have to continue to fight. The enemy will try to tell you nothing has happened, he will be leaving you and at the same time telling you nothing has changed. Do not listen to him. He cannot hold you any longer, it is law; glory to God. With the help of your church family and fellow believers, we will be here for you.
Remember, you will be tempted even more now to fall back, the chains are broken– Turn away, run away and stay away! Do not listen to the lies of a liar. He is defeated, in the name of Jesus!
Please let me know if there was a victory claimed today. What a great day of testimony when we have chains broken and a victory in Jesus name. God bless you all and thank you for your commitment to our Lord God. You can contact me anytime for prayer and guidance.
