FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE
INTRODUCTION
Freedom from bondage is a liberating moment when one is released from a force, influence, or power that has dominated their life! Prior to freedom there was a restraint of personal liberty, involuntary servitude, slavery, or captivity in one form or another; which when freed from its grip, gives one reason to shout the victory and be thankful!
A Psalm of David reveals freedom from bondage: I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined to me, and heard by cry. He brought me up out of a horrible pit (pit of despair), out of the miry clay (that which was attempting to hold him there), and set my feet upon a rock (refugee of safety), and established by goings (steps) (Psalm 40:1-2).
It was noted that the term "waited" indicated a continuance, constancy, and patience; hope and firm expectation, for help and assistance. Inclined refers to being upheld with assistance in carrying one through. He brought me up out of a horrible pit denotes freedom from bondage through God's deliverance!
Freedom from Bondage
Provision and Protection
The Psalmist David coined the words of the 23rd Psalm; a Psalm that has been the favorite of God's people through the ages and with due reason. It was noted that it expresses clearly the role of God as our protector and provider in life. The Lord is compared to a shepherd and the believer as His sheep. Believers are not pictured as mighty lions, independent and self-sufficient; rather, they are sheep who are dependent on their Shepherd for His provision and protection!
The 23rd Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (lack). He makes me to lie down in green pastures (pastures of tender green grass); he leads me beside the still waters (waters of rest). He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and staff (a shepherd's provision of protection) they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
Realization of Bondage
Freedom from bondage only comes when one realizes they are in such a condition! A man was asked: If given an hour to explain the Gospel to someone how would he do so? He said he would spend the first fifty minutes on the bad news of judgment and then the last ten minutes on the good news of salvation, because without the context of judgment one would not appreciate or even understand salvation!
When one has been in bondage to sin; and its devilish impulses, only when they are awakened to the fact, will they seek deliverance! Apostle Paul wrote: Know you not, that to whom you yield (present) yourselves to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience to righteousness (Romans 6:16).
Captivity Versus Freedom
Many are being held in captivity towards the sinful side of man; not realizing such, even relishing in its pleasures, void of conscience or conviction against such; enslaved to that which would condemn their soul to eternal damnation rather than a heavenly gain. They are brought into captivity (bondage) of the Devil, out of which nothing but the power of God, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, can extricate them!
On the other hand, those who have gained victory over sin, become the servants of obedience unto righteousness; have a new life in Christ, a new beginning, living soberly and righteously in His sight. Apostle Paul wrote: Now being made free from sin (freedom from bondage of such), and become servants to God (no longer to sin), have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life (Romans 6:22).
Entangled and Enslaved
Scripture reveals: His own iniquities shall take (ensnare) the wicked himself, and he shall be holden (caught) with the cords of his sin (Proverbs 5:22). It was noted that one's iniquities is as a snare or net in which one becomes so entangled that he cannot extricate himself; nor able to shake off the shackles of such entrapment.
He shall be holden with the cords of sin indicates that one becomes more in bondage with constant indulgence increasing its hold, with the individual's conscience becoming seared towards retaining it; with no desire for freedom from bondage, having become enslaved to it!
Spiritual and Physical
Death
Apostle Paul wrote: The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). It was noted that the penalty of sin is death, both spiritual and physical. The moment Adam sinned he died spiritually of what was provided prior to that time. Sin became a reality to Him, and to all generations, from that day forth!
It was noted that physical death (of an earthly nature) is described as separation of body and spirit; with one in an unsaved state, having to face a second death portrayed as the lake of fire. The only escape from this second death (a literal burning hell) is to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior; who provided the atonement for our sins, through His own shed blood on the Cross of Calvary!
It was noted that sin will do three things in one's life: It will take one where they never intended to go; it will keep one longer than they intended to stay; and it will cost one more than they intended to pay. Sin is costly business that separates people from God; whereas genuine repentance brings forgiveness and restoration with God, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Servants of Corruption
Apostle Peter wrote: While they (of a corrupt nature) promise liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in (into) bondage (2 Peter 2:19). It was noted that this was not Christian liberty, which lies in freedom (freedom from bondage) of sin and its dominion.
It was a license to immorality, to walk away from the Word of God, to live in all manner of sin and wickedness; which would eventually lead one to the confines of a literal burning hell. Such entrapment and way of thinking was by those who promise liberty while they themselves are in bondage!
They corrupted all (others); and particularly the lust of uncleanness, which they walked in. For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is brought into bondage, after having entertained the ways of sin, thus becoming a prisoner once again; such is neither a free man, nor can he promise liberty to others!
Know the Truth
Jesus said: You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). It was noted that the truth of the Gospel, acknowledging and adherence to it, will lead one from captivity of sin; while others who are ever learning and never coming to the acknowledgement of the truth (blinded); continue in the error of their way.
The Apostle Paul wrote: If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (perishing): in whom the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Many today have been blinded to the truth of the Gospel message; allowing the sinful side of man to be more prominent in their life than the life-saving message of Christ. There is a cultural drift towards doing what is right in one's own sight rather than adhere to the Word of God. Scripture reveals: There is a way which seems right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12).
Instructing Others
Apostle Paul wrote: The servant of the Lord must not strive (quarrel); but be gentle unto all men, apt (able) to teach, patient; in meekness instructing (correcting) those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to (so they may know) acknowledgement of the truth; and that they may recover (come to their senses) out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him, at (to do) his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
It was noted that to recover means to awake and come to one's senses, with one's mind being enlightened, convicted of one's sinful ways; repent of them through acknowledgement of the truth, and by so doing receive freedom from bondage, through Christ Jesus.
Freedom from Bondage
Transfer into Kingdom of God
Once I seen a monarch butterfly had been caught in the snare of a spider's web; I freed it from its entrapment, for the spider had not yet begin its work, and it flew up "freed" from certain death. It was a beautiful sight to behold, and that is what God wants to see in His people; freedom from bondage that so readily ensnares one in our modern day culture.
He gave His best, an atonement (sacrifice) for our sins, which freed us from a life of sin, through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ! The ugliness of what the spider was going to do, to such a beautiful butterfly, was undone by a moment of kindness.
Apostle Paul wrote: Who has delivered us from the power of darkness (Satan), and has translated (transferred) us into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption (deliverance) through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14). It was noted that the reference to His (Christ) blood He shed, was the enormous price and sacrifice He made to secure our redemption (salvation)!
Everlasting Life through
Christ
Scripture reveals: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Apostle John wrote: He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides (remains) on him (John 3:36). The choice lies with each individual as to one's final destiny based on that decision!
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