THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

FREEDOM - WHAT IS THIS FREEDOM?

• The power or right to act, speak or think freely.
• To be free is not to be under the control or in the power of another.
• You are Permitted to take specified actions.
• Not confined, obstructed, or fixed.
• Not subject to engagements or obligations.

We are not free from: -

• Laws of the land,
• Word of God
• His eternal spiritual laws.

In the beginning The Lord gave man freewill, the ability to choose for himself, what he thought, said, and did.

To choose to believe the Word of God or not.

The proof that man really did have freewill was, that The Lord did not stop him from disobeying His words and taking and eating the forbidden fruit.

When man made that choice it released sin into the world, and by its nature, sin tries to deceive us into believing that we have no choice, but to sin, to believe that sin is stronger than our resolve not to sin.

So, freedom is having the ability to choose for yourself.

River - The water in a river flows freely, tumbling this way and that, and yet it is contained within boundaries, the riverbanks.

A river without boundaries or banks is a flood.

In most cases these banks are naturally formed, but sometimes man has reinforced the banks or even changed the shape of the river, to suit his purposes.

The natural banks are like God's spiritual laws and the man-made banks are like man's laws.

Canals - The water is contained within man-made channels and only flows when sluice gates are opened, the water levels are controlled.

This is an example of a Yoke.

Yoke.

The teaching of a particular Rabbi, this was his understanding of parts of the scriptures. This is where Man made doctrines came from that took away the choice of the people and brought them into bondage.

• Acts 15:10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
• Galatians 2:4 This matter arose because some false brothers infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
• 1 Timothy 4:1-6 Doctrines of demons, the forbidding to marry, forbidding to eat certain foods.

Religious Monastic lifestyles.

Vows of: -

• Chastity,
• Silence,
• Poverty,
• Bondage.

Instead of developing Self-discipline: -

• Purity,
• Controlling the tongue,
• Good stewardship,
• Submission

Isaiah 58:5-14 to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? V9 …if you do away with the yoke of oppression,

Matt 11:28 – 30 Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

BONDAGE – is the state of being a slave.

Bonds are things used to tie or fasten things together / physical restraints used to hold someone prisoner / shackles / irons.

Ways of controlling other people are through mind control, ideologies, using threats, intimidation, taking away their freewill, and leaving that person with no choice other than to do what they are told.

Siberia – if the distance doesn't kill you, the cold will and if the cold doesn't kill you the wolves will.

• Exodus 2: 23 Israel sighed by reason of the bondage

Israel was invited to live in Egypt, by Joseph, they were honoured guests because they were members of his family, but when he died and the Pharaoh died, they were gradually brought into slavery by the new Pharaoh.

It appears, that they did not complain about this until it became quite oppressive. That can be the case today, in that many people do not complain about their circumstances until it becomes intolerable.

They are willing to endure oppression if it is not too difficult…. Frog in boiling water.

Religion Latin – religio – Obligation – to bind, legally bound, return to bondage.

Religion is a set of man-made rules that make you acceptable to God,

Teaching that you become acceptable by obedience to their laws.

Christianity is based on being made acceptable by God through what he did, for us and trusting, that Jesus' sacrifice is enough.

We change our lifestyle because we want to not because we must!

• Exodus 13:14 by strength of his hand, the Lord brought us out of bondage

Just as The Lord delivered Israel from their bondage, so he delivered us from our bondage, through what Jesus did at the cross.

• Gal 5:1 Christ has set us free

It took place over two thousand years ago, at Calvary, but it only affects us when we believe and receive this freedom.

He has restored to us our freewill, we no longer must be enslaved by sin, and we now have the freedom to say no, to resist temptation.

We no longer must live our lives being controlled, exploited, or oppressed by any other person; we have the right to choose.

But the scripture says… stand firm, do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery.

So, we can see that, this yoke of slavery will attempt to come back into your life, people will try to control you, to take away your choice, to corner you, put you under obligation to do what they want.

But we are to stand firm, and not allow this to happen.

• Romans 8:15 for you have not received the spirit of bondage to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption, that causes us to cry Abba father.
• Hebrews 2:14, 15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared their humanity, so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death……

When we are tempted Jesus can strengthen us to resist temptation, when people attempt to bring us into bondage, he is able to deliver us.

So, we no longer need to be in bondage to sin or to people or religion.

Different Bondages for us to renounce: -

• Fear
• Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship (adoption). And by him we cry, "Abba" Father.
• 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
• Addictions – Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes, Food, etc.
• 2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity – for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
• Romans 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness?
• Fear of Death
• Hebrews 2:14-16 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity, so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
• Captivity to Satan
• 2 Peter 2:19 (see above)
• Servant of corruption
• Luke 8:26-29 Gadarene demoniac
• John 8:34 Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
• Acts 8:23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.
• Romans 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness?
• Compulsive sin
• Proverbs 5:22 The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.

• Bondage to sin
• 2 Timothy 2:16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become increasingly ungodly…. V19b The Lord knows who are his, and Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.

Prayer – Father, I come to you today knowing that only you can set me free from these bondages in my life.

I ask you to forgive me for yielding to these areas of sin based on 1 John 1:9 and I renounce each area ………….

And I bind these spirits of Bondage from working in my life based on Matthew 8:18

and I loose the spirit of adoption and freedom in Jesus' name.

Amen

Written by Pastor Graeme Foster

Apostolic Praise Centre

Apostolic Prophetic Training network