Gal 5:1
1It 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.
Are you longing for true freedom? We all desire freedom and want to find a way to live in freedom. Many believe that if they can decide what they want to do, even if there are rules or demands involved, then they have freedom. But, they soon find out that their choice usually results in bondage. If I feel free to use drugs, this option will not bring me more freedom, but I’ll become bound and addicted to using drugs.
What is it to live in freedom? It is not to just do what you want, following your own desires and lusts. The fullness of freedom can only be found in Jesus and by following Him. I will share with you how you can find the way to freedom.
God has created us for freedom, but because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, we all arrive in an imperfect world. The world is full of things that will bind us in one way or another.
What brings you into captivity?
People experience much hurt in their life, not only physiological but also psychological and the psychological wounds often take longer to heal. Some wounds take many years to heal if you’ve have been hurt badly, and this hurt binds you.
Fear and sin are common areas that bind us. Even sickness can steal our freedom. How can we be delivered from all of this?
In the Bible the word freedom (Greek: elevtheros) is often used when a slave was released. The devil is a master to many slaves, even many Christians. Many are slaves to sin, fear and condemnation. I have been one of his slaves. When Jesus came, He gave us the ability to be free from our old slave master, and in Christ we can be totally free! God has made it possible through Jesus, but we have to make the choice and fight to live in freedom. The following scripture describes what happens when we are no longer under the lordship of Satan, but under Christ who delivers us. The word salvation (Greek. Sozo) also means deliverance. We don’t have to work for our freedom; we receive it for free. The only condition is that we want to have Jesus as Lord.
Eph 2:1-9
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful natureA and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
To see the truth
To become free, we need to stand firm in the promises that God has given us, and not remain under the old thought patterns that have kept us captive.
In the letter to the Galatians, Paul speaks to the Christians who wanted to go back to the law, or what they lived by in the Old Testament. They believed that you could receive God’s mercy by doing good deeds and not by undeserved grace. This is a trap that the enemy still uses today and it leads to bondage. It is important to see the truth the Bible gives us so that we do not put on burdens, which are not from God. More will be given on this later.
Paul uses the expression “the yoke of slavery” in the first scripture presented (Gal 5:1). The word yoke is not used much today, at least not in the western world. A yoke is a piece of wood that is cut to fit over an animal’s shoulders for carrying heavy loads, or for other work. For instance, it is used on bulls for plowing a field. A yoke is something that guides you in one direction as the master leads you. You do not give the direction, your master does. It is dangerous and harmful to be under the wrong master. The devil wants to be your master and direct your ways. He wants to put his yoke on you. This is a heavy yoke that makes you weary. But Jesus also wants to put a yoke on you, which is the opposite of what the devil wants. His yoke is easy and does not give you heavy burdens, but sets you free!
Matt 11:28-30
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
So, there is a yoke that Jesus wants to put on you, but this yoke will bring you into freedom and out of bondage.
To come into freedom you must take on the yoke of Jesus, in other words, let him be the Lord of your life. It is best that He decide the things in your life; He has created you and knows the best way to freedom. So, the road to freedom starts here.
Different areas of entanglement that could cause you to fall under the yoke of the enemy will be discussed, and then steps will be presented to set you free.
But first, meditate on these scriptures.
Joh 8:31-32
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Joh 8:36
. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Is 61:1-2
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,A 2to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
