About

Free Indeed! Many believers have pondered these questions inside their minds, “If Jesus’ death and resurrection really broke the authority of the devil over our lives, why does the battle still rage inside of me?” “If we have truly been translated out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness, then why does his kingdom still seem to exert influence over our lives?” “If Jesus really did spoil principalities and powers as Colossians 2:15 says, they why do so many believers still have to deal with such horrible strongholds in their minds?” A man was passing by a group of elephants one day, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not. My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” he said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size of rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.” My friend was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were. When we heard the gospel message and were born-again, Jesus came to “untie” us from the bondage Satan had on our lives. Through Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross, He legally removed the bondages that held us captive, including every stronghold that held us hostage in our minds. And even though we are totally free, and Christ has already done all that is needed to procure our freedom, we don’t perceive that we have really been set free. Although we have been born-again spiritually, a process of change has to take place in our inner-man, or better put, INSIDE OUR THINKING! If we don’t see ourselves in light of what has truly happened to us, we will continue to remain chained to the belief that have held us in bondage all of our lives. In John chapter 8, Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience who were “chained” as it were to the teachings of the Torah, the LAW of Moses, and they identified themselves as “Sons of the Law”. They were in bondage to the Law and didn’t know that Jesus had come to fulfill the law and was offering a new way of living in freedom, not as slaves to the Law but as Sons of God. John 8:31-36 TPT- Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “When you continue to embrace all that I teach, you prove that you are my true followers. For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives.” Surprised by this, they said, “But we’re the descendants of Abraham and we’re already free. We’ve never been in bondage to anyone. How could you say that we will be released into more freedom?” “I speak eternal truth,” Jesus said. “When you sin, you are not free. You’ve become a slave in bondage to your sin. And slaves have no permanent standing in a family, like a son does, for a son is a part of the family forever. So, if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free!” So many come into the kingdom of God battered, bruised, scarred and bound by the entanglements that the world has put upon them. There are many reasons for the bondages that Satan has put upon them that are the negative consequences of sin. A bad marriage, drug problem, sexual perversion, a lying spirit, mental hang-up or some other kind of scar that has been inflicted upon them BEFORE the met CHRIST. If these bondages are not removed through the renewing of the mind by the Word of God, then the strongholds can and will continue to exert power in the life of a Christian. They become the “ropes” that are used to hold the believer in a position of dominance and defeat by the enemy. How do we break free? The MIND is where the warfare is centered. It is something we all are born with and it is a rebellion against God. Romans 8:7 TPT …the mind-set focused on the flesh fights God’s plan and refuses to submit to his direction, because it cannot! Col. 1:21 TPT- (prior to your salvation experience) you were… you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions… Ephesians 4:17-18 TPT- So with the wisdom given to me from the Lord I say: You should not live like the unbelievers around you who walk in their empty delusions. 18 Their corrupted logic has been clouded because their hearts are so far from God—their blinded understanding and deep-seated moral darkness keeps them from the true knowledge of God. 2 Cor 4:4 TPT … their minds have been blinded by the god of this age, leaving them in unbelief. Their blindness keeps them from seeing the dayspring light of the wonderful news of the glory of Jesus Christ, who is the divine image of God. We are BY NATURE “children of wrath”… Satan wants us to live in an unhealthy fear of God thinking that He wants to punish us for our sins, even the sins of our past, or our past failures. NOTHING IS FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! But in order to discover what the truth is we must renew our minds through the truth of God’s Word: Romans 12:2- TPT Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. Eph. 4:23-24 Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. 24 And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness. TRANSFORM: metamorphoo: meta- denoting change of place or condition and morphoo: to form. To transform, transfigure… Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ live in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom. Apply the Scriptures as you teach and instruct one another… 1 Peter 1:13-14 So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you. 14 As God’s obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better. If we don’t apply the truths of God’s Word in our thinking, then we remain tethered to the dictates of our old self-life and under the dominion of Satan and our past. 2 Cor. 5:17-21 TPT- Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. 18 And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God. 19 In other words, it was through the Anointed One that God was shepherding the world, not even keeping records of their transgressions, and he has entrusted to us the ministry of opening the door of reconciliation to God. 20 We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So, we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.” 21 For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with Him.