There are reasons we feel enslaved and unable to change or grow. We have oppressors. There are tyrants that restrict our freedoms and enslave us. BUT, the truth is that we have been given freedom in Christ. Those that attempt to steal our freedom do so with lies.
Believers are free, but often do not experience freedom. Why is that? How might we fix that?
Galatians 5:1 (NIV) 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.
You ARE free, now you have to BE free. Your freedom in Christ could guide your life. But, freedom is not what most are experiencing. Most feel bound, limited, restricted, and smothered. Most feel like they are powerless to change their life, direction, or experience joy. That’s not God’s fault. God isn’t the one ruining your life. God’s plan is that you would have life and it would be overflowing, excessive, and amazing. And, you don’t need your circumstances to comply to do it.
Romans 5:12 (NLT) When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
Revelation 12:10b (NLT) For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
Someone Is Trying To Take Away Your Freedom
The Realms of Men, Demons, and Heaven. These scriptures reveal a reality that we don’t often consider. They expose an enemy we’re not sure is real. But, he is. It seems strange that people don’t believe in a Devil, but are consistently angry with a God that they also say they don’t believe.
God’s BIG CHANGE! God restored MORE than was lost in Adam through Jesus. Now there is a NEW CREATION on the planet. People recreated back into the IMAGE of God. People who are filled with God’s spirit. People with authority from God’s realm OVER Satan’s and Man’s realm. That is exciting1
Of course, Satan is NOT happy with this arrangement. So Satan and company are doing the best they can to limit you. They are working to stop you from discovering your authority in Christ.
How does he do this? Satan is a lawyer. He is a prosecuting attorney. In fact, He is THE prosecuting attorney. He is continually looking for evidence to limit your freedom and power. The problem he has is that you are FREE from this LAW! So he has to keep you in the dark on that truth (Romans 8:1).
He is Continually Using our Past Against us. There are laws in place from the former covenant. The Old Covenant. Such as, your sins will be visited upon the next four generations and some to ten generations. There were things that brought curses. All of these laws are still in place. They can only be escaped by dying to yourself and following Jesus.
John 5:9-10 (NLT) Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected.
Others Are Afraid Of Your Freedom
Religion doesn’t Really have Room for Freedom. Religion has rules, expectations, and punishments. The problem with Religion is that it is of the flesh and it attempts to use laws to control the flesh. Those “rules” only serve to awaken the desires of the flesh (Romans 7). So Religion seems logical, but in the end, it is self-defeating. Rules do not produce anything that God finds acceptable. There usually comes a day (no matter how well-meaning the rules are meant to be) that they will keep you from doing what is right.
James 4:2 (NLT) You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
Insecure Faithless People don’t Either. People are afraid of your freedom. They are afraid that you might do something that will harm them, scare them, or do something else. So they want and need to stop you or keep you in check. Earthly governments, HOAs, taxes, fines, religious groups, clubs, and many other things are simply intended to control others.
Should society then be free of rules? Would anarchy help? People need God, they need the Lord Jesus, and they need the Holy Spirit. They need to live by the “law of the spirit” that enables life as Sons/Daughters of God. Only God’s love is capable of creating a society filled with peace, love, and grace.
If we must have rules, what about the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount? Even the 613 laws of the Torah (Gen-Deut) would be an improvement. Your HOA probably has more than that. In short, the freedom to truly and practically love is better than tons of rules that only awaken our weaknesses.
1 John 2:1 (NLT) My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
So, You Have A Legal Problem
The Greatest Prosecuting Attorney of All Time is Coming After You. Satan is doing everything he can to use God’s law against you. He’ll even help you make up your own rules and use those against you too. The simple reality is that you are bound to fail on your own, BUT. . .
Hebrews 7:25 (NLT) Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
You also have the Greatest Defense Attorney of All Eternity. Jesus is fighting for your freedom. For your FREEDOM. He purchased that freedom with His own blood, and He knows that your FREEDOM will change your world.
Galatians 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
