Break Free From Bondage
·Addiction, Bondage to Sin, Hope
by Natalie · Print This Article
1. John 10:10-11, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
2. Matthew 9:35-36, “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”
In the verses from John 10, we realize the devil’s aim is to steal away our life spiritually first of all, but he also wants to steal and destroy whatever possible in our lives. It is as simple as: God gives life and blessings, and Satan destroys and steals life and blessings.
What do you have that you consider good? If it’s good it’s a blessing from God, and the devil doesn’t want you to have it.
Satan enjoys seeing us separated from the source of life, the abundant life that Jesus gives. Christians have eternal life which can not be stolen, but we can come into many battles; battles with health, finances, family, and sometimes addictions. One of the most important things we need to come to realize is the battles we face are not simply material, or physical, but they are spiritual.
(Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”)
What’s awesome is that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, wants to take our burdens and give us victory over our battles. It is up to us to trust in Him and have faith in Him, and to know He is God. That no situation is too big for Him to handle. Don’t give into the tricks of the devil which only brings death to different parts of our lives, but seek Jesus for comfort, strength, and victory over addiction, sickness, and disease.
In the verses from Matthew 9, it says Jesus healed every sickness, and every disease. Not only did He heal people, but He was touched emotionally inside; He felt compassion for those who were alone without God to guide and comfort them through out their lives and battles. He wanted them to know Him, and the abundant life He gives, so they no longer have to be weary.
In the last two verses it was speaking about the lost, but it identifies with Christians who are living a life in unnecessary pain of something like an addiction or illness that could spiral into death. The devil can make us feel isolated and alone with our problems, which leave us feeling weary, as if we’re doomed to be in that situation forever. Satan wants you to feel that way and wants to keep you from the Truth because he desires to see your life destroyed. You’ve probably heard the famous scripture, “The truth shall set you free”, and that couldn’t be anymore true! Knowing God’s Word equips you to live the way God desires and commands you live. To be able to defend yourself against what Satan wants to do with you.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”)
(John 8:31-32, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”)
Know that, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever..” (Hebrews 13:8) He still feels compassion for us and still wants to heal us. He desires for us to have life to the full! Satan has no right to steal one thing from you! Not one minute of your life should be given over to him! It is wrong for Christians to give victory to Satan instead of owning the victory Christ died to give us.
The question isn’t if God will break you free from the bondage of an addiction, but if you will have faith in Jesus to heal you and if you will give that burden to Jesus and leave it with Him, or will you run back to it. Have faith, and trust Jesus will take care of it and defeat the devil. Give your burdens to Jesus!
3. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Once you are born again God gives us the Holy Spirit within us. Our bodies become a temple; our bodies don’t even belong to us anymore, they are for God’s glory and ministry as part of the body of Christ to serve Him. Before the death and resurrection of Jesus, the temple was a building, now the temple is the body of whoever accepts Christ. When Jesus saw people abusing the temple by selling there He was so upset that He overturned the tables.
(Mark 11:15-18, “So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.”)
We know Jesus was upset when the temple before was being used for un-glorifying purposes; so we can imagine what He thinks when Christians defile their bodies with sexual immorality and openly allow Satan to destroy their body by choosing to use drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol that damage their health. Jesus paid a price for you on the Cross so you would be a new creature, a child of God and all the inheritance that comes with that. If a Christian chooses to allow Satan to destroy the temple of the Holy Spirit, they are sinning against God and choosing not to glorify Him, which is what the children of God’s lives are suppose to be a about.
Christians are called to live higher standards; to represent who God is and what God is like. So we must strive to follow the Spirit and not the flesh. God and His Spirit are there with us, strengthening us, constantly conforming our character to the character of Christ, not the world.
(Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”)
4. Phillipians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
5. Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
What amazing hope offered to Christians. Without Christ you’re completely on your own with your battles and problems, but with Christ we have strength and the impossible becomes possible! Hallelujah! In Matthew 19, Jesus had spoken with the rich young ruler and the young ruler chose his riches and possessions over living for God. Jesus then said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven…”, but then Jesus looked at them and said the impossible becomes possible through God! (Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before me.”) Anything we put before God becomes our god, our idol. The first of the Ten Commandments says to not have any other god. For the young ruler his god was his possessions.
Addictions are so powerful they can easily make what you’re addicted to your god. To a person who’s god is alcohol it does not only destroy their health but takes over their lives. They’re always waiting for that next chance to drink, and almost all of their money is spent on it. They cannot make right decisions and they easily hurt the people around them - but sometimes they cannot see it. Any drug is like that; alcohol is a drug and hurts the person who abuses it and they hurt the people around them.
(Ephesians 5:17-18, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”) We shouldn’t do anything that might cause us to not be sober, or hurts our bodies.
Cigarettes might not impair our judgment but it still is deadly! Cigarettes kill you slowly; it steals your money and it destroys the health of others around us. Sounds a lot like Satan, doesn’t it? Steals, kills, and destroys. It doesn’t take a lot of sense to know it’s wrong, but a lot of people choose to ignore the truth and stay in bondage, in the chains of an addiction Satan lured them into.
A lot of people who are in an addiction don’t believe they have the strength to fight it - so they choose do nothing about it. This is where Christ bridges the gap and Christians have hope! Jesus says these addictions and attitudes that cause separation from having the abundant life can be removed by Him! Jesus can change the heart of the greediest man to a person highly addicted to drugs. He can make their hearts desire Him and break them free of their chains if they would step out in faith. Jesus requires you to trust in Him so that He can help you turn loose from illness or addiction.
Decide today to leave an addiction behind, or anything you’re putting before God. Leave the burdens you’ve been carrying at the feet of Jesus; trust God to help you receive victory over it and don’t return to it! Remember you are not on your own, God can deliver you from anything!
6. Ephesians 6:10-18, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— .”
7. Matthew 28:20, “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Paul wanted to make sure the Ephesians would continue strong for the Lord, and be able to hold up against the battles and troubles the devil would send their way. In the end of the letter he wrote to the Ephesians while he was in jail he taught us all to wear the armor of God to be fully prepared for the battles we’ll face. When we go through hard times, even an addiction, it’s spiritual warfare. You aren’t just wrestling with something like tobacco, your wrestling with Satan. Wherever there is a great problem there can be a great miracle. If you just choose to stay in your problems then you choose to not accept your miracles. And that miracle can be a great testimony to someone else. God wants to see your faith increased by your struggles, not to be stuck. If you chose to be stuck in your spiritual state you are missing out on what God has planned for you.
(Romans 5:3-5, “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”)
He wants to use this as an opportunity to produce your character to be more like Jesus, and your faith to be a testimony to others who went through what you have. (Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”) God loves you and doesn’t want to waste your hurt. But wants to use your testimony to show hope to others; the testimonies you have are powerful. In Revelations it shows Christians defeating Satan by the word of their testimony. (Revelations 12:10-11, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”)
Paul said to have the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ignorance of God’s word is what get’s people into situations like addiction; the word of God breathes wisdom into our minds. (Joshua 1:8, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”)
Meditating on the word of God shows us how to be successful and prosperous in Gods eyes; God knows what’s best for us because He created us. Paul also said to always be in prayer, prayer is an essential; the more prayer means more power, no prayer equals no power. So, know God is with you, loves you, and wants you to have life to the fullest, more abundantly, and wants you to have victory in Him! So, now it is up to you to put on the full armor of God, have faith for God to break the bondage, resist the devil and step away from your bondage and be set free from it forever! (James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”)