Finding Freedom

Jesus on many occasions made it clear that He has come to set the captives free. This freedom is a reality that we are given and promised once we come into a relationship with Jesus and experience the reality of being Born Again. Yet for many people the simple fact is that they live in bondage to many sins, habits and lusts that dominate their lives. Most of these things are bought into our “New Lives” from the “Old Life.” At conversion these things were not dealt with and so still dominate our habits and attitudes today. Smoking, drugs, drunkenness, gambling, pornography, are all habits and sins that Jesus came to free us from.
Reasons to be Set Free
1) Stewards of our bodies!
The bible makes it clear that the gift of life that we have, has been given to us by God. He has furnished us with our bodies as a precious resource and we are held accountable to how we use them. Many addictions and habits e.g. smoking, drugs, heavy drinking have a destructive impact on our bodies and even affect mind and spirit as well, as they become addictions. Life is a precious gift and we are called to be good stewards of what the Lord has given us.

2) Setting an Example.
Paul on a number of occasions makes it clear that the choices we make not only affect us directly, but effect our brothers and sisters indirectly. Part of this teaching challenges us that if we are doing something that potentially could lead a weaker brother or sister to sin then we need to make sure we do not do it. If you have been a Christian for a little while and new Christians see you doing something harmful or addictive it often happens that they will think it must be alright and follow your example.

3) You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
At the heart of the “New Birth” experience that we go through as a Christian is the FACT that the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within Us. Scripture says that when we sin against our own bodies this has the effect of grieving the Holy Spirit and damaging our relationship with the God.

4) Living in Freedom.
Freedom is at the heart of all that Jesus came to establish for us on the cross. Freedom from habitional sin, Freedom from all addiction and lust, Freedom from sickness and death and Freedom from the Satan and all his ways. To be enslaved or addicted to something, however enjoyable it is, stands against the cross and the Full Freedom that Jesus has died and rose again to give you. His power, authority and blood have been given us, in His Name, to set us free from addictions, habits and lusts that bind us, for He has come to truly set the captives free. This freedom is proof of His victory in our lives !!

5) Ambassadors of Christ!!
When we become Christians we make Jesus Lord of our lives. In this act we declare that our lives no longer belong to us but belong to Him. This means that from here on in we will obey His commands and live our lives in a way that testifies to Him and His Salvation. This means even though we may get some benefit from habits and addictions we have, we must sacrifice the pleasure of the moment, to Christ, and choose to live a life that points to His fullness and grace. It needs to be said, addiction to anything, whether smoking, gambling, drinking, pornography or drugs does not glorify God, does not point to the freedom He has given us and does not set an example in word and action for others to follow.

Choice to Make – Justify or Give up Sin?
One of the problems that we have as Christians is that we are incredibly good at justifying our sinful habits and addictions! The reason for this is that deep down we want to please God and know that sin and addiction is wrong. If then the desire of our hearts is to carry on doing something sinful then we work even harder to justify it to ourselves and prove that it makes no difference to our faith. Scripture declares to us that our heart is a deceiving organ that can lead us off the narrow path of righteousness that Jesus has established. For any change to take place and victory to be won in the place of addiction or habitational sinning there is an absolute need for us to recognise what it is that we are doing wrong! The process of being set free can only happen IF we are honest and admit our sin to God!

THE PROCESS THAT LEADS TO FREEDOM!!
In James 4 v 7 – 8 we are given clear teaching in how to come to a place of personal freedom in our lives.

Be humble and Submit to God:-
The root of finding freedom from addiction and sin is discovered when we are prepared to see our sinful behaviour for what it is before God and actively seek His help. This involves confessing to God that which we are doing which is wrong and declaring that we no longer what this thing in our lives. To submit to God is all about surrendering to God the area of your life that you are sinning in and placing His Lordship over that particular area of your life. As you do this you put this area of your life under His authority and therefore are open to His grace and power to transform you. Submitting and claiming the name and power of Jesus is what truly sets the captives free. As we do this we commit ourselves to be obedient to God in this area of our lives through the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit.

Resist the devil and he WILL flee!!
Once we have submitted ourselves to God, repented of the particular sin or habit and placed the Lordship of Christ over this particular area of our lives, we then come to standing against this habit or sin in our everyday life. It is a simple fact that once you seek to be free from something that displeases God you will go through times of temptation to go back into it. The way we resist temptation is to cut out (gorge out – as Jesus says, in reference to the eye that causes you to sin,) off our lives anything that simulates the desire to do that thing again. This act is an aggressive one which means often we have to change lifestyle choices and patterns of living that are connected to that habit or sin. If the habit is connected to particular times of the day then we need to change what we do at that time of the day or night. As we are tempted, this is the time when we need to remind ourselves of the Lordship of Christ and rebuke the desire in our heart and stand firm against it. As you do so, in the name of Jesus, ask that the Holy Spirit will give you an anointing of self control to stand against it. The simple promise of scripture is that as we stand firm in the power and authority of Christ the devil – sin – lusts and habits will be broken in us and will flee from us.

Come near to God and he will come near to you
It is a simple truth that is laid out in Scripture that praise and prayer has power to pull down the strongholds in our lives. As we draw near to God and worship Him we place ourselves in a position where Satan, sin and bondage has to flee. Worshipping God, reading His Word, prayer, all have power to build up our spiritual strength and keep us focused on what is ultimately important to us. It cannot be overstressed that if you want to be free from habits, lusts and addictions you need to cultivate your spiritual life alongside of resisting the temptation. As we draw near to God in worship and prayer – He draws nearer to us and releases that which we need to be truly free.

Walk alongside another
Often to be truly free we need to allow a stronger brother or sister in the Lord to pray for us and break any spiritual ties that may have occurred over the years of being trapped in a particular habit, addiction or sin. This should happen at the start of the process of being set free and often is the key that unlocks the doorway to restoration and freedom. Alongside of this initial prayer, it is important to meet with another Christian once a week who can hold you accountable to walking in the freedom you have been given. It takes time to relearn behaviour and change your lifestyle and so it is important that you submit to longer term care and support. Simple fact is we are part of a body and therefore we are not meant to try and do these things alone –but receive support, prayer, encouragement and correction from those who are mature in our midst.

Freedom is possible if we apply the God given process, persevere and allow others to walk alongside of us :- Jesus truly came to set the captives FREE!!

Daily Readings on Freedom

Monday:- Luke 4 v 16 – 21

Tuesday:- 1 Peter 5 v 6 – 11

Wednesday:- Colossians 1 v 15 – 23

Thursday:- Romans 8 v 1 – 17

Friday:- 2 Peter 1 v 3 – 11

Saturday:- 1 Peter 2 v 1 – 12

Sunday:- James 4 v 1 – 10

For further help, support or prayer:- please see the pastor or the ministry team. Our desire is not to judge you, but help you to a place of freedom in your life!!