He Came to Set the Captives Free
He Came to Set the Captives Free
by Dr. Robert T. Tucker
The “freedom from prison” the Bible talks about doesn’t necessarily mean a literal “Department of Corrections” type prison with block walls, bars and barbed wire fences. Although God can, and does at times, set prisoners free from behind those walls, in churches and programs, it is not uncommon to see Him set people free from the things that sent them to prison in the first place. I’m talking about the prison we find ourselves in within ourselves. Our flesh, holding our minds captive to sin, is a battle that constantly rages within the mind for control of the body. If Satan can gain control of the mind, he will be the one that controls the body (your actions). He can, and certainly will, but only if we let him. We do have a say in the matter! For this specific reason, we are told to “hold our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.” Even those that have already found freedom in Christ can easily find themselves back in bondage to their sinful desires if they do not heed to God’s warnings and utilize the power He bestowed upon us as believers. He came to Set the Captives Free
Ever wonder why, even though you promised yourself or others that you wouldn’t do something, you ended up doing it anyway? Were you lying when you said it? I wasn’t! I really meant it, but I just couldn’t stop myself when I was confronted with temptation. I tried, and I tried, over and over, and kept failing to do what was right. It is helpful to have some understanding as to why we struggle with control over our actions. Each time our flesh gets its way, if it is sinful and ungodly, our soul (mind) and spirit suffers the consequences right along with it.
Our body is a vessel originally designed to carry (transport) our soul (life within) and spirit. It is also a vessel that other spirits can use and/or abuse if we allow, but only if we allow it. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit residing within, but our flesh can still be outwardly influenced, consciously and unconsciously by other spirits. Regardless to whether these other spirits are in us or just tagging along attempting to influence our thoughts, they can easily lead us astray if we are not aware of their schemes. We must armor-up in order to survive and learn when to stand firm, resist or flee. This is an area we all must pay serious attention to because our will decides who rides along with us. That’s right, we are the one who makes the ultimate choice. With this in mind, it is helpful to have a clear understanding of what we are dealing with and why we do the things we do even when we really don’t want to. He came to Set the Captives Free
Paul Gives Some Insight: He Came to Set the Captives Free
Romans 7:14-25 says: “The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things. know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to, but I can’t. 19 When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” He came to Set the Captives Free
As Christians, we have The Helper living within that helps us clean up our lives. With Christ, we have the ability to understand what is going on inside us and can do something about it. Scripture helps us to identify our problems and gives us all the answers necessary to find true freedom from the bondage our defects (our sinful nature) have kept us in. God’s truth, His living Word sheds light on those areas of darkness. His Word, the Bible, is a perfect mirror that reflects our imperfections. We look into perfection and see just how imperfect we really are. The deciding factor to true healing lies here – are we willing to take some action or are we going to just turn and walk away? In program, we often hear the words, “more will be revealed.” God’s Word, in combination with convictions from the Holy Spirit, exposes what needs to be changed in us. Then, if we’re willing, His transforming power helps us make these changes. God is the one that exposes the lies, discloses His truth, and surgical removes the defects buried deep with-in. He also heals the wounds they caused. He is the great I Am! He is everything and all we’ll ever need. Our part in the deliverance process is to come to Him with honesty, open-mindedness, and a willingness to do whatever is asked of us. These three ingredients are key factors in a successful recovery. They equal surrender of self and a willingness to follow direction. The only reason we’re able to stay clean today is because, at some point in our past, we had a desire, and out of that desire, a willingness grew. Out of this willingness, we find the ability to truly surrender and God appears. There is an old saying; “when the student is ready, the Teacher appears”. He was always there, we just couldn’t see Him because we were in the way. He knows we need Him and He anxiously awaits our invite.
God comments about those who think they can do it without Him
Psalms 2:3-6
“Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from this slavery.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The LORD scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.
For the LORD declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, my holy city.”
Jesus was sent for this very purpose! To deny Him is as though we are saying His suffering was done in vain. Do you believe that what He says can apply to your life and your circumstances? If not, what’s holding you back from trusting Him? Turn to Him today. He loves you and your freedom is His goal!
Dr. Robert Tucker is the Director of New Life Spirit Recovery. He also trains and equips men and women to become certified drug and alcohol counselors for the state of California, utilizing biblical principles.
Our clinical directors are well known published authors whose materials are used throughout the country and even the world. New Life Spirit Recovery was established in 2004 and has been recognized by many credible ministries such a Focus on the Family and Calvary Chapel.
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