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Chains are an obvious symbol of imprisonment. In physical terms they restrict us, hold us down and back and signify our captive state. In spiritual terms they do more or less the same. While many of us won’t experience physical chains, we’re by no means immune to the impact of spiritual chains which harm our spiritual growth. These kinds of shackles are just as unmissable and detrimental to our freedom because they affect our behavior, our outlook and our faith. “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” John 8:35–36 (NKJV).
The Bible features numerous accounts of physical chain breaking but it also is full of stories about people who had their spiritual chains broken by the Lord. These types of chains can be manifested in various ways such as through demons (demonic strongholds), sickness (diseases), sin (immoral lifestyles and living).
But these biblical stories aren’t just documented so that we know what Jesus was able to do for people that followed him in the past, they’re also there to show us what he can do for us today. Jesus comes to set us free and destroy the chains that bind us. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” Galatians 5:1 (NKJV).
The modern day chains that we may experience can come in a variety of forms. It might be an addiction, a lazy attitude or a failure to forgive. We can identify such spiritual shackles by assessing whether whatever it is weakens us, restricts our freedom and prevents us from reaching our potential to become closer to and more like Christ. If you’re aware that there are chains holding you down or you think there’s something shackling you but you’re yet to determine what it is, appeal to Jesus to set you free. “For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness” Luke 8:29 (NKJV).
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two” Psalm 107:13–16 (NKJV).
What are your chains? What do chains do? We all have them in our lives. There are things we have allowed to limit us, chains that have kept us bound. They set limits. Sometimes that’s good, such as when a boat is connected to the anchor by a chain, so it can only drift just so far. We can spot such chains by how we try to hide how significant they are in our lives, or deny they have that much influence they have on us. The thing about these kinds of chains is we will never see them broken, even by Jesus, if we don’t first admit we have them. We will never desire to change what we don’t acknowledge there is a problem. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them” Ephesians 5:6–7 (NKJV).
No matter how you attempt to dress up your problem with fig leaves, your underlying core condition remains the same, your soul has a void and is in need of a Savior. Whatever the struggle (emotional battle or turmoil), stronghold (mental or physical barriers)or shortcoming (spiritual flaws or weaknesses) that has you bound and enslaved to its power, Christ wants to set you free; forever. He wants to become Lord over your entire heart. He wants to fill that void and barren place with His unconditional love and unmerited fav or; we must learn how to trust His Word and His purpose stored within you. His unconditional love is stronger than the problem or trial that has you in bondage. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV).
The Word of God crushes or subdues every stronghold, in which can defeat every enemy that comes against your destiny or purpose. When you are in Christ, your immoral habits, and its false masks of security, have no place or power in Him. Your body, soul, and spirit belong to God, regardless of the crisis or trouble maybe facing today and in your future to come, that will try to twist or warp its identity in Christ, as only God’s Word can sever any entanglement caught between the struggle between the flesh and the spirit.“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” Galatians 5:1–6 (NKJV).
Sinful lifestyles and ungodly living are yokes of bondage, an enslavement that holds you, hostage to your old man and nature. They are entanglement that wraps itself around your very soul and hijacks your identity. In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. Nor are you a servant to its power or chokehold. Your body belongs to Him. You are His treasure; He has paid for you with His Blood. He has set You free.
“It shall come to pass in that day; That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil” Isaiah 10:27 (NKJV).
Those who are in Christ, have been given authority by God Himself to enforce His Word and power to command the enemy to flee.
When you choose to accept Christ, every stronghold and struggle must loose its grip and it’s condemning power from off of your life. When you are in Christ, He has given you the power to resist the devil, and he will flee. It’s up to you to embrace His Word and trust His promises. The power of sin no longer has it’s death grip on you when you choose Christ and not to serve your flesh. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” Romans 6:1–4 (NKJV).
Despite the fact that you may feel like your in a prison with no way out, you have a promise from God that He can cut through the very bars of iron that seem so strong, powerful and overbearing causing you to under a spirit of opposition or oppression. The Lord will come and rescue you out of a place of distress simply because He loves you. “And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands” Acts 12:6–7 (NKJV).
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” Acts 16:25–26 (NKJV).
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