Set Free

​Set free from death, sin, self, hate, guilt, shame, fear, Covid, cancer, Satan’s condemnation, and all manner of evil!

The opposite of free is something that actively opposes or occupies, invades, or has controlled power over another! To set something free is to place or stand it in a specified place or position.
In order for something to be set free, it cannot be confined, imprisoned, obstructed, fixed, restrained, or controlled.
Sin produces bondage and chains, which slow us down, defeat us, confine and imprison us. Sin wants to control and influence our thoughts, our desires, and actions. How do we stop this process? The first step is to recognize we are in a battle and conflict – like that of an earthquake with a magnitude of 10.
My nephew and family live in Taiwan where there are 2,000 earthquakes a year – some little, some large. They live in a very tall building built to be earthquake proof. When a quake occurs, the building sways, protecting it from collapsing. If these precautions and preparations were not in place or had not been planned, many would die from falling buildings and structures.
The same is true of wars and battles. Preparations, precautions, and planning have to take place if success is going to happen. An army going into battle prepares, has a strategy, and projects in detail how they will move forward in order to defeat the enemy. It has been said, “Much of the battle is won in the preparation and realization that a war is raging and that a struggle even exists.”
Sin, our flesh and the devil are enemies. They are powerful, but not all-powerful. We are not doomed to an inescapable outcome or even destruction. Sin, our flesh and Satan do not have to have control over our mind, will and emotions. To believe otherwise is to be in bondage and chains!
Here is my version of the song “Chains” by the Cookies:
“Chains, Satan got me locked up in chains, and they ain’t the kind that you can see. Whoa, it’s not chains of love and grace that have a hold on me! Cause I am not free! I am locked up in chains! Please set me free!”
These chains placed over our shoulders and around our necks weigh us down, confine us, restrict and stop us from moving forward, moving quickly and freely, even inflicting pain and bondage.
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” (Romans 7:18)
We do not have the power to fight the battles of life in our own strength and by ourselves. The key to victory is found in the Holy Spirit and the arsenal of weapons God has provided for us in His Word. (Eph. 6:10-20)
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:11-14 ESV)
Grace does not change the nature of sin, but instead God’s grace enables us to rely on the Holy Spirit and His power in our lives, which will in turn bring victory. Pleasing God is about depending on Him and resting to receive His power and grace in our lives.
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6)
In order to have victory, the battle must be fought with God’s weapons. It will require preparation and knowledge of our enemy. It means being alert and ready at all times to fight.
The battles will be intense and constant! The world, the flesh, and Satan want nothing more than to find us laying our weapons down, giving up, and giving in. Remember that sin produces chains, slavery, defeat, and even death. But Jesus wants to set us free, break the chains, tear them asunder, and utterly destroy them.
Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31)
Rejoice in Me, for I have come to set you free! I am truth, absolute, unchanging truth. Everything else in this life is shifting sand.
ONLY JESUS CAN TRULY SET US FREE!
Therefore, live as a prisoner who has been set free!
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the Devil. (Eph. 6:10-11)
He sets the captive free,
From the blindness within
Releases the binds of guilt
The shamefulness of our sin.
He loosens the chains,
Makes love out of hate
Unshackles our burdens
Eases the heavy weight.
He heals the backslidden,
Freedom is now in sight
The yoke of oppression
We no longer have to fight.
He scours out the darkness,
In His light, there is power
With grace and mercy
Our lives, He empowers.
No longer are we slaves,
To man and his laws
Now we come before God
With holy fear and awe.
Oh, what a privilege,
No longer are we bound
Free indeed at last . . .
Our liberty in Jesus found!
(by Deborah Ann Belka)