“He looked down from His holy height; from heaven the Lord gazed upon the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to set free those who were doomed to death; that men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem.” (Ps. 102:19)
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has shattered gates of bronze, and cut bars of iron asunder.” (Ps. 107:15,16)
Freedom! O how God loves this word! Scripture says that when all the world was prisoner to their sin and selfishness, Jesus Christ came to set the captives free. Galatians 5:13 says that you and I were actually, “called to freedom.”
What does this mean. By definition, the word “freedom” means not being subject to the control or dominion of another. Scripture says that all mankind are held captive by the devil to do his will.
This is the work of the devil, and it’s this very work that Jesus came to destroy. Luke 4:18 says that Jesus was sent to proclaim release to the captives and freedom to the prisoners. He was sent to free those who were down-trodden by the devil.
This commission hasn’t changed. So when Jesus came, He addressed sinners who were bound in chains, a slave to their sins, and He called to them, “He whom the Son sets free shall be free indeed. God really likes freedom.
None of us would like to admit it, but we were all a prisoner of Satan, to do his will, before we came to know Christ. Thank God that the blood of Jesus has bought us, and set us free from sin’s ownership. And hallelujah, Satan has no authority over us, amen!
The word from the Lord this morning to us all is “Set them free!”. Moses said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go, that they may go and serve the Lord.” Jesus Christ commands Satan, “Let My people go that they may go and serve the Lord.”
A church bound up in compromise and besetting sins, unbelief and doubt, has become entangled. Paul says in 2 Tim. 2:4,
“No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”
Well, I’m sorry, but that’s exactly what this generation of church goers has done. We have become entangled with the affairs of everyday life, and God is saying this morning, “Set them free!” Revival is upon us! Talk about freedom!
Last week, we talked about 2 things we are missing, that we really need from God: Power from on High and Tongues of Fire! Well, this week, there’s something else we need to ask God for.
Freedom! Absolute freedom! Church, we’ve got work to do. One of our prayers on Thursday, at intercessory prayer was, “Lord, give us something to do!” The close of this age is happening right before our eyes, and God has not gone on vacation.!
He’s the Master Planner, and He is raising up a people who have no restraints holding them down. The freedom of God is on the march, and we’ve got to get in on it. Galatians 5:1 says that it was for freedom that Christ set us free!
Let’s look at freedom in action. There are some really good examples in Scripture that can give us a visual of what God wants to do for the church in America
What could Peter do about his current state of affairs. Here’s a man who was living and serving God, and he still got locked up in prison. I want you to know, this is the devil’s work, amen!
But hallelujah, prayer was being made fervently by the church to God on behalf of Peter, and surprise, Peter got a visitor in prison. But this visitor didn’t just come for a visit, he came to set the captive free!
NOTICE:
The chains fell off of Peter’s hands. He didn’t ask the guards for the keys.
Passed the first and second guard on his way out, not to speak of the two who had been on either side of Peter, handcuffed to him.
They came to he iron gate that leads into the city, and it just opened for them, by itself.
Peter was free! It took him a while to realize it wasn’t a dream. Maybe he was a little bit surprised. But for real, Peter was free from all restraints. No, he wasn’t going to be martyred in the morning. God had work for him to do.
This is God’s heart, according to Isaiah 58:6:
To loosen the bonds of wickedness
To undo the bands of the yoke
To let the oppressed go free
To break every yoke
What is it that still binds you? What is it that is left over from your former life, before you really gave your life to Jesus. Is it smoking cigarettes, or marijuana, drinking alcohol or some other substance abuse. Do you want to get free from it?
I’m not saying you have to do this to be saved. But I am saying God wants you clean and free from anything that has control over you. The apostle Paul said all things are permissible, but not all things are profitable. And I will not be mastered by anything!
Perhaps you a prisoner to constant attacks in your thought life, and you just can’t seem to get free from them. Maybe you’re still tormented from a past of being physically abused, or verbally cursed. Maybe you’re a slave to unforgiveness, or bitterness.
Brothers and sisters, this is a day of freedom; freedom to run full steam ahead in your service for the Lord, to be a part of the end-times warfare God is wanting you to engage in. Come on, get free. The word of the Lord to the devil is “Set My people free!”
Turn with me to Daniel 6:16-23
Freedom is when the lions mouth has been shut by God Almighty. Freedom is when Satan, who is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, has been prevented from destroying you life, like those in the lion’s den wanted to do, but God said NO!
If ever there was a generation that has fallen captive to the strongholds of Satan, this is it. I want us to understand that just because we’re Christians does not mean that Satan can’t gain access into your lives, and rule in certain areas.
It’s one of the biggest deceptions of our generation. So many believe that Christians cannot be affected by demons. But O yes they can.
Before you can be set free from his influence, you have to believe Satan can be manipulating you, and that it’s not just your carnal nature.
Your flesh has been crucified with Christ at Calvary . God has given us the cross to deal with our flesh nature. But we must resist the devil, in God’s power, to make him flee.
According to Scripture, Christians have always been affected by demons, ever since the church was started.
If Satan can’t touch the church, why are we instructed to put on the armor of God, to resist the devil, to stand firm, and to be alert? What will happen if we don’t do these things that we are instructed by Scripture to do?
If we aren’t susceptible to being wounded or trapped by Satan, why does Paul describe our relationship to the powers of darkness as a wrestling match? Neil Anderson says, in his book “The Bondage Breaker,
“Those who deny the enemy’s potential for destruction are the most vulnerable to it.”
Today, many Christians, even leaders, have sinned grievous sins against God. Their fall have been made public for all the world to see.
It would be insane to think that Satan had no hand in their fall. Though he did not make them do it, he was certainly in the process. And because sin becomes our master, after we fall, Satan has the open door to gain a measure of control over us. No, it is not possession. And no, our eternal salvation is not in question of being lost. But victory in the life of the believer is!
We must be serious in these last days, about spiritual warfare. Yes, we’ve been considering this morning that God says, “Set them free!” And you and I are to engage in this activity with Jesus Christ. But before we can do that, we must get free ourselves!
Again, Mr. Anderson says in his book, “It is not the few raving demoniacs who are causing the church to be ineffective, but Satan’s subtle deception and intrusion into the lives of “normal” believers.”
Let’s consider this, with a few Biblical examples. [Read the Scriptures!]
Lk. 22:31-34: Satan had a hand in Peter denying Christ.
Ja. 3:14-16: Satan has inspired Christians to serve the Lord, with selfish ambition and jealousy.
Eph. 4:26: Because of unresolved anger, the devil has been given opportunity to establish control over Christians.
Matt. 16:22,23: Satan has used Christians to cause others to stumble, by inspiring them to give demonic counsel that was focused on man’s interests, instead of God’s.
2 Cor. 11:4, Gal. 3:1, Timothy 4:1-3: Satan’s servants, who have been deceitful workers in the church, disguising themselves as servants of righteousness, have bewitched followers of Jesus and lead their “minds” astray from pure devotion to Christ, which led them to receive “a different spirit and believe a different gospel, even doctrines of demons.”
Acts 5:1-11: Satan has filled Christian hearts to tell lies.
1 Pet. 5:8,9: Satan has, and will continue to devour Christians who are not actively resisting him, standing firm in their faith, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
So now, it’s time for you to get free. God supernaturally sent the angel of the Lord to Peter in prison, and miracle after miracle happened, for Peter to just walk out of a maximum security situation to freedom.
Daniel spent the night with hungry lions, but God locked down their mouths, and they didn’t even attack God’s servant. God didn’t allow them to! All it took was some surprises from God.
God wants you and me to walk free, hallelujah! Free at last, from every stronghold of Satan. The Lord is here among us this morning, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, He stands ready to set you free.
What are some things that may be in our lives, that God wants us to be free of, that are fleshly and demonic. They’re listed on the back of your sermon notes. These are just a few suggestions from “The Bondage Breaker.” Let’s consider them:
I renounce stealing (in small or big measure).
I renounce quarreling and fighting.
I renounce jealousy and envy.
I renounce complaining and being critical.
I renounce lustful thoughts and improper use of my body for sexual purposes, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, pornography, and masturbation.
I renounce any thought of abortion, and I choose to be the proper guardian and keeper of God’s child in my body.
I renounce any thoughts of suicide.
I renounce gossiping and slandering people.
I renounce swearing.
I renounce not caring and being lazy in my walk with the Lord.
I renounce lying, hatred, and anger.
I renounce being unloving and unforgiving and selfish.
I renounce drunkenness and substance abuse.
I renounce cheating.
I renounce putting things off till tomorrow—procrastination.
I renounce drivenness and perfectionism.
I renounce eating disorders and self-mutilation.
I renounce any other sin which the Lord reveals to me right now.
Let there be total freedom, at last! We can live in the power of God, with tongues of fire, going forth to shine the light of Christ, everywhere.
“Through Christ, everyone who believes is freed from all things…” (Acts 13:39)
Saints, prepare to witness. BE free! Stay free! “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32) This is God’s heart, everyday of our lives, and He is able to accomplish it in us. Let’s bless the Lord and walk in freedom, OK! Amen.
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