Text: John 5:1-15
& 11:30-44
INTRODUCTION
You can be resurrected and still
be restricted like Lazarus, can be raised and be limited, can be sincerely
saved and still suffer oppression by Devil and his cohorts. You can be
righteous and not reign, hence the need for constant self examination and freedom
from all forms of bondage and restriction.
Freedom is not cheap Matt 12:29
says or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house and spoil his goods,
except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house. One of
the seven most popular people in the world Nelson Mandela who was incarcerated
for twenty seven years is another testimony. The lord had to afflict Pharaoh
and his people with ten different plaques before they could be let go even
after four hundred and thirty years.
The number of years that has been
spent in captivity is not a justification for release, it was not the fact that
the man in our text had spent thirty eight years at same spot that commanded his release.
It was God’s mercy manifested through Jesus that did it.
BONDAGE HOW?
The following are sources of
power which the devil also seeks to bind, when one’s source of power is bound,one is obviously withheld, movement and progress are impossible, the devil does
need a physical chain to bind people and things, he copies God who is a spirit(John 4:24a says God is spirit) and hence duplicates spiritual operations:
1. Prayer life: when a
Christian’s prayer life is in bondage it is just a matter of time before the
person becomes helpless against the devil. When prayer becomes a burden such
life will soon become or remain a burden.1 Thess 5:17 says pray without ceasing.
Prayer meeting is good, praying partner is better praying alone is the best.(Rev.
George Adegboye)
2.Praise: This is a dangerous
weapon in the spirit but the devils always wants people not doing it, he would
rather have us complain and think/talk the things he hasn’t done rather than
praise Jehovah, our father ,our source and sustenance. Psalm 150:6 says Let
everything that has breadth praise the Lord.
3. Finance/career/work: One’s
Finance can be under serious attack from the devil. The devil does not need all
day to turn a fortune to frustration, Job lost all that he had in one day Job
1:13-22, John 10 :10a says the thief cometh but to steal kill and destroy, the
devil is an expert in stealing, killing and destruction.
4. Marriage: Marriage and the
attendant fruitfulness can be in the den of the devil, a situation where all
that happens in a home is endurance not enjoyment is a clear evidence of
darkness.
5. Health: James 1:17 clearly
tells us that only good and perfect gifts come from our Father in heaven,
wholeness is the only agenda of God for our health any manifestation contrary
to this is clearly not from Him.
6. Inspiration/creativity/eyes of
the spirit: if not that God came and opened the eyes of Hagar she would have
lost her son and may be herself. To birth something new we need genuine and
constant flow of inspiration from God as even the bible says in Ecss 1:9 that
there is nothing new on earth.
WHY BONDAGE
1. For the glory of God. John 9:2
2. To mature us 2 chr 4:17
3. To make us seek Him Hosea
5:15c
4. Our Sins Matt 5:14
5. Giving room to the devil .Eph
4:27,1 Pt 5:8-9
WHAT TO DO
1. Be
a genuine child of God Prov 16:7
2. Call,
seek, find and fight for your freedom. Matt 7:7,Prov 18:10 says the name of the
Lord of a strong tower.
3. Thank
and Dance your way out. Act 16:25
PRAYER
Lord by your
mighty hand, release me and all that is mine from all forms of bondage in Jesus
name.
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