Ministry Moment #10

Set The Captives Free

04/09/2016

What is it that holds you captive? Literally or figuratively? Mentally or physically? Carnally or Spiritually? It is a well-known fact that there are many vices and habits that once tried, can hook us and pull us into a situation where we may feel in bondage. Oftentimes, it is a behavior that seems harmless at first, or something that appears to be “cool” or the “in thing”. In an attempt to be popular with the opposite sex, or fit in with a certain crowd, we don’t properly peruse and assess the dangers of things like drug use, smoking, vandalism, delinquency, and a host of other self-destructive habits. The sad thing is that many of us are unaware as to how quickly these things can drag us down into a spiral of personal despair via physical deterioration, diseases, collapse of morale, and disconnection from family, friends, colleagues, and church. The sad fact is that these are all tricks and deceptions of the enemy who seeks not only to pull us away from the things of God (YAWEH in the Hebrew text), but also to defile our bodies, which the Bible tells us are our temples of the Holy Spirit which is in us, which we have of God, and is not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19). We must present our bodies as a living sacrifice; holy and acceptable unto God (Romans 12:1). Substances that distort and/disorient our minds can prevent us from communing with God, and warp our realities, causing us to do self-destructive acts unto ourselves and others. Add to the above stated behaviors, financial bondage, job pressures, and relationship issues, and the picture should be clear that there are a multitude of issues that can cause us to feel like captives searching for a way to be free.

Fortunately, there is one who came down to walk among men and had to die for us and pay our sin debt in full. He knew that our sins were not a burden that we could bear ourselves, and that if not atoned for, would forever hold us captive with no means of escape. What Jesus (Yeshua in the Hebrew text) accomplished on the cross was a feat that no one but he could accomplish as he was (and is), the perfect, sinless, lamb of God. Not only did he die for us, but he showed us the way, the truth, and the life, to get to be with the Father; for as it is written, the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Crist our Lord (Romans 6:23). What Jesus did for us does not give us license to continue to sin; and although humans are sinful by nature, as our flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh (Galatians 5:17); we cannot do the things that we wish.

So where are you? Do you feel like you are being held captive without a means to break free? Realize that it is entirely possible to free yourself by committing yourselves to the one who came to preach deliverance to the captives (Luke 4:18) and paid it all.

Shalom,

Minister E. Lionel Perry

04/09/2016