Do you carry a Bondage or a Slave mentality in Fear, negativity, pessimism, lifelessness, fear of lack ,anxiety of tomorrow & despair?
What is a slave mentality? The bible always mentions about a “yoke” of Slavery . Yoke is something we carry ourselves & something which we always submit to. Moses had completed his diplomatic mission to Pharaoh, God had delivered unspeakable plagues upon the Egyptians, and after 430 years of slavery the Israelites had escaped through the Red Sea via a narrow pathway of dry ocean bottom. Then, as soon as the drinking water ran out, these recently-freed slaves began to demand that they return to Egypt, where they would have been put back in chains the moment they arrived. Why? They had been just delivered Supernaturally,isn’t it!!!! Why?
As a slave we only think on a base level ,making sure our basic desires (food, sex, clothing) are satisfied but we don't think about the future. The flesh & mind had been habituated to a certain way of life which gave a little air to breathe for the current moment .We reach a mechanical state of mind. In fact the Body and senses control our mind. Our mind is not ready to accept any New Wisdom. We lose something called Hope & Life. We simply do not have the energy or the courage to forge a new life, with the attendant fears and unknowns, we continue to work for the old master. Our mind is so enormously convinced about the current reality & we start believing the LIE that , “I am actually what I am now in the flesh body.” The tools our mind use to support this , is our health, wealth , the Life of other people, other co- slaves & the teaching from our tradition , realities we see & wordly wisdom . Our mind is the most deceitful organ says Jer17:9. We do not know how it can fail us & lie to us so convincingly. Fear is the biggest Lie. We are not aware about our True identity as sons of God. We fear when we lose our identity & situation becomes meaningless to us.
Bondage is any impulsive or compulsive behavior that restricts us to enjoy or live the freedom that Jesus died to give us.
Many ask this question; Can believers be in Bondage, fear ,anxiety etc ?
Yes of course they can .I am an example. John 8:31-33 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’33 They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’34 Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it for ever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Here we notice Jesus speaking to believers. Jesus says that you believers can become slaves.But often what happens , we believers don’t want to admit that we are in bondage. Its very difficult for us to admit it,above verse John 8:33 , they claim they are Abraham's descendants & have never been in bondage. What a lie is that !! , if you analyse their statement. Abraham’s descendants have been in bondage to lot of nations starting from Egypt, assyrians, Babylonians, and many other nations. They were also in bondage to the Romans when that statement was made. Many times we ourselves do not know or are not willing to admit that we are under bondage. Its because we do not have a wisdom about the freedom in Christ. The 1st step of getting out from bondage is to accept that we are under bondage. Then the next step is to know the truth as Jesus said . Jesus is the truth. Jesus didn’t say to’ Meet’ the truth , but “Know “ the truth .Knowing Jesus is different from meeting Jesus. Many of us meet Jesus when we get saved, but we do not know him. Knowing him is actually gaining wisdom about the Word of God & thus knowing your own identity through the scripture. Knowing truth is also obeying the truth . Jesus said”Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. ”
The Believer Jews knew that Abraham descendants were children of promise. Are we the offspring of Abraham? Gal 3:29 says” If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Like Issac we are also children of promise(Gal 5:28).
Did God promise the offspring or descendants of Abraham to bring them out of any bondage of fear ,death etc ?
Yes, Heb2:14-17 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.
It is easy to set free from bondage ,once we handover the yoke of Fear or Slavery to Christ. Since its no more our yoke , it is Christ’ yoke when we handover. After which the Word of God becomes our truth.The truth gives us identity & meaning to our existence.
This is the truth about who you actually are .The Word of God Says in Jesus Christ…
(Read the below diligently , that the seed may be sown in your spirit)
I am God’s child (John 1:12)/ I have been justified (Rom 5:1)/I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)/I belong to God (1 Cor 6:20)/I am a member of Christ’s Body (1 Cor12:27)/I am assured all things work together for good (Rom 8:28)/I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22)/I am confident that God will perfect the work He has begun in me (Phil1:6)/I am a citizen of heaven (Phil 3:20)/I am hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3)/I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7)/I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)/I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3)/I am chosen before the creation of the world (Eph 1:4, 11)/I am holy and blameless (Eph 1:4)/I am adopted as his child (Eph 1:5)/I am given God’s glorious grace lavishly and without restriction (Eph 1:5,8)/ I am in Him (Eph 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30)/I have redemption (Eph 1:8)/I am forgiven (Eph 1:8; Col1:14)/I have purpose (Eph 1:9 & 3:11)/I have hope (Eph1:12)/I am included (Eph 1:13)/I am sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13)/I am a saint (Eph 1:18)/I am salt and light of the earth (Mat5:13-14)/I have been chosen and God desires me to bear fruit (John 15:1,5)/I am a personal witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)/I am God’s coworker (2 Cor 6:1)/I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-20)/I am alive with Christ (Eph 2:5)/I am raised up with Christ (Eph 2:6; Col2:12)/I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph 2:6)/I have been shown the incomparable riches of God’s grace (Eph 2:7)/God has expressed His kindness to me (Eph 2:7)/I am God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10)/I have been brought near to God through Christ’s blood (Eph2:13)/I have peace (Eph2:14)/I have access to the Father (Eph 2:18)/I am a member of God’s household (Eph 2:19)/I am secure (Eph2:20)/I am a holy temple (Eph2:21; 1 Cor 6:19)/I am a dwelling for the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:22)/I share in the promise of Christ Jesus (Eph 3:6)/God’s power works through me (Eph 3:7)/I can approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph 3:12)/I know there is a purpose for my sufferings (Eph 3:13)/I can grasp how wide, long, high and deep Christ’s love is (Eph3:18)/I am completed by God (Eph3:19)/I can bring glory to God (Eph3:21)/I have been called (Eph4:1; 2 Tim 1:9)/I can be humble, gentle, patient and lovingly tolerant of others (Eph 4:2)/I can mature spiritually (Eph 4:15)/I can be certain of God’s truths and the lifestyle which He has called me to (Eph4:17)/I can have a new attitude and a new lifestyle (Eph 4:21-32)/I can be kind and compassionate to others (Eph 4:32)/I can forgive others (Eph 4:32)/I am a light to others, and can exhibit goodness, righteousness and truth (Eph 5:8-9)/I can understand what God’s will is (Eph 5:17)/I can give thanks for everything (Eph5:20)/I don’t have to always have my own agenda (Eph 5:21)/I can honor God through marriage (Eph 5:22-33)/I can parent my children with composure (Eph 6:4)/I can be strong (Eph 6:10)/I have God’s power (Eph 6:10)/I can stand firm in the day of evil (Eph 6:13)/I am dead to sin (Rom 1:12)/I am not alone (Heb 13:5)/I am growing (Col 2:7)/I am His disciple (John 13:15)/I am prayed for by Jesus Christ (John 17:20-23)/I am united with other believers (John 17:20-23)/I am not in want (Phil 4:19)/I possess the mind of Christ (I Cor2:16)/I am promised eternal life (John 6:47)/I am promised a full life (John 10:10)/I am victorious (I John 5:4)/My heart and mind is protected with God’s peace (Phil 4:7)/I am chosen and dearly loved (Col 3:12)/I am blameless (I Cor1:8)/I am set free (Rom 8:2; John 8:32)/I am crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20)/I am a light in the world (Mat 5:14)/I am more than a conqueror (Rom 8:37)/I am the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21)/I am safe (I John 5:18)/I am part of God’s kingdom (Rev 1:6)/I am healed from sin (I Pet 2:24)/I am no longer condemned (Rom8:1, 2)/I am not helpless (Phil 4:13)/I am overcoming (I John 4:4)/I am persevering (Phil 3:14)/I am protected (John 10:28)/I am born again (I Pet 1:23)/I am a new creation (2 Cor5:17)/I am delivered (Col 1:13)/I am redeemed from the curse of the Law (Gal 3:13)/I am qualified to share in His inheritance (Col1:12)/I am victorious (1 Cor 15:57)
The biggest truth is that God is Love . 1 John 5:18 says “There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear.” I have been literally worried sick about so many things, including my past, my future, my health,job, what people thought about me in 2011. And because I couldn't get my mind of my problems, I found myself in a place of utter torment. You may have needs that are beyond your resources and the spirit of fear is attacking you, telling you that you aren't going to make it. You may feel like nobody else cares. In 2011, I experienced his perfect Love . God will put people ,situations to display his love. My wife played a key role that God assigned. Fear is a Lie ,it immerses you, let go . By fear , you are actually holding tight your mind & thoughts . Gods words are Spirit & Life(john6:63)
What is perfect Love ?
Perfect love is displayed when we share a wisdom with someone & bring them out of their bondages just like Jesus .As a result a new life springs out of their soul & spirit . We can display perfect love when we share a wisdom that can take them to eternity . This wisdom tells them “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Rom8:37-39
Gods Love is the biggest truth. This truth will set you free & free indeed.
” You are not what others think you are or what you think about yourself. You are what God says you are.”