Bible Study: Come Out of Captivity

King James Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Come Out of Captivity
For: December 02, 2010
Chapters: Galatians 4-6
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-december-2

Details of Today's Chapters: Adoption, heirs with God, the covenants of law and promise, liberty through the Gospel, walking in the Spirit, the works of the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word liberty is defined as freedom, freedom from captivity, bondage, or restraint, Jesus Said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior you can rejoice because you have the truth in you and it made you free. Free from hell, free from Satan, and free from any bondage or guilt you have had. Praise God! Wait a minute, are you sure you are free? Is there something from your past or even going on now that continues to hold you bondage. Even though we are saved, Satan loves to hold us down and keep us in bondage to our weaknesses, fears, and failures in life, but we do not have to live in bondage, it's time to come out of captivity and be free from all your burdens, guilt, shame, weaknesses, and fears.

As Paul continues to write the Galatians he reminds them of how they were once in bondage, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” - Galatians 4:3-5. The law that Paul is talking about is the law made between God and His people, given by Moses, that was a way for His people to have a right relationship with Him, but something happened. It was too hard for them to obey the law, so, God sent Jesus to redeem them once and for all. When we call on Jesus to save us, we are no longer in bondage to the elements of the world, but are adopted into God's family.

This is where many Christians keep themselves in bondage, they want a better life and know that they need to do something to change it, but out of fear or rebellion, allow the elements of the world to control them. Paul continues, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage...For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith...For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” - Galatians 5:1,5,13. The more you do for God and others the less things you do in the world. You can not expect nor does God expect you to remove every element over night, it takes time and as long as you are willing to take that step to use that freedom to serve God and others then you are on your way.

What exactly are the elements that keep a Christian in bondage? Paul tells us, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Galatians 5:19-21.

Variance means argumentative, emulations means rivalry, seditions means rebellion, heresies means disbelief, revellings means over indulgence, these are all things that still keep a Christian in bondage even though they are saved.

Now, you can not lose your salvation, but this goes back to Galatians 5:13, we are not to abuse our freedom by continuing to do the things we use to do before getting saved. It's going to be a painful life here on earth for any Christian who remains in that bondage. Life is hard enough as it is, but adding to it by living a lifestyle that you know is wrong will never set you free. Only living through Christ sets you free, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - I Peter 5:10.

When we live life through Christ He shows us how to step by step remove the things that we were or are bondage to and replace them with things that keep us right not only with God, but ourselves as well. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:22-25.


We can give thanks to God that we are no longer in bondage to the works of the flesh since all who have accepted Jesus had their sins crucified on the cross when Jesus died for them. Now we are filled with the Holy Spirit that allows us to bear His fruit and are free from all bondage of sin. However, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” - Galatians 6:7-9.

Christ set you free when He died on the cross for you, if you believe that then there is hope for you to get out of any situation you are in. He can bring you out of captivity, however, you must let Him help you, He is the only one who can. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30. Put your trust in Jesus to set you free, He is there for you.

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and week,
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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