OVERCOME EVERY FORM OF BONGAGE
By W. G. Guy
To live the Christian life as a true follower of Jesus means to face many and varied obstacles. That means that there is much that we need to overcome. Jesus and His Holy Spirit give us that power and ability to overcome all such obstacles.
What needs to be overcome are all that hinders and obstructs our going deeper in our relationship and fellowship with Jesus and our Heavenly Father. Thus we have a great deal that we need to overcome in this effort. We are hindered by the things of this world.
1 John 2:15-17 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
We are hindered by the weakness of our fleshly carnal nature with its lusts and desires.
James 1:14-15 – But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
We are especially hindered by Satan, the devil who likes to use religion to bring us into bondage.
John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
On top of all these hindrances there are also traditions of our religious backgrounds that many of us need to overcome. Consider what the apostle Paul had to overcome. He wanted to remove any and all obstacles that were in the way of his knowing Christ more intimately. One of the main hindrances that he had to overcome was his religious background. He was raised in Judaism, steeped under the Law of Moses. On top of that he was also a fanatic Pharisee with traditions added by men to what the Law required. Jesus addressed this problem of the Pharisees traditions in Matthew 15.
Matthew 15:1-3, 9 – Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? …9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Thus the apostle Paul had to unlearn and reject a lot of the traditions that he learned previously in order to embrace the truth and to worship the LORD in Spirit and in Truth.
John 4:23-24 – But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Paul had to spend time isolated from man’s doctrines in order to get deeper into his knowledge and relationship with Christ in order to be qualified to properly represent Him as he was to preach the gospel to others.
Galatians 1:13-18 – For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Much of the religious upbringing he had needed to be put behind him as it was a hindrance to him in his pursuit of knowing Christ more deeply.
Philippians 3:4-6 – Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Consider what Paul said about his past religious training which he was constantly confronting with those that kept pushing their tradition of circumcision.
Philippians 3:7-8 – But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Paul is putting his past behind him so that he can press onto what God has for him to do.
Philippians 3:13-14 – Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
For many Christians our religious training in church, with its many traditions, have become a hindrance in going deeper in our fellowship with Jesus, just as Paul experienced. Do you have anything in your religious or church upbringing that can be a hindrance to your further spiritual development in the LORD?
If you were brought up in the Catholic Church you have a lot that is an obstacle and hindrance to your spiritual development. Consider the requirements of the catechism of the Catholic Church which a Catholic is required to adhere to. The catechism has thirty seven requirements that totally contradict the Holy Bible*. These requirements were added to church doctrine two to three centuries after the founding of the early church. The early church never taught or practiced such things that the Cathilic Church added. This is because the Catholic Church leadership considers that their church tradition supersedes the authority of the Bible.
* Understanding Roman Catholicism by Rick Jones, Chick Publishing
Some church denominations have beliefs and traditions that are also man-made and are not scriptural. Some churches even teach that some of things that the early church had in abundance are no longer valid for today. Thus they are missing out on some very significant abilities that God has provided. Particularly the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12. These Gifts are for the entire church age until the return of Christ
1 Corinthians 1:7 – So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
All the man-made doctrines are hindrances to going deep with Jesus in the knowledge of Him, and representing Him. Man-made and demonic doctrines are a major problem.
Ephesians 4:13-15 – Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Yes there are churches that promote vain philosophy and false doctrines; like the “prosperity” and “eternal security” doctrines. I was raised in an independent Baptist Church and was taught things that later I had to unlearn after being baptized in the Holy Spirit; since it is the Holy Spirit that teaches us and reveals truth to us.
John 16:13-14 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Therefore not all who teach and preach are telling us the whole truth: some mix their own ideas in with truth and thus it is no longer truth.
Colossians 2:8 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Remember that Jesus warned us that in the last days there will be those who claim to represent Him, but are deceivers.
Matthew 24:4-5 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24-25 – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.
Obviously there is much that we need to overcome to live the “Christ filled life”; and the Lord is calling us to be overcomers of all the obstacles and hindrances that we face. Remember, He said He would be with us through it all and would never leave us or forsake us; even in times of trials and tribulations.
John 16:33 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Man-made doctrines traditions, rituals and practices bring believers into bondage that Jesus set us free from. Man uses such doctrines to gain control over the people who they can influence. As an example, Paul had to refute the Judiastic tradition of circumcision that he constantly had to deal with.
Galatians 2:4 & 5:1 – And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: …. 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Then we also have to deal with attacks from Satan, evil spirits (demons) and those that are the wicked.
1 John 2:13-14 – I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men,
because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
It is obvious that in this period of spiritual warfare there is a requirement to maintain faith and be faithful regardless of what the enemy throws at us.
Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
The end of the matter is eternal blessings in His presence.
Revelation 21:7 – He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Are you an overcomer; will you continue to be an overcomer, even unto the end; as was Paul and multitudes of the saints?
Hebrews 12:1-2 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus, our intercessor gives us the power to overcome all obstacles and hindrances: it is all through Him who gave His life for us! Jesus, by His blood, the power of His name, the Holy Spirit and His Word gave us, as God’s children, the power to overcom
very hindrance of the world, the flesh and the devil, to be more than conquerors.
Romans 8:31-32 – What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Including the power to OVERCOME religious bondages, as well as the world, the flesh and the devil!
