I have a plethora of sweet memories of playing board games with my family growing up. At Christmas and Thanksgiving, or even on a normal Saturday night I loved to share moments of competitiveness with my parents and my sister. SORRY, the Game of Life, and Scrabble being some of them, my favorite at the time had to be Monopoly. I always chose the little car as my game piece and did my best to out-build, out-play, and out-last my opponents. One of the most frustrating parts of the game had to be getting sent to jail. You're stuck in there for multiple rounds until you roll doubles on the dice...unless you can get your hands on a "Get Out of Jail Free Card!" This special card does for us what we could not do for ourselves in that moment - it serves as a bondage breaker and sets us free from jail.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2: 5-6
Prayer Tip #6 - Bondage Breaker
It is the requirement for us, given by God, that we believe that Christ took the penalty of sin for us, and we acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9 says, "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." After this moment, we are a part of God's family and through Jesus, our Salvation is promised. So, doesn't this mean that we can now live free of bondage? Shouldn't it mean that our broken past is forever behind us and we can live in light of the sacrifice Jesus made?
Before we go home to be with the Lord, our sin nature is still something we have and wrestle with. We face our own sin nature, as well as the enemy himself. The devil has countless ways of attacking, stealing, and destroying from within us and all around us. One of the ways he can penetrate our thoughts and influence us is by making us believe that we are still living in bondage even after we have come from death to life. Bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, loneliness, depression, anxiety, pride, shame, past sins and failures, doubt, unbelief, insecurity and many other things can make us feel like we are in spiritual bondage - back where we started - and without Jesus.
However, something supernatural happened at the Cross and then three days later with the resurrection of Jesus that changed spiritual warfare forever. In Colossians it says, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." As Christians, we have to remember the truth that Jesus has defeated death and sin when He died for us. It is done and finished. When we are in Christ and His Spirit lives within us, we have the authority and the power to resist the devil and his schemes because of what Christ has done for us. If we are ever tempted to adhere to the thoughts or shame the devil throws our way, we need only to think and believe in the power of God in Christ.
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe"
Ephesians 1:18-19.
The Word says we are to be strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might. We must remember this, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." As we recognize this, we can then pivot and focus on the truth. Because of God's great love for us and His Son's great sacrifice, we have the authority and responsibility to stand against wickedness and darkness. God has done all He needed to for us to live victoriously for Christ and now we must step in to that truth and believe that it has power to break the bonds we are living in!
Prayer Points - (Pray over these requests)
Thank God for sending Jesus to break us free from death and sin forever.
Ask God to help you remember this truth when you are faced with adversity and spiritual conflict.
Pray in Jesus' name that by His power, you have the authority to defeat the schemes of the devil.
Pray that you would trust the Lord and His promises.
Thank God for His grace in Christ and for salvation.
Suggested Prayer - (Pray these words in your heart or out loud):
Father in Heaven,
You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. We see You as Lord of our life and the Giver of all good things. Thank You for Jesus, our Bondage Breaker. Thank You for sending Him to live among us and die for us on the cross. I praise You that He rose again on the third day and defeated death and sin. Help us to remember the identity in Him that You have given us. Allow us to stand strong against the schemes of the devil, in Jesus' Holy Name. Help us to step into the identity and purpose You have given us in Christ, once we have accepted Him. Thank You for the freedom from bondage we experience in Jesus. Help us to remember who we are in Christ. We stand in awe of You and Your goodness, Father.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Comments