PRACTICAL STEPS TO FREEDOM
PRACTICAL STEPS TO FREEDOM
BY REV. ARCH. A.O. IWERIEBOR
INTRODUCTION:
The subject under study is a topic aimed at bringing man into total freedom through the correct and sound knowledge of the WORD OF GOD. this will further bring him into a better focus and understanding of his God as well as his position in God's placement as far as the work of creation is concerned. We believe that man, though favoured by God, lost his bearing and exalted position through the sin of disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Gen. 3: 1-9. Man was ejected from his position of glory, the place of contact with God, a position of honour and authority and went into hiding among the trees of the garden because the man and his wife discovered that they were naked. Gen. 3:22-24. Sin separated man from divine contact and divine direction. For clarity and proper understanding, this subject will be treated under the following headings:-
1. The definition and the origin of sin.
2. Satan's strategy and his useful tools.
3. The fall of man
4. The consequences of sin.
5. Understanding the true freedom and the benefits.
6. How to overcome sin.
STUDY ONE
THE DEFINITION AND THE ORIGIN OF SIN.
(A). Definition: Sin can be defined as anything which we do or say or harbour or even accommodate in our hearts or in our homes, offices and other places of human contacts which is against the WILL OF GOD. From the above definition, some offences are grouped as sin under the things which we do that are against the will of God, examples are listed below:
{i} Fighting {ii} stealing {iii}fornication {iv} adultery {v} cheating {vi} bribery {vii} pen and gun robbery {viii} drinking [ix}lateness to activities {x} absentism {xi} disobedient to parents and constituted authority {xii}embezzlement {xiii} fraud {xiv} self-centredness {xv}murder {xvi} sucide {xvii}idolatry {xviii}examination mal-practice {xix} occult practices (xx) keeping bad friends.
Besides, some offences are grouped as sin as a result of what we say agaist the will of God , examples:
(1) telling of lies (ii) cursing/abuses (iii) gossiping (iv) backbiting (v) murmuring (vi) false witnessing (vii) speaking against authority.
Another group of offences which are sinful and they are as a result of what we habour or even accommodate in our hearts as against the will of God, examples are:
(i) grumbling (ii) murmuring (iii) hatred (iv) bitterness against somebody or God (v) unforgiveness (vi) lust (vii) unchaste thoughts (viii) worldliness (ix) pride (x) envy (xi) jealousy (xii) covetousness.
Lastly, some offences are grouped as sin as a result of what we habour or accommodate in our homes or offices as against the will of God, examples are:
(i) idols (ii) nude pictures (iii)blue films/cassettes (iv) clothes (v) stolen items (vi) thieves (vii) unlicensed guns (viii) occult property (ix) contraband goods (x) another person's wife or husband.
Sin is a violation of God's law and order, a departure from God's standards to something else whether deliberately or ignorantly. "Whosoever commits sin transgresses the law, for sin is the transgression of the law." 1st John 3:4. Sin is a spiritual seed from Satan that is capable of germinating then grow and give rise to multiples of its kind. It has a spiritual magnetic force with which its attracts man to any of the satanic pitfalls programmed or planned by Lucifer and his fallen angels to bring man down spiritually and make him an enemy of God 2 Sam.11:1-21 . Sin can be committed in three ways namely:
i. Against God directly. E.g. worshipping of idols, blasphemy, murmuring, drunkenness, fornication etc.
ii. Against other people and God, e.g. murder, lies, stealing, gossip.
iii. Against oneself, others and God e.g. suicide.
(B) THE ORIGIN OF SIN
The origin of sin in the life of man can be traced down to the sad event which took place in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, thereby transgressed God's law and order. Satan, who originated sin and at the same time, a carrier, visited Eve in the garden, deceived her and succeeded in planting the evil seed of sin in man, thereby brought an untold catastrophe upon the whole human race. The origin of sin introduced a second nature in the life of man and made him to become a rebel, always prone to evils. Gen.6:5-6. This second nature became acquired and through it, the original sin, that is, the sin of Adam and Eve became hereditary among human race. Gen.6:1-7.
Thereafter, Satan devised means of spreading sin through other sources as can be seen in the following scriptures: - Gen. 2:16-17; 3:6; Psalms 51:5; Mt. 15:16-20; James 1:15; 4:1-3. Note that emphasis should be made on what goes on in the heart, the type of thoughts that we nurse in the heart, the importance of dictating the evil ones and the need to filter them out immediately through the use of the WORD OF GOD. Mt. 4:3-11. Always reject all evil thoughts.
(C) OTHER FORMS OF SIN MANIFESTATION:
It is evident that after the man and his wife had sinned against God and fallen from the glory of God, they acquired the second nature, the sinful nature, then they started reproducing. Adam and Eve were infected with the chronic spiritual disease call SIN and so, the infection of sin was transmitted, transferred and affected All their children up till now and to eternity. Psalms 51:5. This sinful nature which man acquired became inherent in him and in his off-spring and from time to time had been manifesting in different forms as outlined below.
(i) vain talk- prov. 10:19; Mt. 12:36-37
Vain talk, this means spiritually valueless and empty talk in which there is no spiritual savour nor salt, either for taste or for preservation, but full of malice, ridicule, slanders and hatred against someone else. In short, it is an idle word spoken out of the flesh as well as out of hatred in order to castigate some other persons. Rom. 8:8. Jest is a part of vain talk which serves as a favourable medium where sin breeds faster among human beings. The Redeemed of the LORD should avoid vain talk and should not participate in it.
(ii) Contempt for others- prov. 14:21
This is a situation where someone falls into the trap of the devil in which the person begins to look down on others as inferior or subhuman. The scripture says that he who despises neighbour commits sin, but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. The likely conditionds that could lead somebody to despise or look down on others are
(a) position of honour
(b) Riches and wealth
(c) Intelligence/wisdom
(d) Family influence
(e) Tribal influence
(f) Political influence.
Contempt of others is highly associated with pride. Practically, any time somebody's heart is engulfed in pride, any of the above mentioned conditions will affect his or her reasoning and attitude towards others in a negative way, resulting to contempt. Be informed that "he that oppresses the poor, reproaches his Maker, but he that honours Him, has mercy on the poor". Prov. 14:31.
(iii) Foolish Thoughts - Prov. 24:9
The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. Psalm 14:1. From the above Bible references, foolish thoughts are thoughts that do not consider God and have no fear of God in them. Any line of reasoning that assumes and concludes that God is not important to be considered and be involved in any stage of planning and execution of any line of action is a foolish thought. Such thoughts always lead to both physical and spiritual bankruptcy as well as utter disaster, therefore be wise.
(iv) Unbelief - Rom. 14:23; Heb. 3:12,13&19;4:6
Unbelief is the act of doubting God's ability and power. This happens when one's spiritual sight is faulty, the person cannot see with the eye of faith, therefore he or she assesses and understands things only from the physical point of view. Unbelief is detrimental to one's relationship with his or her Maker, hence the warning in Heb. 3:12-13 which states thus, ‘Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the Living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
(v) Neglect of opportunity- James 4:17
Let this be clear to us that every opportunity that we have to do good and we refuse to do the good, it is sin. The scripture further says, ‘Withhold not good from them to whom it is due when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, go and come again and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee'. Prov. 3:27-28.
(vi) Transgression of the law- 1st John 3:4
This means the breakage of the law, doing contrary and against the law. It is a great offence before God for someone to break His law. Also, note that when you break God's law knowingly or otherwise, you are pleasing and promoting satan and his works.
(vii) All Unrighteousness- 1st John 5:17
Righteousness is doing what is right in the right place at the right time according to God's command. But unrighteousness is doing what is wrong in the wrong place at the wrong time against God's command. An example is examination malpractice whereby someone is writing an examination which he or she did not enter for, and the person is in the wrong place and at a wrong time writing an examination not according to God's command.
Unrighteousness is also doing what is right in the right place at the right time but not according to God's command. Example Uzza's case in 1Chron. 13:5-12; 1Chron. 15:1-3,12-15.
Unrighteousness is doing what is wrong in the right place at the right time but not according to God's command. Example king Saul's case in 1Sam. 13:8-14; Ananias and Sapphira's case in Acts 5:1-11.
Furthermore when people are in the process of getting married and the moment that the bride price is paid, the man and the woman begin to sleep together before coming to be joined at the altar of God by ordained ministers, this act is unrighteousness. They have joined themselves first before allowing God to join them, thereby defiling the bed.
Also when people abandon and neglect the bible study and other church programmes and instead, go for other things like:
1) Their business or their market.
2) Watching of video and watching of football match when their mates are in the church, this is unrighteousness.
If God speaks to you to visit and pray for somebody and you decided to do it at your convenience or God speaks to you to help somebody but you decided to do it not according to God's instruction, but to amend it to suit your taste, the above action is unrighteousness.
(viii) Whoredom- Lev. 20:10-23
Whoredom means the state of defilement resulting from all immoral or unlawful sexual acts. Sin has been manifesting from different immoral sexual acts such as outlined below.
(a) A man lying with another man's wife.-LEV. 20:10.
(b) A man lying with his father's wife.---Lev.20:11
(c) A man lying with his daughter in-law. Lev. 20:12
(d) A man lying with a man instead of a woman. Lev. 20:13
(e) A man lying with his wife and his mother in-law.----Lev. 20:14
(f) A man or woman lying with a beast---Lev. 20:15-16.
(g) A man lying with his sister or half sister----Lev. 20:17.
(h) A man lying with a woman in her period of menstruation.--Lev. 20:18.
(i) A man lying with any of his aunts.-Lev. 20:19.
(j) A man lying with any of his uncle's wife.-Lev.20:20.
(k) A man lying with his brother's wife.-Lev.20:21.
(l) Any person who goes to worship other gods (idols) has committed spiritual adultery which is also whoredom.
(m) A man lying with his daughter or step daughter.
All the above are against God's command, therefore beware as a child of the Kingdom of God.
(ix) Witchcraft/Wizardry- Lev. 20:6 and 27
Witchcraft or wizardry is another medium of spiritual contamination whereby the person involved becomes a carrier of one evil spirit or the other. A woman with an evil spirit is a witch, while a man with an evil spirit is a wizard. They are dangerous human beings in the society because of their destructive works and assignments in the spiritual realm.
Discussion---Ask your class to name some of the destructive works of these people.
(x) Idolatry- Lev. 20:1-5
Idolatry is the worship of idols, whereby God is underrated, less emphasized, less in importance, less valued and some other things take His position, honour, glory and majesty. By the above definition, it implies that anything, human or spirit being that catches your attention at any given time more than God, that thing, human or spirit being is an idol. Idolatry attracts God's anger.
Discuss ways or situations in which things, human or spirit beings can become idols.
QUESTION:
1. What is Sin?
2. Where and how did man acquire the nature to sin?
3. Mention two sources through which sin gained root.
4. Who was referred to as a carrier in the passage and what did he carry?
5. Name four different ways that sin can manifest in man.
6 What is the aim of this study?
STUDY TWO:
2. SATAN'S STRATEGY AND HIS USEFUL TOOLS.
Satan, the devil, always employs the strategy or tactics of engaging man or arresting his attention in the realm of thoughts through persuasion and discussion methods. The devil does this always with an aim of enticing man with his available tool, in order to lure him into sin, thereby making man to become an offender, a rebel before his MAKER.
When Satan visited Eve in the Garden of Eden, he adopted this method by asking her the question, "Had God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the women said unto the serpent, we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God had said, ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent (devil) said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Gen.3:1-5 Note that the devil did not apply FORCE here in his dealing with Eve but was very subtle and calculative in his approach. With planned discussion, void of debates or arguments, but with strong persuasion, Satan succeeded in arresting Eve's attention and directed her to his available tool for the temptation which was the forbidden FRUIT. There and then, Eve focused on the fruit, and when she saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. Gen.3: 6-7.
The tools available for Satan to use at any given time are things or objects that are common with man. The devil uses these tools as baits in order to catch man, reduce or empty him spiritually and finally naked him for destruction. The following tools are available in the devils shelves or workshop such as money, food items, clothes, car, machine, bag, pen, bicycle, book etc, it could be another human being- boy, girl woman or man and could be other intangible things such as position of honour, pride, beauty, power and many others. For more lights, see the references below.
Gen. 3:1-6; 1st Chron. 20:4-8; 21:1-8; Eze. 28:12-19; 1st King 11:1-4; Mt. 4:3,6,8 and 9.
QUESTION
1. What method does the devil use to make man fall?
2. Name some of the materials that the devil uses.
STUDY THREE
3. THE FALL OF MAN:
The fall of man, from the Biblical account, happened in the garden of Eden and there were factors involved that led to the fall. To elucidate and exhaustively discuss this chapter, the following points will be considered: - (a) Temptation, (b) Agent of temptation and (c) Forms of temptation.
A. TEMPTATION
This can be defined as any line of action or any given situation that will make us to deviate from or live contrary to the revealed truth in God's Word, the Holy Bible. Temptation gives rise to sin while sin gives birth to death. Temptation can also be described as an enticing medium, set up by the devil, in order to drag man down spiritually. It should be clear that temptation does not come from God because God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts. He any man. James 1:12-15. Temptation, when it is successful will lead to demotion and other physical and spiritual pitfalls.
B. AGENT OF TEMPTATION:
Ever before one thinks about an agent or agents, we have to talk about the real owner of the programme. The issue of temptation emanates from Satan and it is his property. When Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden of Eden, it was Satan that went by himself and not his agent. But as time went on and human beings began to multiply in number, it became absolutely necessary for Satan to organize himself and recruit workers because he could not and cannot be everywhere at the same time. Satan is never omnipresent. These recruited workers of Satan are called AGENTS; some of the agents are human agents while the rest are spirits. All the angels that fell along with Lucifer from heaven serve in this category as agents in the rank and file of the Satanic Kingdom. Some of them are of the rank of Principalities, some as powers, some as Rulers of darkness of this world while some as spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:11-12. The human agents are those that are possessed by one or more of the Evil spirits so as to aid different forms of Satanic operations at different levels. Such human agents that aid Satan are Witches, wizards, native doctors, Sorcerers, marine agents such as Ogbanje and emire groups, Occultists, spiritualists, false prophets, false teachers, false Pastors, false Apostles, false evangelists, and false general overseers and general superintendents. Some of theses agents report back to Satan directly, depending on their level and rank while others follow a hierarchical order of command. Satan has a well organized and disciplined setup in his dark kingdom that helps him foster his destructive ambitions on the whole human race, more especially on the church of Jesus Christ. Some examples abound in the scriptures as listed below: Gen. 3:1, 1st Chron. 21:1; Mt. 4:3; 2 Cor. 2: 11, Acts 13:6-12; Acts 16:16-24; 2 Cor. 11:3 1st Thess. 3:5
C. FORMS OF TEMPTATION:
Temptation can come in different ways and if one is not careful, vigilant and prayerful, one can fall into it. In the scripture, the gospel of Mathew, chapter four, Satan tempted our Lord Jesus Christ in three different ways; in Mt. 4:3, the tempter came to him and said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread; in verse Six, Satan said to him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, he shall give His angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, last at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone; in verses eight and nine, Satan showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them and said unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me. But in all these forms and ways, Jesus Christ our perfect example, resisted and defeated Satan and the tempter left in shame. The following scriptures below are good examples of forms of temptation. Gen. 3:6 Gen. 13:10-13, Gen. 25:29-33, Joshua 7:21. 1stkg. 11:1-4 2nd Sam. 11:1-5; Mk. 10:35-37,
CONCLUSION:
Finally, when man fell, he lost his position and authority to the devil and became enslaved, helpless and hopeless until the Saviour Jesus Christ came to redeem him Luke 4:6
QUESTIONS
1. Man fell, fell from where?
2. Define temptation.
3. What are the different ways that temptation can come?
STUDY FOUR
4. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FALL OF MAN
The fall of man, which was a result of sin coming into the life of man, could be compared to an innocent young lady who took in by her wrong planning. By nature, she should deliver after nine months and the baby could either be a boy or a girl. Her contact with a man resulted to the pregnancy, which matured to produce a new baby. Similarly, Adam and Eve's contact with Satan resulted to EVIL PREGNANCY that produced the following calamities upon man, which are listed below.
A. death- both physical and spiritual
B. Separation from God.
C. Bondage - both physical and spiritual.
(A) DEATH:
From the account of creation, God finished His work on the sixth day, which was the day he created man, took him and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD GOD commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die. Gen. 2:15-17. When Adam and his wife later ate the forbidden fruit which GOD had warned him about, both of them died spiritually. The spiritual death gave rise to the physical death which had brought upon man untold physical and mental torture since ages. In fact man was placed under a curse. Gen. 3:17-19; 1st Chron. 10:13 Eze. 18:4; Rom. 5:12, Rom. 6: 23.
(B) SEPARATION:
When man fell, he fell out of the circle of God's glory and lost the fellowship and companionship he used to enjoy from God. Sin causes both partial and total separation from God, even up to tomorrow. A sinner that has not repented from his or her evil ways, is under partial separation. He or she still enjoys some good things from the Lord but has no right to demand and command good things, from the LORD. When a sinner dies in his or her sins, there is no further room or chances to change. He or she is totally and finally separated from God's presence. The sinner is finally cut off from God's mercies and will never regain it. The truth of the Matter is that either SIN will separate YOU from GOD or GOD will separate YOU from SIN. GOD and sin are incompatible. See the following references: Exo. 33:1-6; Joshua 7:11-12; Judges 16:20-21; Psalms 66:18; Is. 59:2.
(C) BONDAGE: (Physical and spiritual)
When a bird is caged, a man is thrown into the prison yard, one is under house arrest and even the heinous practice called the slave trade as well as the inimical and inhuman treatments suffered by the Israelites in the land of Egypt and many other similar conditions, all make up what is called the Physical Bondage. Physical bondage inhibits freedom of movements, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and proper mental development. You appear free but you are not free, you are enslaved by sin. Lev. 25:38-45; Exo. 1:8-17; 2:23-25; Exo. 5:1-18.
Spiritual Bondage is different from the physical one, though the side effects are the same. For clarity, the spiritual bondage will be treated under the following headings:-
1. Sin Dominion
2. Fear Dominion
3. Curse Dominion
SIN DOMINION:
A life dominated by sin is in bondage and Apostle Paul in one of his epistles said, For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not, for what I would, that I do not, but what I hate that I do. Rom. 7:14-15. He further lamented and declared that he was not free by saying, if then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing, for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin dwelleth in me Rom. 7:16-20.
From the above statements of Apostle Paul, it becomes clearer when the term sin dominion is used. This is a life under the dominion of sin and it is a spiritual bondage. Further references are below. Rom 6:16; Prov. 5:22; John 8:34; Acts5: 1-10; Gen. 4:7;
FEAR DOMINION:
A man dominated by fear is equally living in spiritual bondage because fear is a spirit and has torments. 1st John 4:18. Fear is the spiritual police- agent that Satan uses at all times, to arrest his victims before ever he starts afflicting them with all kinds of torture. Note that what the policemen do in the physical situation is just a copyright from the spiritual realm. Fear is of different types but all of them can destroy lives, such as the fear of tomorrow, the fear of failure, the fear of human enemies, the fear of liquidation, the fear of war, the fear of attack, the fear of natural disasters and the fear of God. All the above-mentioned types of fear except the last one, will subject anybody to spiritual bondage. But the fear of God, which is the last in the list, will lead you into total emancipation from all satanic bondages and schemes.
See references below: Prov. 28:1, Prov. 29:25; 1st Sam. 15:24-25 Mt. 8:25-26, John 7:13; 9:21-23; 12:24; 19:38-40; Gal. 2:11-14; Rev, 21:8; Luke 22:54-62.
CURSE DOMINION:
Curse can be defined as any negative sentence of invitation or calling for punishment, harm, calamity or danger to befall on something or somebody. So when man sinned, he was cursed right from the Garden of Eden. Gen. 3:17-19. Furthermore, any man under a curse is living in a very serious spiritual bondage and this will affect him in all areas except the curse is revoked thereby the bondage will be broken.
Curses can be direct or indirect. A direct curse is the one somebody receives directly because of what that person has done. An indirect curse is the one pronounced on one's parents or grand-parents but it is having effects on the children and the grand-children. Curses both direct and indirect cause serious set-backs in the life of anybody that is affected. For further explanation, see the following Bible references. Gen 3:17-19; 4:11-13, Deu. 28:15-27; Exo. 20:1-5; 34:7; Lev. 26:36-39; Number 14:18-19, 32-34; Psalms 58:3; Judges 5:23; Mal. 3:9; Jer. 11:3; Gal. 3:10,13.
CONCLUSION
It should be noted that for somebody to be free from any curse, whether direct or indirect curse or both, that Jesus Christ is the only answer and solution to it. Therefore such a person should whole-heartedly accept Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Saviour. Then the person will be free from such a curse because Jesus Christ was made a curse for us all. Finally, the person must go to a servant of God who is alive in the spirit, to pray for him or her and revoke the curse in the name of Jesus Christ.
QUESTIONS
1. What did sin bring upon the life of man?
2. What is the difference between partial and total separation?
3. Spiritual bondage is classified into three groups, name them
4. How can one be free from direct or indirect curses?
STUDY FIVE
5. UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE FREEDOM/ BENEFITS
A. Freedom can be defined as a state of liberty, whereby there is less or no tension, no restriction of any kind. A debtor can gain or regain his freedom when someone else has gone and paid his debt because he is unable to pay it by himself. By nature we were indebted to God because of sin but Jesus Christ went to the cross of Calvary and paid for our transgressions. The debt that we could not pay, our generation, the past generation, in short, the entire world could not pay; Jesus Christ paid it with His own life. On the cross of Calvary, He was tortured, manhandled and crucified. In the process, he shed His blood, lost His Blood which was His Life on account of the world's transgressions before God. He who knew no sin, died for the sins of many in order to liberate mankind from all satanic bondages. Is. 53:3-8;
II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:11-15.
The true freedom can only be found and received in the hands of Jesus Christ. When someone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and accepts Him as his or her personal Lord and Saviour and at the same time receives the Holy Spirit into his or her life, then the true freedom comes and the Spirit of liberty rest upon that soul. Jesus Christ is the only key to true freedom. Gal. 5:1-6, Exo. 3:18; Rom. 8:1-6, 21; 6:18 John 8:32; Gal. 3:13-14.
B. THE NEED FOR FREEDOM AND THE BENEFITS
The need for our freedom and redemption cannot be over emphasized for the fact that even our heavenly Father, God Almighty is interested in it. God had always been concerned with the freedom of His children from the hands of the enemies. The case of the children of Israel in Egypt, serving under hard bondage from the hands of the Egyptians was God's practical demonstration of His concern towards His People, whereby he used Moses and Aaron to deliver the people. Exo. 7:1-2. Another instance was the issue of sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, to come into the world to die for the sins of men world-wide, in order to liberate them from bondage. John 3:16-18; John 8:32-36; Gal. 3:13-14.
Our heavenly Father knew and still knows that living in bondage would inhibit meaningful service and total loyalty to Him, hence He responded to their cry. When we are free, we will serve God better and life will become sweeter. In the state of freedom, our lifes will affect other people more positively and it will be accompanied with the peace of God. During the time of inter-tribal wars, any king whose reign was marked with peace and freedom from attacks, would always have time to plan for meaningful progress and would have fulfilled dreams and ambitions recorded to his credits. I King 5:1-8; 4:24-28. Freedom is the bed rock upon which fruitfulness and fulfillment can be achieved whether in secular or spiritual life. Freedom from sin draws the presence of God down, which makes the difference in a man, in a family as well as in a church and in a nation. Judges 6:1-14; Esther 4:10-17; 5:1-2; Luke 1:74-75, John 5:1-9; Acts 3:1-11; 5:17-25, 16:20-36.
CONCLUSION
When we are free, it helps us to reason well and understand situations very clearly which in turn helps in planning for a more fruitful life in the vineyard of God. When freedom, both physical and spiritual, eludes us, our reasoning is darkened and we cannot see far, therefore decisions taken under such situations cannot produce results that will glorify God in the end. By implication, success in life can be measured or assessed by the degree of freedom one is enjoying.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is freedom?
2. How can a debtor gain his or her freedom?
3. What role did our Lord Jesus Christ play towards our freedom?
4. What is the danger of rejecting Jesus Christ in one's life?
5. What are the benefits of freedom?
STUDY SIX
6. HOW TO OVERCOME SIN:
Sin is a problem and a spiritual disease in the life of man and must be fought. It is also a barrier that hinders a lot of good things coming into our lives, therefore it must be conquered. The following steps as outlined below will help us to fight and overcome sin.
i. Confession of sin.
ii. Accepting Jesus as LORD and SAVIOUR.
iii. Join a living Church.
iv. Abandonment of sin.
v. Confessing Christ before others.
vi. Resisting temptation.
vii. Earnestness in prayers
viii. Regular fasting.
CONFESSION OF SIN
The first step towards freedom and overcoming sin is to acknowledge one's sins before God and departure from Him. King David said, "I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." Psalms 32:5. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1st John 1:9-10.
ACCEPTING JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOUR
Now that the first step is taken, the next step is to open the door of one's heart for Jesus to come in, for the scripture says "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me" Rev. 3:20. Note that it is as easy as A,B,C, once you open your heart and invite Jesus to come in, with the readiness to surrender to HIS LORDSHIP, Jesus Christ will come to stay or dwell in your heart. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. John 1:12. The moment you willingly ACCEPT Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and SAVIOUR, automatically, you become Born Again. John 3:3. This means that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ will enter into your heart to stay, then you are a new baby in the Lord.
JOIN A LIVING CHURCH:
In the natural situation, when a new baby is born, it must be cared for and be fed with breast milk. Spiritually, the care required by a spiritual babe can only be given by a church that is alive in the Spirit, hence the need to join a living Church. The scripture says, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb. 10:25. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 1st Peter 2:2-3. Therefore, it becomes absolutely necessary that you must join a church so that you can grow spiritually
ABANDONMENT OF SIN:
When one has decided to follow Jesus, to be a believer in Christ, your yes must be yes, you should not play cold and hot. You must abandon sin because the new life in Christ Jesus forbids sin in all conditions. You must be holy as it is written that, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; But as He which hath called you is holy so be holy in all manner of conversation... 1st Peter 1:14-16. Prov. 28:13; Isaiah 55:7; Eph. 4:22-24 Col. 3:5-10; Heb. 12:1, 1st Peter 2:1,11.
CONFESSING CHRIST JESUS BEFORE OTHERS:
In the book of Romans, it is written that, If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom.10:9-10. Our Lord Jesus Christ said in Mt. 10:32-33, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Confessing Christ Jesus publicly will establish you firm in Him and it is a direct weapon against the world of sin and Satan. Confess your faith in Christ everywhere, every time and you shall be victorious everywhere and every time.
RESISTING TEMPTATION:
It should be clearly understood that temptations from Satan will still come even after you have surrendered your life to our Lord Jesus Christ. But it is your duty to resist the devil and he will flee from you. You resist the devil through the use of the Holy Scripture, you will say to the devil and any tempting situation, "It is written," just the method that our Lord Jesus Christ used in the gospel of St. Luke 4:1-13. Apostle Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13. The spirit of Jesus Christ in you will give you spiritual power to resist and overcome temptation. In the holy Bible, examples abound of people who resisted different temptations and overcame as can be seen from the references below; Gen. 39:7-12, Job2:9-10; Jer. 35:5-10 Dan. 1:8; Acts 8:19-20; Eph. 6:11-13; 1st Tim. 6:7-11; 2nd Tim. 2-22, James 4:7; 1st Peter 5:8-9
EARNESTNESS IN PRAYERS
As a child of God, you are enjoined to pray fervently, pray without ceasing, pray in faith and pray with holy hands. Prayer is talking to God, a divine communication between you and your Maker. It is a medium in which you lay down your burdens before HIM, the Almighty, All-knowing, All-sufficient GOD, the LORD Jehovah. Prayer is the life-wire of a Christian through which he receives spiritual light, life, power and other physical and material benefits from the divine and only source, the Almighty God. When you do not pray, you are weak spiritually because a prayerful Christian is a powerful Christian. The demons and other agents of darkness will fear you when you are prayerful but if you are lazy to pay, then you will serve as handkerchief in their hands. Men ought always to pray and not to faint. See some references below: 1st Thess. 5:17; Luke 18:1; Eph. 6:18; James 1:5-8; 1st Time. 2: 8-10.
REGULAR FASTING:
Fasting is the act of staying away from physical food, to enable one stay with the word of God which is the spiritual food and to have more time to engage in a more fervent prayers. As petrol is to fire so also is fasting to prayers. Fasting helps one to mortify the desires of the flesh and brings one nearer the corridor of God's miracles. There are cases that may prove stubbosrn to ordinary prayers but with fasting, the situation will bow. Fasting is a spiritual exercise that must be engaged regularly so that one can grow and mature after the image of the Son of God. Mt. 4:2; Acts 13:2-3; Mt. 17: 14-21.
CONCLUSION
It must be clear to us that we are born again to conquer, born to overcome. Sin is a reproach; therefore you must fight against it at all cost. And this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith. You must refuse to be bought over contrary to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, refuse bribe and don't give either, refuse and reject wrong counsel from people no matter how scientific, modern, educative and sympathetic it will look like and how closely related the person may be to you. Be vigilant at all times so that you can dictate the finger of the evil one as well as recognise the voice of Satan by the corner, waiting to strike. Learn to use the word of God to fight the devil and also learn Jesus style or method by saying "it is written........"
Note that friendship with the world is enmity with God; therefore, love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves 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. James 4:4: 1st John 2:15-17.
QUESTIONS
1. What ways can a Christian fight against sin?
2. What should be the Christian's attitude to Counselling?
3. Who does the Christian go to for counsel?