07.17

Truth to Set Us Free from the Enemy's Bondage ""If you abide in My word, you are My
disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" that
they may know the truth and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by
him. (John 8:31-32 and 2 Timothy 2:25-26)"

As followers of Jesus Christ, it is so important that we abide in His word. We are called
to live in the word of the Lord that we might know His truth. As we embrace God's truth,
we are impacted by its liberating power. "The truth shall make you free." One fundamental
area where people need spiritual liberation is bondage from the enemy.

The entire realm of unbelieving humanity lies under the binding influence of the evil one.
"The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). Even those
unbelievers who do not accept the truths of God about Satan and sin are nonetheless
captivated by him. Consequently, we are to humbly reach out to them with the truth: "in
humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them
repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and
escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." Paul was
sent forth to proclaim the gospel truth that offers freedom from such bondage: "to open
their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God"
(Acts 26:18). The testimony of all who believe in the truth of the gospel is this: "He has
delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of
His love" (Colossians 1:13).

The problem of Satan's binding, hindering, restricting influence did not end at salvation.
Many saints (though headed for heaven) are still bound in areas of their thinking and
behaving. They are still influenced by the enemy's lies. They cannot make the liberating
confession of Paul and his missionary team: "we are not ignorant of his [Satan's] devices"
(2 Corinthians 2:11). Ignorance of the enemy's tactics will persist in the lives of those
who do not know (or will not yield to) God's liberating truth. On the other hand, all who
are willing to embrace the truths of God's word will enjoy more and more freedom from the
enemy's lies. They will grow in understanding of, and reliance upon, the victorious
purposes of Jesus' coming to this earth. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8 ).

"Dear Lord, I praise You for the liberating truth of Your gospel of grace that delivered
me from the enemy's grasp. Now, I need more and more of the liberating truths of Your word
that I might not be ignorant of his devious and persistent tactics. Teach me Your truths,
in Jesus' name, Amen."