The Pursuit of Freedom

From ministering to hurting people for over 20 years, and having been one of those hurting people, I have discovered a very sad, yet significant truth: one of the most effective and debilitating weapons used by Satan to ensnare people and sustain their bondage is deception. In John 8:44, Jesus made this strong statement in a discourse with the Jews:

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

This scripture exposes Satan’s identity as a murderer and liar. He is not only described as a liar, but the FATHER of lies in whom there is no truth. It’s easy, then, to understand why deception is his weapon of choice.

Lies, in and of themselves, are harmless. Lies can bombard us all day long, and as long as they go in one ear and out the other, they pose no threat. Conversely, when we ponder them, and subsequently fall into agreement with them, regarding them as truth, we slip into Satan’s trap and find ourselves constantly struggling to be and do all God has planned for us. We are hindered in our ability to walk in the gift of freedom Jesus died to purchase.

As Jesus conversed with the Jews in John 8, some believed on him, and to them He spoke these words recorded in verses 31 and 32:

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples in deed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

How deep and powerful this is! We see here, not just a statement, but an established principle—knowing the truth will make you free. There is liberty in knowing truth; yes, even in those instances when the revelation of the truth causes momentary pain.

On the flip side of this principle, another principle also exists. Just as the truth makes you free, lies surely bind you. I believe that at the root of every bondage is a lie. An untruth which Satan has spoken through the mouths/actions of people, through circumstances; or just through our own misconceptions or ignorance.

The most effective force against deception is truth. So then, what is truth? In John 17:17, Jesus makes it plain in this prayer to the Father: “Sanctify us through thy word; thy word is truth.” God’s Word is truth. Therefore, when the Word of God becomes the standard by which we live and the diet by which we nourish our spirit and soul, we become less vulnerable to lies and are freed to attain all God has destined for us. Contrary to what some believe, living for God is not confining or restrictive; rather it liberates us to experience life to its fullest--not just outwardly, but inwardly as well.

Contemplate your own need for freedom by considering these questions. Do you find yourself always going in circles? Are you experiencing the same results, viewing the same scenery, and/or bumping up against the same unknown invisible wall as you attempt to move forward in life? If so, begin the process of emancipation with the following steps:

• Receive Jesus. In John 14:16, Jesus says, “I am the way, the TRUTH,
  and the life.” Making Jesus Lord of your life affords you access to the truth.
• Ask the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Truth according to John 14:17 and 15:26)
  to lead you into the truth for those areas with which you are struggling.
• Hear, study and meditate on God’s Word. As you do, its light will expose
  the dark places in which lies have hid .
• Renounce the Lies. As they are revealed to you, fall out of agreement
  with them. Declare that they will no longer bind you and keep from realizing
  your God-given potential.
• Continue to renew your mind with the truth -- God’s Word.

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