Freedom

*Recap of*

*Be Inspired Bible Study*

*Thursday 16th January 2020*

*Anchored by Sis Leah Adepeju*

*Topic:* Freedom

*Text:* Mark 5:2-9, 18-20

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,  Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:  Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.  But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,  And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.  For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.  And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.  And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.  And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Mark 5:2‭-‬9‭, ‬18‭-‬20 KJV

I believe most of us are familiar with the above story ...

Often tagged the story of the *madman of Gadara.*

The funniest thing is that stigma was the only way this man was described, his real name was not mentioned.

I pray that every evil stigma that you and I have been labelled with today marks their end in Jesus name.

Okay!!

What is freedom?

*@Abimbola:*

*Sis Leah:* Yes. Thanks.

From online dictionary it's the power to act or think as one wants.

In the story above this man had mental health issue. Schizophrenia. He was living in the tomb. He must have been seeing things, hearing things and responding to things that ordinary man or eye could not see.

For how long he lived there he was out of his mind. In fact the Bible stated that many times they tried to bind him with chains he broke them and in the process he hurt himself.

But do you know that at that point he probably will not feel the impact of whatever pain he inflicts on himself?

You know why? The body was occupied.

As Jesus got off the ship🛶 this man started shouting. When he saw Jesus, he worshipped Him and started saying 'what have I to do with you *son of the Most high God?*'

It wasn't this man talking but the legions that have embodied his temple.

This man might have appeared to be freely walking but he was not free spirtually.

The physical realm is controlled by the spirit.

But that day he encountered Jesus not only was he delivered, he walked into freedom.

And guess what? His freedom led others to their freedom because he began to share his testimony to anyone who was there and who cared to hear.

He told them how he lived among the tombs and how the legion that came out of him drove the swine into their death.

Freedom only happens when the person who has been delivered takes the channel that deliverance has created for them.

Let us say for example someone was in debt then suddenly the debt got paid off with no strings or attachments.

But this person still walks and functions with their head bowed.

The person runs away from debt collector even after they become debt free.

Do you know such a person is not free from debt?

The reason is although their debt had been paid off but in their mind they still live in debt.

The Bible says he who the son has set free is free indeed.

Do you know many live in the jail of their thoughts?

They appear free but their mind ain't free.

Their mind is locked up in bondages.

And the enemy is so good in reminding this set of people why they are not free.

The enemy will tell them: you know what? that is not possible for you cause you are this and that.

And because of this many are living in the locked up cell of what their mind has been programmed to do.

Brothers and sisters, God wants to remind you you are free.

You are free from that label that ties you down.

You are free, stop keeping yourself bound.

He has set you free.

You cannot stay in that mindset of the past and expect to explore your liberty or freedom.

If that man didn't go away from the tomb and he stood there saying well The legions have left but I will stay here because this is me.

Do you know that in no time he will become mad again?

That is why you see alcoholics relapse when they fail to continue on the rehab programme of living without alcohol.

The withdrawal process might be painful.

Just like that mad man.

He begged to follow Jesus.

Because he had no where else to go.

But Jesus said no, go and tell others what has happened to you.

Do you know how many in bondage that this man's freedom would have affected positively?

Do you know your freedom is what others are waiting for so they can be free?

If you are free and you act like you're not who will set them free?

Stop replaying the days of the tomb situation in your mind.

Allow the new you to emerge.

Allow the new find way to make way for others.

Do not stay stuck in what you have lost.

Do not stay stuck in what didn't work.

God is setting you free.

He has set you free and all things work together for your good.

His word says when others say there is a casting down you will say there is a lifting up.

How do you arrive in the lifting up mood?

Freedom.

When your mind is set free.

Today do not be that Christian that will just constantly cry for deliverance but never embrace freedom.

You are delivered.

You are set free.

You are made whole.

He has made a way.

He has given you overflow.

But how do you intend to enjoy that?

You need to change your mindset.

Change your way of thinking.

One thing that keeps people in bondage is fear.

Fear of the unknown.

What ifs.

Forget the what ifs.

Trust Jesus for who He is.

Forget those who have given up on you.

God hasn't given up on you.

He has just begun with you.

But you need to know God will not come down from heaven to take the necessary steps you need to take yourself.

Let us pray.

Say Lord thank you for your word that you have brought to me this day.

Father forgive me in any way I have taken the freedom given through my deliverance for granted.

Lord henceforth help me to channel my mind right so I won't leave in bondage of unknown.

Lord open my eyes to see many who are attached to my freedom and let the zeal to use my freedom to free others be ignited in me.

*Commit all that has kept you bound into the hands of God and declare your freedom.*

*Stand in the gap for someone who really needs freedom in any aspect of life.*

Lord we thank you for this evening. We adore you for your word that is light in our lives. We decree henceforth we will live in freedom nothing can hold us bound. We decree this year we will not waste the freedom given to us in Christ Jesus and through us many will come to have their own freedom as well in Jesus name.

Amen.

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