Everything God wanted to say to humanity was wrapped in the package of Jesus Christ, the Word of God. He is the fullness of God’s revelation to us. What He did for us displays His desire for us-that we are healed, free, walking in truth, filled with purpose and hope.
Acts 10:38 NLT - And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
To be free, you must know:
1. Satan is the HATER of humanity.
He is the tempter - This is seen from the Garden of Eden to the temptation of Christ. He desires to lure humanity away from God.
He is the accuser - Revelation 12:10b says, “For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth-the one who accuses them before our God day and night”
He is the binder - Just like the woman in Luke 13 who was bound by Satan for 18 years, many people are bound by the hater of humanity (see Luke 13:16).
He is the tormentor - Just as he did with the maniac possessed with a legion of demons who cut himself and lived in caves, Satan desires to torment humanity because of his hatred of God (see Mark 5:1–17).
He is the user - Just as the devil and the slave owners used the fortune teller in Acts 16 to tell fortunes for money, Satan’s ultimate desire is to control us for his purposes (see Acts 16:16–18).
2. Jesus is the LIBERATOR of humanity.
John 10:10 (NLT) - The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Jesus liberates by His authority-it’s a legal thing.
Jesus liberates by His power-it’s a strength thing.
Jesus liberates by the Spirit-it’s a source thing.
3. He BINDS the strong man, OPENS the door, and BREAKS the chains.
The strong man - bondage in the spiritual realm
The strong man is the one who keeps you from God.
He uses your past, your guilt, your shame, your fears, and your insecurities to keep you feeling evicted from God’s presence.
Jesus wants to bind the strong man in your life who is keeping you from knowing God and having confidence in His presence.
The prison - bondage in the mental realm
The prison is the mental arguments used against you to keep you from success in life.
The prison is made up of anger, sadness, and despair. Only Jesus can break open the door of this mental prison and “set the captive free.”
The chains - bondage in the physical realm
The chains represent the addictions and dependencies of your flesh. These range from substance and drug abuse to pornography.
These chains give you no choice. They are your master and you must obey. Only Jesus can bring true deliverance.
