FROM SHACKLES AND CHAINS TO FREEDOM TO REIGN

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“Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid…And when Jesus got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.’ And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”

Mark 5:18-20 (NKJV)

God sent His only begotten Son into this world to rescue humanity and redeem us from the power of sin. In this passage, we read about the life of a man from Gadarenes who was possessed by a legion of demons. He had become an outcast and lived far from society in the tombs. Everyone had given up hope for him. He was always crying out night and day bringing constant harm upon himself by cutting himself with stones. He had suffered deep oppression, rejection and even demonic possession of evil spirits. He had been written off as a hopeless case.

When Jesus encounters this man, immediately He takes action to set him free. The legion of demons had come out of the man and he sat at the feet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind. All the evil influence and demonic possession had been removed completely from his life. He experienced freedom for the first time in a very long time. He asked Jesus if he could accompany him wherever it was that He was going. Jesus responds and tells him to simply testify to his family and friends what great things the Lord had done for him and How God had compassion on him. This man supernaturally transitioned from shackles and chains to Freedom to Reign! Out of his gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ, he began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Before accepting Jesus Christ into our lives, we were all bound to sin and evil influence. When we accepted Jesus into our heart as our Lord and Savior, we were redeemed from sin. We now have Freedom to Reign in a life of victory. There is only one thing Jesus asks from all of us; that we proclaim and testify what good things the Lord has done for us. He had compassion on us even though the world had given up on us. In Christ Jesus, we inherit a new beginning and purpose in life. God never gives up on anyone. His love toward humanity is unconditional. We did not do anything to deserve it but yet He freely gave us redemption. When we believe in what Jesus did for us on the Cross, we are forgiven of our past and we become the righteousness of God. We become a partaker of His divine nature and character. Let’s choose to live our life of Freedom in Christ as a bold witness for Him. (Pastor Wally Matanza, Word of Life Yokohama)

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“In Christ Jesus, I have inherited newness of life that is filled with purpose! Sin no longer has dominion over me. I choose to be a bold witness for Christ!! I declare total victory in every area of my life. If God be for me then nothing can stand against me. I have Freedom to Reign in Christ Jesus!”

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

    • Old Testament: Ezra 9; Proverbs 7
    • New Testament: Luke 15:1-10; 1 Timothy 5:1-15

FROM SHACKLES AND CHAINS TO FREEDOM TO REIGN