Break Every Chain

I wrote this article for three reasons:

1. Many people want to know if the Bible condones slavery.
2. The #EndItMovement.
3. The Juneteenth celebration.

Because slavery does in fact still exist, I want to discuss slavery in a way that is just as important – perhaps even more important than what is being talked about!

A while back ago, I saw a video where two black men were burning a confederate flag while calling white people, “racist crackers.” One of the men in the video said, “This ain’t slavery days no more.”

First and foremost, I want to address that I’m not defending the confederate flag. It’s only a flag. I don’t believe that a mere flag warrants waging war in order to defend it. I am, however, defending love. In order to defend love, we must battle ignorance, doubt, fear, and hatred.

The man in the video proclaimed that this is no longer the days of slavery. It’s not the days of slavery? I find that quite interesting. Because I know a lot of people who are slaves and these men in the video certainly did sound like slaves to me. Why? Because they are black? No! I said they sounded like slaves, not looked like slaves. So, why? Because of the hatred they spoke. Indeed, they are slaves and they have willingly put the shackles of bondage on themselves.

Slavery exists. And not just in the form of sex trafficking or labor. Are you one of them? Are you a slave? It’s time to examine yourself.

“Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave.”
(John 8:34) -MSG

Understand this: Satan doesn’t care about your skin color – the evil one only cares about your current direction and final destination. That which you cannot walk away from has ownership over you. If you are unable to release your hatred toward others, you are a slave to sin. If you are incapable of walking away from drugs or alcohol, you are a slave to those desires. If you are unable to walk away from something seemingly insignificant such as a cigarette, you are a slave to the desire.

There exists many slaves in the current days of which we live: People are slaves to anger, pride, jealousy, pornography, greed, promiscuity, alcohol, drugs, and many other things.

Understand this: Monsters don’t exist under your bed; in fact, the demons are usually found with you, in your bed, within your head. Slavery does exist; however, the person in bondage has usually enslaved him/herself.

What have you allowed in your life that has enslaved you? What is keeping the love within you locked up in prison? I have the key to your freedom and it can be found just two verses prior to the profound statement of slavery:

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ ”
(John 8:31-32) -NLT

Racism is created by hatred, but it multiplies by accusation. So, how do we eliminate racism? Well…

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
(Luke 6:27-28) -ESV

“Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. Love will never become obsolete.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8) -Voice

The only way to eliminate racism is to love others. But the only way slavery will cease to exist is to allow Jesus Christ to set us free. In fact, the End It Movement wouldn’t even be necessary if we were aligned with the teachings of Christ.

A person often gets identified with his/her flaws or problems. As if the chains of sin aren’t enough bondage already, people often stamp the person in bondage with a label of “failure” or “rejection” and then place him/her in front of a broken or funhouse mirror so he/she sees a distorted and inaccurate image of him/herself.

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who lives in sin is a slave to sin.’ ”
(John 8:34) -NCV

This is worth repeating: that which you cannot walk away from has ownership of you; you are a slave to the desires you are unable to release. Do you want to be a slave to sin? You don’t have to be a slave. You are not defined by your problems and you can break free from the chains of bondage.

A demon will often tell you that you’re worthless, you will always be the way you are, you’re not good enough and won’t ever achieve anything better. Don’t believe the lies!

In Mark 5 (and Matthew 8 & Luke 8), there was a man who was possessed by demons and he lived in burial tombs in a cemetery and even cut himself with stones. You should read the scriptures for yourself, but there are important messages from this story I want to share with you:

• Jesus had just left an entire crowd of people to go where this possessed man was staying. Jesus left a crowd for one person! One person makes that much of a difference to Jesus.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.”
(Matthew 18:12-13) -ESV

“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
(Luke 15:7) -ESV

• While on the journey to the possessed man, Jesus taught a lesson of faith to his disciples by quieting the storm around them on the boat. When you place your focus on Jesus, you will find that your storm will go away. So where are you placing your focus? A storm becomes highlighted when your focus is not on peace. Failure becomes highlighted when your focus is not on success. Death and destruction becomes highlighted when your focus is not on life and prosperity. Slavery is what happens when your focus is not on Jesus, love, and truth.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:6-8) -NLT

• When the possessed man saw Jesus, he ran to Jesus. Jesus then healed the possessed man. If you don’t want to be a slave to sin anymore, you need to run to The One who heals and saves. When the man’s focus shifted from his problems to Jesus and his potential, he was set free from his bondage.
• The people who witnessed the miracle shared the news with everyone else in that area. The people in that area became upset and asked Jesus to leave. The people probably wanted the man to stay in bondage so they could feel better about themselves. People often attempt to justify their own shortcomings by pointing out the shortcomings of others. People who live in sin don’t mind if you’re around them unless you are striving to do what’s good and right; if your goodness is opposition to their sinful desires, you become a threat and they don’t want you around.
• The man who had once been possessed and then became healed asked Jesus if he could go with Him, but Jesus refused and told the man to go tell everyone about what GOD had done for him. Jesus anointed him and appointed him to share his testimony. The man who got healed also received a calling to share GOD’s goodness. After encountering Jesus, the man was called to go to others because Jesus knew that others needed that man’s testimony in order to help others get saved. Do you have a testimony? I do! If so, go share it. You don’t need a bachelor degree of a Bible college to share your testimony. You don’t need a certificate to share the great things GOD has done for you. But to withhold your testimony from others is an act of hatred. Your testimony can deliver people to Jesus Christ and then Jesus can set them free.

Starting at Luke 8:43, there’s another story from which we can learn important messages. The story is of a woman who had been sick (some blood illness) for 12 years. This woman told herself that if she could only get near enough to Jesus and even touch his garment, she would be healed. She believed that. As it turned out, she was healed due to her faith.

• Jesus was on his way to heal a sick child when this woman sought out Jesus and the woman ended up getting healed. We are not the only ones who require love and attention. GOD’s miracle and/or blessing may be on its way to you, but Jesus just might stop and help others while on His way to you. Be patient and rejoice for the others who are getting blessed before you receive your blessing. GOD is never late; therefore, you can wait.
• Jesus meets us where we are at, but it is then up to us to either run to him or invite him in.
• You are not defined by your past. If you change your present situation, you will change your future. What you decide to do today will make an impact on your tomorrow. Do you want a better tomorrow? Start today. Not later. Right now.

In John 8: 1-11, the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. Everyone wanted to stone her to death for her sins, but Jesus saved her from death by telling the others to cast the first stone so long as they were sinless themselves. Since no one was without sin, no one cast a stone, and the woman was spared. The woman had made choices in life which brought her to her near-death experience. The woman made bad choices and brought herself to death’s door, but Jesus saved her. It’s never too late to ask Jesus to save you.

In every situation, Jesus had been able to bless, heal, and save people. Someone needs to hear this today: your problems do not define you, you are not broken, you are not an addict for life, and you are not the horrible things people have labeled you. No. You are a son/daughter of the King of all kings. Through Jesus Christ, you are whole and complete and can accomplish anything.

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
(2 Corinthians 3:17) -NLT

“So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you.”
(James 4:7) -NCV

You can quit smoking! You can stop drinking alcohol! You can become sober and escape the clutches of drugs! You can live a life of purity! You can have a beautiful marriage with a healthy relationship! You can accomplish many great things! There is power in the name of Jesus Christ to break every chain of bondage. Are you ready to break free from your bondage? Proclaim your freedom! A simple choice to change today will transform your tomorrow into a new beginning.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.’ ”
(Jeremiah 29:11-13) -NLT

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
(Matthew 7:7-8); (Luke 11:9) -NLT

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
(John 14:12-14); (John 15:7); (Matthew 21:22); (Mark 11:24) -NLT

The man who lived at the burial tombs was set free of the demons that kept him in bondage. The woman with an issue of blood was completely healed and set free from her pain and suffering. The woman who committed adultery was set free from death and given a new chance at life. Slavery exists. What has you in bondage? What do you need to be set free from? The only way slavery will cease to exist is to allow Jesus Christ to set us free. Have your decisions led to your bondage? Have your choices invited evil inside? What chains of bondage do you need to break today? Anger? Pride? Jealousy? Pornography? Promiscuity? Greed? Alcohol? Drugs? Cigarettes? Sickness? Worry? Stress? Anxiety? Doubt? Fear? It’s time to break every chain that binds you!

In the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of GOD, I proclaim victory and restoration over your life! You can break free from your bondage today! You can break free! Proclaim your victory right now! Decide to change today so that your tomorrow will be the new beginning you’ve been longing to receive.

“And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David.’ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith be it done to you.’ And their eyes were opened.”
(Matthew 9: 27-30) -ESV

Jesus was able to heal the blind men and set them free from the bondage of being blind because they believed – they had faith! Jesus stated that they would receive in accordance with their faith. According to your faith, may it be done for you! Do you believe? If you believe that Jesus has set you free from your bondage, give a shout of praise!

And remember what Jesus said to the woman who committed adultery:

“Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’ ”
(John 8: 10-11) -ESV

Jesus Christ has set you free! Now, go! Live without bondage! Live a righteous life.