Free!!!

On Resurrection Day, I went to church to celebrate and commemorate Jesus’ conquering death, and I listened to what I felt was a poignant sermon. The pastor spoke about slaves in the United States who did not know they were free even though by law they were free. He was referring to the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863, that stated that all slaves in Texas were free. But no one told them, so they remained slaves until June 19, 1865, when the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas and Major General Gordon Granger read this proclamation and then the slaves recognized they were truly free. This was a profound illustration of how many are still enslaved by sin not knowing that Jesus has set them free. But how will they know unless we go and tell them that who the Son sets free is free indeed?

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

So many of us have victory through Jesus, but we don’t live as if we are victors. The pastor also spoke a little about mental slavery. I feel like sometimes I am in mental slavery still. I grew up with a grandmother who would always question God, “Lord, why do we have to suffer?”  I recognized that it was a suffering mentality, and I too have developed this mindset. Jesus did say we would suffer. That is a must for all true Christians. However, we are overcomers, and our mindset should be as such.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Satan however does not want us to believe we are overcomers. He is always trying to entrap us with his lies and deceive us as he distorts scriptures. Like he did to Job, he will do to us and create circumstances to tempt us to deny God and live in misery. I am reminded of Willie Lynch a slave owner in the West Indies who was invited to give a speech on the banks of the James River in Virginia in 1712 entitled, “The Making of a Slave.” Here is an excerpt.

I have a fool proof method for controlling your Black slaves. I guarantee everyone of you that if installed correctly it will control the slaves for at least 300 hundred years [sic]. My method is simple. Any member of your family or your overseer can use it. I have outlined a number of differences among the slaves: and I take these differences and make them bigger. I use fear, distrust, and envy for control purposes … I shall assure you that distrust is stronger than trust and envy is stronger than adulation, respect, or admiration. The Black slave after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self re-fueling and self generating for hundreds of years, maybe thousands.

This may make some of you uncomfortable and it should, no matter your race, gender or age. This is a horrible thing to do to another human being. It is now 300 years after that speech, and I can still see many things that were outlined still happening in a lot of communities which had slave ancestors. And Satan wants to do the same, keeping us enslaved for generations with unforgiveness, hate, fear, anger, jealousy, distrust, disunity, adultery, addictions, witchcraft, and so much more. He doesn’t want us to understand that we are overcomers through Jesus who died on the cross to set us free from sin and eternal death. Satan does not want to give us life. The only life he wants us to have is life imprisonment. He is a liar who comes to steal, kill and destroy, while Jesus came to give us abundant life. And this abundant life is not about material possessions, but love, joy, peace and eternal life. Satan will also make our mind a battlefield so that it is not transformed, therefore we will not be able to know God’s pleasing will. He wants our mind to stay conformed to the world and hence trapped by sin. He doesn’t want us free.

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:34-36

People need to know the Son has made them free and that they just need to believe in Him. Texas was the last state in the Confederacy where slaves were freed. But, for the proclamation to be enforced the Union Army had to fight against the Confederate Army who had that area under its control. So too we will have to fight against the devil and his demonic forces to go tell people the truth that they are free. But first we need to ensure we are walking in freedom.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32