“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1 KJV)
Isn’t it interesting how much Scripture addresses captivity and deliverance? Most of it is addressed to believers. The enemy of our souls has only one purpose. To achieve it, he uses three stratagems: steal our faith and victory, kill our faith and victory, destroy our faith and victory.
Whatever tool the enemy uses to achieve his goal is considered captivity. When our faith and victory is stolen, killed, or destroyed, we are under his bondage. “Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:7-8). When our lives are submitted to God, we can rebuke the devil in Jesus’ name and he will run away!
It is important to remember that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood enemies” (Ephesians 6:12). Rather, our battle is against spiritual forces. We fight against the arch enemy of our souls. We fight against his power to rule us. We fight against the demons of spiritual darkness.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:13-16 KJV).
Maintaining the “faith and victory” requires that we stand firm in the liberty Christ has provided. It requires that we refuse to get trapped by the enemy’s tricks of bondage. Remember the message in this children’s song: “the devil is a sly old fox, if I could catch him I’d put him in a box. Lock the box throw away the key, for all those tricks he’s played on me.”
We may not be able to catch him and put him in a box but we can be wise to his tricks. We can stand firm in our liberty and resist all entrapments of the enemy.
Dear Father, thank you for our liberty through Christ. Empower us with the insight to recognize the tricks of the enemy. Enable us to stand firm in our liberty and refuse the enemy’s bondage. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today in resisting the enemy,