I want to talk to you today about three things that keep many in captivity. There are three things that we must all pay attention to if we want to escape captivity and stay in charge. You can overcome and be free from demonic captivity when you deal with these three things:
- The sin nature
- Strongholds
- Indifference
1. Sin:
The first thing that holds us captive is sin that dwells in our flesh. This nature that dwells in the flesh holds us captive to the flesh and its desires.
[Romans 7:14-19 KJV] “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”
The Bible exhorts us not to allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies or have dominion over us. Every one of us needs redemption from the nature of sin that lives in our flesh.
[Romans 6:12-14 KJV] “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
There is no way a man can be free from sin that dwells in him; except by the redemptive work of Christ. We are all wretched men, and only Christ can redeem us from this bondage to wretchedness.
[Romans 7:24-25 KJV] “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Sin has an appeal and pleasure. That nature is difficult to deal with, but the grace of God makes a big difference.
2. Strongholds
The second thing you must deal with to be free are strongholds which are built and fortified through the hardenness that comes through deceitfulness and pleasures of sin. The Bible teaches that though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are, however, not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. (See 2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
Many of us are struggling with life even after many deliverance sessions and rolling on the floor because many of us are not pulling down strongholds in our lives. As long as we continue to feed these strongholds, they grow stronger. The only way to escape is to set our affections on things that are above only.
Until you renew your mind and reflect your love and desires you will remain captive to your fleshy desires. The very second thing any man must do after getting saved is to redirect his affections and desires. (See Colossians 3). We are wasting our time if we are unwilling to set our affection on things that are above. You must be willing to give up any affection for earthly and fleshy things.
3. Indifference:
The third thing that must be dealt with is indifference. When unclean spirits go out of a man; they come back after every once a while to check for the possibility of repossession (See Luke 11:23-25). We must be determined to resist him and to fight back. Our adversary is roaring as a lion, seeking whom he may devour. We must be ready to fight and fight back vehemently.
Stay blessed, I love you
