Strengthening Your Faith
From the beginning of our Christian journey, and throughout our spiritual development, we strive to increase our faith. Growing in
Encompassed within the definition of the Greek word for salvation (sōtēria) is healing and deliverance. To be delivered means to be rescued, set free, or loosed from something, or someone. Jesus came to set us free from all of the power of the enemy. In this five-day study we will discover five essential steps to receiving deliverance.
BELIEVE DELIVERANCE IS AVAILABLE TO YOU
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins…” Colossians 1:12-14 KJV
Deliverance has been made available to us all through the redeeming blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The price has already been paid, and the criteria has been met for us to be set free from the bondage of the enemy. Jesus died so we may be reconciled to the Father and walk in the liberty, wholeness, and prosperity of salvation. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
QUESTIONS: Do you believe Christ died for you to be free from the bondage of sin and oppression of the enemy? Have you surrendered to Christ to receive the healing and liberty of salvation?
DESIRE TO BE FREE
“I Could Have Freed a Thousand More Slaves If They Knew They Were Slaves” – Harriet Tubman.
The enemy of our souls has seduced many into complacency. Because some have acquired prominence, position, power, and possessions, they have become blinded to their need for deliverance because their flesh is satisfied. They do not realize they are in bondage and oppressed by the enemy. In order to begin the process of deliverance, you must recognize the need to be free and to have the desire to be made whole.
QUESTIONS: Is there an area in your life which is hindering your ability to thrive, prosper, and walk in wholeness? Do you desire to be freed from that bondage?
CALL IT BY NAME
“But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.” Mark 5:6-9
In the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 5, Jesus contends with a demon-possessed man who could not be contained by any form of restraints. Jesus commanded the demonic to identify itself—to reveal its name. We cannot take authority over that which we are not willing to identify and call by name.
“When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. ‘You deaf and mute spirit,’ he said, ‘I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.'” Mark 9:25
QUESTIONS: What is the root of your oppression? Have you identified and called it by name when seeking the Lord for your deliverance?
YOU MUST COMMIT TO THE PROCESS
“If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” Exodus 16:3 NLT
When the Lord God brought the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt they rejoiced and celebrated their deliverance. However, when faced with the rigors of the journey and the challenges of the wilderness, they yearned to return to their oppression in Egypt. They desired that which was familiar. Our inability to embrace change will hinder our deliverance.
QUESTIONS: Do you realize where God is taking you is greater than where you are? Are you willing to commit to the process of your deliverance, in spite of the challenges you must face?
WE MUST PARTICIPATE IN OUR DELIVERANCE
“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
The process of our deliverance requires us to be willing participants. We must make hard decisions, sacrifices, and endure suffering in order to receive total healing and deliverance from the bondage of the enemy. Sometimes our deliverance will be instantaneous. In other cases, deliverance may be progressive. In both instances there are steps that only we can take to move forward in our process.
QUESTIONS: Are you a willing to do whatever the Lord requires of you to be set free? What is the first step you need to take to walk in your deliverance?
From the beginning of our Christian journey, and throughout our spiritual development, we strive to increase our faith. Growing in
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