Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

The Natural

In everything we do in the Kingdom there is a God side and a man side. God can’t do your part for you and you can’t do God’s part. God always does his part, in fact in the area of bondage, addiction, and sin – He’s already done something (Sending Jesus). Now we have to freely receive that in walk in wisdom by living our lives based on the Word of God. Here are some natural and practical things you can do to get free:

RUN – Remember Joseph? What did he do when Pharaoh’s wife try to seduce him? He Ran! You need to learn to run from bad situations! If it’s a bar – don’t go there any more. If it’s porn, get anti-porn software on your computer, if it’s a bad relationship – run from that relationship.

Get Away from Your “Friends” – There is nothing I’m more passionate about . . . friends who only like you if you go to the bars, get wasted, pick up girls, etc…. aren’t really your friends. Get around people who want to see you free and help you in the process. One quote sums it up: “Friends love you the way you are, REAL FRIENDS love you enough to not let you stay where you are”

Confess It – This is natural, but very spiritual! Literally confess that you’re free as often as you can. Even while you’re doing it… (i.e. Smoking – Say “I’m free from smoking” while you have cigarettes in your hand, while you’re lighting one, while you’re puffing on one.) Confession works… do it often and don’t quit until you’re free!

More Importantly – Fix Your Eyes on Jesus – Get in the Bible, Go to church, get some Christian friends, seek some Christian mentors… do everything you can to grow in your relationship with God. He’s all you need!

What are some other things you can do?

Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands you sinner; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. -James 4:7, 8

God First, Freedom Second

When I talk to people who are in bondage and I tell them to start pursuing God, I hear things like this:

• “I need to quit drinking, smoking, having sex, etc. before I come to God”
• “If I walked in a church it would burn down”
• “God could never like me with all this junk in my life”

People that say things like this seem to always stay in bondage…

The reality is that God loves you regardless of what you’ve done, what you’re doing, or what you will do. He longs for you to come to a place where enough is enough and you start to rely on Him.  He loves you right where you are! Notice the what the verse says – Draw Close to God, and He’ll draw close to You. THEN wash your hands and purify your hearts.

The first and most important step in getting free from any bondage or addiction is to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and start drawing close to Him.

God First, Freedom Second - More tomorrow

³ You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I Peter 4:3

Enough is Enough

One thing I know about bondage is that it gets old – fast! When you’re in bondage you may not admit it is old, that you are discontent with what you’re doing, and that you’re really empty inside because everyone around you is doing the same thing and they seem to be having the time of their life, they seem to be very content, and the last thing they look like they are is empty. That is a huge lie – nearly everyone I talk to living a life bound to something hates it, but they don’t know what to do to get out.

However, here is what I know, if you’re going to be set free from any addiction or bondage – you have to decide you’ve come to the point where enough is enough. Here is what you need to know:

Whatever you’re bound to will Never Satisfy You -I know the feeling of going out and “having the time of my life” to come home and go to bed and feel so empty and unsatisfied night after night after night. That will never stop unless you stop what you’re doing.

Stop Just Accepting Your Life, Start Leading It – Most people allow other people, circumstances, etc. to run their lives for them. They allow other people to decide how to live their lives and as a result stay in bondage. You’ll need to decide you’ve had enough of letting that happen.

There is a Life that Will Satisfy and Fulfill - I’ve been bound and I’ve been free – free is a lot better. If you’re in bondage right now, realize there is another side to you’re bondage and it is possible for you to live free. There is nothing more liberating than being free from sins, addictions, and bondagess in our lives. It’s true life!

If you want to be free you MUST come the place where ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Once here, you’re positioning yourself to be free.