Would you like to be released from all forms of bondage?
Read what the Bible says from the gospel of John.
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
(John 8:31-32)
Step One
First you must believe on Jesus. He spoke these words to those who believed on Him. Believing on Jesus means accepting Him as Lord. Believing in Him is not enough, even the devils believe Jesus exists.
Step Two
Those who believe are able to continue in His Word. Only believers have the power to be steadfast in The Word. Continuing in His Word means to diligently study the Bible and then apply what you read to your own life.
Step Three
Then those who continue in His Word will become His disciples. Disciples are simply disciplined ones. Being disciplined takes practice, try something simple to begin with like always being on time or always sticking to your word. If you miss it, just try again until you achieve it.
Step Four
Only disciples can know the truth. Jesus does not reveal His truth to those without discipline. There is no point; they will never carry it out. This is an example of Matthew 7:6, of casting pearls before swine.
Step Five
Then when you know the truth—the truth you know will set you free.
You can be free from any form of bondage or addiction or addictive lifestyle because John 14:6 says that Jesus is the truth.
For example, when the truth of Philippians 4:19 becomes real to you…”But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”…you will be free from any form of lack.
This is a sequence of events from first believing, to being made free. People who are free, have undergone a series of processes to get there. These processes have taken them from where they were, to where the need to be in order to be free.
With God, there are no exceptions, but there are conditions.
Everyone can be free, but those who refuse to conform to the process set down in the Word will remain in their bondage.
Let’s reverse the process of being free from bondage to help us see how to apply it:
5. You can only be freed by the Truth
4. The Truth can only free you if you know it
3. You only know the Truth by being His disciple
2. You become a disciple by continuing in His Word
1. You continue in His Word by first believing
Most people think you can know the truth simply by reading The Word, and that is partly true.
But just reading will not make us His disciples nor will it enable us to continue in The Word.
You cannot miss out any of the steps to freedom; you have to do them all. James 1:22 tells us not to be hearers only, but to do The Word.
So today, I encourage you to pick just one area of your life and make your first step toward becoming free.
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In 1982 Stephen Wood was a heathen, in a rocky marriage to Janet who was agoraphobic at the time. Janet had given her heart to Jesus as a child but was never taught to read the Word to promote growth. Janet did know enough to cry out to God for their marriage.
It was then that God sent Christians to move in just three houses away. Their Christian neighbours had been praying for them for eighteen months before inviting them to attend the first Kenneth Copeland video meeting to be held in England.
Stephen reluctantly attended the meeting and was struck by the love shown to him by the hosts of the meeting. After watching the video, Stephen knew that he had become a Christian. No-one laid hands on him, no-one prayed with him, he just knew he had received Jesus.
Janet received prayer for the agoraphobia and was delivered from fear that evening. They went home that night a different couple with new hope. The following day, Stephen could sing in tongues without knowing there was a Holy Spirit.
Within six months, Stephen, a warrant officer in the British Army was posted to Germany. Shortly after they became Kenneth Copeland video ministers and continued to grow as people's lives were changed and they faced daily challenges that made them run to God.
In 1985 they returned stronger in faith to Warminster, where God had called them to start a church in the town. Foundation Christian Fellowship was established in September of 1986 with seven people. Their growing church is now reaching out for their own land and building.
The restoration of their rocky marriage was not fully able to begin until Stephen received some emotional healing. Further work was achieved when he received a teaching, which allowed him to finally receive God as the Father who loves him unconditionally.
This divine intimacy has restored their marriage. Now they can minister to other marriages