unshackled
"Should not this daughter of Abraham here who has been in the bondage of Satan for eighteen years have been released from her shackles on the sabbath?" —Luke 13:16
Jesus laid His hand on a woman who had been shackled, bound, and chained for eighteen years, and she was freed (Lk 13:11-13). "Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch" (Acts 12:6). Jesus freed Peter from prison shortly before he was to be executed.
Jesus came "to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord" (Lk 4:18-19). Jesus brought a perpetual jubilee year of liberation. When Jesus "ascended on high, He took a host of captives and gave gifts to men" (Eph 4:8).
Jesus is called the Lamb, which is the symbol of the Israelite nation being freed from Egyptian slavery. Jesus is called the Redeemer, that is, the One Who has paid the price to set us free. Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6), and the Truth will set us free (Jn 8:32). "That is why, if the Son frees you, you will really be free" (Jn 8:36).
Right now, ask Jesus to free you from any chains, bondages, compulsions, or addictions. Even if you have had these chains for years, Jesus will free you now. Pray: "Jesus, Lamb, Redeemer, Truth, Lord, Savior, and God, have mercy on me and set me free." You are free in Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, unchain me for a ministry of setting captives free.
Promise: "As for lewd conduct or promiscuousness or lust of any sort, let them not even be mentioned among you; your holiness forbids this." —Eph 5:3
Praise: After twenty years of drug addiction, John was set free in an instant, the instant he turned to his Redeemer.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet The Truth Will Set You Free.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 6, 2010
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