There are, broadly speaking, two categories of bondage, namely physical and
spiritual.
Physical bondage refers to slavery or servanthood. Persons who are captured in
war lose their freedom as their captors usually treat them, in varying degrees,
rather badly imposing on them tasks or labour that are more or less fit for beats
of burden. In spite of their lack of freedom God can use them as agents of
deliverance, 2Kings 5:1-6.
Another kind of physical bondage is imprisonment, after a judicial process or
detention of political opponents without trial. Freedom may come at the end of
the term of imprisonment or by Executive pardon.
Spiritual bondage, on the other hand, emanates from satanic oppression, which
may manifest as chronic or incurable disease. The Madman of Gadara could
never been cured, by any human medication, as the legion of demons who ruled
his mind would never have allowed that. They held him captive among the dead
but allowed him to visit the living even though his behavior set him far apart
from them. Only Jesus, the Deliverer, could have set him free and return him to
human habitation as a divine witness, Mk. 5:1-20.
Fear is another manifestation of satanic bondage. Although there is normal fear
of the unknown or of darkness, satan can exploit such fears, leading to insecurity
and lack of confidence in God who, assuredly, says “fear thou not, for I am with
thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will
uphold thee, I will help thee: yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness” Isaiah 41:10.
This and similar assurances fall into deaf ears making it possible for satan to
make inroad into their lives.
But it is not beyond our loving God to allow some of these lost souls, to stray to
a church revival or crusade, give their lives to Christ and make a turnaround, to
the surprise of those who had written them off.
The use of hard drugs and alcohol, mostly by young people, also leads to
bondage. The users frequently end up losing their minds. A particular kind of
drug known as opioids, over time, may result to deterioration of physical and
mental health, and even death. For those who have acquired these habits, like
most internet fraudsters, the end result is physical and spiritual jail.
Any discussion of the sources of spiritual bondage will be incomplete without
mentioning willful ignorance. Those who know or are exposed to the truth but
ignore, or even deliberately oppose it, are sold to the devil. The Jewish elites,
who denied the divine sonship of Jesus, harassed, insulted and eventually got
him crucified, were victims of their own pride and stupid attachment to their
tradition and law, Matt. 12:1-8. Every effort Jesus made to remove the veil
covering their eyes was resisted. They claimed He had a demon when, in reality,
they were the ones who were demon-possessed, John 8:48-58. Not even a
leading member of the Pharisaic sect, Nicodemus, who had seen the Light, could
convince them, John 7:50-52. If anyone chooses to live in darkness when he had
been exposed to The Light then he is on his own, John 11:8-10.
It should be noted that God, not just the devil, can allow men to descent into
bondage when they fall into sin. Saul, His own choice of king for His beloved
people, Israel, (I Sam. 9:27 and I Sam. 10:1) committed sin and He handed him
over to satan who terrorized him till death, I Sam. 16:14; I Sam. 31:1-4. Even
the beloved David, “the sweet Psalmist of Israel”, 2 Sam. 23:1, of whom God
proudly said
I have found David my servant, with my holy oil
have I anointed him, with whom my hand shall be
established: mine arm also shall strengthen him,
Ps. 89:20&21
descended into bondage when, to God’s disappointment, he allowed himself to
commit adultery and murder. His punishment was severe, very severe, 2 Sam.
12:9-14. What saved him from damnation was his genuine and desperate
repentance, Ps. 51.
In contemporary times too there are children of God who might truly have been
called as Apostles, Pastors, Prophets, Evangelists or Teachers, men and women
who did exploits for God but who, at one point submitted to the lure of riches,
power and fame. Satan, of course, becomes their friend and encourager even
though they condemn him on the pulpit.
Jesus had warned that, in the time ahead, false prophets, false witnesses, and
even false christs would arise, Matt. 7:15, Matt. 24:23&24. Not surprisingly they
are flourishing at a time when prosperity, not sacrifice, is their priority goal.
However, there are genuine servants of God whose commitment to the gospel is
unwavering, day after day.
They swim in freedom unless they allow
