My Testimony: There Is No Bondage
I woke up one Sunday morning with only one thing on my mind. Why do I harbor so much bitterness and anger toward my family? I asked the Lord to show me the root of where my bitterness lay. After getting ready for church, I was engaged in dialogue concerning deliverance. At that moment, the Lord unveiled my eyes and I was able to see the root cause of all of my trouble. Just like how Apostle Paul experienced scales falling from his eyes in Acts 9:18, I too experienced a spiritual reawakening and full deliverance.
In the fall of 2021, I met Apostle Connor, Selah’s soon-to-be Spiritual Advisor. I had no idea that she was related to one of the current execs on Selah’s Executive Board. Over time, I observed their relationship and respected how their family was devoted to serving Christ. At first, this was met with simple admiration, but over time I began noticing a lack within my family. I saw my relationship with my family was not like how my friend and her family were. Whenever I’d go back home, I would feel spiritual stagnation. I felt alone. I longed for my family to have the same fire and drive to serve the Lord as I did. But instead, the most that was mentioned of the Lord in my household were the sermons reserved for Sunday Morning services only. I began to resent my family. Thoughts began flooding my mind questioning why my family couldn’t be like my friend’s family. And before I knew it, I had opened a spiritual door that allowed the adversary free rein to terrorize my mind, thoughts, and emotions. As months progressed, so did my ill will toward my family. Arguments became a normal part of my relationship with my parents. Then this gave way to thoughts of them never understanding my walk with Christ, leading me to seclude myself in my room. I began speaking with my family less and less. I didn’t know that this was the adversary’s plan to hinder my walk with Christ. Memories of family vacations, “Mommy and Me Time”, and other intimate moments with my family began haunting my mind. I accepted that my relationship with my family had to be severed and that it couldn’t be the same way it was before, simply because they didn't understand my walk with Christ. But to God be the glory, my Father is greater than any demonic hold placed upon my life.
The Morning of Sunday, March 5th started like any other day. I woke up and asked the Lord for the Full Body Armor of God (Eph 6:11-13) and the Blood of Jesus (Matt 26:28) (Eph 1:7) (1 John 1:7) to be placed on me, my family, as well as the Selah Org, its members, and possessions. But before I ended my prayer, I asked the Lord to show me why I harbored so much bitterness toward my family (Heb 12:14-15). As I waited for Sunday service to begin, my boyfriend began telling me about how Father God delivered him from bitterness toward his family. At that moment, I saw where the root lay. I had harbored so much bitterness toward my family because I was coveting what another person had (Ex 20:17). This was the seed that started it all. I began rejoicing and screaming praises to the Lord because He showed me the root! At that moment, my boyfriend and I went into prayer casting out the works of darkness within my life. After we entered the church, worship began and the song “Just to be Close to You” was playing. The lyrics are:
“Just to be close to you is where I want to be.
Let me hide inside Your heart and find my destiny.”
Every step I take is one less step I’ll need
To be in your presence Close to thee.”
The Holy Spirit’s presence was so heavy that I cried. As I was sitting down in my chair, I saw a vision of an angel coming down from heaven to break the chains that were around my wrists (Ps 116:16). Its mighty sword broke the chains with ease and it seemed that the same angle then flew off back into the sky with a basket with a blackened figure inside (Ps 103:11-13). I knew inside the basket were the works of darkness that were working in my life (John 1:29). I cried glory and praised my Father even more. Another vision soon followed that one, of a luscious garden. In the middle of the garden was a large oak tree. The tree had a thick trunk and its gaunt-looking limbs bore no fruit (John 15:2). The entire structure was dead. As I stared at the structure I saw a hand swoop down and take the tree from its trunk. As the entire structure was removed I saw its roots had also been uprooted (1 John 1:9). Once the structure was removed, there was no trace of it even being there. I collapsed with cries and sobs of praise. My boyfriend and others around me began to comfort me and say how much Jesus loves me. Beloved, at that moment I not only felt free but I felt lighter. I didn’t know I was in bondage until Jesus delivered me (John 8:12). No longer were those feelings of anger and malice present. I was completely free!
After experiencing my deliverance I knew I had to talk to my parents and apologize for all the hurt I caused (Jam 5:16). My dad called me around 9 pm that Monday. And before he could get a word out I told him I had a confession. I was on speaker, and both my parents and my older sister were sitting in the room. The Holy Spirit went before me and said everything that needed to be said. In the past, I had difficulty saying the words “I am Sorry”, but not that night. I owned up to my mistakes and failures. I owned up to acting out of my character. But while telling them my confessions, I was able to explain the hardships of walking with Christ. I mentioned how coming back home feels spiritually difficult. I am used to seeing the move of God, the Fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22) (Eph 5:9), and Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor 12:1-12) in action. When I go back home I don’t experience that. My family was astonished at what was said, but for the first time, I knew that the message got through. My Dad began to ask about the Gifts of the Spirit and then asked me questions about if speaking in tongues is required for all believers. The Holy Spirit prompted me to read 1 Corinthians 12:1-12 with them. My Dad has been in the Christian faith for over 50 years, and for the first time, he heard about the Gifts of the Spirit. I knew the Lord was using this moment to call out to my family to wake up. I knew Father God was calling for that fire to be ignited.
Beloved, I learned many things from deliverance. One, I learned that coveting and envying another’s possessions is an insidious sin and left unchecked can wreak havoc in our walks with the Lord (Ex 20:17) (Rom 7:7) (Rom 13:9) (Eph 5:3) (Luke 12:15).
The second lesson I learned is that once Father God delivers you from something truly you should guard your heart above all else for it is the source of life (Prov 4:23). This doesn't mean to be bitter toward others but it means you will be careful what you will allow into your thoughts and emotions for not every thought is yours or of God (2 Cor 10:5-7).
The third lesson I learned is that our Christian journeys will be challenging (Mat 16:24-28) (2 Tim 3:12) (Eph 6: 10-13). Beloved, if the Lord no longer wants a person in His child’s life, He will remove them. We do not have to remove anyone of our own will. Our Father can do that for us. I believed that since my family wasn’t on the same Spiritual level as I was that I had to leave them. The Lord never instructed me to do this. But what He did instruct me to do was to pray for them that they may receive true Salvation (Jam 1:2-8) (Rom 10:9) (Heb 5:11-14) (Gal 5:22-25).
Beloved, our Father will stop at no length to deliver His people. Praise be to my Father who art in Heaven that He pulled me out of sin. I had no idea that I was in bondage, I was blind. Let this be a lesson to us all that we should never be ignorant of the devices of Satan (1 Pet 4:7:8). The enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8). Beloved even we Saints can be ensnared in the trickery of the adversary if we are not sober and Vigilant. But before I conclude I want to share these last things with you. There is a song by Jubilee Worship called No Bondage
(Rom 8:1). The lyrics go:
“There is no bondage.
Every chain is broken,
there is no bondage
Jesus, our hearts are open.
No guilt no shame,
all my stains erased
There is no bondage
Every Chain is Broken.”
To God be all the glory I got to experience true deliverance. Beloved if you know someone in your family who does not know the Lord, pray for them. Make petitions on the behalf of the person that they find true Salvation. Family is important to the Lord for it makes up the Body of Christ or the Church (Eph 5:23) (1 Cor 12:12-31) (Rom 12:4-5). It could very well be you who is the key that helps them find Jesus. If you know a family member(s) who is not saved I ask that you pray these words.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you and ask that you rebuke the works of Darkness with [their name(s)] life(s). Your word says that it is not Your will that any shall perish, but that all shall come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b). Father, your son Jesus Christ said that He came so that we could have life more abundantly (John 10:10). So Father I am asking you to stand in the gap (Psalm 106:23) of [their name(s)] so they may experience your presence in their life and be saved. In Jesus name, Amen.
Go in peace, Beloved <3