#153 DELIVERANCE 9-18-26

We need deliverance. From sin. From self. From Satan. “He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself” (Matthew 16:24). “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Three enemies. One Savior. Jesus Christ.

DELIVERANCE FROM SIN

Sin enslaves. Sin deceives. Sin destroys. “Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). We cannot play with sin and expect freedom. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin promises pleasure and pays destruction. It whispers, “Just one more time.” Then it tightens the chain.

But Jesus came to break the chain. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). He “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). “Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6).

Do not excuse sin. Do not rename sin. Do not make peace with sin. Bring it to Christ. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

There is forgiveness. There is cleansing. There is freedom.

DELIVERANCE FROM SELF

Sin is not our only problem. Sometimes the enemy is looking back at us from the mirror.

Self wants control. Self wants praise. Self wants its way. Self wants the throne.

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow Jesus.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). That is deliverance from self. Not self-improvement. Self-surrender.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3). “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

The answer to self is not trying harder to make self look better.

The answer is dying to self.

DELIVERANCE FROM SATAN

And behind the darkness stands a real adversary. Satan tempts. Satan lies. Satan accuses. Jesus called him “a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).

But Satan is not our master. Christ is.

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). So stand. “Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9).

Put on “the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). Take up “the shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16). Take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

Sin can be forgiven.

Self can be surrendered.

Satan can be resisted.

And Jesus can deliver.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13).

That is the gospel.

We need deliverance.

Jesus is the Deliverer.

BDD