For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

The Spirit Of Bondage

Freedom is the voice of those who seek to find happiness and joy in life. All men are made free with the ability to choose the course of their lives. Sadly, many become enslaved by their fellow man and, worse, enslaved by their own desires. Slavery is a negative subject that brings many emotions to the surface with repugnance and abhorrence, yet it is common in most people’s lives. There are movements decrying the slavery of men upon others, but what about the personal slaveries that bind men to the deceptive allure of pleasure? The spirit of bondage is the strongest of temptations trapping the soul into slavery of passion, drugs, desire, and uncontrolled habits.

The spirit of bondage is a tool of the devil to take the hearts of God’s people away from Him. It can become a lifelong struggle against chemical addiction, robbing life of health and happiness. Addictions to pornography trap millions of people. Uncontrolled spending by hoarders that cannot stop buying ruins lives. Gambling destroys countless lives every year. The “anonymous” clubs flourish from a harvest of souls enslaved to the spirit of bondage. God does not desire His people to be coupled to the slavery of sin but to find peace and happiness in the Spirit of adoption. True slavery is measured by the type of master that controls the spirit. Enslaving the soul to the flesh’s pleasures always brings heartache and ruin. Seeking happiness in drugs can end in destroying the body and then death. Financial ruin comes from those who cannot stop flittering away the family income.

One of the greatest addictions has become the cell phone. Smartphones have made a population of ‘unsmart’ people who cannot exist without media fixes from myriad apps that tantalize and tease the mind to want more. Children are neglected as parents consume their time staring at the tiny screens. Marriages become loveless as the love of the smartphone ruins the relationship. Young people cannot communicate with others. The spirit of bondage has taken over the souls of God’s people who lack self-control. Worship services cannot be completed without checking the phone. How many Christians can leave their cell phone in the car and go for more than an hour without checking Facebook? The excuse often is the phone is used with a Bible app, and while that is true, can that person honestly say they have never checked other media during worship?

There are many addictions that take the heart away from God. The need to disconnect to reconnect with God is needed now more than ever. Drug use was a prevalent temptation of choice, but now the sophisticated drug of use is the electronic media; known as the spirit of slavery. When the child of God cannot control – cannot control their desires, it becomes sinful. Self-control is one of the hallmarks of the Christian character. The lack of self-control is the lack of devotion to God. Allowing the spirit of bondage to consume the heart will destroy the soul. The Christian is not called of Christ to be enslaved to the bondage of fear. Christians are called to Christ to be people of God who received the Spirit of adoption by whom they cry out, “Abba, Father.” They cry out “allegiance” to the Father. Do not let the spirit of slavery consume the soul. Set yourself free from that which binds you – be free in Christ.