PREPARING OUR CHILDREN FOR MISSION

 

Psalm 22:19–28; Galatians 3:23–29; Luke 8:26–39

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

John 8:36

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Today, we are reflecting on the theme: "Christ Shall Set You Free."

In a world filled with bondage, spiritual, emotional, psychological, and even social, the promise of freedom is not just desirable, it is essential. But what kind of freedom does Christ offer? And how does He bring it about?

The Human Bondage and Need of Deliverance

(Galatians 3:23-25; Psalm 22:19-21)

Galatians 3:23-25 paints a picture of our state before Christ: "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed." The law acted like a prison guard, not because it was evil, but because it showed us our sin and our helplessness.

Psalm 22, written centuries earlier, captures this cry of desperation:

"But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me."

(Ps. 22:19)

The psalmist feels surrounded by bulls, lions, and dogs (v. 12-21), symbolism of enemies, fears, and internal struggles in life. These enemies do set limitations, imprison, put us into captivity and bondage. The psalmist indicates where his strength is: "LORD... you are my strength."

Can you remember a time in your life when you felt imprisoned by sin, guilt, fear, or a life situation? What did you do?

Precious one, like the psalmist, we all need a Deliverer.

Christ Our Liberator

The Gospel of Luke offers a vivid and unforgettable image: a man possessed by demons, naked, chained, isolated, and tormented. He lived among the tombs, a symbol of death, and society had given up on him.

But Jesus stepped ashore in the region of the Garasenes, and everything changed. The "Legion" (demons) shouted, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” (Luke 8:28).  

At the sight of Christ, our Liberator, the captor becomes the captured.

What does Jesus do? He confronts the darkness head-on. He commands the demons to leave. He restores the man to sanity and dignity: "sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind" (v. 35)

This is not just healing, but freedom in action and a restoration of honour.

Augustine of Hippo once said, “Sin is the punishment of sin.” The man was trapped in a cycle he could not break until Christ Jesus broke it for him. Christ sets him free.

Remember this, Jesus didn’t just free him from demons; He freed him for a purpose. The man became an evangelist in his own town for Jesus (v. 39).

The Freedom Christ Offers

In Christ, we are freed from: the condemnation of the law, the control and bondage of sin.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

(Gal. 3:28)

In Christ, we are freed to be God's children and the promise of inheritance.

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith."

Gal. 3:26 

“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29.

Freed for a Purpose and Identity

Martin Luther wrote: “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”

Our Freedom Must Be Shared

When the healed man asked to follow Jesus, Christ gave him a mission instead:

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

(Luke 8:39)

The Psalm 22 ends not in despair, but in a song of freedom shared:

“I will declare your name to my people... All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD.” (Ps. 22:22, 27)

When Christ sets us free, we become witnesses and freedom fighters for others still in chains.

Conclusion

Are You Living in Christ’s Freedom? or

Are you still living under guilt, shame, addiction, or fear?

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

(John 8:36)

Let us embrace the freedom Christ offers. Faith in Him to break our chains. Obedience to Him is to walk in freedom. Witnessing Him is to set others free.

Shalom aleikhem...