"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

Sitting here this morning I really did not know what I wanted to write about. I had an idea, but was not sure. Basically the idea for tomorrow's devotional was going to be today, then I got an idea. I decided I wanted to end the month right and went with a 2 parter (alla Lazarus from 6/11-12/2018). I chose a topic that was near and dear to my heart and is relevant to the culture. Plus I am on the brink of ICMC (International Campus Ministry Conference) 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio which is for the Church of Christ; and the theme is “Break Every Chain”. When I first starting this the countdown said, 6 days 3 hours 6 minutes and 44 seconds. I leave the 4th and I cannot wait. The description for the conference is, “The world is enslaved, but no one sees it. Chains are everywhere, but no one notices. Link by link and yard by yard, iron shackles wrap themselves around the hearts of men and women who think they are free. Our colleges and universities, our friends, our families are strangled to death by sin but in ignorance call it freedom. Knowledge cannot free us. Success cannot free us. No even religion can free us. Only Jesus can break out chains.” Psalm 107:14-15 says, "He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind." Jesus came, saw, and he conquered. He conquered everything we fail to do on a daily basis. He came to be the perfect living example for us. He came in the flesh to live among the flesh and to live, suffer, and be like the flesh. He came to defeat the desires of the flesh. He came to be the ultimate sacrifice and he was the sacrifice that saved s from eternal darkness. We are covered and saved by his blood. His blood broke every chain and freed us from the darkness. We are no longer slaves to fear and no longer slaves to the darkness. We are children of God. There is so much power in the simple name of Jesus, there is power to break every chain. We are not born with chains but as we grow we become enslaved in the world, with and without knowing. We become slaves to fear, slaves to pride, slaves sin, slaves to the world, slaves to money, slaves to social media. We become slaves to anything that can bring us away from God, that is the plan of the devil and plan of the world. Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Philippians 2:9-11 says, "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." There is power in the name of Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Savior. There is no name or anything above him, he is the Ultimate and Almighty God. Mark 16:17 says, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues." John 14:6 and 13 says, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'…And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." We are called to go through Jesus. We are called to ask, disciple and use his name. it is because of the name, grace, mercy, and love of Jesus that we are set free. We no longer have to worry about the old, the Spirit makes us new when we are baptized. When we are baptized we are baptized by the Spirit. The Spirit cleanses us of the darkness with the Light. We bury our old self and come up brand new. We are set free from the strangle hold of the devil, the Spirit of Jesus breaks every chain. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be alert and sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The war, battle, race is not fully over. The devil is always on the move, and once we become true children of God he is more active. He will try harder and throw more temptation and evil our way. He is a sore loser, he hates to lose. We have to be steadfast and have to be aware and on the defense all the time. We have to make sure we do not become yoked again by the darkness in slavery. A yoke is like a harness, hitch or stockade. It is something farmers put on two cattle when they when them to both go straight. We have to be aware and not become yoked with darkness. We were bought at a price by the greatest owner. We were set free from this world by grace, mercy, love and peace. Use his name and spread the message. You are free from every bondage and every chain. Proclaim his name it is the key to the heart and to every chain. Live in the light.

"Break Every Chain" by Jesus Culture: Break Every Chain by Jesus Culture Lyrics

"No Longer Slaves" by Jonathan and Melissa Helser: No Longer Slaves (Official Lyric Video) - Jonathan David & Melissa Helser | We Will Not Be Shaken

Above are link to two songs that were used for this devotional. Tomorrow I going to bring Christian Rap to the topic. We are so free that is not even funny, we got no chains on us. We are running with the savior. Sneak peak: KB - No Chains

Lord, thank you for all you do. Thank you for your grace, mercy, peace, and love. Thank you for taking on everything for us. You are the perfect example to follow. You died in order for us to be free from the world. You are the only one that has the ability to break every one of our chains. I pray that you break our chains and release us from the bondage of this world. I pray all this all in your son's glorious awesome name, Amen.

#LetsBeAMovement