NEIL ANDERSON DAILY DEVOTIONAL
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

November 4

Helping Others Find Freedom

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to
all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness
correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant
them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they
may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil,
having been held captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy
2:24-26).

The main qualification for helping others find freedom is not an
unusual giftedness or calling. It is godly character and the
ability to teach. The instructions in the epistles for helping
others find freedom in Christ are best summarized in 2 Timothy
2:24-26. It requires that the Lord’s bond servant be mature in
character as expressed by love for people and evidenced by the
fruit of the Spirit. It is also important that we are able to
communicate the truth so the captive can be set free.

The classic picture of deliverance is to bring in an expert who
will call up the demon, determine its name and rank, then cast it
out. This would make the deliverer the expert who gets his
information from the demon. I believe there is a better way. I
believe the deliverer is Christ. We don’t have to send for Him;
He already came.

As the Lord’s bond servants, we shouldn’t believe anything a
demon says. We must seek to get our information from the Holy
spirit who will lead us into all truth.

We can’t assume responsibility for someone else, but we can serve
as the Lord’s instrument to effect their freedom. It is every
individual’s responsibility to resist the devil, put on the armor
of God, confess, forgive, renounce sin, and take every thought
captive to the obedience of Christ. But according to 2 Timothy
2:24-26, by the grace of God we can help them.

Furthermore, this passage requires that we be absolutely
dependent on God, because He alone can grant repentance and set
the captive free. I always start any attempt at helping others by
declaring my total dependence on God my Father.

This daily devotional is published and distributed by
http://www.GOSHEN.net/ . It is written by Neil Anderson at
http://www.freedominchrist.com/ .