Ephesians 1:7
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

DAILY READING Matthew 21:28-46; Numbers 19-20; Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:14

In 2014, the Islamic State (ISIS), in a sudden wave of terror, launched a genocide against the Yazidi community in Sinjar, northern Iraq. Members of the Yazidi community became their target mostly becuase they were Christians. During the ISIS invasion, most of the men were executed and thousands of women and children were transported to ISIS slave markets. These women and girls became doomed to odysseys of violence, slavery, and abuse – being sold again and again to different ISIS fighters. In cities such as Mosul and Raqqa which were the strongholds of ISIS, there were systematic slave markets where these women were sold off. A report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that some 5,000 Yazidi women were sold into slavery during this period. For many of those held in slavery, there was little hope of escape and they were subjected to all manner of atrocities. However in response, some humanitarian groups began to emerge who took it upon themselves, at great risk, to begin to work towards the rescue of those held in slavery. One of these groups is The Liberation of Christian & Yazidi Children of Iraq [CYCI].

CYCI is run by Steve Maman, a Jewish Canadian businessman who became passionate about securing the freedom of these enslaved Yazidi Christian women. According to an interview he granted to The Jerusalem Post, Steve Maman said he stumbled across the plight of Yazidi women during his business trip to Iraq. After an Anglican priest enlightened him on the pitiable plight of these ISIS slaves, Maman then formed the charity organization, CYCI, which was able to raise more than $500,000 to buy back the freedom of more than 120 enslaved women and girls. Money “refunds” were made to slave owners for their release.

It is indeed disheartening that the evil of slavery, could still exist in this modern times.But thank God for these organizations which work tirelessly to rescue those in bondage. Through paying money to slave owners,  they are able to free many from the shackles of slavery to once again live as free citizens.

Spiritually also, many of us were in the same state of bondage and slavery. But when we were without hope, Christ came and paid the ultimate price of His precious blood to set us free.

Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

The word “redemption” means “the act or process of buying back.” The blood of Jesus is the cost of our redemption. Jesus paid the price for us to be free from the shackles of spiritual enslavement. Through the blood of Jesus we are truly set free from every form of suffering, shame and reproach of slavery.

Zechariah 9:11 says, ‘As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.’

By the blood we have been brought out of every pit of imprisonment. Spiritually, every affliction is a type of imprisonment. Disease, infirmity, poverty, sin, etc., are all demonic bondages that hold people in spiritual slavery. This was reflected in Luke 13:16 when Jesus said: ‘And ought not this woman…whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond?’

It is Jesus’ desire to loose us from every bondage of the enemy. By His blood, ‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us’ (Galatians 3:14).

While Jesus was being beaten and later hung on the cross, our freedom was being paid for and the curses on our lives were being averted. Therefore today we have a comprehensive redemption in Christ and as long as you serve The Lord, you are entitled to total liberty.  However it takes knowledge of the truth to walk in freedom.

John 8:32 says: ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’. Lack of spiritual knowledge is what keeps men in captivity. If you remain a babe in knowledge, you run the risk of spiritual enslavement. Galatians 4:1-2 says that a child is no better than a slave because he remains under governors and tutors until he is able to grow up and take charge. There is, therefore, a need for us to grow in knowledge of God’s Word to establish our freedom.

Hebrews 4:12 says God’s Word is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. God’s Word is able to cut away all shackles of slavery in our lives. Indeed when you know the truth, you shall be set free; and whosoever the Son of God has made free is truly free indeed (John 8:36).

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for the redemption I have through the shed blood of Jesus. Please enable me to drop every slavery mentality and walk every day in the full consciousness of my redemption and victory in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE

When God places His hand upon a man in life, nothing can come against him. This is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.