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Today’s Bible Study Outline

Theme: Retaining Your Freedom (Gal. 5)

Focus : A Bible Study on How to Live Free from Evil Yokes and Burdens.

A) INTRODUCTION (BACKGROUND)

Before we enter into this study, it is good we understand the circumstances surrounding the scriptural text, so we can understand it better and find how it correlates with our situation today, especially with regards to freedom from yokes.

The Galatians had already received Christ and the freedom thereof, when suddenly a set of believers came up with the demand that these Galatians be circumcised according to the requirement of the old covenant.

They were being influenced to believe that they needed to be circumcised in order to be true Christians.

Theirs was a situation of one who has been freed from the law of sin and death, into a wonderful new life in Christ, but decides to go back to the yoke of the old form or covenant.

One thing about yokes and freedom, as we will see later, is that they follow similar pattern and principles irrespective of its occurrence and form.

Therefore, when we are able to understand how God used St Paul to deal with this matter in the life of the Galatians, we can then apply the same principles in protecting our freedom from the attack of the devil, who will want to bring us back under captivity.

St Paul, in his writing, expressed extreme dismay at those among the Galatians who had accepted this teaching.

He angrily condemned those who taught it as “false brethren,” saying, “I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves”
(Galatians 5:12). He argued forcefully for Christian freedom from the Jewish ceremonial law.

B) BIBLE READING:

GALATIANS CHAPTER 5

The memory Verse of our study is from Galatians 5:1 – “Christ set us free, so that we should remain free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be fastened again to the yoke of slavery.”

C) THE MESSAGE

As we tend to enjoy our freedom from yokes and burdens, it is important that we are aware of things that are capable of returning under those yokes.

These are principles that the Holy Spirit has helped us to filter out from the interaction between St Paul and the Galatian Church.

These principles apply even in cases as deep as ancestral yokes as well as cases in the form of obsession and addictions. Let us look at them under benefits and lessons from the study.

D) PRINCIPLES That Will Help You Retain Your Freedom From Evil Yokes and Bondages

1. Boldness and Firmness in Christ (Verse 1)

It takes boldness and firmness to resist the temptation of falling back to past life of addiction, fornication, drunkenness and all similar yokes from which the Lord has delivered us. We must take the advice of St Paul – stand firm!

2. Live in the Grace of Pure Spirituality and Avoid Empty Religiousity (Verse 4).

Our strength lies in the real presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and how much we live according to His nature.

It shouldn’t be just about certain religious observation, but a life that truly carries the power of God, having been clothed with power of the Holy Spirit. Mere religiousity will not fill us with the strength needed to resist the devil.

3. Be Led by the Spirit (Verse 5, 16, 25).

Be guided by the Holy Spirit and you will no longer yield to self-indulgence. When we are led by the Holy Spirit, He reveals the devils tactics to us on time, giving us a heads-up when the devil is approaching with his tricks. He helps us develop our discernment capability.

4. Live by Faith (Verse 6).

If you do not use the power of faith to exercise your freedom, the devil will take it from you. Do not leave your spiritual gate open to the devil. He that the Son of God sets free is free indeed. Believe in your freedom and do not let the enemy deceive you that it never happened and you are still entrapped.

5. Avoid All Forms of Carnality and Worldly living (Verse 19-21, 24).

The enemy will always find a way to come in and plunder. Sin gives access and legal rights to the devil into our lives.

He has sinned from the beginning and hence sin is his nature. When sin is found in you, he can come to lay claims, so avoid it.

6. Bear the Fruit of the Spirit (Verse 22).

When we are actively exhibiting the nature of the Holy Spirit, it is less likely that the forces of the enemy will find rest in our being, for light and darkness have nothing in common.

7. Do Away with Evil Properties (Verse 20).

Leaving the properties of the enemy with us gives him the legal ground to make an entry. He will always connect with his own.

How will a lady be delivered from the forces of fornication and still retain the relationship that caused it in the past? Such applies in other like scenarios.

D) CLASSES

In the classes, we will discuss how to implement each of the above lessons in our everyday lives, citing life examples, testimonies and how it affects us

E) CONCLUSION

As our memory verse says, “Christ set us free, so that we should remain free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be fastened again to the yoke of slavery”.

The best way to appreciate God for the freedom which he worked for us through the ministry of His Son is to ensure that we do not return to slavery. Brethren, we all are called to believe in this freedom and should work hard to preserve it.

Shalom!

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