Neil T. Anderson - The Bondage Breaker Study Guide

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE , OREGON

CONTENTS

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cover by Bryce Williamson

THE BONDAGE BREAKER is a registered trademark of The Hawkins Childrens LLC. Harvest House Publishers, Inc., is the exclusive licensee of the federally registered trademark THE BONDAGE BREAKER.

The Bondage Breaker Study Guide

Copyright 2000, 2019 Neil T. Anderson

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7741-8 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7742-5 (eBook)

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I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

JOHN 10:10

T hose words were spoken by Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. He gave His life for us, His sheep, so that we might experience life abundantly and life eternal. But for too many believers, the words of that promise sound empty, and the reality seems far away.

Does Jesuss promise sound empty to you? Do you feel far away from the joy and peace that other Christians seem to experience? Instead of enjoying a productive life of freedom in Jesus Christ, do you seem to be in bondage to fear, anger, or depression? Are you struggling with habits you cant break, thoughts or inner voices you cant silence, or sinful behaviors you cant escape?

Its for people like you that Ive written The Bondage Breaker and this study guide. The Bondage Breaker explains your position of life, freedom, protection, and authority in Christ. It warns of your vulnerability to very real demonic influences that are intent on robbing you of your freedom, and tells you of your need to submit to God and resist the devil. The book also presents The Steps to Freedom in Christ, which will help you walk free of the enemys designs on your life.

But simply reading about these things is quite different from living out the freedom that Jesus desires you to have, and thats why Ive written this guideto help you apply to your own life what you read about in The Bondage Breaker . I encourage you to work through this book slowly and thoroughly, and to pray each step of the way.

As you work through these lessons, youll be studying more closely the scriptures I refer to in the text; taking a closer look at your own life, past and present; and, I pray, opening yourself to the work of God in your life. Linger over the passages of Scripture. Let God speak to your heart and use His Word to work in your life. May this be an opportunity for you to draw closer to your loving and powerful heavenly Father.

It is also my prayer that you will be able to personalize the Bibles powerful words of truth, believe its life-changing message of hope, and experience the freedom and abundant life that are available to you through the work of Jesus Christ, your Shepherd and your Bondage Breaker.

Neil Anderson

ARE YOU LIVING IN THE SHADOWS?

Dear God,

Where are You? How can You watch and not help me? I hurt so bad, and You dont even careI love You, but You seem so far away. I cant hear You or feel You or see You, but Im supposed to believe Youre here

P erhaps you can identify with this womans feelings. Perhaps youve felt this way in the past or are feeling this way now. The message of this chapterand this bookis that you dont have to live in the shadows.

Why are you reading The Bondage Breaker and working through this study guide? What do you hope to learn about Gods ability to work in your life and His power over Satan?

Read again the following passage:

Over the past 40 years, I have encountered hundreds of Christians like the one who wrote this heartrending note. Most of them didnt attempt suicide, but many of them talked about dark impressions to do so. Nearly all of them admitted to the presence of theminner urges or voices which badgered them, tempted and taunted them, accused them, or threatened them. We often tell people who come to our ministry for help that they will struggle with thoughts such as, Dont go; they cant help you or they will think disruptive thoughts in first-person singular, like I dont want to go , or Ive tried this before, and it didnt work

Others may not be hearing voices, but their minds are so distracted that their daily walk with Christ is unfulfilling and unproductive. When they try to pray, they are tempted and bombarded by all sorts of things around them. When they attempt to read the Bible, they cant concentrate, and when they finish a chapter, they cant remember any of what they readInstead of being victorious, productive, joy-filled Christians, they trudge through life under a cloud, trying to hang on until the rapture.

Where, if at all, do you see yourself in this description? Where might the enemy be deceiving you or robbing you of the joy of the Christian life?

Define bondage in your own words.

What do you feel when you hear that word?

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SPIRITUAL BONDAGE

There is much confusion about the presence and activity of demons in the world today. This confusion keeps many Christians in bondage to a power they dont acknowledge. Write out in your own words arguments against the following misconceptions about the spiritual world.

1. Demons were active when Christ was on earth, but their activity has subsided.

2. What the early church called demonic activity we now understand to be mental illness.

3. Some problems are only psychological, and some are only spiritual.

4. Christians cannot be affected by demons.

5. Demonic influence is evident only in extreme or violent behavior and gross sin.

6. Freedom from spiritual bondage is the result of a power encounter with demonic forces.

Which misconceptions have you accepted as truth? Rebut those ideas with passages from Scripture that refer to Gods power, His truth, or Satans defeat. Write out those verses on an index card to carry with you to remind you of your victory over Satan through Christ.

KNOW THE ENEMY AND THE VICTOR

Look up the following passages. Write down the phrases used to describe Satan.

John 8:44

John 10:10

1 John 5:19

Revelation 12:9

Compare those terms for Satan with the following descriptions of Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

John 6:48

John 14:6

John 16:13

Isaiah 9:6

THE ARMOR OF GOD

Read Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Note the present-tense verbs. What did Paul say believers will encounter in this world?

Believers are not left defenseless in the face of the enemy. Read Ephesians 6:10-18.