What Is Spiritual Bondage and How to Break Free From It

Do you feel that the devil has a hold on your life in some way? Is there a struggle in your life that seems to repeat itself over and over again? You could be dealing with spiritual bondage. 

As God releases the King-Priest anointing–empowering His people to lead with both heavenly authority and earthly governance–the enemy will attempt to increase spiritual bondage and oppression. He knows that when we are free and filled with God’s Spirit, we are dangerous to the dominion of darkness. 

It’s time to break free from spiritual bondage so we can rise up in the fullness of our calling and fulfill our Kingdom destiny. Freedom is found in the power of God and by being a doer of His Word! 

What Is Spiritual Bondage?

Spiritual bondage is being a slave to sin. It happens when we give the devil a foothold, and harbor sin, such as resentment, bitterness, or anger, in our hearts. 

If we are in a covenant relationship with God, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to break these chains. We can trust God with our struggles, turn them over to Him, and believe His promises. 

First, let’s look at the promise of our freedom in Yeshua… 

Break Free from Spiritual Bondage by Believing God’s Promises of Freedom

• “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”—2 Corinthians 3:17 
• “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”—John 8:36
• “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”—Galatians 3:22
• “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”—Galatians 5:1
• “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”—Acts 13:38-39
• “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”—Romans 6:22

When we pray on, meditate on, and declare these words, we expose the sins that spiritually bind us. Then, we can ask the Holy Spirit to begin a work of empowerment within us.

Here’s how…

5 Ways to Break Spiritual Bondage by Being a Doer of the Word

1. Be in the Word every day. The Word of God equips us with what we need to live victoriously and fulfill our Kingdom destiny. Putting on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6) empowers us to fight not with flesh and blood, but with the evil forces that wrap us in spiritual bondage. 

Yeshua spoke the Word of God in truth when the enemy brought temptation and was victorious. When we meditate on the Word of truth daily, it becomes easier to recall it, speak it, and live by it.

• “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16-17
• “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”—Psalm 119:105

2. Live a life of repentance. Repentance means turning away from your path and returning to God’s. Every day, we are pulled by temptations and spiritual forces. Those temptations and forces can become spiritual bondage. 

But when we humble ourselves again and return to the Lord, He is faithful to forgive and heal us. This may mean we pray repentant prayers one hundred times a day or more! With each turning back, we actually move forward with our Kingdom destiny. So, keep turning back to God!

• “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:9
• “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”—2 Chronicles 7:14

3. Find forgiveness. If there is unforgiveness in your heart, this is a foothold the devil has within your soul. Unforgiveness will multiply and breed anger, resentment, bitterness, and doubt.

Unforgiveness becomes spiritual bondage that is difficult to see. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal any unforgiveness you have harbored in your heart. 

• “‘And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’”—Mark 11:25
• “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.””—Matthew 18:21-22

4. Pray without ceasing. If you want freedom from spiritual bondage, praying must become part of your lifestyle. The enemy wants you to pray a one-and-done kind of prayer. He knows that if you continue to pray, you will receive freedom. 

He also knows that if you pray once or twice and give up, then he’s closer to binding you. Keep asking, seeking, and knocking.

• “‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.’”—Matthew 7:7-8

• “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

5. Hear and Do the Word. It’s one thing to hear the Word of God, but another to activate it and begin experiencing a breakthrough from spiritual bondage. Part of being a “doer of the Word” is renouncing. When we repent, we redirect our focus and come into alignment with God. 

Renouncing is refusing to align yourself with the enemy by formally declaring that you will no longer walk in your past or be bound by sin. 

• “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures… Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”—James 4:3, 7-8, 10

In Summary

Spiritual bondage is something that the enemy uses to keep us from prospering or accessing our spiritual inheritance in Christ. It happens when the devil has a foothold in our lives, and we end up harboring sinful thoughts and behaviors in our hearts. 

We can break free from spiritual bondage by being in the Word and praying continually. It is not an easy battle, but it is one that God equips us for so that we will have victory. He’s calling us to come into alignment with His Word so we may walk in our Kingdom destinies and inheritance!