My second 2017 hope for you is that you find freedom from all fears, addictions,and any other bondages.  Jesus is Conqueror over your personal enemies.  Mine too.  (Luke 8:28-39)

Luke tells that in the country of the Gadarenes,
there in the tombs
was a man with an unclean spirit,
who had his dwelling among the dead.
And, always, night and day, he was in the mountains,
in the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones
No man could bind him – no, not with chains –
For they had been plucked asunder by him
and his fetters snapped in bits –
neither could any man tame him.

Altho he could not be bound by chains,
he was bound within.
He said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”

The captives are still Legion
Bound with despair
Filled with guilt
Raging with hatred, violence, and lust
Abusing themselves and their families
Hiding in fear of being found out
Cursing those who would bring deliverance

The chains of bondage prevail:
Covetousness and materialism
Self-indulgence
Jealousy – envy
Drugs and alcohol
Sexual perversion
Pornography
Phobias – Fears
Hatred and strife

The effects are rampant:
Divorce
Child abuse
Abortions
Poverty
Aids
War
Murder
Rape
Suicide
Insanity
And – at last – Eternal Damnation!

The answer is singular –
JESUS CHRIST! JEHOVAH-NISSI!  here
One who said, “Cast your cares on me”
One who was beaten for our healing
One whose blood paid for our redemption
One before whom all devils tremble
One whose name brings deliverance.

The man, once called Legion, met Jesus, the One
whom God sent to heal the brokenhearted
Preach deliverance to the captive,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised.

No longer Legion – clothed and in his right mind –
he went home and began to publish
what great things Jesus had done for him.

The captive had been set free – Amen, Amen.

Romans 8:31, 37 says “. . .If God be for us, who can be against us?. . .we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”