By Femi Obembe

Dearly beloved brethren,

I feel deeply honored to share with you something God has been laying on my heart over the past few months. What stirred this reflection was a combination of Scripture and some very disturbing events we have all heard about recently—things done in the name of “deliverance,” where people, especially women, were harassed and abused in the name of deliverance. Those reports troubled me deeply and made me stop and ask an honest question: Is this really how deliverance works according to the Bible?

As I reflected on this, one Scripture kept returning to my mind—Romans 1:16. Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel… for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” That verse challenged me. If the Gospel itself is the power of God for salvation and deliverance, then what exactly are we missing when we run after strange practices? I decided to study this passage more closely and share what the Lord impressed on my heart.  You are also free to share your thoughts as God lays it in your heart.

Now, when we talk about deliverance, it suggests someone is already in captivity. A captive person cannot free himself. He needs help from outside of himself. And here is the good news: Scripture tells us that God has already provided that power. The power to be set free is released through believing the Gospel. In other words, deliverance is not hidden somewhere—it is made available through faith in what Christ has already done.

Let me explain captivity with a simple illustration from economics, which is my field. We often say consumers are free to choose what they buy. But in reality, producers use advertising to shape people’s desires. Over time, consumers begin to crave certain products, and once that craving is established, prices can be raised without resistance. At that point, the consumer is no longer free—he is operating at the mercy of the producer.

That is very similar to how sin works in human life. Jesus said, “Whoever commits sin is the slave of sin.” Sin does not take control all at once. It starts gradually. It shapes desire, weakens resistance, and before long, a person finds himself trapped. Paul says people can be “taken captive by the devil to do his will,” and Peter tells us that whatever overcomes a person eventually brings that person into bondage. That is how captivity works.

Most bondage begins with misplaced affection. The Bible warns us about the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Look at Samson. He was chosen and empowered by God to deliver Israel, yet his downfall began with what he saw and desired. He saw a woman, wanted her, and refused counsel. Later, his continued indulgence in sexual sin robbed him of judgment, strength, freedom, and eventually his life.

Judas Iscariot gives us another painful example. He walked with Jesus. He heard the teachings. Yet little by little, greed took hold of his heart. What began as small theft eventually led him to betray his Master. What he thought was gain turned into destruction.

I share these examples because many of us today are fighting similar battles—though in different forms. Pornography. Anger. Addiction. Fear. Shame. Constant guilt. Hopelessness. Broken homes. Violence. Poverty that seems to repeat across generations. Some of these struggles have been around so long that people begin to feel powerless. But Paul tells us something powerful: the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.  So what exactly does the Gospel do?

First, the Gospel brings truth and understanding. It is good news. It tells us where sin came from, why we struggle, and what God has done to rescue us. There is a saying that information is power—and that is true spiritually as well. God says His people perish for lack of knowledge. The Gospel gives us knowledge that exposes lies and points us toward freedom.

Second, the Gospel empowers us. After the fall, fear and shame entered human life. People began to hide. But through the Gospel, God restores courage. That is why Scripture repeatedly says, “Fear not.” The Gospel reminds us that we are not helpless. It teaches us how prayer, fasting, and obedience release spiritual strength. Jesus Himself said that certain strongholds do not leave except through prayer and fasting. When a believer responds to bondage with God’s Word, prayer, and discipline, God’s power begins to work from the inside out.

The Gospel also educates us. Satan’s greatest weapon is deception. He lies, twists truth, and manipulates desire. But the Gospel exposes his strategies. When Jesus was tempted, He did not argue emotionally—He used the Scripture. Through the Gospel, we also understand the meaning of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. What the world sees as foolishness, we know to be the power of God unto salvation.

And let us not forget this: the Gospel transforms. No one is beyond its reach. Jesus rescued the woman caught in adultery and restored her dignity. Zacchaeus met Christ and became a changed man. Entire societies have been transformed by Gospel influence—slavery abolished, human dignity affirmed, barbaric practices ended, justice systems reformed. Wherever the Gospel is truly embraced, transformation follows.

Brethren, freedom begins with honesty. We must first recognize when we are in bondage. Bondage develops slowly, and freedom often unfolds gradually. But I assure you—if we stay with the Word, if we pray, if we fast, and if we obey, the grip of bondage will loosen. One day, just as Jesus asked the woman caught in adultery, “Where are your accusers?” you will look around and realize the chains are gone. God does the heavy lifting. Our role is faithfulness.

Finally, we must understand this: instant miracles are not always God’s primary method. Sometimes God uses our struggles to draw us closer to Him, to reshape our character, and to conform us to the image of His Son. Deliverance without devotion rarely lasts. God is not interested in rituals or magic; He desires relationship. He wants to walk with us daily and be present in every area of our lives.

My prayer is that God Almighty will give us the grace to seek Him sincerely—in spirit and in truth—and to experience the lasting freedom that only the Gospel can give.

Once again,

I wish you a Happy New Year.
love from Femi Obembe