Breaking the Chains: Freedom from Invisible Bondage
Jesus Came for the Chains You Don’t Even Know You Wear
Not all prisons have bars, and not all chains are physical. Are you unknowingly held back by invisible bondage like fear, shame, or guilt? Discover how Jesus Christ broke the strongest chains of a demon-possessed man (Mark 5:1–20), and how He still breaks every chain today. This post dives into how Galatians 5:1 and the gospel’s power free us not just from sin’s penalty, but from emotional, mental, and spiritual oppression. What if the breakthrough you’ve been praying for isn’t about external change, but internal deliverance?
The Chains We Don’t See
Have you ever felt stuck, spiritually stagnant, emotionally weighed down, or mentally trapped, and you can’t even explain why?
You attend church, pray, read your Bible, serve others… but deep inside, there’s a part of you that still feels bound. Maybe it’s the weight of an old failure, an inner voice of unworthiness, a secret addiction, or an overwhelming fear that won’t leave.
Friend, this is what we call invisible bondage. And you are not alone. The Bible is clear: Jesus didn’t just come to forgive sin, He came to set captives free (Luke 4:18). This means freedom is not just a future hope in heaven, it’s a present reality in Christ. But here’s the hard truth: Many of us are living in spiritual prisons with the door already wide open. What keeps us inside? Let’s explore the chains we often don’t recognize, and the Savior who breaks every one of them.
The Man in the Tombs: A Picture of Invisible Bondage
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” — Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
In Mark 5:1–20, we encounter one of the most powerful, chilling, and hope-filled encounters in the New Testament. Jesus steps off a boat in the region of the Gerasenes and is immediately met by a man possessed by an unclean spirit. He lives among the tombs. He’s naked, bruised, howling, and cutting himself. Chains can’t hold him, he breaks them with unnatural strength. Everyone has written him off as mad. But Jesus sees more.
Here’s the twist: while the man’s bondage was visible, many of us live with similar spiritual afflictions, only they’re hidden.
What if the man in the tombs is a mirror for the battles we fight within?
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We isolate ourselves emotionally, like he did physically.
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We self-sabotage, like he cut himself.
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We’re tormented by voices, of shame, regret, unworthiness.
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We feel spiritually powerless.
Invisible Chains Come in Many Forms:
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Fear: The fear of failure, rejection, or not being enough.
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Shame: The haunting memory of something you’ve done, or what’s been done to you.
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Unforgiveness: Bitterness that corrodes your soul.
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Addiction: Not just substances, think approval, social media, even toxic relationships.
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Religious Legalism: Trying to earn what God has already given.
These are bondages of the heart and mind—and they’re every bit as real and damaging as physical chains.
Jesus Breaks Chains, Not Just Habits
In Mark 5, Jesus doesn’t counsel the demons or give the man a list of steps to improve his behavior. He commands the spirits to leave. “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” (Mark 5:8). And they obey. This is the authority of Jesus Christ—the One who sets captives free. He doesn’t just manage symptoms. He breaks chains at the rootAre you trying to modify your behavior without surrendering the bondage to Christ?
Jesus doesn’t do behavior management. He does resurrection.
How Bondage Starts: Lies and Agreements
It’s important to recognize how spiritual chains begin. Most often, they start with a lie from the enemy, and our agreement with that lie.
Consider these common lies:
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“I’ll never be free.”
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“God could never forgive me.”
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“This is just who I am.”
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“I deserve this pain.”
When we believe these lies, we make internal agreements with the enemy’s script. We come into alignment with slavery—even though Christ has already declared us free.
Galatians 5:1 reminds us:
“Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Key Question:
What lies have you unknowingly agreed with? What mindsets need to be brought into obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)?
What Freedom Looks Like in Christ
After Jesus delivers the man in Mark 5, the people find him “clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus.” He’s no longer running, screaming, or harming himself. He’s at peace. This is the picture of gospel freedom. Jesus doesn’t just set us free from something. He sets us free for something, relationship with Him.
What happens when Jesus breaks our chains?
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We stop hiding and start healing.
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We let go of the past and walk into purpose.
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We exchange fear for peace, lies for truth, bondage for sonship.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17).
How Do You Break Free? 5 Biblical Steps to Deliverance
i. Recognize the Chains
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal hidden areas of bondage. What thought patterns, behaviors, or fears have you accepted as “normal”? Psalm 139:23–24 — “Search me, O God… and see if there is any grievous way in me…”
ii. Renounce the Lies
Break agreement with every lie of the enemy. Speak truth out loud. John 8:32 — “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
iii. Receive the Authority of Christ
Declare Jesus’ lordship over your life. He has already won the victory. Colossians 2:15 — “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame…”
iv. Repent and Replace
Turn from sin or unhealthy beliefs—and replace them with God’s Word. Romans 12:2 , “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
v. Remain in Community
Freedom flourishes in the light. Don’t isolate—walk with others who speak truth. James 5:16 — “Confess your sins to one another… that you may be healed.”
Want more on walking in daily freedom?
Check out our blog on Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God →
When Freedom Feels Far Away
Let’s be honest, sometimes freedom doesn’t come instantly. What then?
Remember:
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You are not disqualified by your struggle.
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Your freedom is secure in Christ, even if your feelings haven’t caught up yet.
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You are in a battle, but you are not alone.
The same Jesus who crossed a stormy sea to reach a bound man in Mark 5 is crossing into your life today.
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:36
So don’t stop pursuing freedom. Jesus paid for it with His blood. Walk in it, fight for it, and rest in it.
The Gospel: The Ultimate Chain Breaker
At the heart of it all is the gospel. Jesus didn’t just come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive. Our greatest bondage is sin, and Jesus broke its power at the Cross.
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The guilt that shames you? He nailed it to the tree.
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The fear that paralyzes you? He buried it in the tomb.
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The lies that accuse you? He silenced them with His resurrection.
The cross is not just where your sins are forgiven.
It’s where your chains are shattered.
Reflect and Respond: Your Call to Freedom
Let’s take a moment right now. Ask yourself:
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What chains am I carrying that Jesus already broke?
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What lie have I believed about myself or about God?
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What truth do I need to embrace today?
Take this moment to pray boldly:
“Jesus, You came to set me free. I surrender every invisible chain—every lie, fear, and sin. I believe You are the Chain Breaker. Set me free from what I cannot see. Let me walk in Your truth, clothed and in my right mind, at Your feet. In Your name, amen.”
Want More? Resources for Deeper Freedom
And explore our related blog:
What It Means to Be Free in Christ
Final Word: Don’t Go Back to the Graveyard
The man Jesus healed in Mark 5 wanted to follow Jesus on His travels. But Jesus told him:
“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…” (Mark 5:19)
Friend, your freedom is not just for you, it’s a testimony for others. Break the silence. Tell your story. Walk in the light. And remember: You were made for freedom. Don’t live like a prisoner when Jesus has already unlocked the door.
If this post resonated with you, share it with someone who needs hope.
And join the conversation, what chains has Jesus broken in your life?
Let’s celebrate our freedom together.