“Pastor, why is my life so full of oppression? I don’t live in sin, yet I just keep going from one problem to another. What can I do to be free?

When it comes to executing the written punishment for sin or our ignorance, Satan is never gentle on believers. Many believers think that the only thing that attracts Satan’s punishment is sin, if only they know that he also takes advantage of our ignorance.

Oppression is an exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. And just as Satan has authority over you when you don’t repent of a sin, he also has authority over you when you’re ignorant of your rights in Christ. Let me show you two scriptures:

Hosea 4:
6a My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

This one doesn’t need explanation. Even God won’t stop Satan from destroying His people who are ignorant of their rights. The second scripture makes this clearer.

Psalm 82:
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Just look at that! As long as you lack understanding of your heritage, you’d continue to walk in darkness where Satan rules. And you can’t be within Satan’s territory and not be oppressed by him. During a war or a battle between opposing sides, if any soldier from one side is captured by the other side, he’d be made to suffer oppression. And I’ve told you that oppression is an exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.

As long as you’re in their territory during a war, they’d capture and punish you with the same level of punishment they’d give to your entire country. Imagine one man receiving the punishment that should be given to an entire country; that’s unjust, cruel and burdensome, and that’s why it’s called oppression. You can’t be oppressed and not be overwhelmed by problems.

That’s exactly how it is when a Christian walks in ignorance. No moment of fun at all. In fact, the punishment for ignorance is greater than the punishment for sin. At least when you sin, Satan can still lure you into lusting after what made you sin. If you have your green card in a foreign land, you’d be free to prosper, but the moment you begin to engage in malicious activities, you’re aiming for destruction. That’s how sin works, instead of using your freedom to establish yourself, it will lure you into doing things that will destroy you. I believe that’s why Dr Myles Munroe wrote the book titled, “The Burden of Freedom”. The suffering for sin may take time to manifest, but the oppression for ignorance is immediate, Satan wouldn’t want you to go back or escape unhurt.

So, let me show you a mystery that will help you live far from oppression. Ready?

Isaiah 54:
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Did you see that? If you want to be established in life and live far from oppression, you have to live in righteousness. I wrote an article on righteousness sometime ago, trying to explain that again here would definitely make this article too long. But just to make it easy to reference, I’d post it at the comment section of this post. However, let me touch a few points.

You’d recall from the old testament that Adam had unrestrained access to God, he could operate from God and even as God. Simply put, he had a divine nature. That’s why he could name all the animals, and God agreed to whatever name he gave them. That’s what we call righteousness – the justification that makes it right for a man to communicate with God, from God and as God.

But when Adam sinned, he lost that nature. And from Adam to Moses, it was a struggle living a righteous life. For a person to be termed righteous, he has to be blameless, without sin. And even though God gave Moses over 600 laws for His people just so they could appear righteous before Him, a single violation affected their righteousness, and they had to go through cleansing. Sin became their greatest hindrance to God’s glory and presence. It was impossible to live a righteous life by obeying the law, God had to cook up another strategy, and that’s why Jesus died for us. Let’s see how scripture put it:

2 Corinthians 5:
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

That’s right! Unlike the law, sin might be able to hinder us from receiving God’s blessing, but it cannot hinder us from approaching God. And that’s because we are in Christ.

So, if you want to be far from oppression, put on your garment of righteousness. As I’ve already remarked, righteousness doesn’t necessarily mean a state of sinlessness, no! It means a justification that gives you the right to communicate with God, from God, and as God. When Ezekiel spoke from God, the bones listened. When Moses spoke to Pharaoh as God, Pharaoh listened. When Elijah spoke to the rain from God, the rain listened. When Peter spoke to the man at the Beautiful Gate from Jesus, the man was healed. When Peter walked on water from Jesus, he succeeded. You have to live your life from God or as God, living your life in this world outside this understanding may only attract oppression.

As I conclude, remember that you cannot be justified except you receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life. It was His sacrifice on the cross that made your justification possible.

I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.

Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!

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