As the Lord Jesus began his earthly ministry, he spoke these
words: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because
he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath
sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised." (Luke 4:18, KJV).
Jesus is still setting the captives free today.
People today are bound with fears, phobias, bondages of the will,
chemical addictions, sexual bondages, and are victims of enslaving
relationships. Jesus came to set such people free. We can know
this freedom in Christ Jesus through the Gospel message. Jesus
died on the cross to set men and women free, not only from the
guilt and punishment of sin, but also the addictive power of sin
in our lives. Jesus said, "If the Son therefore shall make
you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36, KJV).
Truly, you can be free indeed, through the power of Jesus Christ.
As we look around the world today, we see men and women looking
for freedom in many ways. Politicians promise freedom from crime,
social ills and economic disaster. Educators claim that knowledge
is the answer. Pop psychologists propagate their claims of freedom.
But only One died to make men free-Jesus Christ.
The Gospel has been thought of as our "fire insurance"
from the torment of hell after physical death, but it is much
more. It is freedom in this life. The power of sin is broken through
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This freedom belongs to us now, but
we must walk into it in the power of Jesus Christ.
The scriptures are abundantly clear that God is able, willing
and ready to change, yes, to completely transform our lives, through
the power of Jesus Christ. He says, "Therefore if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new." (2Corinthians 5:17, KJV).
The Bible tells us that the key to this freedom is identifying
with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection: "Knowing
this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of
sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:6-7, KJV).
It also tells us that through the grace of God we do not need
to be ruled by any sin, that the grace of God is sufficient to
deliver us : "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for
ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14,
KJV). No matter how great the power of an addiction, a phobia,
or sin, God is greater. As a child of God, you don't have to live
under the power of any bondage, whether it is sexual, chemical,
emotional or relational. Jesus came to "set the captives
free."
The great Apostle Paul started out as a murderer of Christians.
God not only forgave him, but transformed him into a holy man
of God. He gave him grace to write much of the New Testament and
to be the most influential minister in the world during his time.
Today, God is still in the transformation business. He transforms
prostitutes, drunks, perverts, drug addicts, alcoholics, thieves,
and murderers, and makes that into good citizens. He can even
transform religious people who are outwardly righteous, but inwardly
are full of deceit, selfishness, pride and rebellion. All of us
can be changed as we recognize our need for a Savior, turn from
our sin, and truly commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible is our great "emancipation proclamation."
God has proclaimed our freedom. Now we must wave this great document
in the face of the enemy and declare: "Free at last. Free
at last. Praise God Almighty, I'm free at last!"
If you have a desire to by "free indeed, pray this simple
prayer from your heart:
Dear God, I know I've been a sinner. But I believe in the
power of Jesus Christ to change me. Set me free Lord. Give me
a new life. I give my life to you. I confess Jesus as my Lord
and Savior. I believe He died for my sins and rose from the grave
victory over sin, death and the devil. Thank you for saving me
NOW in Jesus name.