The following is a timely message, we pray that you will be blessed by the word of the Lord.

He Came to Set the Captives Free
Luke 4:16-19
Prophetess Deborah A. Taylor

 

Introduction:  Jesus came for the sole purpose of setting us free to serve him in liberty and wholeness.  It is time for us to go to the next level and in order to do that Jesus must prepare us by shaking off everything that would hinder us and keep us from reaching the next level.  The higher we go the lighter we become.  Once are sole dependence is on him then he will cause us to soar as an eagle.

Luke 4:16-19
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 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,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus preached his first message in Nazareth.  It was his custom to read the scriptures there.  The people were used to seeing Jesus because he attend the synagogue on a regular basis.  This was familiar territory; it was where Jesus had been brought up.  This particular day though was not like other days.  Jesus had just returned from the wilderness and it was time for him to begin the ministry God had ordained for him to complete.  It would not be business as usual this day.  This would not be just another scripture reading but prophecy was about to be fulfilled.  It would be a day that would change history and the church, as they knew it forever.

To get the full effect of this scripture you must migrate back to Isaiah 61:1-3.  Jesus had a specific purpose in mind.  He had a mission to complete and only he could fulfill this task.  The first thing he declares is:

• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me meaning God’s approval and ordination is on my life.  Jesus knew who he was.  It is very important for us as a people to know who we are in Christ.  God has called each of us to a specific but before we can complete or fulfill the task we must know who we are.  Jesus was saying here that he would not walk in his own strength but in the strength of His father who sent him.  Now this is a powerful statement because Gods spirit on our lives will send off a sweet aroma according to Psalms 45:7-9 The spirit of counsel rested on Jesus according to Isaiah 11:2-5.  Jesus when he reproved did not do it based on what he heard but on the word of God as he corrected the religious men when they brought the woman who had been taken in adultery.

Not only did Jesus walk in the anointing of the Lord the Glory of God was on his life.  He walked in the fullness of all God had for him because he walked sinless.

Isa 42:1-2

Jesus was God’s servant he upheld him, supported him.  He was God’s elect his soul delighted in him.

Isaiah 50:4-5

God gave Jesus the tongue of the learned.  He taught when he was twelve years old.

We can clearly see how the Spirit of the Lord rested on Jesus life.  This lets us know why Jesus could go on and say why he was sent:

• He hath sent me to preach the gospel to the poor

The poor are those who are destitute of the word of God.  Those who don’t know that he came to seek and to save that which was lost.  He came for all of us in order that we may have a right to the tree of life.  The word of God is life.  The word of God is light to show us the way to eternal life.

• He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted

The brokenhearted are those who have broken lives, broken dreams, those who have been downtrodden by sin and the effects of the world.  The broken hearted are those who have wounds and hurts that no one can see.  It is impossible to put a broken heart back together but Jesus is able to do surgery on us when we have been broken and it looks like we will never recover.  There are many of us who have experienced hard things in our lives and it may seem like you won’t recover or God will not be able to use you because of past issues but I came to let you know Jesus came to heal you and put your life back together so that you can go forward in the strength and might of the Lord because he is that kind of God.

• To preach deliverance to the captives

There are many who are held captives by words, as words are very powerful.  Many are held up by fear and torment.  Fear hinders the move of God in our lives and brings torment.  Fear will keep you in bondage.  There are many fears that we must overcome in order to move forward in God.  The bible says perfect love casts out fear.  Also, you must know that God did not give us the spirit of fear but power, love and a sound mind.

• Recovering of sight to the blind

This is a very important statement.  I am reminded of Paul who while on a mission to destroy God’s people he was thrown from his horse and later found himself on a street called strait unable to see for three days and three nights.  During this time he earnestly sought the Lord and found that he indeed was not only physically blind but also he was blind spiritually.  He could not see that the one he thought he was fighting for he actually was fighting against.  Once he realized his state and the condition of his mind he changed his mind and joined the Lords side.  We must not kick against the pricks but we must be willing to submit to the Lord and what he wants to do in our lives.

• To set at liberty those who are bruised

A bruise is different from a wound in that often a bruise is something you can see.  It is soft to the touch but often if you have a physical bruise you don’t want anyone to touch it.  Sometimes you feel like it will never go away.  When our spirits are bruised it brings us into captivity but Jesus came to set our spirits free.  When your spirit is free you can fly high.  You can soar in the anointing of the Lord without fear or reservation knowing it is not you but the Lord that causes you to rise above your situations or circumstances.  He frees you from words that once hindered you, he frees you from intimidation, condemnation, criticisms, lies, past hurts, and unforgiveness all that kept you in bondage Jesus came to liberate you.

Finally, (Read Acts 10:38)   this is your season beloved; I pray that you will allow Jesus to make you whole.