Power for Living: Volume 2 Number 3

Power for Living: Volume 2 Number 3

Deliverance to the Captives

Focus Text:  Luke 4:17-19

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,

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,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Why does the Bible says that people are captives or are in captivity? This appears to be an odd statement to many today, just as it was in the time of Jesus, but this truth is at the heart of the gospel.

It is a  glorious truth that Jesus has come to save the captives from sin. God Himself came into the evil world to die upon the cross for the salvation of the lost Sinners, so that they might become His children. When God saves sinners, He not only frees them from sin, but also makes them new creatures with new desires for righteousness and the things of God.

 In His grace, God takes people out of their sin and makes them a new creation. The call for all who have believed in Jesus is to stand in faith and resist the Devil, pursue godliness, and flee from all sin. 

This is the most important message anyone can ever hear because it is the message of grace and salvation. It is the message of the good news of Christ.

Sin leads to slavery and captivity. People do not realize they are in bondage and captivity.

There is a general captivity to the Devil himself. All people are born under the dominion of Satan. The devil blinds people to the truth and holds them captive.

People are in bondage to the world and its ways. They do what society and popular culture tell them to do.

People are in bondage to particular sins like lusts of the flesh and mind. They are controlled by their instincts and evil thoughts.

People are in bondage to habits that are hard to break.

People are in bondage to fears like fear of conscience, fear of the future, and fear of death.

Only Jesus Christ can deliver people from captivity and set them free. He defeated the devil through His life, death, and resurrection.

To be set free, people must be delivered from Satan's dominion and brought into God's kingdom.

Jesus delivers people from the guilt and condemnation of sin by taking away their sins.

Jesus delivers people from the power of sin by giving them a new nature with new desires and strength. The Holy Spirit works in them.

Knowing Jesus is near gives people courage against the devil's attacks. Jesus will always hear and help those who call on Him.

People must cry out to Jesus, admit they cannot save themselves, and ask Him to deliver them and set them free.

Prayers:

1.  Lord Jesus, thank you for the free gift of Salvation and for paying the price to set me free from the kingdom of darkness and the bondage of sin. Colossians 1:13

2.  I receive total freedom from sin, from Satan's bondage, from worldly entanglement and from evil and negative habits, by the power of the Blood of Jesus.

Thanks so much for going through this article: Power for Living.

It is a weekly publication of Ultimate Power Gospel Assembly Nigeria.

For Prayers and Counseling Contact:

Bishop Prof. Julius O. Soyinka

+2348035822785

juliussoyinka@outlook.com