He Came to Set You FreeSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: The devil brings in many kinds of bondages in the lives of God's children. God may seem to be far off and the devil may push you into greater captivities. But when you call upon Christ, He will prove that He came to set you free from bondages. "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," says the Lord, "and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you," says the Lord, "and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive." (Jeremiah 29:13,14; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Deuteronomy 4:29)
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." (Isaiah 61:1)
There is always an enemy for us in all walks of our life in this world. He is the devil, satan, the dragon! He imprisons us, harasses us, heaps all possible hurdles on our way. He waylays the discharged prisoners going home (Isaiah 14:17).
While healing a woman who was crippled and bent over for eighteen long years, Jesus said that He was setting free a daughter of Abraham whom satan had bound for so long. The gracious Lord Jesus came down to this wretched world in the form of a man mainly to set all the captives free from their bondages. On one side, satan is pushing us into bondage of sin; he causes us physical pain and mental agony, troubles at home and problems at our work place; he creates losses everywhere and affects us with sore disease, as he did to Job (Job 2:7). We suffer and languish under his tyranny.
"He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
On the other hand stands our gracious and loving Lord Jesus, with His arms open wide to welcome you, embrace you and to change your life. He is waiting eagerly to release you out of the bondages with which satan has kept our heart and lives bound.
During the Second World War, Mussolini, the dictator of Italy and Hitler, the dictator of Germany made a treaty with one another. They were out together to capture as many countries as possible. Hitler then assured Mussolini, "Do not fear about any country on this earth. If you have any trouble, my forces will rush to you the next moment and protect you." The King of Italy who did not like Mussolini's ways, captured and imprisoned Mussolini in a palace on a hilltop. The news about Mussolini's capture reached Hitler, who immediately dispatched a force of thirty five fighter-bomber planes. They landed directly on the hilltop. The soldiers inside jumped out and in a lightning attack, swooped over the palace, released Mussolini and flew him safe to Germany.
"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19)
Mussolini was imprisoned. But according to Hitler's promise to him, Hitler released him in no time.
Dear friend, even today, the Lord has promised us, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5).
"I will be found by you," says the Lord, "and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you," says the Lord, "and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive." (Jeremiah 29:14)
He will come even today and set you free and make you blessed in every way. Blessed are those who seek Him with all your heart!
Prayer :
Loving Heavenly Father,
Many a time, I am held as a slave to sin and find no way to come out. You alone are my hope and strength. Have mercy on me and deliver me from bondages of sin. Lord, forgive all my shortcomings. Wash me clean by Your precious blood and grant me new life. Make me Your beloved child and protect me from all evil ways. I make this humble prayer through Christ, our Lord.
Amen. |