News Archive
Cry freedom
The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him (Jesus). Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." Luke 4:17-19
Jesus' message is one of liberation and release. He reflects his Father’s message of grace, love and mercy. Recently I have found that I had begun to think of God as a harsh taskmaster, demanding greater and more determined effort, somewhat like Pharoah who commanded the Israelites to make bricks out of straw (Exodus 5:1-20). His yoke can seem heavy and I have twisted his message in my mind from one of full acceptance and love by God whatever I do, to one that tried to be good and earn his love.
In my head I knew this to me rubbish, but God needed to speak again. He
seemed to be saying that the message needed to get the 18 inches from
head to heart. It’s rather like the message that Paul brought to the
Galatians (Galatians 3:1-20), starting in the Spirit and ending up
trying to fulfil the law.
God said to the Israelites “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:6-7.
This is God’s message today for us as Christians: we don’t have to live as those who are slaves to fear, other people’s expectations, driven by material things or in our own safe little world. Matt Dunn brought a picture yesterday that was helpful: It was of a crate with a chain nearby. The chain was designed to lift the crate off the ground, but had been used by someone to tie himself up. The Spirit brings healing, cleansing, anointing, freedom and the seal of God’s ownership on our lives. May I encourage you to approach him with humility and receive release and freedom.
Just touch the hem of his garment and his power
will be released.
Galatians 5:1: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand
firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of
slavery.”