Delivering His people OUT OF oppression, sickness, sin, and death and INTO freedom, healing, wholeness, purity, and eternal salvation is the whole story of the bible!
This is His character. He is the Deliverer. In the book of Exodus, the Lord delivers His people out of the slavery of Egypt by parting the Red Sea. Later, He mercifully delivers them again from their fears of entering the promised land by parting the River Jordan. This pattern of showing up when His people called on His Name continued throughout the Old Testament.
When Jesus Christ came in the flesh and began His public ministry, He declared His mission statement in the synagogue by quoting the prophet Isaiah,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4: 18
After that proclamation, Jesus began to do precisely what He said. He began mercifully delivering people held captive by sickness or demonic oppression. These miraculous deliverances were in synagogues, the countryside, and even cemeteries. Jesus was compassionate and empathetic to the oppression of His people. He was not bothered when someone’s desperation for a miracle interrupted him or his sermons.
In the Book of Mark, a man yells out in the synagogue, interrupting Jesus as He teaches. Jesus speaks, and the man is set free.
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out loudly, he came out of him.
Then they were all amazed, so they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? He commands even the unclean spirits with authority, and they obey Him.” Mark 1: 25-27
Jesus immediately goes “viral.” His fame spread, and people brought him all those who were ill or demon possessed.
At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Mark 1: 32-34
Specific accounts of deliverance include the man who was cutting himself among the tombs, the man’s son who would have seizures and throw himself into fires, and the Gentile woman’s daughter who was set free when her mother appeared to Jesus and asked on her daughter’s behalf. Her daughter wasn’t even there! He just said the Word and her daughter was set free.
Deliverance is the ministry of love and compassion. Healing and deliverance were significant parts of the ministry of Jesus. Today, He is still delivering His people from oppression. He continues to set captives free, open blind eyes, and free those who are oppressed. His ministry continues through those who believe and walk in the authority of Jesus’s Name. His Name is so powerful that it still sets people free.
There was a pattern that Jesus set up when He walked the earth. He began to cast out demons and heal the sick. Then, He trained up the twelve disciples to go and administer the kingdom. Then, He trained up 70 more to go and administer the kingdom.
After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” Luke 10: 1 & 17
They were shocked by what happened! His Name worked! When the followers of Christ knew the Lord intimately and closely, they could use His Name to set the people free.
This is the pattern of ministry: to multiply! Right before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave His followers some final instructions in the Great Commission, and they included you. The instructions tell the disciples to preach to all the world! Next, Jesus says that the same signs they have been walking in will now follow all those who BELIEVE!
Jesus, our great Deliverer is still setting people free from pain, fear, illness, mental torment, addictions, self harm, and anything that is holding them captive. He often chooses to work through Holy Spirit filled believers who know how to simply say, “Fear, go in Jesus Name.” You can be completely free today in the Name of Jesus and you can also help others to be free. It is part of the instructions that Jesus left His followers.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16: 15-18
Dear Lord,
Thank You for being my Deliverer! You are the Mighty One who saves and I Trust Your Hand to save and deliver me both now and also for all of eternity. I receive Your HOLY cleansing. I come out of agreement now with anything that is counter to Your Word. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, anything oppressing me, deceiving me, or keeping me from Your highest and best for me must go in Jesus Name. Thank You for setting me free completely to live totally surrendered unto You and Your ways. I trust Your plans for me are good and I receive abundant life now and I also trust that there is a glorious inheritance ahead for me.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Blessings and freedom!
Vanessa Lynn
