In Day 4 we continue to look at how the Holy Spirit within us anoints us to godly actions. This section is about proclaiming liberty to the captives. 

The key questions to be answered in this section are the following:

1. What is liberty?
2. Who are the captives?

Jesus came to set the captives free. This was one of the promises of the coming Messiah, which Isaiah the prophet prophesied in Chapter 61. Liberty can be translated into freedom from, or deliverance. This captivity was primarily referred to when looking at the captivity of the Jews in Babylon (2 Kings 24). The Jews were in a miserable place, imprisoned by their enemies, seeking liberty from their slavery and a restoration back to freedom. These poor circumstances made the Jews look forward to the coming of the Messiah – the one who would liberate them. They wanted to have someone to bring them physically out of their captivity, but God had a more eternal perspective: He sent His Son, Jesus, who would die on the cross to give them freedom from every bondage and a security in eternity. This is what Jesus was declaring in Luke 4:18-19. With liberty, freedom from physical chains is not meant “literally”, though God has demonstrated His power in this way before, releasing His chosen people from oppressive rulership in Egypt (Exodus 9) or freeing His chosen vessels from prison (Acts 12:5-12). The Gospel itself imparts favor on those who are in Christ – releasing them from their captivity to sin and providing comfort to the sinner. Those who are captives then, are not necessarily those behind physical bars, but they include individuals who are chained in their mind (through depression, anxiety, addictions, and so on) and anyone who is trapped by their sins. 

Since Jesus’ death and resurrection, all people who put their hope in Jesus have access to freedom from sin. The Bible says in John 8:36: “Who the Son sets free is free indeed”. All of us were captives at one point in our lives seeking liberty from the chains of our sins. Jesus’ atonement for us on the cross is the one and only thing that freed our chains. So it is with all of the people around us today. There are many who currently walk chained by their addictions, trapped by their thoughts, distanced from the light. Money will not save them; material goods will not help them; empty meditations will not calm their minds. The only words that will have power in their lives are the comforting words that there is a God, His name is Jesus, and He gives forgiveness of sins freely and has the power to set anyone free. This is the kind of God we serve! And this is how the Holy Spirit once again anoints us to be His vessels to bring this kind of liberty. There are many people out there needing to hear the liberating words of the Gospel. Let us be bold, and with the Helper on our side, reach those who have yet to taste freedom in Christ!

There is a distinction to be made when speaking of liberty within the Christian context: by all means should we pray for people to be freed of their physical bondage; for countries to step into freedom; for bondages to break. Nothing is impossible with our Lord – and His heart is towards His people. The devotional today, and the words to proclaim liberty, is using the Lord’s authority to speak freedom into the lives of those who are held captive by their sin and who can be freed in Jesus’ name. When looking at physical prisons and physical bondage, let us beware of those who speak freely of God’s liberty (Jeremiah 23:16-17) and instead pray for His will to come to pass in the lives of His people. In all things, we are to cast our cares upon Him with supplication and thanksgiving (1 Peter 5:7), for God alone can give us rest (Matthew 11:28). 

Let us pray:

Lord, thank you for the power that is in your name. Thank you that we get to walk in freedom from our chains today. Highlight those around us today who are held captive to their sin and have no way out. Lead us, Holy Spirit, to walk with an awareness of you and who you want to impact today. We praise you for who you are. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Reflections: 

• Is there anyone you thought of when reading this devotional today? Write their name down and pray for them. See how the Holy Spirit impacts you to pray for them and how you can encourage them. 
• Think about the bondage the Lord freed you from. Could you give a testimony to someone else about this? His Word says: the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). This means what He did for you, He can do for someone else too. Think about who you could encourage with what God has done in your life!