Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read from the scroll, what we know as Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

(Luke 4:18-19 NLT)

Jesus came to “proclaim that the captives will be released.”

I stood on that promise for my son, Stephen, when he went to trial. Yet, he was convicted and sentenced to prison.

You see my friend, I interpreted God’s promise to me one way, but He meant it another. I sought my son’s physical freedom, but the Lord was more concerned about our spiritual freedom. Not just my son’s, but also mine.

The disciples looked for an earthly king to usurp the Roman government. They believed Jesus would establish His throne in their lifetime. But they interpreted God’s promise of a reigning king one way, when He meant it another.

After Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, the disciples mourned the loss. But three days later when the stone rolled away from the tomb where Jesus was laid, it was empty. God’s resurrection power overcame death. Jesus is alive!

Jesus came out of the tomb. He ate dinner with His disciples and gave them instructions to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they 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 NKJV).

“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19).

The heavenly Kingdom was established as Jesus took His seat at the right hand of God. There was new hope among the disciples with new instructions on what to do to advance the Kingdom of God.

As the disciples waited in the upper room, then as promised the Holy Spirit came upon them and gave them power. They went out and preached the gospel with boldness and multitudes were saved.

When this unexpected journey happened, I thought any type of productive life was over. Yet God was at work the whole time (and still is). However, I didn’t recognize the good that He began to work out according to His promises.

I did not realize my self-imposed captive condition. While my son went to a physical prison, my eyes were opened to my spiritual prison. Some things that held me captive were:

  • Pride
  • Unforgiveness
  • Bitterness
  • Anger
  • Unrighteous Judgments
  • Self-righteousness

The love of God and His grace positioned me in a place where I had to face the reality of my true condition. I could no longer hide behind the façade I erected to make believe I was someone I was not.

The Lord removed the stone I erected in my heart to resurrect my life and make me new. I admit the refining process was unpleasant, but the freedom I experience now I appreciate. The Lord needed to resurrect me into a new life and set me free so I can follow His instruction to“Go.”

My friend, our Savior desires for us to experience freedom and He has plans for you live in freedom. For more information about how to be set free, visit the Path to Freedom page.