Morning Family ~ the word for today is ‘deliverance’. Its a great word biblically, its a great word in the English language and we all understand its meaning. In fact, that word has a certain tone of adventure; a certain drama in it. If you were asked to give a synonym, the immediate word that would in all probability come to mind would be rescued. When we think of deliverance we think of somebody being saved out of a situation of grave danger. And that is what the word does in fact mean. It suggests someone is in an impossible dilemma from which they dont have the power to extract themselves. Sometimes being rescued must come from a greater power and when we go to the Word of God we will find with the word deliverance. While reading you will come across the words saved, save, salvation or Savior and you can substitute some form of the word ‘deliver’ because thats exactly what is meant. When someone becomes a Christian they are delivered from certain very dangerous and deadly matters, things that pose a fatal danger to the eternal soul. True salvation then, the work of God, is deliverance. It is the dramatic rescue of the sinner from the elements of life that threaten to destroy and damn him. Our work of evangelism is a work of rescue. We, on behalf of God, are sent out to tell sinners that He has a rescue plan; who by nature is a deliverer that has a deliverance plan by which He will deliver the sinner from all those things that keep him imprisoned, shackled and bound. In fact, there may be no better way to understand the power of God than to understand that His Spirit is working a work of deliverance. When we talk about conversion, regeneration, new birth, being born again, new life, transformation we are talking about matters of grace from being delivered from certain things. If the truth be told, deliverance defines what it means to be a Christian, a person who has been permanently delivered from certain deadly, negative realities. Not someone who says they believe in Jesus; not someone who prays a certain formula prayer; not a person who goes to church or belongs to some quote/unquote Christian institution; not someone who feels good about God or good about Jesus. But a person who has been delivered (set free) which is absolutely critical to understand because theres so much confusion about who is a Christian. (John 8:32) “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. True Christians have been delivered from lies to the truth; from sin to virtue, from ungodliness to godliness. They have been delivered from fear to joy, from wrath to blessing; from love of the world to the love of the church and more importantly they have been delivered from Satan to God. Nobody is a Christian who doesnt believe in the true gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ; and who doesnt have holy longings, righteous affections, love for what is right and a deep animosity toward what is wrong. Thats the indication that we have been changed. “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world..” (Colossians 2:20) I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” (Isaiah 44:22 NIV). If there is one thing that the Bible is absolutely clear on, it is that God is a deliverer: from our sadness, our grief, our hurts and pain; from our lies and deceptions; from our evil thoughts, deeds and actions; No matter the captivity or circumstances, God delivers. So on this “I’ve been set free” Friday, deliverance may be the best most comprehensive, most clarifying word to define a Christian. Blessings and PEACE to you all, Have you been delivered?
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 11:03:36 +0000
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