We are Free (Luke 13:10-17)
Gary McManus, 02/09/2014Part of the God's New Year series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
February 9, 2014 Luke 13: 10-17 (p. 1033)
This message is a part of a series, despite the weather!
Review:
Jesus began his work with a declaration of the inauguration
of the Kingdom God-- the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:19).
Jesus declared the program that God outlined for Jesus to bring:
(see Luke 4, Isaiah 61)
--good news for the poor
--restoring sight to the blind
--release for the captives
And Isaiah’s actual phrase, release from darkness for the captives. . .
We have talked briefly about:
-- good news for the poor
--sight for the blind and
-- releasing people from darkness
The light of the world has come (John 1:4-5,9, John 8:12)
This is the year. This is the time.
Today, we look at release for the prisoners.
Not in prison? You just missed Jesus message!
You don't have to be in a prison to be a captive.
[. . .the late great Zig Ziglar ]
People in Jesus' day were like those fleas.
They didn’t think they could have a relationship
with God.
Some things the people were taught in Jesus’ day:
Sin caused blindness.(John 9:2 )
Bad things happen to bad people. (Luke 13:4).
Were you poor? Were you a beggar? (Luke 18:11)
Can’t keep the Pharisaic laws?
Matthew 9:11, Luke 15:2)
Have to work with Romans/Gentiles?
(Mark 2:15-16, Luke 5:27-30)
Then, the Lord wasn’t interested in a relationship
with you.
Jesus came saying. . .(mostly referenced above)
“Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7: 44-48)
The woman we read about today?
“Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”
What is keeping you a prisoner?
What has you “in a bind”?
There are probably no bars on your prison.
But .the truth is this—your liberator has come.
The light has come. You can have the light of life.
Two examples of this freedom we have. . .
--Jesus LITERALLY raised people up
(Matthew 9:25, Luke 8:53, Luke 7:11, Mark 5:41,
John 11:38, Mark 2:11,
It is the LORD who forgives and forgets
(Isaiah 43:25)
[So, it is divine work; it is supposed to be
easy for us? Don’t think so. ]
God has forgotten your sins. Do you forget your sins?
Why do WE make ourselves prisoners?
Jesus has freed YOU from the prison,
even of your own failings and sins
“Behold, I make all things new.”(Revelation 21:5)
Today is the day. Satan has kept us all bound long enough
Jesus declared it. We are free. Amen
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