May 12, 2021 -- Luke 4:18 -- Let Christ's healing overflow

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…

Luke 4:18 KJV

You’ll notice I am quoting from a different translation than I usually use. Yesterday, as I visited the Harvest House Men’s Christian 12-step recovery group, called “Overcomers”, this is the text that was quoted and from this translation. The material is from Charles and Sharon Burton’s Overcomers Recovery Support. The explanation of this passage is beautiful and helpful. So I am freely borrowing their insights.

Jesus is anointed—that is, empowered by God the Father to bring relief to those in need. He has the Spirit of the LORD propelling Him, comforting Him and teaching Him. This same Spirit is given to all who believe and trust in Jesus alone for their salvation and follow Him in obedience. Jesus’ Spirit powered Gospel reaches to those who are in need. Jesus is anointed to reach all those whom the Father has given Him. That means we are chosen by God for His rich blessings! Look at the variety of work Jesus is anointed to perform for all who believe.

Preaching to the poor—those who are emotionally spent. Those who are financially poor. Those who are spiritually emptied. Jesus is preaching His power and revival to You!

Sent to heal the brokenhearted. How many relationships in your life have been destroyed because of your willful sinfulness? No doubt many. How many of us are estranged to our own lives. The very sins we hate we keep on doing. Who will rescue us from this body of death? Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, He has given us the victory! Join the vast multitudes of those who grieve broken-heartedly, often trying to put on a brave face. Jesus is anointed to heal you, you are entrusted to Him for this Spirit-powered healing because the Father has given the wreckage of your life to Jesus for this very purpose. This is then credited to the greater glory of our Father. Who else but the God of Splendour and Power, of Love and Wisdom, could possibly have brought about this change?

Preach deliverance to the captives. What sin has you in its grip, strangling you? Is it alcohol? Drugs? Anger? Sex? Gluttony? Pornography? Pride? Selfishness? Fears? Depression? Jesus has come to deliver us from the strongholds of sin and set us before the Father as loved sons and daughters. He gives us a place where the boundary lines of faithfulness are precious and good. This the the work for which Jesus is anointed and the reason the Father and the Son have given the Spirit to us.

Sight to the blind. When we are caught up in our addictions, slaves to sin, our feelings override God’s wisdom. Sharon Burton noted: “every time we disobey God we are in fact saying ‘God, I am smarter than You’!'“ That is profound blindness.

Freedom or liberty to those who are bruised. The explanation here is beautiful. So many of us have experienced bruised family relationships. Families would rather have their Christmas celebration without us present because our sins make everyone else tired, awkward, ready to rise to the bait of a particular old familiar quarrel. Even touching on it brings the wince of pressing bruised emotions and wounded flesh. Jesus brings His liberty and healing. He forgives us and in turn we are enabled to forgive one another.

Thanks be to God for the Anointed One, Jesus, by Whose Spirit all the blessings and benefits of Jesus are given us. This all because the Father has chosen us in His love before the foundation of the world!

Today’s prayer comes from the Overcomers Recovery Support resource book:

Dear God, it seems that I have so many problems to overcome. I ask You to give me courage and wisdom to examine myself and acknowledge the true reasons for my life-controlling problems. Thank You for beginning the healing process in my life. Amen.

https://youtu.be/-jkMnq2Hfzo