Jesus Came To Set Us Free

THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM IS CAUGHT AND NOT TAUGHT

Just recently I read a very profound statement: “Teaching is good only where there’s life to be channeled. If the listeners are in a spiritual coma, what we’re telling them may be fine and orthodox, but unfortunately, spiritual life cannot be taught” (Jim Cymbala. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997, p. 50). There were some in the presence of Jesus in the synagogue who were in a spiritual coma.

Spiritual freedom is caught not taught. There is a difference between learning about something and experiencing it. We learn something when we have been taught. We experience something when we have been caught. Talking about freedom and experiencing freedom are two different things. When we catch hold of God’s Spirit it is because God’s Spirit has first captured and caught us.

Who can forget when Peter first caught God’s Spirit (Luke 5:4-11)? Jesus had told Peter to go into the deep water and let down his nets for a successful fishing trip. Simon Peter told Jesus that his fishing trip from the night before was a failure. He followed Jesus’ fishing instructions and had his best fishing trip ever. They caught so many fish that the boat was in danger of sinking. Simon responded by telling Jesus to depart from him for he was a sinful man. Jesus told him not to be afraid because from now on he would become a fisher of men (Luke 5:4-11 paraphrased). That day was the day that Peter caught God’s Spirit which also had caught him. It was not something that he learned. It was something that he experienced. Second Corinthians 3:17 says, “… where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (NIV).

JESUS FREES US IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION

There are always going to be those whose opinions are such that certain are people are not deserving of freedom from their troubles. These kinds of people have existed in every generation. They resemble the elder brothers who resent the fact that God has given the prodigal sons a second chance. They are also those who are the epitome of Jonah who resented the fact that God gave the Ninevahs of the world a second chance. There are times when there is a little of the elder brother, Jonah or both in us, even though we do not always want to admit it. We therefore need to remember that God has given us all a second chance even when we ourselves were not deserving of it.

There is always the opposition of Satan who cannot stand to lose another person to salvation. He is always striving to discourage the newly liberated Christians that he once held as hostages. Sometimes Satan even works through the prejudices of others in hopes that he can discourage and recapture those that he has lost to God.

Remember Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9)? He was a reformed tax collector. Tax collectors in that day found ways to use their occupations to their financial advantage at the financial disadvantage of others. They exploited and cheated people while hiding behind their position as if this practice was a legitimate enterprise.