Jesus, Our Liberator

We celebrated July 4th this weekend, marking 250 years of American freedom. That is worth pausing over. The freedoms we enjoy in this nation did not come cheaply. Our forefathers, and many along the journey after them, paid a great price. In many ways, our national freedom was ratified in blood.

We are grateful for the freedoms we have. We need to pray for them, steward them, and at times, when necessary, contend for them. America is not a perfect nation. We have had shortcomings and still do. But this American democracy has been an amazing testimony of God’s hand and grace through history.

Against that backdrop, I want to talk about Jesus as our Liberator.

He is the One who has set us free from the power of sin, shame, bondage, oppression, and disease. Jesus is the ultimate Liberator. He is the One who breaks chains and sets captives free.

David declared in Psalm 103:2–4 NLT:

“Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.”

David begins by saying, “May I never forget the good things he does for me.” That is important because it is easy to forget freedom. It is easy to forget those who have sacrificed. It is easy to forget what has been paid for us. And spiritually, it is easy to forget the sacrifice of Christ and what He has done for us.

David reminds himself: “May I never forget.”

Then he lists some of those benefits: “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”

Notice the word “all.” All means all. It means everything. He forgives all our sins. There is nothing too egregious for God. There is no sin too great for His mercy. There is no chasm too wide for the Lord to forgive and heal.

And David goes further: “He heals all my diseases.”

Now, we acknowledge that there are mysteries surrounding healing. We do not always understand why we do not see every person healed in the way or timing we desire. But that does not change the revelation of who God is. God is a healer. Jesus is still a miracle worker. There is always hope. Faith works through love, and God is always working.

David had faith to declare, “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”

Jesus Came to Set Captives Free

In Luke 4, Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth, the town where He had grown up. This was the moment He began to reveal Himself publicly as the Messiah.

Jesus had just come out of the wilderness, where He had been tempted by the enemy and overcame every temptation. Luke tells us that He returned “in the power of the Spirit.” Jesus, fully God and fully man, was clothed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Luke 4:16–21 says:

“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”

Years ago, Carolyn and I had the opportunity to go to Jerusalem. There is an area dedicated to the Isaiah scroll, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found. You walk into this large room, and the scroll is laid out in a circular display. It is a massive document.

So imagine Jesus in the synagogue, unrolling the scroll of Isaiah and going directly to this passage. Isaiah had written those words nearly 700 years before Christ came to earth. And now Jesus, the Son of God, stands in that synagogue and declares, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

What a moment that must have been.

Jesus said He was anointed “to proclaim liberty to the captives” and “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

The Greek word translated “liberty” is aphesis. It means the process of setting free or liberating. It can also mean release and forgiveness. So Jesus does not simply free us externally from bondage; He releases us and forgives us, even for the ways we may have come into agreement with that bondage.

Simply stated, Jesus came to liberate humanity from the grip of Satan and evil. That has never stopped. No matter how complex our world becomes, no matter how advanced our technology, computer systems, or artificial intelligence may become, one truth remains eternal: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

He came to break the power of sin.
He came to break the power of disease.
He came to break the power of bondage.
He came to set captives free.

During the service, one of our sisters shared about her daughter, Shelley, who has battled alcoholism for over thirty years. She said Shelley had spent the last twenty days in bed, drinking. So we stopped and prayed for her right then.

We asked the Father to release the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ over Shelley’s life—the power that liberates. We prayed for the tenderness and love of God to come upon her. God is not looking to condemn people, judge them, or rub their noses in their brokenness. He wants to heal. He wants to set the oppressed free. We broke the power of addiction, hopelessness, and oppression in the name of Jesus Christ.

That is what Jesus does. He liberates the oppressed.

Liberation Is Costly

July 4th is our Independence Day. We celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which declared the original colonies free from British rule. But our independence was costly. There was bloodshed. Many lives were lost. The price paid helped set a nation at liberty from tyranny.

Sometime later, in World War II, Europe was under the grip of Nazi rule. France was under Nazi occupation. Allied forces, with the United States, Great Britain, and others, devised a plan to land on the beaches of Normandy in northern France. D-Day was about liberation. It was about reclaiming what had been overtaken by evil.

That freedom came at a terrible cost. Thousands of young Allied soldiers, including many Americans, died on those beaches. Blood was shed.

But as the Allied forces advanced through France, liberating towns and pushing back Nazi occupation, the French people came out into the streets rejoicing. Some brought wine. Some hugged and kissed the soldiers. They celebrated them. And the common cry was, “Thank you for liberating us!”

Liberation is costly. Blood often has to be shed.

Jesus, the Anointed One, came to set humanity at liberty. Acts 10:38 says:

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Jesus went about doing good. He healed all who were oppressed by the devil. He liberated the oppressed.

It is wonderful to fight for your own freedom, but it is even more rewarding to fight for the freedom of others.

Jesus said no one took His life from Him. He willingly laid it down. He went to the cross to complete humanity’s liberation. What He demonstrated in His earthly ministry, He completed through His death, burial, and resurrection. He paid the price with His own shed blood.

Luke 4:40 says Jesus laid hands on every one of them and healed them, and demons also came out of many. Jesus walked this earth liberating the oppressed, healing the sick, forgiving sinners, delivering the bound, and restoring the brokenhearted.

And He is still working today through ordinary believers who dare to step out of their comfort zones and trust the authority of His name.

Jesus said to go into all nations and make disciples, teaching them everything He commanded. And what did He command? Heal the sick. Cast out demons. Preach the gospel. Set at liberty those who are oppressed.

Can you remember when He liberated you?

Maybe it was saving grace. Maybe it was a time when you needed healing. Maybe you needed freedom from some kind of oppression. He is faithful.

Over the years, I have seen the beauty of people quietly and gently giving their lives to Christ, tears streaming down their faces. There is nothing more glorious.

One of my most vivid memories is of my brother-in-law John, who has now been married to one of my sisters for over forty years. John and I were in the same aircraft squadron on the USS Independence off the coast of Iran more than forty years ago.

I had been radically saved at twenty years old. And when people get radically saved, sometimes they are dangerous. You almost need to lock them up. But I didn’t care. I knew what Jesus had done for me, and I wanted everybody to hear about His love and grace.

John was one of the guys I was close with. He was quiet and a pretty good guy. But in the end, it does not matter how good we try to be. Apart from Christ, we have no forgiveness of sin.

I remember one night standing with him on the side of the ship. We could hear the sea. The moonlight was shining across the water. I was sharing the gospel with him. He bowed his head, and I could see tears. I asked, “John, are you ready to accept Christ?”

He said, “I’m ready to accept Christ.”

He went on to marry my sister, and now there are three children and grandchildren. That is the beauty of the gospel. That is what Jesus can do.

I have also seen Jesus liberate people from demonic oppression. One of the most difficult things I have ever witnessed was a young woman in Haiti, maybe sixteen years old, dressed in tattered clothing, tormented by a demon and rolling in the dirt. We began to pray over her in the name of Jesus.

In American culture, that may be hard to imagine on a Sunday morning. But witchcraft and voodoo are real in many parts of the world. The power of the enemy is real—but Christ is greater.

I will never forget when that demonic oppression finally let go. Her whole body relaxed. She was free.

Jesus came to set at liberty those who are oppressed. That is as true today as when He walked the earth.

I remember praying for another woman in Brazil who was set free. Joy came across her face, and she grabbed me and said, “I’ll pray for you! I’m going to pray for you!” She was like those French citizens greeting the soldiers who had liberated them. She was saying, in her own way, “Thank you.”

Of course, it is Jesus who liberates. But we have the privilege of partnering with Him.

Made Free Through the Shed Blood

Romans 8:1–2 says:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

There are spiritual laws at work. There is the law of sin and death. When humanity sinned and transgressed, Satan entered in. But Christ, the second Adam, came to free us from the law of sin and death.

Now we have the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Our Declaration of Independence was ratified with the blood of our forefathers. It freed us from English law. As citizens of the United States, we are subject to new laws based on the U.S. Constitution and are no longer subject to English law.

Likewise, through what Jesus has done for us, we are free from the law of sin and death. We are no longer under the condemnation of the law or our past. Conviction is of the Holy Spirit; condemnation is from the accuser.

We are now governed by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. We are no longer in bondage to sin. We are free from death.

Furthermore, any oppression, sickness, or disease has no legal hold on us. “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed” (John 8:36). The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free.

It is the blood. The blood of Jesus has ratified our freedom. In that sense, the cross is our declaration of independence.

Someone might ask, “Pastor, if that is true, why isn’t everyone saved? Why isn’t everyone healed?”

That question does not nullify the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. The issue is how we apply it, how we believe it, how we contend for it, and how we walk in what Jesus has already purchased.

The Allied forces took back the land stolen by the Nazis. They used the authority conferred by their national leaders. But they still had to exercise that authority to reclaim territory the enemy had taken.

It is the same for us.

The enemy is like a squatter. Christ has defeated him. Paul tells us in Colossians that Jesus disarmed principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them. The enemy is defeated, but he still walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Yet we have been given the authority of Christ.

Commissioned as Liberators

Jesus has commissioned us to be liberators.

Matthew 10:7–8 NIV says:

“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

In our modern, twenty-first-century culture, it can be difficult to believe that this is still true. But it is still true.

We believe in modern medicine and doctors. We are grateful for them. Absolutely. But there is an authority greater and more powerful than medical science can ever achieve.

Jesus is greater than cancer.
He is greater than heart disease.
He is greater than addiction.
He is greater than a broken heart.
He is greater than a broken relationship.
He is greater than demonic oppression.
He is greater than sin and death.

As He is, so are we in this world. He is the reigning King. He has defeated the power of sin and death. He is victorious forever. We go in His authority and in His name.

I prayed for someone last night who was recovering from heart disease in the middle of our July 4th celebrations. I simply asked, “Can I pray for you?” He said yes. So I prayed, “Father, in the name of Jesus, Holy Spirit, come.”

I did not feel especially anointed. There were no goosebumps. There was no keyboard playing, no choir singing, and lots of activity going on around us. But Jesus is still Jesus.

By the way, He seems to like drive-by prayers.

We walk in His authority and enforce the victory He has already won.

First, start with your individual life through Christ. Take back the territory the enemy has stolen from your life. Strongholds in the mind must be confronted. Second Corinthians 10:3–5 teaches us to take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. Strongholds are like fortress walls—ungodly beliefs, wrong identities, and agreements with lies.

Some people think, “I am always going to be sick,” or “I am always going to be bound,” or “This is just who I am.” No. We must bring those thoughts captive and declare the truth of God’s Word.

By His stripes, I am healed.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
I shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord.

Some might say, “Pastor, you are giving people false hope.” No. I am trying to raise the water level of faith. Too many Christian communities simply acquiesce. We forget we have authority in His name and authority in His Word.

I would rather go down swinging than go down lying down.

Second, for those in bondage, fight for their liberation. Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another. We fight this battle in prayer, through the Word, targeted intercession, and Spirit-led action.

The word Christ means “Anointed One.” It was not Jesus’ last name. It was His title. He is the Messiah, the Christos, the Anointed One. And He has placed His Spirit within us.

We are not equal to Christ, but His Spirit lives in us, and His authority has been given to us in His name. We are to use it.

Go as a liberator.

For reasons we do not fully understand on this side of eternity, God chooses to partner with humanity through prayer and action to release His power in the world.

The Power of Agreement and Healing Prayer

Europe needed help to become free. Sometimes we also need others to pray with us to receive a breakthrough. There is power in agreement. Jesus said that if two or three agree on earth concerning anything, it will be done by the Father in heaven.

At the close of the service, we invited people to surrender to Jesus. Some may have needed salvation for the first time. Others may have needed to turn back to Him after wandering. The prayer does not have to be complicated:

“Lord Jesus, I surrender. I give my life to You. I turn back to You. Fill me with Your Spirit. Forgive me of my sin. I ask for Your healing. I ask for Your forgiveness.”

Then we invited people who needed healing to lay hands on themselves and welcome the Holy Spirit.

We prayed against sickness, disease, physical pain, emotional pain, mental oppression, and spiritual bondage. We broke the power of those things in the name of Jesus and released His healing presence.

During the ministry time, I sensed words of knowledge for fibroid tumors, ulcers, diverticulitis, intestinal issues, gallbladder problems, gallstones, and acid reflux. Sometimes those words are for someone in the room. Sometimes they are for someone watching online. Sometimes, people later remember someone they know who has that condition and pray for them. The point is to release Jesus’ healing presence.

During that time, I remembered one of the first significant healings Carolyn and I ever witnessed. It happened nearly forty years ago.

Carolyn had been struggling with a serious digestive issue. She could not keep food in her system, was losing weight, and experienced burning when she ate. That morning I told her, “We really need to pray and contend for healing. Otherwise, you need to go to the doctor.”

About two hours later, after delivering something to a business, she got into her truck. Two homeless men approached her vehicle. She rolled the window down just a little. They asked, “What church do you go to?” There was nothing on her truck to indicate she had gone to church. Then they said, “God told us you needed healing.”

They prayed a very short prayer: “Be healed in the name of Jesus.”

Then one of the men asked, “Are you healed?”

Carolyn started to say, “I’ll be healed when I go eat something.” But he interrupted and said, “No. It’s a yes or no. No excuses.”

So she said, “Yes.”

She felt something like burning in her lower intestinal area. Later that day, we tested it. We went out to eat lunch, then Mexican food for supper, and she was healed. She never had that problem again.

That testimony reminds us to be obedient when the Lord prompts us. You never know how He may use you.

Healing often requires cooperation with faith. It is easy to say, “I am not healed yet.” But it is better to say, “Lord, I receive Your healing. I believe for Your healing. I agree with Your Word.”

That is not playing semantics. It is bringing the heart and spirit into agreement with the reality of what Christ has already done.

Let Jesus Liberate You

Jesus is our Liberator.

He forgives all our sins.
He heals all our diseases.
He redeems us from death.
He crowns us with love and tender mercies.
He proclaims liberty to captives.
He sets at liberty those who are oppressed.
He has made us free from the law of sin and death.

And now He calls us to carry that same message and ministry into the world.

Use the authority you have in Christ. Pray for family members. Pray for friends. Pray for people you meet along the way. You never know when the Lord is going to show up in a powerful way and touch someone with His love and power.

Freedom is costly. Liberation required blood. Our national freedom reminds us of that, but the cross reveals it most fully.

Jesus paid the price.
His blood has been shed.
The victory has been won.

Now let Jesus liberate you—and then go help others become free.