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The Goal of Inner Healing and Freedom in Christ

Jesus spoke His mission statement, as recorded in Luke chapter 4, from the prophecy in Isaiah 61. He spoke only down to verse 2a, The Acceptable Year of The Lord. Then He said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Notice that the balance of Isaiah 61 could not be fulfilled until after His death and resurrection. The next item on this list in Isaiah 61 was "The day of vengeance of our God." That began at the Cross and resurrection.

Now He wants to fulfill the balance of this prophecy through you and me.

Isaiah 61:1-11

“1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

The acceptable year of the Lord, is the Year of Jubilee as in Leviticus 25 when all debts were cancelled.

And the day of vengeance of our God;

The defeat of enemies as in Leviticus 26. Jesus defeated our enemies at the Cross and resurrection.

To comfort all who mourn,

3 To console those who mourn in Zion,

This could be mourning for actual loses of our life's dreams, loved ones, even our health, etc., but I also believe that we have mourned as captives for the loss of our identity.

To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

The result of our being made righteous is joy, praise and a visible change in us. That change would be seen by others andt He would be glorified or made known to others.

4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.

Overcoming generational bondages and curses.

5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

That we would have supernatural provisions.

6 But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God.

As New Testament priests we are to be a bridge to God and to intercede for people.

You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast.

7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

More benefits of being made free.

8 “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant.

9 Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed.”

A promise for our children.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

He prepares us as the Bride of Christ.

11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”

This is God's plan on how to cause all nations, people groups and gentiles, to experience the righteousness of God.