Luke 4:18-19 (NASB) “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
Captivity, blindness, and oppression can take on many forms.
Captivity can be physical like people caught in human trafficking. Captivity can be emotional. People can have thoughts that hold them captive. Some people think they are worthless. That they will never amount to much. These types of thoughts are from Satan. Some people always compare themselves to others and in their minds, they come up short. God made each individual unique. He loves everyone and has a beautiful plan for his/her life.
Blindness can be physical or intellectual. Spiritual blindness keeps us from seeing truth. Truth around us and truth in God’s word.
Oppression stems from outward stimulation on us by others who tell us or make us feel we are unworthy. John 8:34-36 (NASB) "34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. worthless or that we do not live up to their expectations of us. Oppression brings emotional bondage. Christ never meant for us to be in bondage, blind or captive. "
Mark 5:1-13 (NASB) "They came to the other side of the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one was able to bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces; and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and cutting himself with stones. 6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; 7 and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, “What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 8 For He had already been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the region. 11 Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding nearby on the mountain. 12 And the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us into the pigs so that we may enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. "
The Gerasenes man was tortured by many demons. Many humans in western society are tortured by self-hate, hate of others, unforgiveness, addiction to drugs, liquor, and sex, to name a few. They are enslaved by these things.
You say I am not enslaved. What is that you are feeling in your heart? Do you have peace? Do you feel tense, irritable, or anxious? Is there something you cannot let go of? Christ said in John 8:34-36 (NASB) “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”
John 10:9-11 (NASB) “9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
Revelation 3:20 (NASB) "20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me."
John 14:26-27 (NASB) "26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful."