Luke 4:18-19 – “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; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  NKJV

Each time I read this, one word leaps out, and the entire passage comes to life.  What is that word?  “TO.”  That’s right, the two-letter word “TO.”  Let us examine it briefly if we might.

Jesus made a powerful declaration that the Spirit of the LORD was on Him.  That, in my view, was an understatement and so obvious that even the blind could see it.  But Jesus declared to those listening His purpose and identity through the Prophet Isaiah.  He did not just say that the Spirit of the Lord was on Him but identified the Purpose of that anointing.  His declaration reveals the purpose of the anointing for us.  He said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me because He has anointed Me.”  Then He gives the purpose of His ministry!

•  Anointed “TO” preach the gospel to the poor.  If we make that a monetary event, we fail to understand the ministry of Jesus. 
• Anointed “TO” heal the brokenhearted. 
• Anointed “TO” proclaim liberty, freedom, and deliverance to the captives.
• Anointed “TO” bring recovery of sight to the blind.  Again, if we only make this the physical, we miss the larger message and ministry. 
• Anointed “TO” set at liberty those who are oppressed. 

The anointing is functional, not a feeling. It is designed to produce something not just to have a sense of euphoria. It is not so much what you feel as what you are empowered to do that defines the anointing! Anointed TO…

John 8:36 declares beautifully, “…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  And in Matthew 11:28, we find the plea of our Lord, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

The powerful words of Galatians 5:1 should resonate in our hearts, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  Jesus came to earth for the purpose of Redemption!  In that redemption are all the things Isaiah identified the Messiah would bring. 

The Gospel proclaimed to the world is realized in our Lord’s directive to “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach….”  The healing of the brokenhearted, liberty to those who are captive, sight for the blind, and liberty for the oppressed are realized in His Gift of Salvation.  We are transferred from the kingdom or domain of darkness, taken from the control of the evil one, and transferred into the Kingdom of God through the Blood of Jesus.  In that condition and position, we find Isaiah’s prophecy a reality in our lives.  We are Free!  Spiritually Free to become emotionally free and physically free. 

I am sometimes troubled by the words of our LORD in John 14 when Jesus spoke of His followers doing Greater Works!  There can be no greater work than salvation.  However, my problem is that the Body of Christ often fails to do the works He said were part and parcel of our redemption and call. 

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” 

Many times, I have and do cry out to the LORD, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”  Many times I wept before the LORD for the lack of spiritual power and authority in my own life.  Then when I witness the anemic state of the Church, at times, I am troubled.  We have a world dying and needing our Savior, and there is a ripe and ready harvest; we need both laborers and spiritual power and authority to pluck them from the very jaws of hell. 

God, help us to seek You and Your Anointing on our lives so that we might walk daily in Your presence and manifest You to the world.  May we Lift You Up!  I believe that when we do, You will draw people to You.  May we find permanent residence in Your Presence and pull-down strongholds through Your name and power.

God bless you richly is my desire and prayer!