Focus Scripture: “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” – Luke 13:10-13
Day Three: When the Enemy Has Kept You Bound (Luke 13:10-13)
Have you ever felt like you are trapped, caged, unseen and unheard? It feels like no matter how hard you try, something is holding you down and you can’t move forward. Perhaps it’s fear, sickness, failure, doubt, guilt, past mistakes, emotional trauma or the weight of other people’s opinions. You are not alone.
In Luke 13:10-17, an unnamed woman who had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years is introduced to us. The bible describes her as bent over and unable to stand up straight. Some other translations say that (an evil spirit, demon spirit, demonic spirit of bondage) had kept her in that affliction for eighteen years. Her condition was not just physical, it was spiritual bondage. She had been in that state and unable to change her condition until she encountered Jesus.
Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and she happened to be present. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. In this woman’s case unlike some of the other miracles of Jesus, he saw her and called her to him. “When Jesus saw her, he called her forward.” – Luke 13:12 .
Jesus saw her. Jesus called her. Jesus set her free. This woman didn’t ask for healing, Jesus noticed her and called her forward. This is a reminder that even when you feel unseen, broken, weak, isolated, hidden and unloved. Jesus sees you. We have a heavenly father and compassionate God who sees us in our worst state, moments of pain, affliction and despair.
The enemy wants to keep you bent over with lies, guilt, fear and worry. He wants to keep you hidden and bound in the chains of ignorance, pain and shame. But Jesus wants to set you free today. He is calling you to step into his presence right now. And it does not matter how long you have been bound by the enemy’s schemes, manipulations and attacks. No condition is hopeless before God, the word of God is stronger than any demonic oppression. The word of God has the capacity and power to set you free.
Jesus said to her – “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity. Then he put his hands on her and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” God remembered this woman in her affliction and a touch from Jesus changed everything. God’s word and touch has the ability to change and transform our lives forever. Satan is an oppressor. Jesus is a deliverer, restorer and life changer. God will never leave you where he meets you. And in the end, Jesus made it clear that she belonged to God, not the enemy. He called her a daughter of Abraham. You are not meant to live in bondage. You are a daughter of God.
“Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” – Luke 13:16
Has the enemy tried to keep you bound – bent over by guilt, pain, shame, fear and oppression? What are those mental and emotional chains that have kept you stuck for so long? You do not have to carry this burden anymore. Jesus is calling you forward into his presence – stand up, take that step of faith and walk into your freedom today. The same Jesus who loosed this woman’s chains is calling your name today. Will you answer?
- Jesus wants to set you free.
- Jesus sees beyond your physical limitations.
- Jesus wants to untie the stronghold of Satan over your life.
- Jesus is interested in your deliverance.
Prayer: Dear Lord, fill my life with life-changing encounters with the person of Jesus. I will rest in this truth – that God sees me and remembers me. Father, I ask that you set me free from every pain, affliction and oppression of the enemy. Untie me from every mental and emotional chain and stronghold of the enemy in my life. Loose me from every form of bondage and fill my heart with faith to walk in my freedom from this day forward. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen!
Faith Challenge: Take time today to acknowledge the areas in your life where you feel bound and surrender them to Jesus. Write down any lies or burdens weighing you down. Declare that they no longer have the power over you.
Read Also:
The Bent Over Woman in the Bible
Image by Airgil Daviss from Pixabay
