Deliverance is What You Need

My husband and I do quite a bit of travelling, so when I’m flying, I often pass the time reading a newspaper, or in attempting to solve the crossword. However, on one trip recently I didn’t have anything to occupy my time, and not wanting to sleep I started to look at the in-flight magazine that was provided.

I was amazed to find a full-page advertisement for `De-liver-ance`. The advertisement gave some benefits of the use of this ‘De-liver-ance’ which included that it was fast acting, detoxifying, restored balance and promoted mental clarity. But this clearly wasn’t an advertisement for deliverance as we know it, but something quite different. Perhaps the strange way the word was written, has given you a clue. The advert was for a product that purported to bring restoration to your ailing liver, after consuming too much alcohol which had caused what we call a hangover. I smiled because, quite inadvertently and unknowingly, the advert had stated truths about the benefits of the amazing power of true deliverance, that Jesus has won for us all at Calvary.

Jesus demonstrates, in His earthly ministry, His absolute power to deliver, to heal and to restore. He has victory over the work of the enemy and his demons, clearly shown to the very great benefit of those seeking help for their ailing lives. He brought release from darkness and bondage and gave light and life. Think about the man, from the region of the Gerasenes, whose chaotic and destructive life was utterly transformed by the deliverance brought by Jesus. This deliverance brought life changing benefits; it was fast acting, it detoxified (the toxic elements that were poisoning the man’s well-being were driven out), his life was brought into godly balance and he was found to be clear thinking and ‘in his right mind’. It is strikingly similar to what the advert claims for their elixir of ‘De-liver-ance’ to restore a person from a hangover.

Jesus says, ‘all authority has been given to me in heaven and in earth’ (Matthew 28:18). He alone has won the victory over the work of the enemy and all his minions, and He still delights to set His children free from everything that would steal their well-being or hold them back from fulfilling their true destiny. He delivers us from death to eternal life, from the bondage under Satan to freedom in Christ, from demonic activity to flowing more cleanly in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the power of deliverance available for each of us through Jesus.

This advertised product may possibly bring some relief to your liver when you have made foolish choices of overindulgence in what the world offers, but the deliverance that Jesus brings will release you and restore your life and your whole future. Now, that is true deliverance.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You have the power to bring the necessary freedom and healing to my life when I have made bad choices in the past and need your deliverance and restorative touch. You alone have the words of eternal life. You alone are the One who can ‘set the prisoners free’. Today, I rejoice that nothing is too difficult for You and that Your desire for me is that I should have life in abundance. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.