Our Mission Statement

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Luke 4:18

This was Jesus’ mission statement and as believers it should be ours as well. The same Spirit that was upon Him indwells each one of us who know Him as our Savior. His anointing is our anointing. His message is our message. His audience is our audience.

Sometimes we read a word and our one track mind gets one picture. But when I look the words up and see the original meanings to them my picture is suddenly enlarged and personalized. Each has a depth that cause me to sit up and take notice.

Poor goes beyond extreme lack of money. It refers to the person in distress with a sense of very little worth or value. It is the person who has been so beaten down in their spirit that they find it hard to face another day. They are emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.

Captives are prisoners. They are taken, held, bound, and confined against their own will. They are controlled by people, circumstances, addictions, generational bents. Escape is out of the question because they cannot imagine freedom nor do they possess the energy to even attempt it.

The blind not only refers to those with the inability to see clearly with their eyes but those who cannot understand with their mind. Their vision is clouded and they are unable to receive light. The external and internal worlds can be shrouded in darkness.

The bruised are those who have been crushed, injured, wounded, and disabled. Traumas can be brought about in various ways by a wide variety of people in our life. It always amazes me that the very people who recognize the physical affects of ill treatment are hesitant to acknowledge where they have been wounded in their spirit.

This morning I realize that I need God to open my eyes to those around me who live their lives with such characteristics. I am struck by the realization that they can be found outside as well as within the church. Their only hope is Jesus. May they know Him!

Father, You want to set us all free. Help me to walk in that freedom and to help others find it as well. Amen.