Set The Captives Free!

By

Bernie Lutchman

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the

LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He
has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to
proclaim that captives will be released!” Isaiah 61:
1-2(NLT)

The following is a somewhat brief yet thorough look at three

ACTUAL events which I participated in as a prayer counselor, in
the same day, and how the Lord would look at these men (or it
can be applicable to anyone). I also examine how He would then
release His Powerful Word – the Holy Bible – to bring healing,
deliverance, joy, peace and exhortation into their situations!
(Read paragraph below for disclaimer about names, identities etc)

Can a Christian – man or woman – fall into disobedience, live contrary to the state will of God,
and pay a price?

Can a Christian, with the best of intentions, use the Word of God, to the detriment of the
purposes of God?

Can a Christian know a gaping chasm exists between him and his Maker but now wish to take
the steps necessary to bridge that gap?

The answer is a big YES!

The amazing thing is all three distinctive instances described here actually happened within
hours of each other. I changed the names, occupations and the physical whereabouts of each
and chose to only address these narrowed down issues and how God would respond. The more
important goal is to show how common, these actual fresh in my mind, events are! Therefore
we have an obligation to share HOW the Lord can and does use His Word and His ministers to
reach a lost, hurt and perishing world, in need of freedom from spiritual baggage!
NOTE: (Any judgment of the motives of the people in these three cases A-C is left to the Judge
Himself – the Lord Jesus Christ. Such judgment is not to be done by us.)

CASE A

ACTION:

MARTY is a regional salesman who lived in many parts of the country and saw his material life
prosper. But his personal life suffered terribly due to stress and time requirements. His wife
began to feel distant and the rest of the story is typical of the fast –paced American life. You
know it – adultery, separation, recriminations, divorce- they all followed.

Fast forward through several life changes including declining health, family rejection and
questioning his faith and we have Marty in a place where he is wilfulling sinning! Marty is in a
physical relationship with a woman, while not married, all the while knowing God does not
approve of this!

REACTION:

There is not much we can say to an over 60 year old man who said (and I believe it) that he was
saved as a young teen. He can tell me the day, month and year and how it happened. If a
person does not have at least the year right, and has NO testimony about how God
transformed their lives from running with the devil to Joy in the Journey with Jesus, question if
they are really saved (to yourself)!

We cannot say much because we are making the same mistakes in our churches today ….which
we made 20-30-40 years ago! After this man got saved, NOBODY came alongside him to walk,
talk with or disciple him – nobody!! This is happening more and more as churches neglect the
ancient biblical art of mentoring and raising up “Timothy’s.

The Apostle Paul had raised up the young Timothy as his spiritual son in the Lord and gave him
this instruction in 2 Timothy 2: 1-2(AMP) “SO YOU, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in
the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus. And the [instructions]
which you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust [as a deposit]
to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also”.

The instruction here to Timothy – “pass on what you know to men, whom you trust in the Faith,
who can then teach others”. By the way, can women teach? Yes! In fact, women, especially
older women should teach younger women! Is this sexist? No! Now check this, should a
married forty one year old man be instructing a twenty year old woman as a small group
partner, especially on faithfulness, love and temptation? No???!!! I didn’t think so….!!

So we have diagnosed a major part of Marty’s problem with disobeying God’s instructions – HE
DOESN’T KNOW THEM! He was never instructed and brought up to love the Word; hide the
Word within; or proclaim the Word! When temptation comes, he doesn’t have the dunamis
power in him to rebuke the devil and use the Word of God PROPERLY as Jesus Himself did when
Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. (READ Matthew 4:1-11 for the full account).

For each of the three times Satan tempted Jesus, the Lord said “It is WRITTEN…. “and then
quoted Scripture! If we have no knowledge of the Holy One of Israel, we are the defenseless! In
the description of the Armor of God in Ephesians 6, the Word of God is ONLY offensive
weapon!! It is called the SWORD OF THE LORD! It is the WORD that convicts, reveals, heals, and
seals us in for our Lord to do His Work!

That being said and Marty not knowing the Scripture or being impressed upon by modern
pastors (most of whom don’t even carry a physical bible, therefore their congregation doesn’t
either), he really has no excuse. The Lord has written His Law upon our hearts and we know
what is right and wrong. It is wrong to commit adultery or have sex outside of marriage, no
matter what age or station of life a person’s in.

GET PROACTIVE:

Marty has two choices. He can choose to continue wearing blinders, living in sin and then
complain God does not hear him or loves him. OR, he could REPENT, RELENT and then either
marry the woman he is sleeping with or break it off!

This is it. There is no other way, but to Trust and Obey. If he continues living the current lifestyle
and dies in this sin, would he still be forgiven? Yes, if he was truly saved on the date, time and
year he told me. He would be saved and just barely, because Christ died for men like him too.

But God calls us to Repentance. The word Repentance in the New Testament is METANOIA – or
a change in the inner man! It is stated best in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his
promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish,
but that all should reach repentance.

This is what we are to do – Repent! Holy Father is going to always turn His Holy Face from rank
disobedience, adultery and fornication. But oh how He loves us so, if we have a change of mind,
confess, put it away and then cry out to Him, He will hear and repair!!

How difficult is this? It’s almost impossible in today’s church culture, where nobody thinks they
have anything to repent for!
 CASE B

ACTION:

Rollie is a bi-vocational pastor from a small church who worked hard for a living all his life. He is
a man of unquestioned integrity and honor, traits he shows as the pastor of a small but steady
congregation for almost 30 years! Bi-vocational pastoring is difficult as it actually means TWO
full time jobs…with a full commitment to both.

Rollie is the father of a mature young man in his late 30’s, Mike, whom he has always held to an
extremely high standard. You see, Rollie had accomplished so much as a man, a father and a
Christian, he expected his PK (Pastor Kid) sons to do the same. When middle son Mike’s
marriage fell apart, his dad lost his mind! First of all, it made the family look bad at church. It
made Rollie look as a failure of a father in bringing up Mike and then it made Mike look suspect
in the marriage folding up.

Pastor Rollie would hear none of it, would not listen to the fact Mike’s wife had an adulterous
affair at work, and began berating Mike. What followed was the Bible getting used as a tool of
hatred between both men of God – father and son – to the sadness and shame of the Author
and Perfector of our Faith, the Lord Jesus!

Mike and his dad spent two years accusing each other of being both heretic and a Pharisee at
the same time (in that order) and just as Satan did in the wilderness while tempting Jesus, all
kinds of verses were thrown about. It happened with regularity and completely out of biblical
context! A huge divide developed between father and son which has not been bridged – yet.

REACTION:

In the case of Mike, the breakup of his marriage and the adultery which caused it deadly
serious. We assume and hope he sought actual biblical counseling before proceeding to the
divorce court. What has occurred between these two men of God – father and son – is
unacceptable and a mixture of Pride, Unforgiveness and a Lack of Love!

PRIDE – which goeth before the fall – is worse in Pastor Rollie. There is nothing wrong, per se, in
doing a great job for the Lord in a secular office and then pasturing the flock, because the 55
congregants cannot afford to pay a full time minister. This is being done all over the world and
the men who do this are doing it in love, sacrifice more personally and family –wise for it.
However, here is where sin can actually take good and mean it for evil.

If the ministry itself and YOUR role in it becomes the focal point of Adoration, Pride has crept
in! Rollie may be doing the Work of the Lord, but his opinion of himself does not match up with
God the Father’s point of view!

What is really the sticking point both men and which God will not condone is Unforgiveness and
lack of love!!! Abba Father sent His only begotten Son to live and die for us as the God/man
that we may be forgiven. The Great and Eternal Ancient of Days – the Creator –poured Himself
out, was crucified mercilessly so we can be forgiven. Yet we have a man of God who has self-
righteousness lifted his knowledge of his King James Bible OVER the Spirit of the Word Who
became flesh!

Hebrews 12:15 (AMP) says “Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another],
to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and
spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots
forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled
by it.”

All factors mentioned in this verse are present in this problem with Mike – rancor, bitterness
and then resentment from pastor Rollie towards his son for not fitting the carefully molded
patterns said by dad!

This bitterness is unrelenting. It does not just sit there on a person, but morphs itself into a
cancer of alienation, hard feelings, verbal slander of the person, lack of respect and on and on!
This is exactly what was discovered in finally drawing out of the man speaking, before he would
be able to handle the steps to personal freedom and deliverance!

BE PROACTIVE:

The first thing both men need to do is to stop using any ELECTRONIC’s to comment their lack of
biblical discernment!! For instance, email – an email is sent to a person, we had better be sure
we are ready to stand by it. Sending vitriol and misquoted bible verses from both men by email
is a horrible way to communicate.

The answer is LOVE! Practice LOVE! It is obvious both father Rollie and son Mike are saved men
and know the Scriptures but by their over-the-top hatred (and this is what all of this bitter
unforgiveness is, they have missed the entire underlying foundation of the Holy Word of God –
His Love!! His love!!
Again, repentance and reaching out to each other are the bottom line! If only ONE of the two
men would start it, we would be on the road back from the brink! Having Rollie and Mike try to
put his hand of fellowship out to the other is primary for Reconciliation. Both men need to feel
comfortable and safe in their masculinity, but more importantly, in their Love for Jesus before
even attempting to start to reconcile with each other.

A good place for them to start is here in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NLT) “And all of this is a gift
from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of
reconciling people to him.  19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer
counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of
reconciliation.  20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We
speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

Therefore, now that both Pastor Rollie and Mike know about the ministry of Reconciliation and
both men’s roles in reconciling with each other, it must be done in love!! Even if one or the
other is clearly in the wrong, one man has to pray for and reach out in love…and here is the
basis of this love….from 1 Corinthians 13:1-10 (NLT)
1
 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be
a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s
secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains,
but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.  3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even
sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; [a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained
nothing.

  4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud  5 or rude. It does not demand
its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  6 It does not rejoice
about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  7 Love never gives up, never loses
faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

  8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[b] and special knowledge will become useless.
But love will last forever!  9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of
prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!  10 but when full understanding comes, these
partial things will become useless.

CASE C

ACTION:
Patrick acknowledges a huge chasm (his words) with God, which he didn’t know how to begin
to close. He says he is concerned about a family member calling him and asking about heaven,
since this family member seemed to believe Patrick knows it all, from going to a certain well-
known church in a suburb of the main city.

Patrick proceeds to tell his family member all about hell, going to heaven, who gets there and
how, yet he himself knows things are not right between him and God! He continues to live in
the flesh, has children with three different women and with a wide variety of ages for a 50 year
old man!

He also just broke up with the mother of his latest son yet seeks a powerful experience. The
chasm remains with God but he indicates he wishes he can repair the breach!

REACTION:

There is one common thread among all men who have sought counsel. Not only are they hard
on themselves and the objects of their…. (Fill in the blanks), but if they are truly repentant, they
have never forgiven themselves. In fact they do not and still do know appreciate this fact. God
has already forgiven them because of the Cross, but men especially have bought the lie of the
devil, who then proceeds to throw every little thing up in our faces.

Another thing men are loath to do is be broken before the Lord Jesus! John 12:24 (NLT) says “I
tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But
its death will produce many new kernels--a plentiful harvest of new lives”.

This is another step in the process.

First – Forgiveness (of self for whatever you have done).

Secondly- Ask God for forgiveness by Brokenness.

King David knew this and the rewards were magnificent! Here was a man who was the greatest
king who ever lived. God called him “a man after My Own Heart”. Yet, in spite of all the great
things he did, he was a peeping Tom. He was ogling another man’s wife talking a bath on her
rooftop. He sent for her. He impregnated her. He panicked. He sent for her warrior husband
Uriah the Hittite. He tried to set him up to take the fall for the pregnancy. Uriah had more
honor than David and refused to sleep with his wife, while his soldiers put their lives on the
line.
David sent out an order to the frontlines. He had Uriah sent out to the battle zone. He had
Uriah left out to the wolves and killed. David murdered Uriah. Yet this was a man after God’s
Own Heart!

How was this possible? – Brokenness!!

Look at ALL of Psalm 51! After Nathan confronted David and told him “YOU ARE THE MAN”
(who did all the aforementioned things to Uriah), David felt as if the two year old burden of the
deadly secret was lifted off him. He then set the example of how WE, in the coming Generations
who would read and study the Word, could be restored not just completely to God, but be used
by Him again!!

Psalm 51!

BE PROACTIVE:

Now remember how all of this started with Patrick, who was seeking a restored relationship
with the Real God of Heaven – Abba Father. We also mentioned Patrick will have to really
possess and actively desire and execute the processes necessary for that to happen. God has
given us Psalm 51 as David’s example. This is also OUR example.

The following is Psalm 51 (AMP) in its entirety.

If you are struggling with any unforgiveness or there is any stumbling block to the free flow of
Grace, Mercy, Love, Compassion and Holy Spirit Power from on high, into your soul, ask the
Lord to search your heart right now, see if there is any spiritual wickedness, remove it, cleanse
you and then pray into Psalm 51 – verse by verse….putting your own name in there….verse by
verse…come on now….I can be done.

We have all gone through this. All it takes is obedience and a humble penitent and broken
heart for Christ. Really press into the first 13 verses. Once you’re finished with this, you will
realize this scripture will set you free!!

This is the first step to Recovery from sin, from the spirit of oppression, from the binds of
bondage. Don’t let the evil one grab this from you! He has come to kill, steal and destroy! We
have come to repair the breach in the Name of Jesus. But Christ has come to give us life and life
eternal….This is Grace! Grace! Great Grace! To all the Patrick’s, Mike's, Rollie's, Martie's,
Jennifer's, Tina’s , or Joan's, or Laura's, or James'…….Pray Psalm 51 right now! In Jesus’ Name,
amen.

Psalm 51(AMP) 
1
HAVE MERCY upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of
Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.

    2Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make
me wholly pure from my sin!

    3For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me.

    4Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are
justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment.

    5Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me
[and I too am sinful].

    6Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my
inmost heart.

    7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be
whiter than snow.

    8Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken
rejoice.

    9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt and iniquities.

    10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit
within me.

    11Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

    12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

    13Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.

    14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness and death, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue
shall sing aloud of Your righteousness (Your rightness and Your justice).

    15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

    16For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt
offering.)
    17My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite
heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You
will not despise.

    18Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

    19Then will You delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, justice, and right, with burnt offering
and whole burnt offering; then bullocks will be offered upon Your altar.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by  The Lockman Foundation

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission
of  Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

    English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©  2001 by  Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Image of Broken Chains, courtesy GOOGLE IMAGES