Set Free
Recently, I was reading Isaiah 54. I wrote in my journal some phrases and words that caught my attention: “Sing . . . do not hold back. . . fear not. . . the Lord has called you. . . His steadfast love shall not depart from you.”
Sing. Do not hold back. Fear not.
Sounds like being “set free” to me!
In Isaiah 54:2, the phrase “Do not hold back” includes the concept of increasing one’s capacity. “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” I was intrigued. What did this mean?
I checked Matthew Henry’s Commentary. He states, “The death of Christ is the life of the Church and of all that truly belong to it; and therefore, very fitly, after the prophet had foretold the sufferings of Christ (in Isaiah 53), he foretells the flourishing of the Church, which is part of His glory.”
Isaiah 54 gives reference to the Church, into which Gentiles were to be admitted. The God of Israel would now be called the God of the whole earth!
Do not hold back. Enlarge your heart. Share the gospel unashamedly. Share love with everybody always. Do not hold back.
If you need help with this mandate, as I do, look to Jesus. He will set you free!
Jesus declares, “So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). We must point others to Jesus, the source of true freedom.
Jesus gives all people this invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).
We are invited on a journey in which Jesus journeys with us as our Shepherd (see Psalm 23). We discover that we are cared for and that we can receive His love. We find ourselves set free from want. Set free from fear. Set free to love.
Listen to this. “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:” (1John 3:18–19).
Jesus can set us free to love and we can find our hearts set at rest in His presence.
I have Jesus. I have been set free. My heart is set at rest in His presence.
I wish the same for you.
I am reading this again on July 1, 2019. Divinely timed and planned! Our local AllianceWOMEN group at Cary Alliance Church in Apex, NC, met for a Ladies’ Missions Brunch with Ruth Davis (Portugal). I introduced the new 2-year theme: “Set Free,” and shared about Rebekah Lyons’ book, You Are Free.
When our group meets again on July 14th, I will share more about the new name, the new theme, the Bible study that our district director, Janice Kropp, encouraged us to do as a group, AND I will share these words from you with our ladies!
Thank you, Jen, for leading us so well, to the praise of His name.
Sue Wrasman, Local Director
ALLIANCEWOMEN
Cary Alliance Church
Apex, NC 27529
Sue, I am looking for a Bible study for my women’s Sunday school group at church along this theme of “Set Free” and would love to know what Bible study you are doing! Thank you, Sharon
Greetings, Jen! First of all, hallelujah we are Alliance Women once again! And part of Church Ministries. So good. So right.
Your message reminds me of Pastor Ted Kang’s message on Thursday night as well as the message last night at Council. The gospel is for everyone and I need to ask the Holy Spirit to help me to go beyond my “comfort borders” in sharing my love of Jesus.
I am also reminded of the song the children sang last night: “I am free to run…I am free to sing…I am free.”
Thank you for leading AW so well.
Thank you, Gloria. God is good. He equips and inspires.