You will give sight to the blind, bring prisoners out of prisons, and bring those who live in darkness out of dungeons.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. All of us are citizens of this world. Unfortunately, in this world millions of people suffer. They experience the devastation of war, the sorrows of oppression, the decimation of disease, the slow death of starvation, and the indignity of poverty. Beyond the physical conditions, millions of people live in spiritual darkness. They are crushed by a load of sin and habits that torment them. The light of truth has not yet dawned in their lives. I think we can take this a step further. Since we are viewing the words "he led" (Ephesians 4:8) as an act ofChrist begun at his ascension, but continuing throughout the gospel age, then we should see those words as including even his final act of leadership on earth, shouldn't we? That final act is one that he will perform personally at his second coming toearth.

We are empowered to do the things Jesus was annointed to do by the Father. We need to believe in Him to do the promise.

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Jesus is deeply concerned about poor people. Here, Jesus means those who are impoverished economically. Does this mean that He is not concerned about the wealthy or the common people who are not poor? No, it does not. He just did not have to express that concern here. His audience would have understood that a leader would be concerned about those who are better off. By focusing on the most needy, He includes all who have needs. Thus, He begins by expressing concern for those who were despised by others. However, it does not have to mean this, and there is no such event recorded in scripture. The record portrays Jesus as ascending into heaven alone (Acts 1:9-11). How many times have you felt downtrodden and broken? The circumstances of life have taken their toll. You don’t know whether or not you can get up and go again. Just remember that Jesus identifies with you in every moment of brokenness. He understands.

I. Preach the Gospel to the Poor

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and an opening of the eyes to the blind; But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. NASU To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. When we become the captive slaves of Jesus Christ, we find liberty in that captivity. This is a paradox, but not a contradiction, because Christ’s slaves are "sons ofGod... heirs ofGod and joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:14-17). 3 What is the Leading? For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

The captives, however, are not limited to people who are in spiritual darkness. Some believers are captives of oppressive forces. This, too, is a form of enslavement by Satan, for the oppressors are the servants of Satan. Some researchers estimate that there are more persecuted Christians today than ever before in the history of the church.The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, The simplest explanation of "he led captivity captive" (Ephesians 4:8) is to think of captivity as slavery. Paul thinks of the new birth as an enslavement to Christ when he releases us from enslavement to sin (Romans 6:6,16-18). When Christ died, was buried, arose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand ofGod, he set a host of captives free from sin and took them captive to himself. He continues to do so even today and until he comes again, "that he might fill all things" (Ephesians 4:10). Captivity in Redemption Soon after speaking in Nazareth, went down to Capernaum. There He encountered a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon. Luke writes (Luke 4:33-35: