A few nights ago, I awoke around 3 am with two words ringing in my spirit. I knew it was one of those “God moments,” a time when He speaks something powerful to me in the quietness , to make sure I hear Him. Over and over again I heard Him say: “OPPRESS OPPRESSION!”
I wondered what God meant, exactly. Oppression is cruelty or persecution that is sustained over time to keep others under control. It is a wrong use of authority. What would "oppressing oppression look like?
First, He showed me what it doesn't look like: personal comfort. Like all believers, I am sometimes guilty of focusing more on the benefits of my salvation than on my “call of duty” to serve others. I love the peace, love, and joy He brings, the freedom of the Spirit, the angelic encounters, and the deep comfort I find in the Scriptures. If I’m not careful, I can become too comfortable in my own little “bubble:” the very real sphere of love and protection He gives me in my daily life. But God has more than my comfort on His mind. He wants me – and all believers - to oppress oppression. A Prophetic ExplanationThe truth is, whether I live in America, Europe or Syria, I am surrounded daily by oppression in its various forms: hunger, abuse, poverty, slavery, religious persecution, and more. As a Christian, I recognize that these situations are used by Satan to hold people in bondage. There is a war over people's spirits and souls. Here’s the word God gave me to expand on this thinking: “It’s a jubilee year, and I have FREEDOM on My mind. Freedom for the captives, freedom for the oppressed, freedom for the hurting, and most of all, freedom for the lost. But freedom does not come cheaply. A price must always be paid, because we have an enemy. Freedom requires those who will fight for it: freedom fighters. The battle is always won in the Spirit first, then in the natural. Are you willing to fight for freedom? Are you willing to pay the price – often at cost to yourself – to seek freedom for others? You have all the backing and resources of heaven at your disposal, because I am for freedom. If you lead the charge to fight, I will support you. Ask Me for My strategies; ask Me where freedom is going to break out next, and follow Me there. I will lead you to the places where victory is assured. Ask Me daily: “Whom are you setting free?” and I will show you where to fight, where to apply pressure in prayer.” Wow! What a wonderful call to prayer and liberty! One critical thing I noticed, however, is that in the second paragraph of God's word to me, He said “we have an enemy.” Did you catch that? In a true covenant relationship, my enemies are God’s enemies, and vice versa. I expect God to defeat my enemies, and He does. I must remember that God also expects me to defeat our mutual enemy – Satan – because He has given me the authority and power to do so. (See Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:12-14; Acts 1:8). It is the Christian mandate to release the oppressed from every kind of oppression! A Confirming Scripture:The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
The truth is, each of us may be blessed with a measure of freedom already in this war against our mutual enemy: Satan. But many others still are not. And if we are not seeing miracles, healing, or deliverance in our personal ministries, it is only because we are not actively praying and preaching freedom to the lost and broken world around us. We are not using our authority to oppress oppression.
My Call of DutyThe battle is won first in the Spirit, then in the natural. Is my prayer life responsive to God’s direction? Am I seeking Him for His battle strategies against the enemy? If I am, then I will also be seeing opportunities to step in and snatch others from the fire, just as He in mercy saved me. I am praying this prayer today, and invite you to pray it with me: God, I believe that like Jesus, I am called to oppress oppression! I choose to use the freedom You have given me to go back and rescue others from the fire. Holy Spirit, I ask you to activate my prayer life in such a way that I am sensitive to Your “emergency calls” for others. Help me to be a spiritual first responder, following You to the places where I can provide breakthroughs for others who are suffering. Whom are you setting free today? I know we’re in this together, God, and I know You’ve got my back. Thank you for the amazing privilege of being in covenant with You!
c. Deborah Perkins / His Inscriptions
To read more about responding to crisis, click here.
Deborah Perkins is the founder of His Inscriptions, a ministry focused on life-giving communication with God. Through her website, inspired teaching and a weekly blog, Deborah offers discipleship to those who want to grow their relationship with God. A ministry leader for over 25 years, Deborah is an experienced prophetic counselor, marriage mentor, and prayer warrior. She's also fond of her hubby, 3 sons, and dark chocolate - in that order!  |
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September 2018
AuthorA severe hearing loss from childhood caused Deborah Perkins to develop what she now calls her secret weapon: tuning in to God's voice. A Wellesley College graduate and an award-winning writer, Deborah is now a wife and mother of 3 boys. Deborah has devoted over 25 years to professional and lay Christian ministry in New England and beyond. Her passion is inspiring people to cultivate greater intimacy with God. 
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