by Yolie Arevalos 
What does it say?
Isaiah 61:1–4 (NKJV) “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion,To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.”
What Does it Mean?
Isaiah lived in Jerusalem in the latter half of Israel’s Kingdom period, and as a prophet, he spoke on behalf of God to the leaders of Jerusalem and Judah. The northern kingdom was on the verge of collapse, and the southern kingdom was also vulnerable. Isaiah addressed them with a message of God’s judgment if they persisted in idolatry, corruption, and disobedience, but it was also coupled with a message of hope if God’s people would receive the warning and turn from wickedness. This a prophetic passage was later quoted by Jesus in His home town, Nazareth, where He was brought up, having come from the wilderness FULL of the Holy Spirit. He was quoting it bearing witness of a prophecy being fulfilled in their presence! A prophecy of the hope of deliverance! He was that hope that they had all been waiting for. Sadly, we also read in scripture that they did not receive Him as the Messiah and deliverer (at least not in His hometown); there were however multitudes who did receive Him as the Messiah/Deliverer that He is. They were saved, healed of sickness, diseases, they were set free of demonic oppression, poverty and later filled with the Holy Spirit with power from on high to be able to do the very things He did.
What Does it Mean to Us?
Well, here you and I are, thousands of years later having heard the good news of Messiah, of Jesus our deliverer! He is our Savior, Messiah, Deliverer, Healer, the one who has come to set us captives free. Many of us have experienced breakthough and deliverance on many levels in powerful ways, and He isn’t done! This scripture holds true TODAY! He is still saying:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion,To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
AND not only that, but now we are IN HIM!!! This means the Spirit of the Lord is upon ME (AND YOU), and He has anointed US to do these very things!!! This is OUR CALL! For we are His workmanship created IN Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10). Jesus said that whoever believes in Him would also do works like Him and even greater works! (John 14:12). Is it about the works??? NO!!! but YES! Because it is about us continuing what Jesus started here on this earth––preaching the good news of Salvation and ALL that comes with it; all that comes with HIM!
Furthermore, let’s look at Isaiah 61:4:
And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.
Response
Father, THANK YOU for sending Jesus and that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and that He was anointed to preach the gospel, heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives! This is deliverance! Where we need breakthrough, where we have been bound, in some cases for years, we receive what our Jesus came anointed to do, we receive freedom from bondage, addictions, strongholds, everything and anything that has kept us from the fullness of Your promise! Many of us are mourning and have been in deep sorrow for too long; we receive of Your consolation and comfort right now in Jesus’ name. For everything we have gone through, every trial, tribulation, every heartache and pain of recent and past times, Lord, we receive beauty for those ashes, right now! Pour the oil of gladness upon our hearts and restore joy to us, joy as we have never known! We choose to praise You now and throw off the heaviness that has sat upon us like a yoke for far too long. We thank You that Your anointing destroys that tormenting yoke off of us NOW! We declare that we are made free in Jesus’ name. We receive freedom from demonic oppression now and declare these things even over our loved ones! We say we are trees of righteousness according to Your Word! Be glorified Lord as I receive this anointing also for myself. I declare that the Spirit of God is UPON ME and He has anointed me … to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness!!!