Luke 13:13
The response of the church for every blessing bestowed upon us, especially in these times of stress and strain, is that of praise. According to our passage of reflection, Luke 13:10-18, for eighteen years this woman was held captive by the enemy. For eighteen years she was seriously afflicted with a spirit. For eighteen long years she was bent over altogether, bound, bowed and could in no wise lift herself (v11).
To make maters the worse, the passage informs us that she was no heathen, but a daughter of Abraham, belonging to the household of faith, yet Satan had so bound her (v16). How often we underestimate the power of the evil One. He really doesn’t care what our title, position or classification is. For eighteen years she was a victim of his diabolical ensnaring, until Jesus, the Omnipotent One ran inference for her and in one glorious encounter, unyoked her from Satan’s evil spell.
As soon as this woman was healed, Luke tells us that she also went into glorifying God (v13). This is the first time we hear her voice at all in the passage. Not only does Jesus miraculously heal her, but He also gives her back her voice. The Word declares, “And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God” (v13). In fact, it’s hard to think of her doing anything else. How could she not praise Him for this amazing wonder and miracle He had done for her. The miracles demand that we should praise Him.
Liberated, unchained people praise Him. When chains fall and demons are dislodged, the only natural response is to break out in a praise that’s commensurate with the miracle experienced. I think it is the natural progression in our understanding of spiritual things that deliverance leads to praise and that when we are blessed in any way, we should open our mouths and praise Him. The Psalmist David declared, “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth…” (Psalm 149:5,6). It is indisputable that an incredible God deserves incredible praise. I concur with the songwriter, “My shackles are gone, my spirit is free, Praise the Lord, He lifted me, my sins are forgiven, and now I am free, Praise the Lord my shackles are gone, my spirit is free!”
Another thing we learn from this woman is that she praised Him despite her opposers, objectors and protesters. She praised, while others protested and objected. Here we find that when the devil couldn’t stop her healing, he tried to stop her praise. The ruler of the synagogue strongly objected to her being healed on the Sabbath. He was indignant, but Jesus calmly dealt with him, debunking all his shabby arguments about the Sabbath. The fact is, he cared very little about this woman and her pain and predicament. However, her praise was spontaneous (v13). Her praise was contagious (v17). She could not be stopped or silenced.
I contend, we need more genuine praise-givers across this Northeast Region and beyond. God’s been too good to us, for us to allow the demons to silence us. I say let’s revolutionize the very atmosphere of our surroundings with spontaneous praise, until all the people begin rejoicing for all the glorious things that He has done and is presently doing in our midst (v17). Maybe we can begin by simply praising Him for the fact that we are still here!
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
