Deliver

“that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  Hebrews 2:14-15  

Deliver – This is a Greek combination word (apallasso).  It is made up of a prefix (apo) and a verb (allasso).  The prefix intensifies the verb.  The verb means to change by breaking up one connection and establishing another.  In its intensified form it means to change by separating, setting apart the old relationship and moving one part into a different state or relationship.  The action is strong, decisive and emphatic.  It also has a legal technical that means satisfying a debt. 

These two verses are especially important for recovery.  They tell us that God’s Son not only completely identified with us in our bodily struggles, but that He also was obedient to God to the point of death.  As a result of His death, the connection that we had established with evil has now been overcome, not through our efforts but through the power of God.  We are set free from that terrible fear of dying that held us in bondage to ourselves.  Our addictions can no longer threaten us with our own extinction.  We do not have to be slaves to ourselves anymore.  God is ready to establish a new relationship for us, based on our separation from the old fear and our separation to the new life in Him.  We have been completely removed from that old way of living.  It doesn’t have power over us anymore.

Now you know why the Lord’s Prayer contains the phrase “deliver us from evil”.  Every time you say that phrase, you are confirming that you have been separated from the fear of death because of the obedience of Jesus.  No wonder Jesus treated death as though it were nothing more than falling asleep.

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