Freedom Bringer
Summer Hits
Todd Blansit
June 11, 2023
Luke 4.14-21, NIV
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Isaiah 61.1-2, NIV
1 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, a
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
Who and what are these verses talking about?
Poor: poor in spirit and,wealth, power, influence, position, honor needy and helpless.
Captives: literally being held captive, or captured, at spear point & unable to free themselves.
Blind: physical or mental blindness, the root word can also mean clouded by pride.
Oppressed: beaten, broken, and shattered into pieces.
When we celebrate Jesus, the Son of God being born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem and even more so being crucified on a Roman cross, do we recognize that this is because we desperately needed God to intervene in our lives?
It’s one thing to say He did it because we live in a needy, messed up, broken world, but it’s much more humbling to say He did it because I am a needy, messed up, broken person.
It takes true humility to recognize that without God I am nothing!
James 4.6
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
But what does it mean to be humble?
To be humble is to realize how weak we are, how helpless we are to change the course of our lives in our own power. It’s to ask God for His forgiveness and to trust Him for His guidance. That’s what He wants to see abiding in our lives.
Matthew 5.2-9
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
God created each one of us intricately. He also designed a master plan for our lives that is uniquely suited to us individually.
God’s Spirit gave each one of us life
Job 33:4, ESV “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Believers have been made for His glory
Isaiah 43:7, ESV Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
God planned good things for each one of us to do from our beginning
Ephesians 2:10, ESV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 4:14, NLT
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
If we wait until a critical juncture in our life to submit to God, we will face an internal conflict. Full submission is not motivated by external circumstances but our love and reverence for God. It is a lifestyle that submits our hearts, souls, and minds to God.
We know that Jesus came to bring freedom!
2 Cor 3.17
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
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