The Year of the LORD’s Favor
TEXT: Luke 4:14-21
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.
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,…”
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.”
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What you just heard Cathy read is Jesus giving His mission statement.
Jesus was preaching to His home town of Nazareth.
Jesus had preached other sermons first but this is the first time he had given His statement of purpose to us.
He quoted the Book of Isaiah chapter 61, verses 1 &2 where Isaiah predicted the Messiah would come
*SHOW SLIDE ONE
If you remember that Jesus last words on the cross was “It is finished” You can’t finish something that you did not start.
Jesus had a goal for His life.
Notice that the first part of His mission is exactly how He would do what He would do such as bind up the broken hearted, etc. etc.
But the last part of His goal was non-specific but very revealing.
He was going to pronounce the year of favor of the Lord.
Now every Jew knew that the year of favor of the Lord is the year of Jubilee or when every Jew was forgiven of his debt.
While Jesus coming was to pronounce the forgiveness of every sinner’s debt to God –which was eternal death in hell, He also came to pronounce the year of Grace.
Favor in this verse is translated as grace.
Let me read that mission statement as it is translated from the Aramaic:
(SHOW SLIDE 2)
“God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"
planted by God to display his glory.
They'll rebuild the old ruins;
raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They will start over in the ruined cities
take the rubble left behind and make it new.
You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks
and foreigners to work your fields,
But you'll have the title "Priests of God,"
honored as ministers of our God.
You'll feast on the bounty of nations;
you'll bask in their glory.
Because you got a double dose of trouble
and more than your share of contempt
Your inheritance in the land will be doubled
and your joy go on forever.”
God was saying you don’t have to wait every 50 years for His grace or freedom from debt.
Because of His grace you can have it now.
Now, for Christians, it comes down to this. Do you believe Jesus or not.
Read with me Jesus’ words again
“God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"
planted by God to display his glory.
They'll rebuild the old ruins;
raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They will start over in the ruined cities
take the rubble left behind and make it new.
You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks
and foreigners to work your fields,
But you'll have the title "Priests of God,"
honored as ministers of our God.
You'll feast on the bounty of nations;
you'll bask in their glory.
Because you got a double dose of trouble
and more than your share of contempt”
How many here can identify with Isaiah 61 with your life and the life of your church?
Read the last 2 lines alone
“Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt”
Is this true at this church or not?
God is saying: “because you have had trouble and stayed faithful to God me, you will have the title of “Priests of God, honored as ministers of our God.”
I am reading a new book called “Inheriting the Favor of God”. I first heard this sermon on an Oral Roberts broadcast where the author preached on Deuteronomy 1:11
(Show Slide 3)
He asked the listeners to sow a seed for God’s blessing by sending a check for $111.00 to the scholarship fund of ORU. Now I don’t always listen to that type of prosperity sermon but there was something different about that sermon. As a result I sent them a check for 111.00 which I thought I would be in the dog house for doing. Cathy, however, gave the church, that Sunday, a 111.00 to sew a seed for the Bristow church of the Nazarene.
Now you ask does it work. Well last Sunday our church treasurer gave the church board a glowing report of our Church’s finances. It appears that some of the congregation had been giving back tithes and we not only have all our bills paid but we have paid up our District budgets in full to the end of December. Give God the praise will you?
Then Saturday we had good news from Cathy’s recently saved brother. He reported that he and Cathy have a chance of renting their farm to the tune of twice the normal income we get from the farm yearly. On behave of us would you give God the praise once again.
Now don’t mistake me-giving God money so He will bless you won’t always happen –especially if God doesn’t tell you to do so. But God sent Jesus to bring ”the year of his grace— a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes
Ladies if you had a choice to receive ashes or roses, which would you choose?
I think even the men would choose roses.
I don’t know about you but I choose a thousand times blessings over just a blessing.
(Show Slide 4)
But remember that as He preached that He was here to bring the year of Grace (or favor) to us, He gave a specific goal of His to us
(Show Slide 5)
Or “God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor,
heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives,
pardon all prisoners.”
Now as Christ Followers or as Christians we should, I think, do what God has given us as priorities.
1. To preach good news to the poor
(Show Slide 6)
The average house income, in Bristow in 2010, is $27, 832 which is 13,832 below the state average
But the per capital income in Bristow is 14, 687 poverty line in Oklahoma is 16% lower than that of America which is $20, 650 so Bristow’s median income is 5,963 dollars below the federal average for the poverty line
The median house value, in Bristow, is 37,943.00 below the state of Oklahoma median house value
I think we qualify for “the poor” in Jesus’ Mission Statement don’t you think?
The poor need to hear the good news of Jesus don’t you also think?
According to Jesus we are all ministers so we are all to bring the good news to Bristow not just the minister.
2. Heal the Broken Hearted
(Show Slide 7)
“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy!” Job 8:21
So the question of the hour is: How do you think most people in Bristow feel right now? Are they happy or are they feeling sad? What has life been like for them, do you think they wish they could be happier?
We know sometimes they hurt and cry but I have an answer for them. With our Church’s help they can find happiness in spite of their problems. They 'CAN' HAVE VICTORY!
Two thousand years ago a baby was born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem of Judea. He was not born in a castle like a rich king yet He was the richest person that ever lived. He was not born with rich possessions, yet He possessed the greatest love the world has ever known. Jesus Christ, the son of God came to give you and me the richest gift of all His "Salvation!"
And as ministers of the Good News of Jesus Christ, we can lead the people of Bristow to His salvation and let me give you a little clue it doesn’t have to be in church.
We have a gift to give that is better than a million dollars. If the broken hearted were given a million dollars they would still be broken hearted and sad after the initial rush went away. They could be sadder still because the hole in their heart was not healed. Rich sinners can also be sad sinners. Look at the divorce rate in Hollywood alone.
Jesus wants us to have the gift that will heal the broken hearted once and for all.
He wants us to help lift the load of life off of other’s backs.
Henry Mayberry face yet another surgery Thursday and this two was a complicated surgery. As I prayed for him, just before they took him to surgery, I saw the lack of worry in his face. He knew he was in God’s hands and that God would take care of him. Did he buy that kind of assurance? No, it was a gift of God when Henry accepted God’s salvation for his life and soul.
As God’s representatives, in Bristow, we can give that gift to others every day.
Jesus did not come as a rich ruler to win power and man's applause but to heal men's hearts with "His love." He came to "heal YOUR broken heart."
Why, because He truly loves you!
He proved that He had the power over the grave and that we can have eternal life with Him in Heaven.
How loving our Lord is and how wonderful that He looks past our sins. He loves us in spite of everything we could have ever done.
You CAN be happy! You CAN have victory over the sadness of life and you CAN have healing for your broken heart through the Salvation of Jesus Christ who dearly loves us, you CAN be saved and healed!
Jesus Christ came for the poor in spirit and the brokenhearted. Yes, He came for you and me! AND He expects us to pass on that blessings to the world around us.
The Jews did not accomplish the mission statement that God had for them. They were to tell the world about their God. They disobeyed and kept God for themselves.
So God allowed them to go into captivity so they would be forced to tell about Him to their enemy’s. One example of that is with the three men in the fiery furnace another is the example of Joseph in Egypt.
God wants His mission accomplished in His people. And He will get what He wants in one way or another.
God has put this church in its current position for a purpose. When He blesses us the people of this town will know that it wasn’t anything we did but that He did and He will bless you if he is confident that you will give Him all the glory just as I did earlier and be obedient to His commands.
(Show Slide 8)
In other words: you are loved of the lord, far more than you will ever realize!
Give your faith a chance to spiritually grow by doing what God demands of you without question and in faith
Get your mind out of a poor mentality
Get your mind out of a weak mentality
Get your mind out of a defeatist mentality
And Get you mind out of a martyr mentality
Whether or not this church is successful in God’s eyes will depend on your compete surrender to having faith to step out in the unknown and trust God.
Let me say that again.
Whether or not this church is successful in God’s eyes will depend on your compete surrender to having faith to step out in the unknown and trust God.
(Then show slide 9)
Then Jesus said this: I have come to
3. ‘…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed in the New Testament or Luke’s account in Luke 4:18
However Jesus was reading from Isaiah 61:1-2 that day which says
“…He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind...”
Both mean that Jesus came to restore our freedom from sin and our recovery of our eyesight in spiritual matters.
Christians need to understand that freedom from sin also requires vision correctness as well
When we were sinners we couldn’t see as well as we should
I am getting ready to have my eyes examined by an ophthalmologist because I don’t see as well as I use to see. I need a vision correctness.
(Show Slide 10)
When God told the wisest man in the Bible to write Proverbs 29:18
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.”
He was telling us that we need a vision correction or we will be unrestrained and unhappy
And the Jews are a perfect example of not having a vision. Every terrible story of the Jews begin with either short sightedness or long sightedness but never seeing through the eyes of God.
Take the first time they were to cross Jordan. They chose what they believed to be 12 honest and reliable men to scout out the new land.
Only two returned with the vision of the Lord
10 men saw with only their eyes and they, being human, were naturally afraid.
Let me tell you something that some of you already know. Faith takes courage and courage comes from looking through God’s eyes and not through human eyes.
I use to teach management courses to managers of nursing homes all over the United State. They paid me well to bring knowledge of management to people who had control of the destiny of hundreds of lives under their care including their employees and the families of the residents.
(Show Slide 11)
Several management principles apply to you and me as well as Christians.
One of those is “You cannot manage what you cannot measure”
If you cannot see it or feel it or taste it or smell it then you cannot manage it.
I took over 10 centers for a company in SE Kansas who was trying to manage their nursing homes from their headquarters and they were in deep trouble.
You have to be in the actual property and walk around it constantly, see the residents, listen to them, watch the employees and listen to them before you know how to manage the nursing home. You can’t manage a business from the office much less the headquarters.
With a vision you can’t manage it sitting at home or just sitting in church. You have to be where the vision takes you or to the lives and homes of the poor, oppressed and broken hearted. You have to know those people, know where the hurt and know what prisons them before you can enact your vision.
A vision requires knowing the affected before setting up a plan of how to correct them.
Where did Jesus spend most of His time? In a church or synagogue or out in the streets with or in the homes of the people who needed the good news or the healing of their hurts and poverty of life or of spirituality
You see a mission statement tells you:
1. How and where to spend your time
2. How and what to spend your resources on
3. A plan to overcome obstacles (which is usually money
4. And a solution that is understandable and with God’s help can be done
(Show Slide 13)
Remember Alice in Wonderland when she comes up to the fork in the road and asks the Cheshire cat which way to go”
He asks her where are you going. Then she replies I don’t know at which he replies If you don’t know where you are going what difference does it make which path you take?
Yogi Berra, the famous New York catch once said this about the needs for goals in your life: “If you don’t know where you are going then how will you know if you got there?”
(Show Slide 14)
• What are your goals? Are they same as Jesus
• In this new year of 2012 it is time to decide who we will be when we grow up
• What is our mission statement and is it in line with Jesus’ mission statement?
• Let’s not wait to pray and seek the will of God in our lives and in our church
