REVEALING JESUS’ MISSION-V—Luke 4:16-21
Attention:
Our recent trip to Boone, NC to visit our sons. Changing color & falling. From I-77 toward Wilkesboro on US 421 the changing color of the leaves was gorgeous! Farther up in Boone, most of the color was gone. The leaves had already hit the ground. A sure sign that winter in here.
A revelation of sorts regarding the tree’s ‘mission.’(their protection/survival during winter). One that is repeated yearly. One that cannot be ignored.
Likewise, Jesus’ mission was openly publicized. His mission for the protection/thriving of mankind.
Need:
We all are searching for truth. Some knowingly & others appearing oblivious, resigning themselves to believing, ’it’ll all come out in the wash.’
Truth must be available. Where do I go to find it? Will I know when I’ve found it?
Acts 26:26—Paul to Governor Festus, before King Agrippa—““For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.”
Luke recorded the public assignment of Messiah’s mission to Jesus.
Jesus’ mission is publicized/revealed.
*Why is Jesus’ mission publicized/revealed?
*For whom is Jesus’ mission publicized/revealed?
10 considerations/dynamics/functions/observations in the public revelation of Jesus’ mission.
1. FAITHFUL(:16-17)
2. POWERLESS(:18a-b) Shepherdless/Need God’s direction
3. POOR(:18c)
4. BROKENHEARTED(:18d)
5. CAPTIVES(:18e)
6. BLIND(:18f)
7—Jesus’ mission is revealed for the...
OPPRESSED(:18g)
Explanation:To Send out with Marching orders
:18—“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;” ”
5)Jesus’ mission was also to personally set free those who were “oppressed”/downtrodden or persecuted.”
This phrase is only present in the LXX. As “recovery of sight” is NOT present in either BHS or BHM, neither is the concept of “setting free the oppressed.” However it may be drawn from Isa. 58:6.
This kind of ‘liberty’ is that to which one is released as one anointed for a particular purpose.
To ‘crush’ your God-ordained purpose entails true oppression.
*Jesus came not just to free you from your ‘oppressors’ but to establish your personal mission & to send you out with the empowerment to accomplish it!
A true Christian can live in a country patterned by & under the control of Islam, yet NOT be “oppressed.” You can be physically manipulated yet be “at liberty” to accomplish your God-ordained marching orders.
“Set at liberty/Set free/Release”(Compare “Liberty”—afesiv; See “Anointed” above)—apostellw—1) To order (one) to go to a place appointed; 2) To send away, dismiss. Apostellw is the general term & may even imply accompaniment (as when sent from God). Strong—Set apart, i.e. by implication--To send out(properly--On a mission) literally or figuratively.
“Oppressed/Bruised/Downtrodden/Persecuted”—yrauw—1) To break, break in pieces, shatter, smite through. "Rend asunder", makes pointed reference to the separation of the parts. Strong—a primary verb; To crush. Used 1X.
Argumentation:
*Rom. 1:18, 28-32—“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”.....“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
Therefore it is imperative that our behaviors are derived from Christ & not from our flesh....
Rom. 6:10-14—“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, & your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
1Thes. 2:10-18—“You are witnesses, & God also, how devoutly & justly & blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, & comforted, & charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom & glory. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus & their own prophets, & have persecuted us; & they do not please God & are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you--even I, Paul, time & again--but Satan hindered us.”
These words speak of an attempt to thwart our marching orders— “Persecution”, Forbidding,” “Hindered.”
*Acts 4:1-22—A 40 yr. old man, lame from birth, was healed thru Peter & John —13-22—“Now when they[Sanhedrin/Council] saw the boldness of Peter & John, & perceived that they were uneducated & untrained men, they marveled. And they[Sanhedrin] realized that they[Peter & John] had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, & we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” And they called them & commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter & John answered & said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen & heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”
There are spiritual nuances to every aspect of oppression:
Dan. 10:4-6, 10-21—“Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes & looked, & behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms & feet like burnished bronze in color, & the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.”.....“Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees & on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, & stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, & to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; & I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; & behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground & became speechless. And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth & spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, & I have retained no strength. For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.” Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me & strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, & said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; & when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. “But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.”
*1Pet. 4:12-14—“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory & of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”
Illustration:
America is a beacon of light to the those of the world whom God would have do His will/“Give me your poor your tired, your huddled masses longing to breathe free...Other nations hinder the inalienable rights of those God has created.
Preamble to the US Constitution:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, & secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves & our Posterity, do ordain & establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The Declaration of independence:
“.....We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, & to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles & organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety & Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light & transient causes; & accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses & usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, & to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; & such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries & usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world[Facts listed(acts of oppression)]......In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
‘As long as there are tests, there will be prayer!’—No one can stop it!
Application:
?Does Jesus’ mission inform/energize your OPPRESSION?
?Has Jesus’ mission been revealed for you?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Vacuum cleaner salesman’s demonstration.
The lady was Declaring her Mission...that she could not buy the vacuum!
Action:
Jesus’ mission is revealed for the...
7. OPPRESSED(:18g)
1. FAITHFUL(:16-17)
2. POWERLESS(:18a-b) Shepherdless/Need God’s direction
3. POOR(:18c)
4. BROKENHEARTED(:18d)
5. CAPTIVES(:18e)
6. BLIND(:18f)
Presented 10/28/2012am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
