The Mission of Jesus
Lakewood COG | Pastor Jonathan Vorce | 5-21-2017
Luke 4:16-21
1. Jesus had just returned from the wilderness where He overcame the temptations of the devil.
¥ Luke 4:1 - Jesus was led of the Spirit in the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
¥ Luke 4:14 - Jesus returned “in the power of the Spirit”
¥ Luke 4:16-19 - Jesus declared His life’s purpose
¥ Luke 4:20-22 - Jesus begins His public ministry (V.22 - “…gracious words proceeded out of His mouth..”)
2. Today we will talk about the “Mission of Jesus”.
¥ A person’s “life mission” is the guiding force behind the direction in their life.
¥ We should never just exist… We should seek purpose and marry it to vision and mission.
¥ Purpose is: Why do I exist?
¥ Vision is: What will my life look like in 5, 10, 15, 30 years from now?
¥ Mission is: How will I achieve this?
3. The Purpose, Vision & Mission of Jesus
¥ Purpose: Jesus has come to seek and to save those who are lost
¥ Vision: Not willing that any should perish but that all should be born again into a relationship with God
¥ Mission: Preach the gospel to the poor; heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
I. Points to Ponder
A. Jesus came to the temple on the Sabbath Day (Day of Rest) and stood to read, “as His custom was”. (Luke 4:16)
1. Jesus was faithful to attend the Synagogue. In today’s terms, Jesus went to Church!
B. The life purpose and mission of Jesus was wrapped around the greatest needs of His day.
1. The poor, brokenhearted, bound, blind and bruised.
C. Preaching the “acceptable year of the Lord was His declaration that a “New Day had dawned!”
1. Jesus stopped short of finishing the verse in Isaiah which stated, “…the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn” (Isaiah 61:2)
2. The acceptable “year” of the Lord speaks of the coming of Jesus.
3. The “day” of vengeance speaks of when God will pour out His wrath upon the earth in and after the tribulation.
II. The Mission of Jesus
A. Preach the Gospel to the Poor
1. It is God’s command to us to go into the highways and byways and compel people to come in.
2. This is outreach, missions, Evangelism, FOCUSING ON NUMBERS (a number represents a soul!)
B. Heal the Brokenhearted
1. Ministering hope to the hopeless and life to the lifeless
2. Life happens, Life can be shattering… Jesus can put you back together again!
C. Preach Deliverance to the Captives
1. No one starts out trying to be an addict…
2. There are many kinds of bondage. Bondage to drugs, alcohol, promiscuity are the things that come into our minds first.
¥ What about pride, the past, a failing idea, failure, faulty thought patterns…
D. Recovering of Sight to the Blind
1. I’m sure this refers primarily to physical
2. What about not being able to “see a way out”.
3. See our need for Jesus as our Savior
4. Many times we cannot see where to turn because we are blinded by our own personal circumstances.
JESUS CAN HELP US NAVIGATE THE COURSE OF LIFE
E. Set at Liberty them that are Bruised.
1. Do you feel beaten, shattered and torn?
2. I can say from experience… Jesus can help you get free of the pain…
F. Preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord
1. The time is now… You don’t have to wait another minute. Jesus will help you RIGHT NOW!
Closing:
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
