The Power Of The Gospel. Pt.2
Luke 4:18-19TPT
Jesus is baptized by His cousin John. He did this to fulfill all righteousness. After He’s baptized, God’s word proclaims, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. Jesus lived in this desert country for 40 days. Moreover, Jesus will be fasting these 40 days. (No bread, no water). The Bible states, Jesus was tempted by the devil during this time…
Satan tempts Jesus in 3 areas, and it’s kind of amazing that these 3 areas, sum up what the Apostles John states in, 1 John 2:15-17. Let’s read:
1 John 2:15-17NKJV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Again, Jesus being tempted by satan himself—Stone into bread—Lust of the eye.
Satan takes Jesus to a mountain, and says, “All this can be yours, if you bow down and worship me.” —Lust of the flesh.
Then satan brought Jesus to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and told Jesus to jump.—Pride of life.
Every time these ferocious temptations came Jesus rebottled satan with God’s word. His Father’s word. (You possess the Fathers Word).
Notice Jesus’ help, the Holy Spirit—
Luke 4:14NKJV Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
Luke 4:14TPT Then Jesus, armed with the Holy Spirit’s power, returned to Galilee, and his fame spread throughout the region.
Let’s go farther, Jesus travels to Nazareth, where he had grown up, He goes into the synagogue and opens the OT manuscripts, the Bible states, Jesus unrolls the scroll and found (Jesus was looking for these particular words from Isaiah 61.)
Luke records exactly what Jesus spoke. Luke 4:18-19TPT “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has anointed me to be hope for the poor, healing for the brokenhearted, and new eyes for the blind, and to preach to prisoners, ‘You are set free!’ I have come to share the message of Jubilee, for the time of God’s great acceptance has begun.”
Here’s my thought for today—The gospel brings salvation, and salvation brings release from bondage.
How does salvation bring release from bondage?
Suppose a woman in a certain country made her living as a prostitute. One day the king of that country issues and official order that all prostitutes have been forgiven. That would be good news if you were a prostitute. This woman no longer has to live in fear of being caught and put in jail. But that truth alone wouldn't necessarily change her behavior or her perception of herself. More than likely she would still continue to live in sin because in her mind she is still a prostitute.
Let's take it further, What if the king were to make her his bride and bring her into the palace as the queen? Would that change her behavior and her perception of herself? Of course it would!
Think about it—Why would anyone live like a prostitute if she were the queen?
Christians aren't just forgiven sinners. We are redeemed saints. We are called the bride of Christ in, Ephesians 5: 31–32NIV “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Christians, Believers, are called the “Bride of Christ."
Say, “Thank God for Good Friday,” and the forgiveness of our sins! P.H
However, that's only half the gospel.
The other half of the gospel is Easter and His resurrection producing the new life we have in Jesus Christ!
Not only are we new creations in Christ, but Luke 4:18, states that Jesus also came to proclaim freedom and to release the oppressed.
Salvation, by definition, means deliverance– not just deliverance from sin and our past, but deliverance to a new life in Jesus Christ.
Listen we can't fix our past; God doesn't even do that. But by the grace of God we can be free from it.
Being alive and free in Jesus Christ is not just for super-saints. It's the birthright of every child of God.
Jesus came fully as God, and fully as man. Peter, James, and John were asked by Jesus to go somewhere with Him, Listen to, Mark 9:2-4TPT After six days, Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and hiked up a high mountain to be alone. And Jesus’ appearance was dramatically altered, for he was transfigured before their very eyes! 3His clothing sparkled and became glistening white—whiter than any bleach in the world could make them. 4Then suddenly, right in front of them, Moses and Elijah appeared, and they spoke with Jesus.
The saw God’s glory upon Jesus. This glory Peter, James and John saw was to give them an inside look on Jesus’ fullness.
Moses, representing the Law.
Elijah, representing the Prophets.
If you read on, Moses and Elijah disappear, only Jesus remained. Jesus spells freedom!
This thought came to me, Jesus walked out of His hometown synagogue after personally proclaiming Isaiah 61, fulfilled.
Everything after this moment, Jesus walked with manifested miracles. Signs and wonders followed Him. Everything He did, He did, in the fullness of the Spirit. P.H
God’s word proclaims in, Mark 16:17NKJV And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues…
Listen, salvation is not learning how to cope. Salvation means, freedom and new life. P.H
Doctor Neil Anderson writes—Possibly the biggest lie believed by those who are struggling with an addictive behavior is that freedom from addiction is not possible. If we believe we are doomed to remain in bondage, we probably will remain in bondage.
Matthew 9:29NKJV Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”
What lie are you believing? Neither programs nor human effort can set us free. Freedom from addiction is possible only by the grace of God.
Psalm 3:2 the psalmist said, “Many are saying of me, God will not deliver him.”
There will always be those who choose not to believe, but too many of us have experienced the truth that, Titus 2:14NKJV Jesus Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all— wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good…
Martin Luther describes our salvation this way: It unites the soul with Christ as a bride is united with her bride groom. Christ and the soul become one flesh. And if they are one flesh and there is between them a true marriage – indeed the most perfect of all marriages. It follows that everything they hold they hold in common. Accordingly, the believing soul can boast of and glory in whatever Christ has as though it were its own. Thus the believing soul by means of the pledge of faith is free in Christ, it's bridegroom, free from all sins, secure against death and hell, and is endowed with the eternal righteousness, life and salvation of Christ its Bridegroom. Here this rich and divine Bridegroom redeems her from all her evil and adores her with all His goodness.
Why has Christ set you free? Galatians 5:1NKJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Listen, 100% truth. There is nothing else God needs to do for us to be free.
Jesus stated in, John 8:36AMP So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.
Did you know the the NT calls you a Kingdom of priests for God?
Revelation 1:6NLT He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
Question to ponder—explain the difference between a forgiven alcoholic and a redeemed saint who struggles with old habits that were learned before salvation.
Benediction.
