Joining The Messiah Mission
Luke 4:14-30
?Introduction
The promise of better times ahead - that’s something we’ve all been waiting for. Better times in our country, in our families, in our community and schools. Christians live under the conviction that God brings the better times.
Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the
poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
Isaiah’s promise from God that better days are ahead for Israel if she will only turn her heart toward him. This is God’s continual call - a call to redemption, reconciliation, rebuilding our lives. This text Jesus uses to launch His Messianic Mission - God’s plan to bring healing and hope to the nations.
Our text for today is Luke 4:14-30. Jesus has just returned from 40 days of temptation Jesus here is different. He is Outspoken, Influential, Teaching everywhere, Being praised. He begins in his home town, Nazareth. Nazareth: obscure; seldom named in ancient literature; overshadowed by cities near it. Jesus called a Nazarene, and “Jesus of Nazareth”. He enters the synagogue and stood up to read (18-21). The mission of Jesus spelled out … which becomes the mission of Christians … which is then the mission of the church. Join in the Messiah Mission!
1. Messiah Mission is a Spirit-Filled Mission (14-15)
The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus at his baptism, then leads Him into the wilderness for a time of testing. Now as he returns to Galilee the HS will fill him with power for showing the love of God to people.
The Holy Spirit a promise to all Christians.
Acts 2:38-39
1 John 4:13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit, enables our inadequate prayers, convicts us of sin and helps us repent, and provides guidance as we seek to love the world around us. When we are led by the Spirit we are on the Messiah Mission - sharing Jesus with the world.
2. Messiah Mission is a People-Loving Mission (18-19)
Here is the purpose/mission/agenda for Jesus. This People-Loving Mission is to be Our Mission.
Ask: How Have I made this my mission in life?
What have we done for the poor?
What have we done for the imprisoned?
What have done for the impaired?
What have we done for the oppressed?
We should consider these questions individually and as a church. Does this remind you of Matthew 25 - the standards Jesus used to divide sheep and goats? This is to live in the Lord’s favor! (19) Year of the Lord’s Favor: Jubilee. Every 50th year was to be set aside as a time for liberation and restoration when all Israelites would return to their ancestral land (Leviticus 25:10). Debts forgiven, land returned, Begin again! The message of the Gospel is one of celebrating the healing, grace and love of the God.
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
3. Messiah Mission is a Jesus-Following Mission (20-21)
Nothing could have caught the Nazarene community more off guard than for the one they had seen grow up - the Carpenter’s son - say that this was fulfilled in their hearing. Isn’t this Joseph’s Son (vs 22)? No, He is more. He is a Prophet Rejected in his Home Town! He is a Savior of all who will have Faith - even outside of Israel! Elijah sent to widow in Zarephath. Elisha sent to Naaman the Syrian. Jesus came for all who would believe. Jesus encounters resistance, rejection, and even an attempt on his life! (30) The Mission Was Worth It! He never came back to Nazareth.
When we are on the Messiah Mission, Ouachita Parish will know the year of the Lord’s Favor! We are on the mission to be a Spirit-Filled People-Loving Jesus-Following Church!
(A Church that Grows, Serves, and Loves Together!)
Conclusion
“The gospel we preach cannot be an escapist, pie-in-the-sky gospel; it must be a gospel acquainted with pain,
roughened by grit, and smelling like marginalized people.The gospel must enter the world as it is and proclaim to broken people a healing Savior.” - Thabiti Anyabwile
While the Hometown Synagogue of Jesus were outraged at His mission, we take note that we are reading the only NT book written by a Gentile!
How do we join the Messiah Mission?
- Open the Door. Determine to be a follower of Jesus. He is knocking at the door, will you let him in? Just as Jesus
was baptized, so must we be also to make our first steps on the Messiah’s Mission.
- Open your Heart. The Messiah Mission is about loving people - the poor, imprisoned, impaired, oppressed.He’s still setting people free. He will use His followers to reach out.
- Open your Ears. The problem at Nazareth is that they did not want to hear what Jesus had to say. What are you
hearing Him say to you today? Are you following? Open the door, Open your heart, Open your ears.
Video of this message is available on YouTube channel for Forsythe Church of Christ.
Audio can be found on our podcast hosted through Podbean.
