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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Isaiah 61:1–2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.
This Scripture has had a profound and totally radical effect on my life.
God used it to revolutionise my preaching and my attitudes. I was asked to speak in a little church on the outskirts of the north-east of London, England. As I sat down to prepare, I contemplated the scene. A few people going about their day-to-day lives, coming together on Sunday for another ‘shot in the arm’ to help them get through the next week.
Oh, that this week be different. What could the message be? There is only one message. JESUS. What if He came? What happened when Jesus came? What effect did He have on people? He revolutionised them. He gave them joy and hope. What happened when He showed up at church? What happened when He showed up in His own hometown synagogue?
He read from Isaiah 61. He read, “‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ 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, and He began by saying to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:18–21).
Wow! Talk about electricity. Talk about dramatic. Talk about life changing. Yes that is what I’ll talk about. That’s terrific.
Then it happened. I had this conversation in my mind.
“Not Jesus – You!”
“What?”
“Not Jesus – You!”
“But I’m not Jesus – that’s blasphemy!”
“Are you a Christian?” – “Yes.”
“Have you let Jesus into your life?” – “Yes.”
“Is He your Lord?” “Yes.”
“Is He alive today?” “Yes.”
“Has He ascended into Heaven?” “Yes.”
“Did He send His Holy Spirit?” “Yes.”
“Is He in you?” “Yes.”
“THE SAME SPIRIT THAT WAS IN JESUS IS IN YOU AND HE HAS GIVEN YOU THE SAME ANOINTING, THE SAME MESSAGE AND THE SAME JOB!”
Wow number 2! But isn’t that just it? The same Holy Spirit is in every Christian. If Jesus is your Lord and Saviour, His Holy Spirit lives in you and you are anointed. It is your job and mine “to preach Good News to the poor… to bind up the broken hearted… to proclaim freedom…” to those held captive by Satan and “release” to those in the darkness of despair. “To proclaim [that this is] the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Well, it is, isn’t it? So, go and live in your anointing today – even if it is the first time in your life.
Go, and be ‘Jesus’ to someone, today.
Preach the Good News to the poor, see captives set free and bind up the broken-hearted.
Let God loose in you and bring the Kingdom of God to earth, and experience for yourself, WOW number 3!
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