Fulfilling The Call of Jesus

Reference: Isaiah 61:1-3a 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. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. 3 To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.

Observation: This is not just Isaiah’s call, it is ours as well. Jesus said that this is what He came to do and we are the “Body of Christ”. That means that His call must be our own.

What should we be doing?

1. Preaching the gospel to people who need it. We should begin with their very human needs (“the poor”) and then move on to their spiritual ones. It means that we must engage a hurting world.
2. Comforting those with hurting hearts. We ought to be looking for chances to care for the emotionally broken and distraught.
3. Freeing those in captivity. We ought to be saying to those who are captivated by sin, substances or other bondages; “you can be free!”
4. Providing for those who have suffered loss. We should be letting them know that God is on their side. We should help bring them to a place where they can experience the healing power of praising God instead of living in despair.

We have a lot to do. Let’s get busy!!

Application/Confession: I want to do more to see people set free. I see people in bondage all over; I want to see them released from their own prisons by the power of God. I want to be a part of that process.

PRAYER: Lord, show me your keys to setting people free. Even in the way I preach may people get free from the awful hold that sin has over them.