Written By Rev Law Hui Seng
Posted By Teresa Han
Main point: The Holy Spirit empowers us to do missions.
Objectives: a. To teach that we need to be filled by The Holy Spirit like Jesus to preach the good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, to heal the blind and to release the oppressed. b. To list out the areas that we can do missions.
A. Introduction
- At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry/ missions on earth, the books of Mathew, Mark and Luke all say that Jesus is tempted by the devil and only Luke says He is full of the Holy Spirit in verse of Chapter 4 today. This is very significant for Luke and this is emphasis for this gospel. The temptation happens after He fasted for 40 days. He passed the test of the temptation by the devil.
- I want you to take note in verse 14 that Luke says Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. He went to Galilee and then, His own hometown, Nazareth, and of course, eventually, He went to lots of other towns to do His missions on earth. The scripture said he taught in synagogues and the audience praised Him for His teaching in verse 15.
- Then, one day, may be as usual, being a good teacher, a Jew (Jews worshipped Yahweh in synagogues), He was especially privileged to be allowed to read a portion of the Jewish scripture. This portion happened to be from Isaiah 61:1-2, “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 favor.”
- As the congregation of the synagogue focused their attention on him, in verse 21, Jesus dared to claim, “… Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Out of so many verses in Old Testament scriptures, how could He be sure this portion of the Book of Isaiah was referring to Him? I can only say unless He is sent by God the Father, otherwise, He was not in the position to claim.
- This portion of Isaiah strikes me very much because it is exactly the mission of Jesus on earth. It was foretold in the OT and now, it was fulfilled in Jesus. As it is the mission of Jesus; and I am taught by apostle Paul in his epistles to be like Christ, as part of my discipleship, I must do what Jesus has been called by God to do. Not only me, as long as those who called ourselves Christians, followers of Jesus, disciples of Jesus, must we do the missions that Jesus had done on earth!
- Notice only when the Spirit is on Jesus, only then, He is able to do the mission on earth. Today, as a disciple of Jesus, I can also do it because the Spirit of God is also on me. Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The word of Jesus, promised that we can receive power to do missions when the Holy Spirit comes on us.
- Is the Holy Spirit on you or not? If not, you cannot do it?
B. The Spirit of the Lord is on Jesus.
- John’s gospel talks about Jesus His disciples to do greater works than Him. I cannot understand what Jesus means if not disciples of Jesus are not filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- The needs out there even in Jesus’ time were huge. Today, in our situation, It is thousands of times worse and Jesus know it and that is He commissions us in Matthew 28:19 and 20 to make disciples of all nations. That is why he gives the Holy Spirit, we cannot do it. The devils are powerful, disciples of Jesus easily give up. Look at how apostle Peter gave up by denying Christ after Christ was arrested before he was filled by the Holy Spirit.
- Today, we need to ask our selves what it means to be like Jesus to preach the good news to the poor. People who do not have enough to eat; those who have no job and struggle to survive as a family; children who drop of school because they cannot pay minimum expenses; most probably those who steal and rob in order to survive and of course according to our human nature, we always condemn them, etc. I always tell me if you have been robed or your goods have been stolen, it is God telling you to do missions.
- Why Jesus particularly mention the poor, not the rich here? Most probably they need it more than anyone else, but honestly, the good news is more receptive to the poor than the rich. The rich tend to say they do not need God whey they have all the material things.
- Who are the prisoners? Yes, they definitely refer to the prisoners in the prisons but what about those whose souls are imprisoned? The depressed, the hurt, people who have all the bitterness, rejection, etc. They are in everywhere in bondage and imprisoned.
- Who are the blind? Yes, it refers to the physically blind. But what about those who cannot see the truth of the love of God, see the need for eternal life, etc.
- Who are the oppressed? Those who work very hard but being paid very little; who are powerless who have no right to speak out; etc.
C. Applications
- What does it mean for the Spirit of the Lord to come on you? It means you will receive power to overcome all obstacle to preach the gospel so that people become disciples of Christ. You need the power to pray to defeat devil, to heal the sick, to help people to overcome their problems, to help people to see the need of salvation, etc. When you get it, you will not feel tired of doing God’s work; you will give up; you will have all the energy to do it; you will have joy and strong faith and strength to do it, etc.
- What can you do when the Holy Spirit empowers you? Look around you and discern the needs around; the unsaved around you; yourself; the poor in the town; Penans of Ulu Belaga; Ibans in the long houses; students; workers from Indonesia, china, etc; Cambodia needs for English teachers; Indonesia’s need for Mandarin speaking missionaries and pastors; etc.
D. Conclusion
- Will you equip yourself to respond?
