Tag: good news.
Our Anointed Savior!
Scripture reading for August 15th: Isaiah 57-61
Key Scriptures: Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and to provide for those who grieve in Zion–. . “
Jesus Christ quoted this passage from Isaiah when he began His preaching ministry in His home town. He was asked to read before those gathered in the synagogue and He chose this passage to announce His ministry. He was filled with God’s Spirit and anointed to preach good news. He would bind up those who had broken hearts and proclaim freedom to those in prison in the darkness of sin. He would proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. This is where He stopped with the reading!
Thankful for the anointing: “The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: “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.”” (Luke 4:17-19)
Share your hope–respectfully!
Scripture reading for November 10th: 1st Peter 3
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st Peter 3:13-16 “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
Believers are always being watched by the worldly people around them. We must seek to represent Christ Jesus in all we do, even if people of the world judge us harshly or even persecute us for our stands of faith or good works. We must also be ready to share our testimony and reason that we live such different lives marked by joy and good works. This sharing must be done with great respect and gentleness, seeking to win them over to the Blessed Hope we personally know!
Observations for over-comers: Our lives should be marked by joy and hope and faith in God’s Word. We must be prepared and ready to share our reasons for this joy! “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)
Jesus preached the Kingdom!
Scripture reading for January 6th: Matthew 4
Jesus had an awesome spiritual experience at His baptism! He was filled with the Holy Spirit and got to hear His Father tell Him He loved Him and was pleased! Immediately, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and was tempted by Satan for forty days. Jesus had to face spiritual warfare and suffered temptations like all humans but unlike everyone else, He remained faithful to God and His Word! Jesus defeated each temptation with a Scripture quote telling the Devil truth. (Matthew 4:4,7,10) Satan had to withdraw and Jesus returned in the Spirit’s power to begin ministry to the lost! (Luke 4:1)
Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. He began to preach saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17) He also healed every disease and sickness as He went preaching the good news of the kingdom. (Matthew 4:23) The good news was that God loved all men and desired to see them turn from their selfish ways. Repentance is a change of mind about who has the right to run your life. It may also be described as a change of Kings and kingdoms! In the kingdom of God, truth is the language of God. Jesus was the Truth in human flesh and lived by that truth. (John 1:12, John 14:6) We are born the first time under the kingdom of darkness and Satan’s lies. Repentance means turning from that kingdom to the kingdom of heaven!
Jesus brought the kingdom of heaven near to each person. We have opportunity to respond to the good news as long as Christ has not returned! Today is the best day to turn to Him! Now is the only time we know we have! If you have not responded, please do it now!
Beautiful feet!
Scripture reading for August 1st: Isaiah 52-57
When you think of beauty, are the feet the first part of your body to come to mind? Isaiah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, made particular mention of the feet of those who would bring the “good news” of God reigning on Zion. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7) God would Himself come to Zion and lay bare His holy arm and all the earth would see His salvation! (Isaiah 52:10)
Isaiah saw the servant as “high and lifted up and highly exalted”. This servant would act wisely, but would be marred and disfigured. In His suffering, He would sprinkle many nations and bring His salvation to those who did not know! (Isaiah 52:13-15) Isaiah saw this servant as one with no natural beauty that would attract us to Him. (Isaiah 53:2) He was actually despised and rejected by men and was a man who knew sorrow intimately. He took our infirmities and carried our sorrows but we assumed that God was punishing Him! (Isaiah 53:3-4)
When we think description of Isaiah’s description of the Servant and what He did for us, we better understand beautiful feet! Our Savior walked on this earth on human feet! He willingly walked in total obedience to God so that we can walk in healing, salvation and freedom! He offered His feet to be nailed to a cross for us! He was “high and lifted up” on that cross! Those feet took our Savior to the place of suffering on our behalf.
We can continue Jesus’ mission by taking this message of “Good News” to a lost and dying world. We may not be much to look at, but the beauty of our feet is that they are obediently walking in the path of Jesus Christ! “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Preach Good News to all!
Scripture reading for March 12th: Mark 16:1-20, Psalms 55:1-23, Proverbs 11:7
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, just as He said He would. Death could not hold Him and He showed Himself alive to the women, the disciples, and others. The eleven remaining disciples had a hard time believing the reports of those who had seen Him. “Later Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were eating; He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” (Mark 16:14) These men should have been expecting the resurrection because Jesus had repeatedly told them about the crucifixion and coming resurrection. To whom much is given, much is required. A rebuke is a sign of love to those who can be corrected by it. (Proverbs 13:1) (Revelation 3:19)
Jesus had final instructions for these disciples. They were not to sit around feeling sorry for themselves and thinking of the good old days when Jesus was with them. They must now go into all the world with the good news of Jesus Christ and preach to every creature. Some would believe and be baptized unto salvation and others would refuse the good news and be eternally condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)
Those who believed had Jesus’ promise to confirm the good news with signs that would follow them and the preaching of the Gospel. They would drive out demonic forces as they spoke in His name. They would lay hands on the sick and see people healed in His name. If they were poisoned or ran into satanic opposition, God promised to protect them. Jesus would give them support.
Jesus was then taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19) Acts records that Jesus was taken up into heaven on a cloud and would return the same way as He left. (Acts 1:9-11) Jesus had told the high priest and elders that they would see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Might One and coming on clouds of heaven. (Mark 14:62) From that position of power and authority, Jesus prays for us and watches over us as we preach the Gospel to every creature. This is His plan to reach the entire world! When this command is fulfilled, Jesus will come again on the clouds for His Bride, the church! What exciting days we live in!
Beautiful Feet!
Scripture reading for July 31st: Isaiah 52-57
When you think of beauty, are the feet the first thing you think of? Isaiah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, made particular mention of the feet of those who would bring the “good news”. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7) God would come to Zion and all the earth would see His salvation! (Isaiah 52:10)
Isaiah saw the servant as “high and lifted up and highly exalted”. This servant would act wisely, but would be marred and disfigured. He would not even look human anymore! In His suffering, He would sprinkle many nations and bring understanding of salvation to those who did not know! (Isaiah 52:13-15) Isaiah saw this servant as one with no natural beauty that would attract us to Him. (Isaiah 53:2) He was actually despised and rejected by men and was a man who knew sorrow and grief intimately. He took our infirmities and carried our sorrows but we assumed that God was punishing Him. (Isaiah 53:3-4) In actuality, this Servant was willingly pierced and crushed for our sins and iniquities. He took wounds for us that brought us healing!
Our Savior walked on this earth on human feet! He willingly walked in total obedience to God so that we could walk in healing, salvation and freedom! He offered His feet to be nailed to a cross for us! He was “high and lifted up” on that cross! Those feet took our Savior to the place of suffering on our behalf! What beautiful feet and what great good news He brought to us!
Now, we can have “beautiful feet” too! We can continue the mission of our dear Savior by obeying Him and taking this message of “Good News” to a lost and dying world. We may not be much to look at, but our feet are beautiful too when they are obediently walking in the path of Jesus Christ! “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Reaching the Jews
Scripture reading for July 27th: Romans 10:13-11:12
God’s plan for reaching His people, the Jews, was the same as reaching the Gentiles. “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.” “How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:13-14) Both Jew and Gentile must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and One who took their penalty for broken law. They must call on Jesus in faith and they will be saved.
It is a very simple Gospel message that must be heard by those who need it. The way God chose to send this message was through those who did believe. These would go and preach this message to the Jews and Gentiles who did not know about it. “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” (1st Corinthians 1:21)
But hearing the message alone was not enough for salvation. Many Jews heard the message but did not accept it. Faith comes by hearing the message, but believing is a choice, not something forced upon people. God sent His messengers throughout the world to preach the message. Jews heard it, but they were stubborn and obstinate and refused to believe and act on it. (Romans 10:16-21) God opened the hearts of the Gentiles and many of them received.
Next, Paul addressed the concern that because of their stubbornness, God had rejected His people. Paul stated that God had not and that a remnant was saved by grace through receiving the message of Christ. Those that closed their hearts were made blind and dull. They could always repent and turn back. God’s plan was to save the Gentiles and through their blessing, provoke the Israelites to jealousy and a return to faith through Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:11-12)
The Church should always pray for the Jews and be ready to share Christ with them. God has not rejected Israel. They have a blindness that can be cured by faith in their Messiah, Jesus Christ. We have received the riches of God’s grace because of their stubbornness, but not to boast! May God bring peace to Jerusalem! (Psalm 122:6-9)
The Spirit is on Me!
Scripture reading for March 20th: Luke 4:1-30
The Holy Spirit that came on Jesus at His baptism by John immediately led Him to the desert for a time of testing. Jesus withstood each test over the forty days by quoting Scripture. “Man does not live by bread alone” was Jesus’ word to the Devil. (Deuteronomy 8:3) Jesus returned from the testing in the desert by Satan in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:14)
Jesus then went to his home town of Nazareth and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. He stood up to read and the scroll of Isaiah the Prophet. He unrolled it to find the Scripture He wanted to share with them. “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 acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)
The Holy Spirit in a person brings power to witness to God’s love and grace. Jesus announced in His home town the focus of His life as He was now empowered by the Spirit. The Spirit anoints a person, just like oil poured over a king brings empowerment to do the work called of them, the Spirit empowers. The Spirit would empower Jesus to preach the ‘Good News’ to those lost and bound by sin, sickness and disease. He would open eyes that were blind and enable them to see. Because of the Spirit, prisoners would be set free in glorious liberty.
The best news was the ‘acceptable year of the Lord’. This spoke of the year of Jubilee that God had proclaimed in the Law for every fiftieth year. On the year of Jubilee, land was to be restored to original owners, slaves were to be set free, and debts were to be forgiven. Each person would receive a new start! It was a little picture of God’s restoration process in action. (Leviticus 25:8-54) Jesus proclaimed that in the Holy Spirit’s anointing, He announced the ‘acceptable year of the Lord’.
This ‘good news’ is something to get in on for yourself. Jesus is our ‘Jubilee’! In Him we are set free, healed, and delivered from bondage. In Him we have an eternal inheritance that cannot be stolen or lost! The Holy Spirit is the down-payment!
Beautiful feet!
Scripture reading for August 1st: Isaiah 52-57
When you think of beauty, what parts of the body do you immediately think of? Are the feet the first parts to come to your mind? Do you give lots of attention to your feet to make sure they are “beautiful” and noticed? Isaiah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, made particular mention of the feet of those who would bring the “good news” of God reigning on Zion. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7) God would Himself come to Zion and lay bare His holy arm and all the earth would see His salvation! (Isaiah 52:10)
Isaiah saw the servant as “high and lifted up and highly exalted”. This servant would act wisely, but would be marred and disfigured. He would not even look human anymore! In His suffering, He would sprinkle many nations and bring understanding of His salvation to those who did not know! (Isaiah 52:13-15) Isaiah saw this servant as one with no natural beauty that would attract us to Him. (Isaiah 53:2) He was actually despised and rejected by men and was a man who knew sorrow and grief intimately from personal experience. He took our infirmities and carried our sorrows but we assumed that God was punishing Him. (Isaiah 53:3-4) In actuality, this Servant was willingly pierced and crushed for our sins and iniquities. He took wounds for us that brought us healing!
When we think about this amazing description of a willing Servant and what He did for us, we better understand beautiful feet! Our Savior walked on this earth on human feet! He willingly walked in total obedience to God so that we can walk in healing, salvation and freedom! He offered His feet to be nailed to a cross for us! He was “high and lifted up” on that cross! Those feet took our Savior to the place of suffering because of us! What beautiful feet and what great good news He brought to us!
Now, we can have “beautiful feet” too! We can continue the mission of our dear Savior by obeying Him and taking this message of “Good News” to a lost and dying world. We may not be much to look at, but the beauty of our feet is that they are obediently walking in the path of Jesus Christ! “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Sunday rest and reflection! The mercy of God
Greetings on this day of worship and reflection! God is to be praised for His mercy and long-suffering! As I think back on the nearly 500 years of history in the Kings and Chronicles, God surely was patient with His people! He suffered long with their stubbornness. He waited patiently for them to respond to His prophets and Word. He punished them, but still His mercy was extended to those who would listen and respond. They endured wars, captivity, famines, internal bickering and strife while God kept continually offering them His amazing grace! They only needed to turn to Him in repentance and call on His name and He would hear and answer! Wow, how long our God bears with us!
As I think about the day we live in, God is still offering the amazing grace of forgiveness! He is still suffering long and ready to extend His cleansing grace. All who call out to Him are heard! He still saves and delivers. He forgives sin, rebellion and strife when His people repent! He has sent His people out with a message of good news! God’s wrath has been satisfied with the blood of His own Son! Whoever believes can get in on it! What an amazing display of mercy available to all who will come to Him!
After the trials and tests of this life are over, God promises us full life with Him forever! This is extreme mercy! We who were His enemies are now brought near and given a full inheritance! The same God who foretold the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple, tells us of a new heavens and new earth where we will dwell in righteousness with Him forever! Go and tell the Good News of God’s amazing mercy! Have a great week in Jesus Christ! Love in Him, Pastor John