Putting Our Freedom to Work rescued to become rescuers You can truly only show what you know. You can talk all day long about stuff you know nothing about. But you can only show what you know. You can only live out what you ve allowed in. 61:1-3a [The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. (I have been rescued) Because the Lord has anointed me. (To become a rescuer) by ] BRING good news to the poor the meek rather, the poor, those who have been hit with distress, those poor in circumstances and in spirit. BIND UP the brokenhearted -An essential part of being and living free is being healed. -Jehovah Rapha : Rapha is used some sixty times in the Old Testament and means, to restore, to heal, or to cure physically, emotionally and spiritually.
PROCLAIM liberty to the captives -This describes the deliverance from sin and death. -John 8:36- If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. OPEN the prison to the bound -61:1 - opening the prison= opening of the eyes PROCLAIM God s favor -61:2 the year of Yahweh s favor - -We are living in that right now. In Christ, as long as He waits to return, we are in the year of His favor. Warning to those who think they have plenty of time, His vengeance is coming. And when it does, it will come like thief in the night. So when should you respond to His invitation for salvation? Now! Believers in Jesus, when should you respond to the invitation to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded us? Now! PROCLAIM God s vengeance -It s a real part of the story. Too many people want to avoid it. COMFORT the mourning REPLACE ashes with beautiful headdress
61:3 - ornamental headdress worn in times of joy, instead of a headdress of ashes, cast on the head in mourning REPLACE mourning with gladness Oil of joy Perfumed ointment was poured on the guests at celebratory feasts. REPLACE a faint spirit with garment of praise Garment of praise bright-colored garments, indicative of thankfulness, instead of those that indicate despondency, as sackcloth 61:3b [So that ] Trees of righteousness Hebrew, terebinth trees; symbolical of men strong in righteousness. -Jesus can take you as broke and make you an oak! Now that s an Extreme Makeover! 61:4-7 [In order to ] 4. Build Up & Raise Up -old wastes Jerusalem and the cities of Judah which long lay in ruins. -verse 5 says that God will even use others to bless you in this process.
6. Experience Him personally as contrasted with the strangers. -Under the old covenant, there were priests that stood between man and God. But now, you are part of the royal priesthood. And, we get direct access to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit! You! Me! 7. Receive & Return Instead of your past share, you ll have double as much reward (when you surrender, trust & obey, you are free to receive and return His blessings more than we could ever hope or imagine). Freedom From What? (Being a captive) Despair (Psalm 118:4-6) Death (Proverbs 14:26-27) Dissatisfaction (Psalm 73:25-27) Debtors (Matthew 6:12) Destruction (Deuteronomy 4:30-32) Deception (John 8:31-32) Defeat (Romans 8:37) Freedom For What? -to seek Him Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. -John 6:35 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
-Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. This is what it looks like to put your freedom to work! Your turn. 1. Have you truly experienced freedom (like we ve been talking about)? 2. Have you started putting your freedom to work?