PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 4:14-21
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me… to proclaim good news.” Luke 4:18)
Jesus has struggled with Satan, but now he is empowered by the Spirit.
And the Spirit of God in him compels him to bring good news!
Freedom for the oppressed and imprisoned, recovery of sight, the Lord’s favor.
Our world still desperately needs this encouraging good news.
With Jesus, this desperate need is fulfilled – good news is here.
So why is our world not seeing more evidence of this?
We are still struggling with Satan in the wilderness.
Are we more influenced by Satan’s bad news than the Spirit’s good news?
Is our message good news, freedom, restoration, the Lord’s favor?
Or are we spreading the same ‘if… then’ message of Satan? (4:3,7,9).
Like Jesus, we are anointed to be and to bring hope – good news.
To be a hopeful encouraging voice in a negative, discouraging world.
Am I giving in to Satan’s bad news, instead of the Spirit’s good news?
The Spirit of the Lord is stirring in me to proclaim good news… am I?
PRAYER
Lord, too often I let negative voices discourage and defeat me, and I begin to voice more bad than good news. Fill me with your good news Spirit!
Jesus makes an important connection: linking what Isaiah prophesied with what he, the Messiah now was doing: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” His listeners would have been familiar with the passage and they had also been witnesses of what Jesus was now doing. But would they believe him? Was he too familiar that they would credit him as the Messiah. We can look back in the scriptures and see many things that have been fulfilled It should serve to help us to believe! For me it does. I thank God for every insight he passes on to me through the HS. Jesus is alive and the HS is real!
The Spirit of the Lord was on Jesus. That Spirit is also a gift that is upon God’s people to lead and guide them how to live for Jesus. As the eyes of everyone was on Jesus, so the eyes of those around us are upon us. I am a living epistle read by all those who see me. What news comes from me? I too need to share how God has worked in my life and how I am serving Him. My words and deeds must show that I am His and He is mine. Help me Lord to be an instrument of Your peace.
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.
Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!
Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heaven descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.
j