We read Isaiah 61-62 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. Isaiah 61:1-2a says this:
1 THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor]
When Jesus read from the scroll in Luke 4, this is the portion of Scripture that He was reading! Luke 4:18-19:
18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound.] AMP
The people were used to hearing Him read from the Scriptures. They were even used to hearing this particular portion read. What they were NOT used to is what Jesus said next! When He told them that HE was the fulfillment of these very Scriptures, they were amazed at the grace of His Words, but they still didn't get it! He proceeded to tell them of others that were healed and delivered, but not ALL were. When He said this in verse 24, they were furious!
24 Then He said, Solemnly I say to you, no prophet is acceptable and welcome in his [own] town (country). AMP
They knew then that the responsibility was theirs! Many believers today would like to drop everything off in God's lap and simply pray "if it be Thy will" without ever bothering to find out just what His will really IS! They like to proclaim, rather religiously, "God is Sovereign"! Yes, He IS, and the Sovereign God has set it up this way! HE set Acts 10:38 in motion!
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. KJV
Guess what? YOU have also been anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power (1 John 2:20 & 27)! YOU can go about doing good, which includes healing the sick and setting those captive to sin and satan free! IN fact, Jesus also went on to say this in John 14:12:
12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. AMP
He is EXPECTING us to be DOERS of His Word by DOING the works that He did, and so much more! What is the "more" or "greater" works? Are you doing the works yet? If not, then don't worry about the greater! First things first! Let's believe the Word of God and act on it! HIS Word will NOT return void (Isaiah 55:11)! That means He WILL confirm His Word that WE speak! AMEN! So, SPEAK, and keep on SPEAKING! Here is Hillsong Chapel with "Lost Are Found":
Shalom in Him!
