Good morning, all!
Father, we know it’s not by might, nor by power but by Your spirit that we are called to live this life. Show us Lord what Your spirit looks like and teach us to know the difference between Your spirit and our might, Amen. We are called to preach the gospel, how?
Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
The spirit that God has placed inside of us gives us the power to share the GOOD news of the gospel to the humble; we’re sent to restore the broken heart, to free those in bondage and release prisoners;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Let them know the year is a good and acceptable year, however, there is a day where God will shake things up which should provide comfort to ALL that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
To send us to a better place called Zion, where we receive beauty for that which has burned and joy for that which we have cried over, where praise becomes our covering at that old worn out jacket called life’s too much to bear disappears and then we will be called a tree of righteousness the Lord Himself planted which will bring Him glory.
Bottom line
This is a powerful piece of scripture, why do I say that? There are over 900 chapters in the Old Testament, this is the only recorded piece of scripture Jesus Christ shared publicly when he was in the temple. Do you suppose if Jesus shared these verses with the church, they must be pretty special? Maybe a command or even a charge for the church today? If He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever the command holds true today. Does he expect all of us to stand up on Sunday at a pulpit and actually preach? For some perhaps, but the word preach actually means to run and make one cheerful. The word preach in this context is speaking of a life lived, do we get up every day with excitement and run to go bring someone else joy? Now how do we do that? Well, the first thing we have to do is put our self to the side (not always popular but He didn’t say run and make yourself happy…run and make someone else happy). After we move out of the way we should go find someone with a broken heart and help heal their heart, how? From my experience a heart is usually broken because there’s the absence of love, what was once loved no longer is…that’s broke. Have you ever been blinded by love? What if we looked at each other with the love of Christ? Jesus didn’t tell the twelve they’ll know you’re my disciples by the words you preach, He said they’ll know you’re my disciples by the LOVE you have for others. You want to heal a heart today? Go love them. Next, we should free those that are in bondage, what is the work we’re doing that makes us slaves? I see the slave is the one listening to the voices in their head instead of the voice of God. Maybe those voices say things like I’m unworthy, I’m a sinner, I really messed up, God doesn’t see me…the biggest slave driver is the one in our head, it will cause us to work all day every day and we get nothing in return for it. You know what the bible calls that? The absence of grace. Is God’s grace really missing from your life?
[Tit 2:11 KJV] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. IMPOSSIBLE…the grace of God has appeared to ALL mankind…don’t listen to any voice that says anything different, you’re NOT a slave and God’s grace is free gift to YOU!!! The last move of the spirit that resides in us is for us to OPEN prison doors to those that are locked up, why are they in chains? What could possibly lock me up so that I could not run and make someone cheerful? Hmm…how about my emotions? Have you ever been locked up by your emotions? Sure, every day.
[Mat 26:41 KJV] Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak. We are called to live by the spirit of God and NOT by the seat of our emotions, this is what makes us weak. Think about it, have you ever felt trapped by fear? When we do that becomes our prison and there are others…bitterness…anger…hurt…lying…none of those are considered fruits of the spirit. The spirit of the Lord is upon you…it’s your move.
Point to Ponder
What does the spirit look like? [John 1:32 KJV] And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. A dove…harmless and a partner for life.
Let’s all run to bring others joy, In Him Phil
Faith – Family – Friends