TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR
“Poor” is often referring to those who are humble and meek to receive, spiritual helplessness. Matthew 5:3 – poor in spirit
Matthew 4:23; 9:35 Jesus preached and taught
HE HAS SENT ME:
TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES
Colossians 2:8 – wrong doctrine, wrong thinking, leads people captive. We maybe captivated mentally, physically, or spiritually. Ephesians 4:8; Timothy 2:25
RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – Jesus’ teaching enlightened the spiritual eyes, and he healed many who were physically blind. Isaiah 35:5-6; Acts 26:15-18
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.
- Mt 9:27-31 Two blind men.
- Mk 8:22-26 In Bethsaida by spitting on his eyes.
- Mt 12:22-23 Man who was demon possessed, and blind and mute.
- Lk 18:35-43 Blind man while coming into Jericho.
- Mt 20:29-34 Two blind men when leaving Jericho.
- Mk 10:46-52 Bartimaeus
- Jn 9:1-41 By putting clay on his eyes, then wash in the Pool of Siloam
Group healings – Mt 15:29-31 and Mt 21:14
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED
Acts 10:38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)
“Oppressed” means subject to harsh and authoritarian treatment; to keep someone in subservience and hardship, especially by the unjust exercise of authority, to dominate or exploit someone.
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD [YAHWEH]
The favorable or acceptable year of the Lord is not referring to just one year, but rather to the time between Jesus’ first coming and when he comes back. The time of reconciliation is when the ministry of reconciliation is applicable (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). This ministry began with Christ → apostles →disciples → all who have believed since including us.
Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested [shown forth] to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know–
Understanding that Jesus ministered miraculously as a human being is exceedingly important to all those. He commissions us to live like him and to do the works that he did. Without recognition of Christ’s humanity, no one can expect to do the greater works that Christ promised in John 14.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. (John 14:12)
God was the one who performed the miracles, wonders, and signs through Jesus. Jesus was not the initiator or the power source.
Luke 4:18 – The spirit was given because Jesus was chosen by God to do what is stated.
Luke 3:21-23 – Holy spirit descended upon him. (Matthew 3:13; Mark 1:9; John 1:29) Every gospel has the information about Jesus receiving the holy spirit.
Luke 4:1 – Full of the holy spirit and led around by the spirit
Luke 4:14 – In the power of the spirit
Luke 5:17 – Power of Yahweh was present.
Acts 1:1-2 – After his resurrection, the spirit is still guiding him.
Everything Jesus did was under the direction of Yahweh through the spirit.
Luke 4:18-21 – He believed what the Scriptures said he was and what he would do.
Isaiah 42:1-7; 61:1-3 – God stated clearly what the Messiah would do, and Jesus believed what He read and acted according.
Matthew 10 – Jesus gave authority to the 12 apostles to do exactly what He did.
Luke 10 – He gave authority to the 70, and they too did what they had seen him do.
Acts 1 – He commissioned the church to do what he did, and they walked by the spirit and had faith in his words.
We must see ourselves as an extension of his ministry, guided and empowered the same way he was through the spirit and faith in God’s Words.
The church council meetings of the 4th century decided that Jesus was God and part of the trinity and thereby completely undermined faith that any disciples could hold regarding John 14:12. However, with a clear understanding of who Jesus was and how he functioned by knowing and obeying God’s words plus the holy spirit’s empowerment and direction, we can begin to have faith.
The verse to memorize this week is John 14:12:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
