Text: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Facebook live: The Lord's favor rests on his redeemed!
61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
We all look for a favorable outcome.
We want our team to win. How surprising was it that the Lions won last week by 4 points in the last 2 minutes of the game? That was not the usual outcome we are use to.
That was a favorable outcome for sure.
Not that I watched, but I did search the game after it was over looking for a favorable outcome. When I told my son Jon, that the Lions won he said, “They won?” I must have turned it off just before they came back. I expected they lost.”
Isaiah brings Good News to the poor, brokenhearted, captive and bound!
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and that,
61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
We all look for a favorable outcome.
We want our team to win. How surprising was it that the Lions won last week by 4 points in the last 2 minutes of the game? That was not the usual outcome we are use to.
That was a favorable outcome for sure.
Not that I watched, but I did search the game after it was over looking for a favorable outcome. When I told my son Jon, that the Lions won he said, “They won?” I must have turned it off just before they came back. I expected they lost.”
Isaiah brings Good News to the poor, brokenhearted, captive and bound!
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and that,
The Lord’s favor rests on his redeemed!
What favor, does the redeemed of the Lord need or desire?
Well, to comfort all who mourn;
God will give his redeemed the blessing of his favor and forgiveness.
To give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, Replacing a mournful spirit in sackcloth and ashes with the crown of the Lord’s righteousness.
the oil of gladness instead of mourning The beautiful fragrance of God’s favor brings those in mourning to joy.
(Oil of Gladness anointing oil)
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit Replacing the filthy rags of our own self-righteousness with the royal robes of Christ’s forgiveness and merit.
that [God’s children] may be called oaks of righteousness The mighty oak that stands tall and strong against the persecutions of those opposed to our God.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins The broken house of God’s people lay in the ruin of sin as his enemies now stand as God’s children, forgiven and redeemed.
they shall raise up the former devastations The original righteousness that was lost in the fall has been restored in Christ.
they shall repair the ruined cities Now as fellow citizens with the Saints of old and the household of faith, we are built on Christ who is the cornerstone and foundation of our faith. Much like the walls of Jerusalem were restored by Nehemiah as God directed.
the devastations of many generations Sin destroyed all of humanity but through God’s redeemer we are made new for all generations.
This is Good News for sure.
But Justice looks for payment and satisfaction.
You do the crime, you do the time. We’ve all heard that before. If you are guilty there has to be a payment for the crime.
8 For I the Lord love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong
The Lord cannot turn a blind eye to sin
I will faithfully give them their recompense, [reward]
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
The character that is John the Baptist cries, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the word!”
God’s means look strange at times; simple water and word, the bread and wine and the body and blood, the Lamb of God who comes not in power but in weakness to take away sin. God’s power made perfect in weakness.
During this time of Advent and the Christmas season a simple kindness can go a long way. Many have been in self-isolation for quite some time, at home, in care facilities and some in hospitals long for the personal interaction with friends and loved ones. A call or a card or letter can do much to bring the love of Christ to those in need.
Good News is important.
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then [Jesus] rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:18-21
“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
The reality of who Jesus truly is cannot be seen through human eyes but only through eyes of faith enlivened by the Spirit.
Some in Jesus’ day heard and followed and others heard and rejected. It is the same today. Some quickly reject while others slowly fall away.
The people in Jesus day drove him from the Synagogue and looked to throw him off a cliff. In our day many reject the word and in a sense throw Christ and all his blessing off the cliff and away from their lives and presence. It is why that we as his followers need to continue to shine the light on the word of God and its effect in our own lives so other might hear and by the Spirit’s work believe.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
You dear friends and clothed with Christ as we together wait for his glorious coming and blessed return!
The Lord’s favor rests on you, his redeemed!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
What favor, does the redeemed of the Lord need or desire?
Well, to comfort all who mourn;
God will give his redeemed the blessing of his favor and forgiveness.
To give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, Replacing a mournful spirit in sackcloth and ashes with the crown of the Lord’s righteousness.
the oil of gladness instead of mourning The beautiful fragrance of God’s favor brings those in mourning to joy.
(Oil of Gladness anointing oil)
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit Replacing the filthy rags of our own self-righteousness with the royal robes of Christ’s forgiveness and merit.
that [God’s children] may be called oaks of righteousness The mighty oak that stands tall and strong against the persecutions of those opposed to our God.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins The broken house of God’s people lay in the ruin of sin as his enemies now stand as God’s children, forgiven and redeemed.
they shall raise up the former devastations The original righteousness that was lost in the fall has been restored in Christ.
they shall repair the ruined cities Now as fellow citizens with the Saints of old and the household of faith, we are built on Christ who is the cornerstone and foundation of our faith. Much like the walls of Jerusalem were restored by Nehemiah as God directed.
the devastations of many generations Sin destroyed all of humanity but through God’s redeemer we are made new for all generations.
This is Good News for sure.
But Justice looks for payment and satisfaction.
You do the crime, you do the time. We’ve all heard that before. If you are guilty there has to be a payment for the crime.
8 For I the Lord love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong
The Lord cannot turn a blind eye to sin
I will faithfully give them their recompense, [reward]
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
The character that is John the Baptist cries, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the word!”
God’s means look strange at times; simple water and word, the bread and wine and the body and blood, the Lamb of God who comes not in power but in weakness to take away sin. God’s power made perfect in weakness.
During this time of Advent and the Christmas season a simple kindness can go a long way. Many have been in self-isolation for quite some time, at home, in care facilities and some in hospitals long for the personal interaction with friends and loved ones. A call or a card or letter can do much to bring the love of Christ to those in need.
Good News is important.
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then [Jesus] rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:18-21
“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
The reality of who Jesus truly is cannot be seen through human eyes but only through eyes of faith enlivened by the Spirit.
Some in Jesus’ day heard and followed and others heard and rejected. It is the same today. Some quickly reject while others slowly fall away.
The people in Jesus day drove him from the Synagogue and looked to throw him off a cliff. In our day many reject the word and in a sense throw Christ and all his blessing off the cliff and away from their lives and presence. It is why that we as his followers need to continue to shine the light on the word of God and its effect in our own lives so other might hear and by the Spirit’s work believe.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
You dear friends and clothed with Christ as we together wait for his glorious coming and blessed return!
The Lord’s favor rests on you, his redeemed!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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