I want to congratulate you for making it half way through this devotional journal. Here are three things to think about:
1. One man said to me recently, “I have never finished anything I started.”
My response, “Faithfulness is in you. We are now finishers in Christ. But our goal is a life-long relationship with Jesus Christ. We are seeking His kingdom and His righteousness with the desire to hear Him say, ‘Well done good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of the Lord.”’
2. Someone asked, “Will this devotional journal make you a disciple?”
My response, “Discipleship is a never ending process. Even if a person goes through a full year of intense training, he or she is still not finished.”
3. Someone asked, “How long will this take?”
My response, “I hope you understand that this is a relationship that will never be over. I hope you are not trying to check the block and finish this book so that you can move on to other things. I hope you want growth to take place in your whole heart and entire life.”
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD (Luke 4:18-19).
First, the Spirit of the Lord is upon us to preach good news to the poor. In Jesus’ day people thought that being rich was a sign of God’s favor and being poor was a sign of God’s judgment. Religious people would look down on you if you were poor. Jesus said, “Absolutely not true.” Jesus changed the climate, culture and attitude. He said, “I “love” the poor. Let me “lift” the poor. I want to “teach” the poor new ways of living. I want to “help” the poor and provide for them.”
Second, the Spirit of the Lord is upon us to administer Healing to the broken Hearted. People are going through challenges, crises, depression, debt, and all kinds of heartache and pain. Jesus wants to use us to mend their hurts.
Third, the Spirit of the Lord is upon us to proclaim freedom for the prisoner. Could you love prisoners or the spiritually imprisoned? Jesus says, “I accept them. I love and embrace them. Now let me change their heart.”
Fourth, the Spirit of the Lord is upon us to give sight to the blind. In Jesus’ day, the blind were thought to be blind because of some sin they had committed (or their parents committed). The religious leaders thought the blind deserved to be blind. The religious leaders taught that they deserved good eyes because they were so holy. They also taught that blind people deserved to be blind because they were so dirty and despicable. Jesus came to heal and show mercy to people who were physically handicapped and spiritually condemned by religious leaders. Our job is to pray that the blinders are removed. When the door opens bring people to Christ.
Fifth, the Spirit of the Lord is upon us to release the oppressed. Jesus came to set wrongs right. He came to help the helpless. Give hope to the hopeless. He taught His students to come to Him when they are burdened and He would give them rest (Matt 11:28-29). He came to bring social justice, rid affirmative action, gender biases, and racial prejudices. He searched for hurts to heal and needs to fill. We are His body in the earth today.
Sixth, the Spirit of the Lord is upon us to proclaim the Year of Jubilee. In the Old Testament, Jubilee was a time when slaves were freed and all debts cleared. Jesus came to tell people that they can be free and that all debts are paid. Our obligation is to encourage people to turn to God today.
Meditate for five minutes on this lesson.
Journal one whole page.
Pray this Prayer: Father, thank You that the Spirit of the Lord is on me. I worship You in the reality of it. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
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