The Announcement of the Messiah

August of the passage under consideration this morning is about the Messiah, let me give you my outline this morning and will walk through it together. Number one I want you to see the announcement of the Messiah number two in which it is. See the on the anointing of the Messiah.

Number three I want you to see the mission of the Messiah them will consider the transfer transforming power of the Messiah and then will look finally at a bit of a surprise as we think of what God has for us here, but as we begin I want us to think about the announcement of the Messiah in your mind. Will you go with me to Nazareth little village 20 miles or so from the Sea of Galilee.

It's the Sabbath day in Jesus as a young man enters the synagogue word has spread to this little town where Jesus grew up of miracles that he had done in Capernaum, the synagogue was full, Jesus is in the midst of the synagogue, he stands and he walks up and he's handed the scroll the sacred scroll and Jesus unrolls the scroll to Isaiah chapter 61 and listen to what Luke chapter 4 tells us he was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah, and when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written. This is Isaiah 61 verse one in the first part of verse two, 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, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and he stopped there. Obviously I read Isaiah 61 verse 12 versus Jesus read verse one in the first part of verse two and then it Luke tells us, then he closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and he sat down in the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on him and he began to say to them today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Can you imagine. Isaiah had written about the Messiah 700 years earlier, and here Jesus in a synagogue in Nazareth manifests himself and announces that he indeed is the long anticipated promised Messiah. How do people respond to that. So all bore witness to him and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said is this not Joseph's. He grew up among them worked on their furniture build chairs for them. He was the village carpenter. Is this not Joseph's son. He said to them you will surely say this proverb to me position heal yourself. Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your country. Then he said assuredly, I say to you know prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months and there was a great famine throughout all the land but none of them was Eli just sent except his aircraft in the region of Sidon to a woman who was a widow and many lepers were in Israel in the time and the time Elijah the prophet, none of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian's not ready for this. So all those in the synagogue when they heard these things were filled with joy as I what it says they were filled with wrath. They were filled with wrath and they rose up and thrust him out of the city and they led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, and they might throw him down over the cliff and passing through the midst of them. He went his way. The announcement of the Messiah water and announcement today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing in the was a mixture of responses they they marveled at him. They were astounded they'd heard the words this. The town was abuzz about Jesus and what he had done in Capernaum when he sat down every eye was fixed on him and yet what we see we see the heart of unredeemed man and his hatred for God and his right to be God. Now, in all fairness, had you and I been a part of that village of Nazareth had you and I've been in that synagogue and we had known Jesus for 30 years. He grew up around suite so I'm walking, we saw work and we saw I'm interacting with this people in this small obscure village would we have would we event would we have anticipated what would we have held views of him and say you know what, I can't wait until he becomes an adult man and announces to the world that he's the Messiah would we have thought that no we wouldn't of thought. That's part of the enigma here that God would come in the person of his son.

In such an obscure way, not with fanfare, not as a king but as a normal man not perfect man.

By the way, and they couldn't get beyond that, despite the fact that they had the Old Testament Scriptures that prophesied that the Messiah would come with 700 years is a long time. Right this country of ours is less than 250 years old. That seems like a very very long time. Right 700 years since Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would come so the announcement of the Messiah. Number two, think with me about the anointing of the Messiah now are back in Isaiah 61 the spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor, the anointing of the Messiah in the Old Testament men were anointed with oil for key offices in Israel. First Samuel chapter 10 in verse one tells us of Samuel anointing Saul the be the first king of Israel. Exodus chapter 30 in verse 30 speaks to us of Moses anointing Aaron and the sons of Aaron for the priesthood and then in first Kings chapter 19 verse 16 we have Elijah anointing Elisha is a prophet now men can anoint other men with oil but only God can anoint a man with the Holy Spirit.

No one in history was so powerfully anointed with the Holy Spirit like the Lord Jesus Christ. And when was that anointing. Well, you recall at his baptism, the dove descending from heaven. The word that came from heaven that was that anointing Peter speaking to can Cornelius in acts chapter 10 in verse 38 says this God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power and he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil. The anointing of the Spirit of God we hear people pray for anointing. What are people praying for often times when I hear people praying for so-and-so to be anointed for God to anoint so-and-so is for some miraculous manifestation some healing power. Some something out of the ordinary. Here in Isaiah chapter 61 the anointing of the Messiah, the Lord has anointed me do what preach he has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord brings us number 32. The mission of the Messiah. The mission of the Messiah, the announcement of the Messiah, the anointing of the Messiah. Now the mission of the Messiah and there is a seven fold mission that the father gave to Jesus and it's recorded here in Isaiah 61 the Lord has anointed me to do what to preach good news to the poor, number two, to heal the brokenhearted number three to proclaim liberty to the captives number four to recover sight to the blind. Number five, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and number six to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and finally to announce the day of vengeance of our God.

The mission of the Messiah in a world with needs as great as they were in the time of Jesus is coming in a world with needs as great as a RNR day. Are we guilty at times of lacking in confidence in the mission that God has entrusted to his church.

We say you know I get this to work, preach the gospel but in light of how great the need is is it is there more that God wants us to do what is anointing condo accomplish more. What I want you to see here in the mission of the Messiah. It's to preach, preach the good news to the poor, to proclaim another expression of verbal ministry trip, to proclaim liberty to the captives verse two to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

I think at times we almost are apologetic that all we've got to say to a world that's lost and in darkness and in the chaos all around us.

All we can do all we've got to do is is to preach was a really that's going to get the job done that's going to break and that's going to set people free. That's going to bring deliverance yes yes what did you need that you need therapy did you need a psychiatrist or did you need need the life-giving gospel message. That's what this world needs and we shouldn't despair as darkest things are getting is difficult as things are as chaotic as life is all around us we shouldn't shrink back.

We shouldn't be apologetic. We shouldn't be silent with the message. We've got.

If that's the message that G that God the father gave God the son and set them into this world is the Messiah, then that's what we need to be about preaching the gospel anointing comes, you know you say well that's is so non-spectacular.

While I'm not in the spectacular okay I'm into an anointing from God that is ordained of God that he has promised to bless and is where his representatives and extending the ministry of Christ and his church in this world. This is what we are to be about preaching, proclaiming, heralding the message of the good news got a request for Josh boy 30 some-year-old son of dad and Angela Boyd is God's pretty serious medical issues is at some tests and discovered some things more tests needed but his greatest need is the gospel so I simply want to.

It's a different name to you K a different person a different family, is your confidence as it waned any do you think you know what that person needs more than the gospel. When you say but the fact that we don't have as much confidence in the gospel and its proclamation reveal something about us. Josh Boyd need some medical help with that young man needs the gospel of Jesus Christ blessed of God to his heart open.

His blinded eyes and set him free. That's the only hope it was for me.

That's the only hope there was for you. That's the mission of the Messiah think that with me. The recipients of this good news. How are they pictured is we read through Isaiah 61 how they pictured their poor there brokenhearted their captives, their prisoners. They mourned her clothes with ashes and despair. They live in ruined cities, the devastated like this for generations. There disgraced by the mocking nations there plundered by robbery and injustice you say in the light of needs that great is gospel. The only message we've got.

Yes, that's the message that we must not abandon. That's the only hope there is for our loved ones for our cities for our nation. That's our hope. That's where confidence must be think with me.

Number four about the trans-forming power of the Messiah and his mission. This message consoles those who mourn, this message brings beauty for ashes, this message is the oil of joy for mourning this message brings a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness this message comes to week captives and makes them trees of righteousness. Notice the end of verse four that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified trees of righteousness.

What a wonderful word picture trees of righteousness.

It speaks of strength of stability and that's what God does to those who were weak and held captive there the planting of the Lord, why does he do this. He does this, that he may be glorified. That's why does this got an adversary the devil, who holds people in bondage. Luke records on account where Jesus met a woman who'd been bent over for think 18 years and Jesus healed her. But when Jesus healed her. He proclaimed that Satan had bound her and that he had set her free and not the physical manifestation of Satan's activity.

People are bound their enslaved and the only thing that is going to bring freedom and liberty is the gospel of Jesus Christ. What else the transforming power of the Messiah and his mission to seek God would not send his son on a mission that was doomed to fail. We know he sent his son on a mission that was guaranteed to succeed. Jesus has redeemed everyone from the father gave to him. We don't need to be wondering is enough power in this gospel to say so-and-so there's enough power in the gospel to save anyone or confidence must not Wayne now I want you to notice with me. This chapter concludes with the Messiah speaking again. He spoke there at the beginning of Isaiah 61 the spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. Luke chapter 4 clearly shows us that Jesus is the fulfillment of Luke, Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61 Jesus said today.

The Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Jesus obviously is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61 weary speaking again in the first person at the end of chapter 61 and he says there in verse 10, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful 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 with ornaments is a good versa, tucked away for Christmas is as we hang ornaments on our trees to think about that, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorned herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its blood as the garden caught as the garden causes the things that are sewn in it to spring forth. So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. That's what God intends to provoke us to worship Jesus that I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God is a bride adorned herself with her jewels is the earth brings forth its blood so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nation. That's what God intends.

That's what God is desiring. That's what God is working towards to produce to provoke men and women to worship him. That's why were here this morning to acknowledge him to grant give him the worship that you do unto his name and that's what God is intending as we extend ourselves in the work of missions so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before what all the nations, all the nations very thankful for what God is doing in our church that are commitment to this mission are commitment to this message are commitment to this life-giving but sets captives free that liberates men that that promotes righteousness that we have demonstrated our recommitment to that in our faith promise commitments for 2021. We want to see God extend that to the nations, and we have by God's help assembled a missionary family that first and foremost is committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We support church planters. We support missionaries who are preachers first and foremost, that's where their confidence is that's what our confidence is in as they go in the power of the spirit with God's anointing upon them to see men and women, boys and girls brought into the kingdom of his son something very encouraging. Here in what Jesus did not say in that synagogue in Nazareth, recorded in Luke chapter 4, I mentioned to you that Jesus read one verse and bro and he stopped midsentence at the end of it, not at the end but it midsentence adverse to me take you back there to Luke chapter 4, he opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 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 stop there as he closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down in the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on him and he said today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing what is the very next thing in Isaiah 61 that Jesus did not say listen to it.

The last thing he said was to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

This is what Jesus did not say in the day of vengeance of our God. Jesus omitted the reference to the wrath of God, knows that because God will not visit this world with his wrath because of its rejection and rebellion of him no. He will, but the point is that Jesus came into the world as the Messiah, for what purpose I printed in your bulletin.

John chapter 3 verse 17 says for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

That's our message. God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Jesus stopped mid verse midsentence and it is as though Jesus would not have anyone distracted from the message of grace, wonderful grace. Now he's coming again, and when he comes again. He's coming in wrath is coming in judgment. But when he came the first time he came to rescue. He came to redeem. He came to save. And this is still the acceptable year of the Lord.

Today is the day of salvation. So folks listen to me.

Tell your friends tell your family. Tell your children tell your grandchildren your neighbors.

This is a damn good news with got the best news there is no better news than this news shall we pray father thank you thank you thank you for the giving of your son.

Thank you for a message that transforms lives. Thank you for message that brings healing to the brokenhearted, that brings light in the place of darkness that brings freedom in the place of bondage, or God, thank you for the life-giving life, liberating message of this gospel that we have.

We are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is indeed the power of God unto salvation to everyone to believe. Thank you that there is assembled in this place and those around their Internet trophies of your grace evidences of this life-giving life-changing life transforming message that is changed us and we desire to see a change. Others, or may we recommit ourselves of fresh to this mission to this message may or confidence, not Wayne, but may it grow and may you by your grace and mercy break in upon those we know and love and care about and may we have the joy this coming year of seeing many many many come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray in Jesus name, amen