Experiencing God's Presence #257

Experiencing God's Presence #257

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.

Isaiah 61:1-2

The words of the prophet certainly applied to his time, but they were more directly relevant to the Messiah, who quoted them centuries later. Jesus read this part of Isaiah’s scroll at the synagogue in Nazareth, ending the quote before it took a turn toward God’s wrath. That’s because when Jesus came, it was indeed an era of favor. Judgment would be deferred for a much later time and an altogether different appearance of the Son. But on this Sabbath in Nazareth, Jesus declared a mission reflecting the compassionate heart of God.

Think about the implications in terms of God’s Presence. If the Spirit was upon Jesus to accomplish these things—delivering good news to the poor, comforting the brokenhearted, announcing the release of captives—and if the Spirit of Jesus is now in us, surely His mission and ours are one and the same. The Presence hasn’t changed agendas or personalities. The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is still of the same character as when He spoke to the prophet and when Jesus quoted the prophecy. Like the Spirit of prophecy and the Messiah who quoted Him, we are to declare the time of the Lord’s favor. He lives in us specifically for that purpose.

Many Christians don’t know that or have forgotten the mission. They declare more of God’s judgment than His favor. But the Presence within us has come to shine and bless and draw others to Himself. And He leads us to do the same.

Holy Spirit, this is my mission because it’s Your mission. The judgment will come, but this is a time of favor. Help me declare it well and demonstrate it clearly.