The Ministry of Jesus - Are you His follower
Text: Luke 4:14-22
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?
Followers will Continue the Mission and Ministry of their Leader
The Ministry of Jesus
(from Luke 4 & Quoting Isaiah 61:1-2)
TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR To refresh the distressed and make them glad by sharing good news
TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES To deliver to freedom and set loose those held as prisoners by another (as Prisoners of war TO PROCLAIM RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND
To restore and make whole the broken and crushed
To give understanding to those who have not seen or heard the truth (Those living governed & imprisoned by lie based belief) TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED To declare forgiveness and remission of debt those who are enslaved because of the debt they owe. All are sinners! TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD To announce the reality of the new age of God’s kingdom of grace and mercy
What are the TASKS of Jesus’ Ministry?
TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR
TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES
TO PROCLAIM RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND
TO DECLARE FREEDOM TO THE OPPRESSED
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD
If we are Jesus’ followers, WE CANNOT KEEP SILENT
Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”
“public proclamation” is called for
Romans 10:17 "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ”
Acts 1:8 “ you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth”
Who was the Object of Jesus’ Ministry?
TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR the distressed and destitute
TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES those as prisoners of war
TO PROCLAIM RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND those broken, burdened and helpless
TO DECLARE FREEDOM TO THE OPPRESSED those bound and enslaved
THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF JESUS WAS TO FULFILL THE WILL OF THE FATHER, WHICH WAS TO SAVE SINNERS!
Jesus when calling people to follow him, often said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
How much does the mission of seeing people saved from their sin motivate your decisions and actions?
What was the Power for Jusus’ Ministry?
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD
• To be Touched & Strengthened by the Spirit
• Filled with & Equipped by the Spirit
• Given the Spirit of God & Gifts by the Spirit
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me " Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me”
Acts 1:8 “..you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to
the remotest paart of the earth.”
Are you a Follower of Jesus?
How are you seeking to advance
the mission and ministry of Jesus?
TO SEEK AND SAVE SINNERS
Are YOU “fishing for men?”
If we are truly following Jesus He says that
He will make us fishers of men.
It is not accomplished in our own power, instead He equips us with His Spirit.
However, we must seek to join Him in His effort to save sinners.
We do this by: accomplishing the same tasks
as Jesus did:
1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO OTHERS
2. TO PROCLAIM FREEDOM TO THOSE
HELD CAPTIVE BY THE LIES OF THE ENEMY
3. TO PROCLAIM THE OPPORTUNITY THAT
IS AVAIALBLE IN CHRIST FOR REAL RECOVERY FROM OUR SINFUL PAST
4. TO DECLARE THE REALITY OF FREEDOM TO THOSE WHO LIVE UNDER THE OPPRESSION OF SIN AND GUILT
5. TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE AGE IN WHICH WE LIVE, AN AGE OF GRACE, MERCY, AND OPPORTUNITY.
THIS AGE IS PASSSING: THE NEXT AGE WILL BE AN AGE OF REWARD FOR THE RIGHTEOUS AND JUDGMENT FOR THE REST