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A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY


AUDIO


The good news of the Kingdom

Jerry Varnado, pastor
Gateway Church, Athens GA

February 1, 2004
  • Main Scripture text: Luke 4:18-21, 31-44.
  • After His baptism and 40-day fast in the wilderness, Jesus returned to Galilee "in the power of the Spirit."

  • In the synagogue at Nazareth, He told the people the Spirit of God was upon Him, anointing Him for service.

  • Quoting from Isaiah, Jesus says He is anointed to:

    1) Proclaim the year of God's favor;
    2) Preach good news to the poor;
    3) Give sight to the blind;
    4) Release the oppressed;
    5) Proclaim release for the prisoners.

  • In Luke's gospel, this event sets the parameters of Jesus' ministry. Throughout the gospel, we see Jesus doing these very things.

  • Luke is also clear, in the Book of Acts, that Jesus was setting the example for what the church was to do.

  • Covering these five things slightly out of order, let's focus first on the year of the Lord's favor:
  • Isaiah, whom Jesus is quoting, was drawing upon the image of the Year of Jubilee, which occurred every 50th year.

  • In that year, debts were forgiven and slaves were set free. Even the land, too, was given a rest from cultivation. It was a time of a fresh start start.

  • Jesus, however, isn't announcing a literal year of God's favor but the beginning of a new era -- the era of salvation inaugurated by His coming.

  • It is the beginning of the end of sin and all its consequences.

  • Next, good news to the poor:
  • Does Jesus mean the materially poor or "the poor in spirit." as in the Beatitudes?(Scripture ref?)

  • I think He means both. Jesus identified with the poor, But He also loved rich young ruler.

  • Still, I think the primary emphasis here is the poor in spirit. In the natural, we are all spiritually poor. All have sinned and we have no resources to undo our sin.

  • The Good News of the kingdom is that in Jesus Christ God has offered forgiveness of sin and spiritual rebirth to all who repent.

  • Give sight to the blind:
  • Again, there is no necessity to distinguish between physical and spiritual sight.

  • Luke 7:21 does say Jesus "gave sight to many who were blind."

  • But the anointing of God is for the purpose of healing every aspect of our broken humanity.

  • We seek to lead people to spiritual truth that will liberate them from the crippling blindness of sin and lead them to a vital relationship with God.

  • Release the oppressed:
  • The word translated oppressed literally translates "crushed" or "bruised."

  • God desires that people be liberated from things that bruise or oppress the human spirit.

  • The anointing of God Is given to set us from everything that keeps us from being all God created us to be.

  • Freedom for the prisoners:

  • The word translated "prisoners" refers to captives as in prisoners of war.

  • Jesus is referring to those taken prisoner by sin and the devil.

  • The anointing of God is for the purpose of proclaiming the good news that by the power that Jesus gives every prisoner can be set free.

  • Years ago I had the privilege of going to St. Croix to visit a friend who was directing Turtle Watch, a program that helped save Leatherback turtles, an endangered species.

  • Our job was to patrol the beach all night to help nesting turtles get back to the safety of the water.

  • God has his own program like Turtle Watch -- it's called "the Church." We are to "patrol the beach" looking for those who are confused and in danger, so we can guide them into sea of God's love, power, and protection.

  • This is the most important thing we are to do as Christians. Are you patrolling the beach in your sphere of influence?

  • We've been given the authority and the power to set the captives free. That is the good news of the Kingdom of God!


Supporting texts: Matthew 5:3 | Mark 10:17-21 | Romans 3:23 | Luke 7:21 | Leviticus 25:10-13


A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here.
(Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.)

An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available
free of charge (U.S. requests only).
Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office.
Please specify tape number 040201a: The Good News of the Kingdom.

© 2004 Gerald R. Varnado

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