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Good News to the Poor, Liberty to the Captives

December 21, 2014 Preacher: Series: Christmas in ISAIAH

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1–61:11

Key Truth: Jesus Christ is the Suffering Servant who came to preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives who will all serve God’s missional purpose for His glory.

 

Introduction:

 

Q: What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “the good news”?

“For we are not saved by believing in our own salvation, nor by believing anything whatsoever about ourselves. We are saved by what we believe about the Son of God and His righteousness. The gospel believed saves; not the believing in our own faith.”

Horatius Bonar, Everlasting Righteousness

 

Isaiah 61:1-6: The Suffering Servant’s Purpose:

“Who are the poor? Those who are so broken by life that they have no more heart to try; those who are so bound up in their various addictions that liberty and release are a cruel mirage; those who think that they will never again experience the favor of the Lord, or see his just vengeance meted out against those who have misused them; those who think that their lives hold nothing more than ashes, sackcloth, and the fainting heaviness of despair. These are they to whom the Servant/Messiah shouts ‘Good news!’”

John N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah: Chapters 40-66

Q: Who is truly poor, brokenhearted, and captive? Have you ever experienced any of these at any level? How did any of this change for you?

 

Isaiah 61:7-9: The Lord’s Promise:

“The Lord required unreserved commitment from his people, and anything less was robbery. He now recalls this in order to illustrate the fact that in his faithfulness he will himself hold nothing back when he recompenses his people. He will live up to his own standards.”

J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary

Q: How has God transformed your shame and dishonor? How has He used this transformation to reveal His glory and faithfulness to others?

 

Isaiah 61:10-11: The Prophet’s Response:

“Let us be ashamed that we can be so regardless of God’s honour, and so indifferent about the salvation of our fellow-men. And, whilst we pray to God to effect this great work, let us, according to our respective abilities, be “fellow-workers with him;” and never rest till ‘the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest’ (Is. 32:15).” 

Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae Vol. 8, XXVII-LXVI

Q: Where are you sowing and/or watering the seeds of the Advents? How has God granted and provided the increase to His glory?

 

Application:

“The gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner recesses of the heart.”

John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life

 

Jesus Christ is the Suffering Servant who came to preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and liberty to the captives in order that:

-we would be transformed into oaks of righteousness to the glory of the Lord

-we could participate in restoration and renewal as priests and ministers

-we would have our shame and dishonor transformed by the faithfulness of the Lord

-we could sow and water the seeds of redemption and God grant the missional increase

 

Benediction:

Revelation 22:17-21

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