From This Day Forward

Jesus Christ opened his ministry by reading from God's word about his own life:

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah 61:1-2). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach (evangelize) the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach (herald) deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.    Luke 4:17-19

The Spirit of the lord was upon him. The wind in his sails was the spirit of God. He was 'anointed' by God to 'speak the good news'  to those who felt spiritual poverty and humbly desired to know how to fill their lives with the power of God. We have all felt 'spiritual poverty'.  The world around us often makes us feel that way. When we truly understand God's desire for our lives we should never feel  lack. Our hearts are healed.

In the Old Testament when individuals were anointed, oil was rubbed on their heads signifying God's authority. Oil represents the spirit of God.  The holy spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost following Christ's being raised to his authorized position as God's right-hand man. That day, all who believed could receive the anointing of God and receive power to carry out God's work on this earth. We need to see that these actions contained in this verse apply to us too.

We can herald forth the privileges of the kingdom to those who are caught in the web of the world's ideological prisons. We can help set captives free. Prisons are dark with no spiritual light. As people hear the good news, their eyes are opened just as the lids of our eyes opened reveal light, the dark prisons of people's minds are opened by the light of God's word. Everything changes. We don't have to sit back and wade through all the mud the world throws at us, we are to be the ones who permeate this world with the light of God's deliverance.  We don't have to look back at the chains. We are a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17) and we have the ministry of reconciliation. We are no more on defense, we take charge spiritually over the darkness and we do it by exercising our righteousness.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

None of us are angry victims, we are victors. Forget victimhood! God's righteousness brings peace, joy and powerful results. In 'everything we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) and we can do 'exceedingly abundantly according to the power that works in us' (Ephesians 3:20). This thinking is not a bunch not pious platitudes, it is a real call to a winning mindset and subsequent actions that change the world.

Rise Up and Walk

The first miracle recorded after the the great outpouring of holy spirit after the Day of Pentecost is

Resurrection Power

recorded in Acts 3:1-8:

3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up (wake, arouse or rise up) and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

It is one of my favorite records. The difference between how this crippled man received help through begging for alms and others carrying him around to what Peter and John woke him up to is huge. "Rise up and walk!' It is God's gracious gift  through the accomplished work of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God's power  awakens all who believe. This isn't about alms or giving in the physical sense. This is spiritual! God's gift of holy spirit is means of empowerment to all who believe.

I see a lot of memes and comments engaging in 'virtue signaling' these days stirring up sympathy and dependent enabling as a path to to help people, What really works to help people is godly empowerment. Yes, we offer our hand, but individuals have to wake and rise up by believing God. It is not something we do for them or force them to accept. It is what God can do in them that is the greatest boost of all!! That is what we can share with anyone who will listen!

It is as true today as it was back at the time of the resurrection.. It applies to Hebrews, Gentiles, blacks, white, males, females, children or aged ones.  It is the answer to racism, sexism, bigotry and discrimination. God has left no one behind. He is no respecter of persons. Wouldn't you just love to walk through all the so-called 'peaceful protests' and share this message?  Wouldn't you love to see people walking and leaping and praising God instead of this crazy stuff going on?  We just need to say what Peter an John said: 'Silver and gold have I none but what I know and have experienced, I can share with you' and leave it up to them to make the choice of believing it or not.