“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord ’s favor has come. ”
Luke 4:18-19 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.4.18-19.NLT
Are you ready to make this claim, my Christian friends?
Or have you not received the gift of the Holy Spirit? Does Christ not live within you?
Test yourself to show yourself approved. Are you a Child of God or are you still sons of wickedness?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour, but striving for righteousness to bring Him honor and glory?
The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me. I can tell you this not only boldly trusting in the Lord, but humbly knowing that I do not deserve it. Nothing that I have done or will do is worthy of this Grace, this calling, this touch of God upon my life. But nevertheless, I tell you it is true. And I say it boldly, not to boast in myself, but to boast in Christ who lives in me.
He has called me to bring Good News to the poor. And those stockpiling the delicacies and comforts of this world are just as poor as those on the streets tired to their addictions. Those chasing after money and sex and pleasure are just as poor as those sitting in pews practicing traditions and doctrines of men. The treasures that we seek here on the earth are in no comparison to the glories of eternity. The Good News is that He tells us, blessed are the poor in spirit. So if we are going to be poor, let us be humble and seek first the Kingdom of God so that all these things will be added to us.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released. If we are a captive to our sins and want to be released from them, He tells us to cry out to Him, to confess our sins in His name, to believe in Him, to surrender our lives to have Him in authority over our lives, and those chains will be released. But if we cling to those chains, if we long for the chains, how can we say we are prisoners. Understand the chains that bind. See that you are in bondage to death and sin, and cry out to Jesus for your salvation.
That the blind will see. If you have no eyes to see and understand those things spiritual and eternal, listen to the words of my teacher, for my teacher is the Word of God, and in it you will find the fear of God that leads to wisdom and understanding. Your eyes will be opened to see the light, and you will no longer stumble in the darkness veiled to the truth of the Word of God. You will find healing both for your soul and for your body in the faith that can move mountains.
That the oppressed will be set free. Yes, Christ demonstrates to us that the trials, the persecutions, the actions of our enemies are no longer oppression when we walk with Him, but they are opportunities to let Him shine forth in our lives. This is because He can turn what the enemy planned as stumbling blocks into a stairway lifting us up close to Him – as the fruit of the Holy Spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in response to challenges is clearly a different response than our nature would produce.
And that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. The favor of the Lord is upon me. I do not seek after riches or wealth or glory or honor amongst men, but I seek to lift up His holy name by serving others, by following Him, by bearing the burdens of one another, by loving even those who think they are my enemy. And in this surrender, I have found both treasures that are eternal in Hope, Faith, and Love – and the Lord is proven Faithful and True by providing everything that I need to fulfill my true purpose and calling white I travel through this foreign land. You see, I am a Son of the One True God, I am a member of His royal priesthood, I am a Student at the feet of my master, I am a servant at the feet of my fellow man. And He provides overflowing and abundantly.
Do not misunderstand my words, I am not saying look to me or follow me. I am saying see past this flesh suit and see the, Christ who lives in me. Know that His promises are true. Make Him your Lord and Savior. Sit at His feet as your teacher and get the Word of God directly from the source. Know His love upon your life.
And know the anointing upon your life as well, my friends.
I love you. You are my brothers and sisters in Christ. Awake. Arise. Be born again in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, and walk in His Spirit that is life, not in the flesh. For the wages of sin is death.
Know the mercies of His Amazing Grace, live your life as a living testimony of Christ who lives in you. Count the cost of Discipleship and set your eyes upon the true purpose for your life. Give Him the honor and praise and glory that He deserves.
Harold J. Ballinger 