The Mission: Bring Good News

Read: Luke 4:16-21

In one of His first messages Jesus was very focused on His mission. He was certain of the answer to the question: “Why am I here?”

Christ means “the anointed One” – He is not just another anointed one, He is THE Anointed One.

He is greater than a mere messenger, He is The Message.
He is greater than a mere announcer, He is The Announcement.
He is greater than a mere healer, He is The Healing.
He is greater than a fulfiller of Scripture, He is The Fulfillment.
He is greater than a mere bringer of Good News, He is The Good News.

This gospel, Jesus, came for the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. This is who you are. You are poor spiritually with no personal spiritual strength. You are captive to sin with no ability to rescue yourself from sin. You are blind to the spiritual world, blinded by the god of this age. You are oppressed by your own evil passions and by those whose passions have been used to thwart justice.

You must always remember the nature of the world, of your neighbors, and of the gospel. The gospel is for you. The gospel is for them. The church is in peril if believers forget these things. H.M. Butler of Cambridge University was born in 1833. He said this about the importance of missionary work from England: “If it pass away from England, it is not too much to say that the life of England will have departed.”

Jesus has passed to the church the work of proclaiming the Lord’s favor. Proclaim the gospel. Share the good news with the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. Do not allow that missionary zeal to pass from you, for if it does so will your very life.

Questions:

Why are you going on this trip? What goals should you set for yourself on this trip? What should your focus be while you are on mission?

Your Prayer Today:

Thank You Lord for bringing me out of slavery to sin and forgiving all of my transgressions. Put Your passion for the world in my heart. Give me opportunities to share the gospel and give me boldness to speak. I want to see the world the way You see it. I want to have Your compassion for others. Please ignite the flame of the missionary spirit in my church and keep it burning for generations to come.