Good News to
the Poor
Isaiah 61:1-2
The
Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to
preach good news to the poor. He has
sent me to:
- bind up the brokenhearted,
- to proclaim freedom for the captives
- release from darkness for the prisoners,
- to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day
of vengeance of our God,
- to comfort all who mourn.
Luke 4:16-21 Jesus
read the above verses in the synagogue, then He rolled up the scroll, handed it
back to the attendant and sat down. All the eyes in the synagogue were staring
at him intently.
Then Jesus said to them:
“The Scripture you have just
heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
*** Good News to the Poor ***
Definition of poor:
Lacking
or deficient on what is needed to be that which is usual, expected or
desirable.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus says "Blessed are the poor for theirs
is the Kingdom of Heaven."
So, who are 'the poor'? In what way are you poor? How does God make you rich?
We can be poor in so many ways: financially, physical
health, mental health, spiritually,
awareness, knowledge, relationships, etc.
"God chose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of
His kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (John 2:5)
1. The broken hearted.
Why are our hearts broken?
Perhaps because we have loved and trusted in the wrong
people and the wrong things?
- We loved someone who was unfaithful to us.
- We loved someone who doesn't love us anymore.
- We loved our job but we didn't get the promotion we
deserved or we were ‘let go’
- We loved a friend who betrayed us.
- We loved our money but our investments failed.
- We loved our children but they have deserted us.
etc.
How does God mend our broken hearts?
- relationships: by showing us how we can be less
selfish, more loving, more patient and considerate with our partners and by
showing us how to pray for a faithful partner who truly loves us.
- business: by showing us how we can be better, more
dedicated, more effective and productive workers and by helping us understand
that our true worth comes from Him and that He is our true boss and that we
work for Him.
- friendships: by showing us where we need to be more
loyal and supportive and compassionate and to help us to listen and observe
where our friends need our help and our prayers.
- financially: by trusting God with our finances and
understanding that it all belongs to Him. By spending less time thinking about
the money we have and the money we don't have. By knowing that He will provide
what we need and more as long as we are generous and share all that we have
with a joyful heart.
- parenthood: by offering our children to God and placing
their lives entirely in His hands. By helping us to understand where we can be
more effective parents that will help our children to grow positively and be
closer to God. To strive to do the best we can for our children without
spoiling them yet teaching them to trust and obey God and us. To know that our
prayers for them are essential and believing that one day they will be saved.
2. Freedom for Captives
How are we captives? What is our prison? What is our jail?
What is preventing us from being set free? What is keeping us in jail?
Jesus said “If you abide in my word, you are truly my
disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free ... everyone who commits sin is a slave
to sin." (John 8:31-36)
Deliver us from evil
...
Imagine swimming in rough waters in the middle of the ocean
and finding it very difficult to stay afloat. Here comes a rowboat with Jesus
in it. He extends His hands to bring us to safety but it is so difficult to
pull us into the boat because we are holding on to so many bags. Jesus asks us
to please let go of these large and heavy bags that are weighing us down. Jesus
promises to give them back to us once we are safe in His arms. "Seek first
the Kingdom of God then all these things will be given to you."
3. Release prisoners in darkness.
How are we prisoners? Are we in the dark?
"My people suffer for lack of knowledge."
What is keeping us in the dark? Do we have a veil over our eyes?
Jesus said “I am the light of this world. Whoever follows me
will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
With Jesus in our hearts, we are also the light of the
world.
Darkness goes away when light appears but light does not go
away when darkness appears.
4. Announce God's blessings and justice
Have we experienced God’s blessings? If not why not?
It is time to experience the love of God!
We must be ready to tell others about God’s love!
5. Bring joy and comfort.
34 “Then the King will
say to those on his right, ‘Come, you
who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for
you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a
stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was
sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
(Matthew 25)