Isa 61:1 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 and
Release from darkness for the prisoners,
Isa 61:2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and
To proclaim the day of vengeance of our God,
To comfort all who mourn,
Isa 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion

To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning, and
A garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
A planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

What they can do on this earth for the Lord?

Isa 61:4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and
Restore the places long devastated;
They will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Isa 61:5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
Foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

How you will be recognized?

Isa 61:6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
You will be named ministers of our God.

What you will get in return for your service to the Lord?

You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
Isa 61:7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion,
And instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance;
And so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
And everlasting joy will be theirs.

What God wants from us?

Isa 61:8 "For I, the LORD, Love justice;
God hate robbery and
God hate iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them and
Make an everlasting covenant with them.

The reward

Isa 61:9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed."

Isa 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

61:1-3 JESUS CHRIST, Foretold--This passage was originally intended to give comfort to the exiles. Jesus used it as His manifesto delivered in the synagogue at Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry (Lk 4:16-19). Jesus' ministry did not meet the Jewish leaders' expectations. It did meet God's . The Spirit directed Jesus' ministry and fulfilled Old Testament expectations of the Messiah. See Isa 61:1-2. Jesus affirmed the Spirit's role in His life by quoting Isaiah. He lived the fulfillment out in the years of His earthly ministry. He intends His followers to continue living it out in our own time. Compare Jas 1:27.

Luke 4:18 & 19, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, Luke 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Luke 4:18 EVIL AND SUFFERING, God's Present Help--Jesus' ministry, anticipated in Isa 61:1-2, was addressed to the needs of suffering humanity. He demonstrated what God's kingdom is. The kingdom is not pride in prosperity and power. It is helping the needy enjoy life's necessities. It is not greater wealth for the rich but deserved reward for the faithful. Jesus and His kingdom overcome the injustice and evil of this world. His ministry is the model for ours. Participating in His kingdom by faith now ensures participation in the final victory of His kingdom.

4:18-21 REVELATION, Jesus Christ--God's plan for Jesus was to fulfill the purpose set forth in Isaiah's commission. Jesus declared He was God's fulfillment of that promise and plan. Hometown people who knew Jesus best rejected Him first. Even the supreme revelation of God in Christ was not obvious and compelling. Faith is necessary to recognize revelation.

4:18-21 DISCIPLESHIP, Persons--Jesus announced that His ministry would meet every human need and would fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. Through the Spirit's power His disciples share His ministry. The way we meet human needs demonstrates whether we truly are His disciples. This commitment will be revealed on judgment day. See notes on 14:12-14; [Luke 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. Luke 14:13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, Luke 14:14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."]

DISCIPLESHIP, Persons--Discipleship is not a social hour we share with our group. Discipleship is using every occasion of life to minister to persons in need. Participation in God's kingdom is our reward, not participation in earthly award ceremonies. Jesus told His Pharisee host he should have a banquet for handicapped persons rather than for relatives and rich friends. Then he would receive God's blessings. See note on Mt 25:34-46. The handicapped should participate fully in our programs and fellowship.

Mt 25:34-46. [Mat 25:34 "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. Mat 25:35 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, Mat 25:36 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.']

Mat.25:34 CREATION , Redemption--The physical world with its lavish material wealth was not God's goal in creation. Establishment of His eternal kingdom was His goal. Since we are all His creation, He loves everyone. We will be judged, therefore, by what we have done to help one another, especially those who, being weak, have great need. This passage stands as a great challenge to us and supplements rather than contradicts the doctrine of justification by faith. Those who have been saved by grace and transformed by the Spirit of God will respond affirmatively to such a challenge. It is the proof of our salvation, not the means of securing it.

25:34 ELECTION , Predestination--The admission of the elect into the blessedness of God's kingdom has been assured from the foundations of the world. God's eternal purpose has been to create a kingdom of holy people devoted to Him. The purpose has always included separation of His people from the unbelieving world. Compare Ex 19:3-6; Eze 34:17; Heb 12:4.

25:34 SALVATION , Blessing--Those who do the Father's will are blessed. Their inheritance is the kingdom of God , prepared for them since the creation of the world.

25:34-46 DISCIPLESHIP, Rewarded--When the Lord returns, the distinction between those who served God and those who did not will be made clear as all stand before the judgment seat for the great separation. The way we served will determine whether or not we are Christ's disciples. Those who serve with proper motives serve the Lord by serving people in need. See note on 6:1-4. [Mat 6:3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, Mat 6:4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.] They will be rewarded with the inheritance of the kingdom God has prepared since the beginning of time. Those who are not Christ's disciples will receive eternal punishment as their lot. See note on 2 Pe 1:10-11 DISCIPLESHIP, Rewarded--Peter encouraged his readers to cultivate qualities of true discipleship (vv 5-8) and, thereby, to grow spiritually. As reward for such discipleship, disciples will be warmly welcomed to inherit eternal life in God's kingdom. See note on Mt 25:34-46.

1:10-11 LAST THINGS, Coming Kingdom--The kingdom of God in its future aspects awaits with rich welcome those who live and die within the certainty of divine calling and election. Unfaithfulness generates a sense of uncertainty, while a productive life based on Christ's standards enlarges one's confidence in Christ's eternal kingdom.

Mat.25:37-46 CHRISTIAN ETHICS, Righteousness--Jesus draws our attention to the least of this world (the widows, orphans, aliens, and poor of the Old Testament). Our response to these who have no advocate and are unable to help themselves gives us some indication of the validity of the bond we profess to have with Christ. Jesus virtually says to see Him we must recognize Him in the hungry, thirsty, strangers, sick, and imprisoned around us. If we love Him, would we not go to Him? Then, let us love Him through these oppressed humans. See notes on DISCIPLESHIP, Poor, Hungry, Homeless, Oppressed in the Disciple's Study Bible help file).

61:1-3 HOLY SPIRIT, Hope--The Spirit makes ministry for God possible. Jesus used this passage as a text for the first sermon He preached. He claimed to fulfill Isaiah's promise in His ministry (Lk 4:16-22). So Jesus understood that the Spirit of God gave Him prophetic power to preach God's message and to provide salvation for oppressed people. Jesus calls us to minister as He did. The Spirit will empower our ministry as it did His.

61:1-11 CHRISTIAN ETHICS, Righteousness--Righteous actions marked the ministry to which God called His prophet. Jesus saw this as His calling, too (Lk 4:16-21). We will do well to take up the same calling to help the needy, be priests to the nations, [Exo 19:6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."] and establish the justice God loves. Then the blessings promised Abraham will be realized. The world will see God's new order of righteousness. Isa. 56:1-8 SALVATION, Definition--God's salvation includes foreigners and eunuchs as well as His exiled people. He goes beyond the Law (Dt 23:1-3) in His saving grace. His grace extends to physically mutilated persons (Ac 8:26-40; vs.26-27 REVELATION, Angels--Angels are messengers from God who often instruct God's followers on decisions and actions they should take to follow God's will. The messengers appear to be human or divine, for God uses both in the Scriptures to reveal His will to people. Here the angel is an instrument of the Spirit (v 29). See note on Ge 18:1--19:29.) [18:1--19:29 REVELATION, Messengers--God surprised even Abraham, communicating through messengers (human beings who deliver God's message) who arrived unexpectedly. The ancient near eastern custom of hospitality is clear here, for it was an offense not to offer food and shelter to the stranger at the door. The Hebrew text provokes mystery by alternating singular and plural references to the guests after introducing the section with God's appearance in the same language of 17:1. The messengers were men who could leave, Abraham then being alone with God (v 22). The messengers could eat and have their feet washed. Messenger and angel is the same word in the Hebrew (mal'ak). The disbelief of both future parents underscores God's ability to carry out His revealed plans even with limited faith.] and to Gentiles (Isa 51:4-5; 52:10). Jesus quoted from v 7 when He cleansed the Temple (Mk 11:17). None is excluded from salvation because of race, nationality, color, economic condition, or the like. Salvation is available to any person ready to trust and serve God.

Is.61:1-2 WORSHIP, Proclamation--See note on Jer 26:2-7. WORSHIP, Proclamation--God instructed the prophet to preach to the people in the house of God when they came to worship. Proclamation of God's Word is a part of genuine worship. This aspect of worship is most clearly seen in the time of the prophets (44:20-29; Isa 61:1-2; 63:7; Eze 33:31). It continued as a pattern in worship in the New Testament church (Lk 4:15-21; Ac 20:20-21). One of the prominent features seen in these passages is the reading of the Word of God, a vital aspect of proclamation. See note on Ne 8:1-6. WORSHIP, Proclamation--The reading of the Word of God was used to lead a great revival in worship. This revival was characterized by confession and repentance. Reading and proclaiming God's Word is a basic part of worship. Compare Col 3:16. See note on Jer 26:2-7. 3:16 WORSHIP, Music--See note on Eph 5:19-20. Music and teaching played vital roles in New Testament worship. Music played a strong role in the worship of the early church. Praise and thanksgiving were expressed through music. The early church learned to worship God with thanksgiving for everything. A grateful heart is necessary for worship. See notes on Ex 15:1-21; 1 Ch 6:31-32; 16:4.

61:1-3 PROCLAMATION, Anointing--When we faithfully proclaim the gospel, God anoints that proclamation. He fills it with power (Mic 3:8; Lk 4:17-19; 1 Th 1:4-5). What God commands us to do, He enables us to do. God does not call the equipped. He equips the called. We experience great joy when we sense the anointing of God upon our lives. When we rest wholly on Him and are in obedience to His Word, He fills us with His presence and power. Compare Ac 4:31-33; 1 Co 2:1-5; 2 Ti 4:17. Some proclamation is without this anointing. Even this kind of proclamation is not without effect (Php 1:14-18) because the Word of God is alive, powerful, and as sharp as a two-edged sword (Heb 4:12). How tragic it is, however, for God to have to work through sin and rebellion in the life of the proclaimer. The anointed proclamation of the prophet was directed to groups of people often ignored by society's power brokers. Proclamation has content bringing hope to people in need.

61:1-3 MISSIONS, Nature--This passage may have applied first to the prophet and/or to the remnant nation Israel . Jesus applied it to Himself and said it found fulfillment in Him (Lk 4:16-20). When we couple this fulfillment with Christ sending out His disciples in the same manner (Jn 20:21), the prophetic call becomes an important description of the nature of missions for all times: (1) missions is a divine activity of the Sovereign God; (2) the Spirit of God calls persons to the task; (3) the Spirit of God anoints or selects; (4) the nature of missions includes preaching the good news to the poor; (5) missions goes beyond proclamation and extends to deeds of love; and (6) the gospel brings freedom from fear, sin, vice, superstition, and oppressive conditions. Missions is God's work through His anointed people to meet the spiritual and physical needs of people. The "year of the LORD's favor'' seems to refer to the Year of Jubilee, which came every fifty years. It included freedom for slaves, the forgiveness of debts, and the restoration of lost properties (Lev 25:3-13). The Christian understanding of this message includes the proclamation of freedom, forgiveness, and new life in Christ Jesus. Christian messengers must be committed to helping persons become all they can become in Christ.

61:6 EVANGELISM, Involves--Persons who declare the gospel are seen as priests (Exo 19:6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.") and ministers. They stand before God in prayer for people and minister the gospel. That depth of involvement wins others to Christ. God calls us to serve people's needs (vv 1-3) and to evangelize the nations. Service, prayer, and proclamation are all parts of the evangelistic task.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure [Mat 25:34 �36] and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. A word for "religion" (Gk. <threskeia,> meaning <religious service>) is used in the N.T.: (1) for external observances (Acts 26:5; James 1:26; Col 2:18, "worship"); and (2) in the sense of a believer's good works (James 1:27). It is never used as synonymous with salvation or spirituality.

Deu 14:28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns,

Deu 14:29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deu 15:1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.

Deu 26:12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

Amos 4:4 "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Compare 1 Ki 12:25 - 33. Any altar at Bethel , after the establishment of the LORD's worship at Jerusalem , was of necessity schismatic and idolatrous (Deu 12:4 - 14). Cp. John 4:21 - 24; also Mat 18:20; Heb 13:10 - 14.

Amos 3:14

Amos 5:21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.

Amos 5:22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.

Amos 5:23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

Amos 5:24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Amos 5:25 "Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel ?

What is the real spiritual act of worship?

Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy,

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices , holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

Rom 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Rom 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Rom 12:4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, Rom 12:5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

The pattern of God's kingdom which is to be followed by all His children.

Rom 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
Rom 12:7 If it is serving, let him serve;
if it is teaching, let him teach;
Rom 12:8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;
if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Rom 12:9 Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good.
Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Rom 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Rom 12:12 Be joyful in hope,
Patient in affliction,
Faithful in prayer.
Rom 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn.
Rom 12:16 Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited. [Proud]
Rom 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
Rom 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Rom 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Rom 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Yours in the kingdom of God's service,
Rev. Dr. T. Marcus Devasahayam.