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Good morning my ‘Walking with Jesus’ friends,
As the battle of politics in America intensifies, with now less than 40 days remaining until the election, and the ferocity of the debate over the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg reaches a fever pitch… how are you processing all the voices, all the conflicting information? What is the right path for you and me to walk as the future of America will, in many ways, be determined in these next weeks.
What does God say to us in all this wave after wave of information and political opinion, that nearly drowns us? How do you discern wisdom and truth that will help you develop your position on the issues which face us? What difference should your voice make in all the noise?
Listen again to Isaiah 61:1,2 “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and 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…”
Now which of all the media voices is courageous enough to speak like that? Can any of all the politicians stand up and with confidence and integrity say those words? May I suggest that God is saying to you, me, and every person who is touched by the American political and judicial decisions being made… listen to those who speak anointed by the Spirit of God. Be cautious about how much you listen to those who are not!
What if God made mute every public voice who did not meet the criteria of Isaiah 61:1,2? Would there be any voices still speaking? May I suggest one voice that is particularly articulate in helping us consider a Biblical, Christian perspective with any and all of the issues facing us today? Dr. Al Mohler offers a daily podcast of Biblical clarity called “The Briefing” and you’ll see a link on the resources page of our “Walking with Jesus” website. I listen to it almost everyday, and I urge you to also.
Do you see in Isaiah 61:2 the phrase ‘the year of the LORD’s favor’? It would have awakened, in the hearts of Jewish listeners, a great anticipation of ‘the year of jubilee’. (Leviticus 25:8-17) Every 50th year was to be a very special year of bounty, blessing, celebration, debt forgiveness, and even slave emancipation, all through Israel. But may I suggest that as we apply Isaiah 61:1,2 to the authentic followers of Jesus in our day, all over the world, this outpouring of God’s favor from Him to us, and from His people to each other, could be EVERY year, in fact every day of every year! What would that be like my friends, to live daily being lavished by God’s favor, poured from Him to His people, so that we then pour it out upon our world?
Is this what Galatians 5:22,23 is speaking about? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Since we live by the Spirit, let’s keep in step with the Spirit…” Is this part of what Paul meant when he wrote this: “In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Eph. 1:7,8)
Do you see the difference God’s people should be making in our world if we are truly anointed by the Holy Spirit of God, living in the freedom Jesus Christ has purchased for us, living as beloved sons and daughters of the Most High God, living empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit and speaking God’s truth into our world? Is that happening where you live my friends? If not, why not? Are you tracking with the plans of Franklin Graham and hundreds of thousands of people to participate in PrayerMarch2020 the day after tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 26? It’s a call to prayer in response to the chaos and anarchy and division and dysfunction and sin in America. I urge you to participate from wherever you will be Saturday morning. Here’s the website: https://
My friends, down through history it has been very important that people listen to God’s voice of warning, and respond in repentance. They didn’t in Noah’s day, (Gen. 6) nor in the days of Abraham in the town of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). But they did when the prophet Jonah went into the wicked city of Nineveh and warned the people. In that case it was actually the political leaders of the nation who called and led the people to repentance! God withdrew His hand of judgment and He spared the city from His warned destruction! If you haven’t read that amazing story lately, these days might be the right time, considering conditions in America. You’ll find it in the Bible book titled “Jonah”.
In Isaiah 61:2 it’s wonderful to hear of God’s blessing, but we must also hear the rest of the verse and hear God’s warning: “…and the day of vengeance of our God.” The truth is, from the beginning of the human race, God has invited His human creation to live honorable, peaceful, blessed lives, in relationship with HIM, or the alternative will naturally be selfish, wicked, dysfunctional living in rebellion against God, and that path will harm each other and fill our world with pain. God’s response to the former is “God’s favor”. God’s response to the latter is ‘vengeance of our God.” Both are seen in this Isaiah 61:2 verse. And all through history we have examples of what it looks like when God pours out His vengeance. Sometimes it’s natural disasters which He allows or sends. Sometimes it’s illness plagues. Sometimes it’s God allowing wickedness to consume people, and in their unbridled evil they pour out unspeakable pain, suffering and death upon each other. As you reflect back on history, it’s not difficult to see examples of all these, all around the world, is it? Is God doing the same thing in our day?
And so we need to embrace the last phrase of Isaiah 61:2... “…to comfort all who mourn.” Do you see this is the role of God’s people who can say “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me…”? Wherever these, God’s people live all around the world, we are to be comforters of those who mourn. How? By speaking words which will bring PEACE into troubled hearts. Do you remember what the shepherds heard that amazing night when suddenly angels filled the sky announcing God was coming to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel? “Glory to God in the highest and on earth PEACE to men on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14). Do you see that’s what Isaiah is saying to you and me, that we should be doing, my friends? We who are anointed by the Spirit of God should be speaking and acting in ways which bring God’s peace, His comfort into our mourning world. Are we?
Now… let me put the microphone in front of your mouth... based on all you know about Jesus, all you have experienced in your spiritual journey, all you know about God’s truth the Bible, what are your words of advice? HOW do God’s people, all around the world, ‘…comfort those who mourn…’? May I urge you to take your journal right now, and start writing… what is your message of God anointed HOPE and COMFORT for our broken world. . .
Oh Lord Jesus, I’m asking You to guide the thinking of thousands of Jesus followers, all around the world RIGHT NOW, as we start writing what You, Holy Spirit, bring to our minds and our hearts… the message and action of Hope and Comfort which YOU want us to bring to the part of the world where we each live… And then help us deliver that message TODAY!
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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