2. Sullivan Family 2017

3. “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:16-21

4. Two components inherent in what Jesus said he came to do:
Proclaim
and
2. Practice or
Declare and Do or Demonstrate.
The point- -that God’s people would speak what is true and then live in a way that models that truth.

5. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” James 1:22-24

6. Declare and Demonstrate what?
1. good news to the poor
2. freedom for the prisoners
3. recovery of sight for the blind
4. set the oppressed free
5. to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
The year of the Lord’s favor?

7. It is the "year" in which the full plan and purpose of God is accomplished – this "year" being not a literal year, but the full cycle – the FINISHED cycle -- of restoration in God’s redemptive plan. This "acceptable year of the Lord," is what Jesus preached all through His ministry, and which He, Himself, came to accomplish.

8. ”To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:21-23

9. Why quote this passage in 1 Peter?
Without a heart of humility and a spirit of brokenness our proclamation will be arrogant and our demonstration will be self-promoting and self absorbed.

10. So what is HE sending us out to do?
“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. “ John 17:18
“Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21
So what is HE sending us out to do?

11. Start with the END in mind…
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice: salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb ” Revelation 7: 9 NIV

12. The BIG Idea

13. Matthew 28:18-20
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations (ethne), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

14. “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free, and we are all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made of one part but of many.”
1 Corinthians 12: NIV

16. “OUR” part – collectively:
“God’s purpose in all of this was to use the church to display His wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was His eternal plan which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3: NLT

18. Here is the mystery revealed!
“And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3: 6 NLT

19. “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
Colossians 3:11 NIV

20. “ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female
“ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are all true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.”
Galatians 3:28-29 NLT
All of the categories mentioned in these passages represent the barriers that most often keep us divided!
Religious, Economic, Gender, Ethnic, barriers of Oppression and any other thing that could humanly keep us divided!

21. Unique glory bearers!
“Arise! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth. But the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All the nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Look and see, for everyone is coming home!” Isaiah 60: 1-4a NLT

23. “ I am in them and you are in me
“ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” John 17:23 NLT
“…so that - through the church (in all of it’s rich variety) - the wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 3:10 ESV

24. “Look and see, for everyone is coming home!” Isaiah 60: 4a NLT