Spirit Upon You

11/9/2012

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,^[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
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.

~Isaiah 61:1-3

Let us remember that if we have accepted God's gift of life we have also accepted the Holy Spirit into our lives.  If and when we walk in the Spirit, we also preach Christ with our lives.  

No matter where you are in life, chances are the person or people you come in contact with today only share one thing with you, that is they have troubles too.  However, their troubles may be very different than yours.  Everyone has a story and a past that they have come from and that has shaped them in many ways.  Use your time with that person to ask the Lord how to 'preach' to them.  As Isaiah was prophecying to Judah calling them back to God when they strayed, reminding them of where their hope came from, He told them they are to preach good news to the poor.  I see this 'poor' term more to describe a person that is going through trials without Jesus.  

Remember you are free in the Lord as you have accepted his gift and not only free, but called to 'preach' to others this good news.  As you walk in the Spirit, ask the Lord how you can help bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from prison for the prisoners today. People today may not be in an actual prison, but in a 'thought' prison.  They may be believing lies about themselves such as, 'I will never measure up', 'I can never get things right' or 'there is no hope' and God can send you into their lives today to help them see the truth.  The truth about themselves in Christ, such as 'God's grace covers all' and 'there is a Source of true hope and He is available to you.'

Also telling them He wants to comfort those who mourn and give them praise instead of despair.  How many of us need comforting?  Many of us have some kind of loss we may have experienced in which comforting is needed.  There could be a loss of a job, a parent, a child, a dream, or loss of innocense through an act of terror.  May God comfort others through you today.

And most importantly, that He wants to display His splendor through them and through us.  In telling others about Jesus' hope and comfort, the Lord's splendor is revealed. In accepting His hope and comfort, and rejoicing in  praise because of His truth, His splendor is revealed. Be comforted today. Have hope today. Rejoice today. Give comfort today. Give hope today. Give joy today.