Hope Restores

If I rewind back to 2003, 20 years ago…I remember this passage. I even remember where I was when it clicked. I was at Falls Creek, on the planning committee, and there for a 2 day retreat with James Lankford (pre-Congress) and a bunch of people I didn’t know very well. Amanda and I were about 3 or 4 months into talking about planting a church…we were scheduled for a boot camp in January…and less than 6 people knew what we were planning.

(Tell story of that night)

This passage came out of nowhere that night when I got back to my sleeping quarters…and in almost 20 years I have not been able to shake it. When I started working on this series, I didn’t intend to touch on it, but it would not leave me alone.

When I think about hope, this is the passage that I will never forget…and truthfully, it is the one that forms the foundation of this church to this day…Isaiah 61:1-4.

This is the passage that formed the text of Jesus’ first sermon. It defined what His mission and ministry were to be. It is probably the passage I hav preached on more at West Metro than any other. I’m not sorry for that. If we could grasp this, it would transform our community. If we could put it into practice, it would change every aspect of our lives- and I say “we” intentionally…I am a fellow struggler.

(Read passage)

The first thing to get, is the whole thing starts with the arrival of the Spirit. When God shows up things change. That hasn’t changed. I think one of the biggest hurdles for us to get over as followers of Jesus when it comes to reaching the world, is helping a lost world see the difference between the professors and the possessors.

We have a lot of pretenders in the American Church today. People who call themselves “Christians” on surveys and censuses and in public spaces, who have not only never met Jesus, but they could not explain the Gospel if you told them you would give them a million dollars for a three sentence summary.

When the Spirit invades your life, things are going to be different. How you live, what you say, what you believe, what you bless, what you desire..it is a long list. It is a long term major surgery where every aspect of your life is being examined and renewed. (Gospel presentation here)

And part of that renewal is a change in purpose! The “anointing” that is referred to is a symbol of God’s calling, choosing, instructing…you have not only a new way of life, you have a new purpose.

Isaiah 40–66 God’s Anointed One Preaches Good News (61:1–7)

The coming of the Spirit is repeatedly connected to significant changes on the earth and God’s establishment of his Kingdom (11:2; 32:15; 42:1; 44:3; 48:16; 59:21), but the “me” who receives the Spirit in this verse is not immediately identified by name. God’s anointing of a person is often connected to the reception of the Spirit (1 Sam 10:1, 9–10; 16:13; 2 Sam 23:1–2; 1 Kgs 19:16), but the key factor to be noted is that it is God who empowers and directs this person through the Spirit. Thus the Anointed One is doing tasks assigned by God (he was sent by God), and the power of the Spirit will guarantee that he will successfully accomplish the will of God

We are all casting about for purpose- for life, for tragedy, for pain, for circumstances…what if Jesus has the answers, and is just patiently waiting for us to agree with Him, rather than desiring something bigger. The real satisfaction comes in being obedient…not known.

As we move thru verse 1 into verses 2-3 we see all the people that the hope of the Lord will come upon:

the poor- those in monetary need- the people most likely to be forgotten, overlooked, or maligned- they get good news!- another way to translate this is the “afflicted”- which can be anyone oppressed by another…so this isn’t just the monetarily poor, but the poorly looked upon or treated

the brokenhearted- those who have been shattered by life or people or catastrophe- they get mended...”bound up”-

the captives- those who have been jailed literally or figuratively- in prisons real and imagined- addicted, criminals, enslaved- they are liberated

the mourners- those who have lost people they have loved and cared for- they receive comfort and they are so restored, they are almost unrecognizable- and their transformation brings God glory

Over all of this, verse 2 makes a proclamation- a year of favor and a day of vengeance

Favor endures…it does not fade quickly

Vengeance comes swiftly and totally- it is unavoidable

Why are these so important and in parallel? They indicate how God brings His hope- He is bringing hope that lasts and that dispenses justice! We need that promise!

Verse 3 continues this picture of transformation that arrives. Mourning in the OT was often pictured with ashes on peoples heads and faces. People who mourned were bereft- they had no oil to be anointed with- and now they have oil…and they are no longer fainting from the weight of their pain…they are dressed and ready.

This isn’t just an outward transformation…it is an inward healing

Isaiah 40–66 God’s Anointed One Preaches Good News (61:1–7)

This metaphorical way of describing the outward transformation of a person’s clothes and behavior betrays a deep transformation of this person’s situation as well as their psychological reaction (by their “spirit” rûaḥ) to the changes God will introduce at this time

And this inward healing turns them into oaks…look at the end of vs 3- they are unshakable and they are plantings- vines, a vineyard- that produce fruit!

Isaiah 40–66 God’s Anointed One Preaches Good News (61:1–7)

These “plantings” (his people) are God’s vines planted in his vineyard (5:1–7; 27:2–6), and at this time they will produce the fruit of righteousness instead of bad fruit. The symbolism of being like oaks may communicate how strong, well-rooted, and glorious these righteous people will be

And out of this arrival comes renewal- look at verse 4

Building, Raising, Repairing…words of hope…words that show what our God is capable of…when we trust Him to do the work

We need this reconstruction…this renewal…this hope…and it comes because Jesus came...