Our Savior Calls

I recently heard a testimony of Dr. Randy Jumper who was on a church mission’s trip to Sudan when a civil war broke out. In early 2023, a civil war broke out just outside the hotel where they were staying. Dr. Jumper was on an exploratory missions team because the nation had just opened for the first time in a decade. Two days after they arrived it erupted into a civil war and the 3-man team was trapped in the hotel. For several days they waited in fear and confusion hoping to be able to get to safety. More days passed and they began to minister to the others regardless of whether they were Christian or Muslim. It was then that they heard of the State Department’s plan to get them. They finally had some hope of being saved. When the day came, the US authorities were not able to get them out and they were left stranded without any safety net. Here is where it really gets amazing.

Stranded and without anyone to help Dr. Jumper and his 2 friends continued to pray. As they prayed the Spirit directed them into a passage in 2 Samuel that would become a prophetic laying out of God’s plan to rescue them. The passage said that foreigners would come to their rescue, enemies would become servants, the Lord will send the rain and dark clouds would fill the sky. After the prayer meeting that morning, they were told they could stay no longer. Then, things began to fall in place. The head of Al Jazeera in Sudan offered his driver and told them that he could get them across town (a foreigner came to their rescue). As they stepped out of the hotel, they saw a cloud in the sky. It was April, a dry month in Sudan, and there had been no rain in April for years. This cloud turned into a storm that covered the city. As it rained, they drove through the city, now a silent battlefield, past checkpoints of the Sudanese and RSF until they got to their destination at the Rotana hotel. As they pulled into the hotel, the rain stopped, and the sun came out.

Miracle after miracle continued until finally, they were able to get to a Saudi Arabian warship, travel through the Mediterranean Sea, down the Red Sea, and ultimately to safety.[1]

There were several people that were a part of saving these missionaries from harm, but the Savior was the Lord and unmistakably the Lord! No one could have orchestrated the miracle the way God did, and certainly no one else could have sent the saving storm.

We Have a Savior in Jesus

Yes, we have a Savior! The traditional reading of the birth of Jesus contain these words:

Luke 2:8–12 NIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Focus in on verse 11, “a Savior has been born to you”. Often this is overlooked – unless you are in need of being saved! Jesus is the Savior – He continues to save us from spiritual death and from many more problems that would be impossible for us to list this morning.

Missio Dei - the “Mission of God”

Belief in Jesus leads us very quickly to the realization that at the center of Christianity is the divine mission of Jesus to save us. When Adam and Eve sinned at the influence of the serpent God condemned the serpent (the devil) and promised that he would be destroyed

Genesis 3:15 NIV

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

The problem of sin would be resolved through the birth of a Savior. From Genesis to the New Testament the promise is repeated over and over. John York emphasized this theme:

Since God has always had a mission, the Bible should be read missiologically. That is, all of Scripture should be read with a view toward its development of the theme of God’s promise to bless the nations through the promised seed. It is as Christian believers recognize God’s mission that they may purpose to participate in fulfilling that mission. The first task therefore is to trace missio Dei throughout the Scriptures.[2]

You may have heard the term the “scarlet thread” that weaves its way through the Bible. It references the saving work of Jesus Christ the Savior.

The Wonderful Name of Jesus

The fact that Jesus is our Savior is embedded in even His name. Mary and Joseph did not name Jesus, God did through an angel. “

Luke 1:31 NIV

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

The name ‘Jesus’ means “the Lord is salvation”. Several others in the Bible had this name but this time, this child is exceptional. The angel adds three further titles to Jesus; Savior, Christ, and Lord.

Savior - the one who alone can rescue mankind from its predicament of sin, misery, and mortality, and bring the blessings which will meet all possible needs of men.

Christ - This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew ‘Messiah’, and both mean ‘the anointed one, the chosen’. Jesus takes on God’s role of saviour because he is the one whom God has authorized and empowered to carry out the work of salvation.

Lord - in little more than a chapter, Luke has used the word nearly twenty times as the regular title (which in fact, among Greek-speaking Jews, it was) for the God of Israel himself.

All this is focused in Jesus. Through him is to be done God’s saving work, for to him is given God’s authority, and he is himself God come in the flesh: Jesus, the Christ, the Lord. In him, and nowhere else, is salvation to be found.[3]

The Wonderful Work of Jesus

Saved from the Effect of Our Sins

Let’s do a walk through Scriptures to help us understand the mission of Jesus.

John 3:17 NIV

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Acts 5:31 NIV

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.

Romans 11:13–15 NIV

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

1 Timothy 4:10 NIV

That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

1 John 4:14 NIV

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Jesus brought salvation, repentance and salvation, life, and hope.

A Savior Who is Always Available

Let’s skip ahead in the book of Luke a couple of chapters. Jesus is now fully grown and entering into his mission. He stands in the temple and declares His mission:

Luke 4:16–21 NIV

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, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 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. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

This passage lays out more about the mission of Jesus Christ

Jesus Deals with Poverty

We find all types of poverty in this world – spiritual, moral, and economic. As Jesus interacted with poverty we see:

· He had compassion on a poor widow and raised her only son from the dead. This son was the source of her support for the widow’s future.

· He healed the lepers so they could go back to work.

· He condemned the rich who exploited the poor.

The poor are not always poor. They are often rich in faith.

Jesus Frees the Prisoner

Although Jesus never broke someone out of a prison, He set other types of captives free:

· He liberated people who were possessed by demons.

· Jesus freed many who were prisoners of sin and corruption. Among Jesus’ followers were prostitutes, adulterers, and tax collectors.

· Jesus frees prisoners of wealth. Wealth prevented the rich young ruler from following Jesus. Believers today can place wealth in proper perspective and use it to God’s glory.

· Bound by legalism and tradition men like Paul encountered Jesus and began to follow the things of the Spirit and not the legalism and tradition of religion.

Jesus Heals

Over and over again throughout the Gospels we see that Jesus had compassion on the people. Not only did He offer spiritual help but men, women, and children were physically healed. Jesus is still healing people today.

Jesus Releases the Oppressed

You might wonder why this isn’t under the idea of ‘prisoner’. I want to highlight something a little different. I think oppression is more intertwined into our psyche. Everything around us may look fine but there is a war raging inside. There was a war going on inside a leper – beyond the flesh. It was the distress of separation. For the widow it can be the grieving. For others it can be depression or the weight of the world on you. Others find themselves in destruction lifestyles and habits that they can’t seem to shake. Jesus is the Savior for the oppressed.

Spiritually, soul, and body, Jesus is our Savior! His life and death are evidence that He was on a specific mission as Jesus Christ our Savior.

5 Ways to Continue the Savior’s Mission

Recognize God’s Sovereignty over Our Lives

In Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, he opens with the short statement, “It’s not about you.” His opening chapter continues to explain how the search for personal fulfillment, satisfaction, and meaning can only be found in understanding and doing what God placed you on the earth to do.

Once that is realized the logical conclusion would be to become the Savior’s helper in His mission to seek and save the lost.

Pray Often, According to the Will of God

Jesus frequently turned to intentional prayer to sustain himself and to connect with His Father. Prayer is not about changing God’s mind, prayer changes us. It changes us about the people in our world. It opens up doors that were previously closed (our opening story). We need to develop lifestyles of prayer for the lost, for boldness and opportunities, and for laborers to go into the harvest.

Obey the Holy Spirit in Serving and Loving Our Neighbors

God created us for good works.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

On Wednesday night our Bible study group looked at daily opportunities that we have to fulfill God’s mission. We all admitted that time and our personal agendas created challenges. At the same time, we agreed that living in the Spirit helps us get past our challenges.

Tell What Jesus Has Done for Us

We need to internalize the fact that Jesus is our personal Savior. John Newton wrote the famous song, Amazing Grace. It may be that the reason the song has stood the test of time is the depth of the lyrics. Newton felt them. He lived them. At 82 years old he said, "My memory is nearly gone but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior."

My grandsons asked me as they were going to sleep if I had ever seen Jesus. I was reminded of a time in bible college during worship that I had something like a vision. I saw the eyes of Jesus and His maimed hand. His eyes were beautiful and expressed His love. His hands told me the story of what He had done for me. His love/His sacrifice. I’ll never forget.

Invite Others to Believe

When Jesus showed up 3 days late to the tragic death of Lazarus he asked Martha and Mary if they believed He could raise Lazarus from the dead. We have a responsibility to ask others if they believe.Our heavenly Father is the Lord of the harvest; it’s His harvest. We are not responsible for the results of the mission, but we are responsible to obediently labor in the fields.

A Savior Calls

I’ve chosen “An Invitation to the Manger” as the theme of this year for Christmas. Baby Jesus was much more than another Jewish baby. He was a Savior. The angels had announced it to the shepherds. There will be more invitations to the manger, but you may have needed to hear the message today that He is your Savior. He is available to each of us at whatever place we are.

Savior and Lord – Spiritually

Freed from poverty – spiritual, moral, economic

Freed from captivity – possession, sin and corruption, wealth, legalism and tradition

Freed from sickness – healing is available.

Freed from oppression – desperation, depression, weariness

Be a part of the Savior’s mission!

[1] https://360manpodcast.com. Accessed November 27, 2023. [2] John V. York, Missions in the Age of the Spirit, ed. Stanley M. Horton (Springfield, MO: Logion Press, 2000), 20. [3]Michael Wilcock, The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel, The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979), 46–47. [4] https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/ways-we-can-continue-the-mission-of-jesus.html

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