The Spirit of the LORD

Is Upon Me

Zechariah 4:1–6 NLT

1 Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. 2 “What do you see now?” he asked. I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. 3 And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.” 4 Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?” 5 “Don’t you know?” the angel asked. “No, my lord,” I replied. 6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Today’s passage for the 3rd Sunday in advent has been part of who we are as the church of the Nazarene from the start. The spirit of the LORD is upon us to proclaim good news to the poor. On the third Sunday of advent, lets do the work the Spirit of the LORD has sent us to do.

In the opening words of Isaiah 61 the Spirit of the LORD sends and empowers God’s messenger to carry out the work God has given them to do. That work plays out in 3 ways, 1 Comfort the broken hearted. 2. Proclaim captives will be released. 3. Tell the time of the LORDS favor has come.

As we get closer to celebrating Jesus birthday, lets remember the same Spirit was upon Jesus, and is also upon us, and let’s continue the work he has given us to do.

The Spirit anoints and sends

Matthew 1:18–23 NRSV

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

Luke 4:14–21 NRSV

14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Matthew’s gospel tells us Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit Isaiah speaks of, the same Spirit that Jesus was full of when he unrolled the scroll of Isaiah and kicks off the work of Christmas by proclaiming these words.

In both passages the Spirit anoints and sends. He gives Jesus specific work to do.

Isaiah 40–66: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition In the Text

God’s Spirit was over or upon the individual, enabling him to carry out the mission described in the remainder of the passage.

Anointed to bring good news to the poor!

This is a mission summary so to speak, because what he is sent to do would be specifically good news. Who are the poor? God throughout scripture sides with the oppressed. In Exodus 3 When Moses encounters God at the burning bush, God tells Moses I have heard the suffering of my people and I have come down.

To see who the poor were to Jesus look to who he called as his disciples. Look at his response to the woman caught in adultery. See how he upset the religious leaders of his day by eating with such scum. These are the poor! The ones oppressed by those in power.

The Spirit Sends

To comfort the broken hearted. How is the spirit sending us to comfort someone whose heart has been broken. Christmas time is a sad time for many people in our community. How can we be source of comfort?

To proclaim captives will be released! This goes beyond the walls and bars of prison. Sometimes those held captive are held by addictions, mental and emotional captives. Or even people are oppressed and held captive by those who misuse their might and power. How can we proclaim to those held captive that they can be released?

To tell the time of the LORDS favor has come! Because of the work of Christmas. Because of the work of the Spirit, the time of God’s favor has come at last! God heard the cries of his people, and has come down as child in a manger. God came down to set us free from the powers of sin and death. This is the time of God’s favor.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon us!

Remember the words of the prophet Zachariah this morning, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD!

Jesus from conception to resurrection is a work of God through the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit empowered God’s church at pentecost, and is upon us today.

Brothers and sisters the Spirit of the LORD is upon us, and has empowered us to proclaim good news to the poor! He has sent us to comfort the broken hearted. He has sent us to proclaim that captives will be released! He has sent us to proclaim the time of the LORD’s favor has come!

As our advent journey approaches it’s climax, lets continue the work of Christmas.

Howard Thurman the work of Christmas.