The Spirit Spurs Us to Share The Gospel

Introduction

How many of us have heard the expression: Offense wins games, Defense wins championships? In other words, typically the teams that win consistently, consistently play good defense. They stop their opponent from scoring and having easy opportunities. It doesn’t matter what sport you’re playing - baseball, basketball, football, soccer, volleyball… defense matters. Good defense is deflating as you can do mostly everything right, but still not score. But, at the end of the day, if all you do is defend and you never score, you’ll lose every game. I remember asking my dad about baseball whenever I was a little kid. My dad’s office at FBC Springfield was downstairs next to the gym, which was awesome because whenever my mom would take me to church during the day, I could play in the gym or go bowl in the bowling alley. One day my dad and I just got done eating lunch and we went into the gym and we were playing wiffle ball and I remember this conversation as clear as day from 25 years ago:

Dad, can you score any runs in baseball when your team is pitching?

No, your job on defense is to stop the other team from scoring.

In football, you get an interception or recover a fumble and you can score a TD

In basketball, you get a steal or get a block and you can immediately pass the ball ahead for a layup

In baseball, you cannot score when you’re playing defense

4 year old Joel hears this and immediately says, “Defense sounds boring… I want to play offense. I want to score.”

Last week we saw Jesus play defense - He withstood the temptation from the devil by quoting and standing on Scripture. The devil tried attacking him and tempting him in multiple ways, but Jesus did what was right each time. Today, we continue on in Luke 4, and we’ll see this morning that Jesus transitions from defense to offense. We’ll see Jesus’ purpose statement throughout His earthly ministry and understand why He came in the first place and what His mission was. We’ll see Jesus begin to declare war on the powers of darkness at work in His day and we’ll see how we are called to play offense today as Christians as we combat worldviews that don’t align with God’s Word. Let’s read this morning from Luke 4, starting in verse 14

Luke 4:14–44 CSB

14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone. 16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. 20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 22 They were all speaking well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth; yet they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 23 Then he said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. What we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in your hometown also.’ ” 24 He also said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them except a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had leprosy, and yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged. 29 They got up, drove him out of town, and brought him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl him over the cliff. 30 But he passed right through the crowd and went on his way. 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32 They were astonished at his teaching because his message had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit who cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be silent and come out of him!” And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all. 36 Amazement came over them all, and they were saying to one another, “What is this message? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!” 37 And news about him began to go out to every place in the vicinity. 38 After he left the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. 39 So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them. 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to him. As he laid his hands on each one of them, he healed them. 41 Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. 42 When it was day, he went out and made his way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for him. They came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Jesus’ Purpose was to Proclaim the Gospel (14-21)

Last week we left off with Jesus’ temptation and we saw how Jesus stood strong and didn’t give in. This morning we pick up right where that left off and we see that Jesus returned to Galilee and was “praised by everyone.” We all have moments that define us. Moments where whatever we do will make an impact for a long, long time. Think of George Washington crossing the Delaware River - that moment helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. Think of D-Day as the Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and turned the tide of World War II. In the Bible, we can think of Joshua and the Israelites obeying God, marching around Jericho 7 times, and the walls falling down. We can think of moments in our lives where we did what was right, and things working out well! This is the mountain top that Jesus is living at here - He was faithful under temptation and now the people are praising Him.

Have you noticed that life is full of swings? Lows and highs. Tragedies and triumphs. Knowing this helps us navigate these seasons. When life is bad, it’s not as bad as it feels. When life is good, it’s not as good as it feels. Alistair Begg this week at the Missouri Baptist Convention Annual Meeting reminded us of this. Whenever he’d get an angry email on Monday saying that he was the worst preacher ever, you say “Thank you very much.” Whenever you’re told by someone that Sunday that your sermon was the best in the world, you say “Thank you very much.” And then you move on - because things are never as bad as you hear, and things are never as good as you hear either. Jesus didn’t let Satan’s temptation get to Him, and He didn’t let the praise of man get to Him either. He guarded His heart in the mountain and the valley, because He knew what His purpose was. It wasn’t to be celebrated, it was to be crucified. It wasn’t to be popular, it was to proclaim the Gospel.

Here is Jesus, in Nazareth, going to the synagogue like He usually did on the Sabbath. Jesus was a regular churchgoer. He didn’t pick and choose. He didn’t stop going when things were hard. He kept going. And this particular day Jesus is there and they are reading the Old Testament and Jesus happens to be given the Isaiah scroll and He starts to read from Isaiah 61:1-2. If you turn to Isaiah 61, my translation gives that this heading “The Messiah’s Jubilee.” This chapter is all about what the coming Messiah will do and what His ministry will be about. There are several important things in this prophecy, but the key is that the Messiah will preach.

The Messiah will

“preach good news to the poor”

“proclaim release to the captives”

“proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”

Jesus outlines His ministry purpose and it is a ministry of the Word. A ministry of good news. Specifically, Jesus mentions the poor, the captive, the blind, and the oppressed. Some take all of these to mean those who are physically poor, captive, blind, and oppressed. Others take this to be spiritually poor, captive, blind, and oppressed. Those who look at this physically see a close connection with social movements of justice and see Jesus as a political revolutionary figure… those who see this spiritually view the good news as a message of salvation that sets people free from the prison of sin and brokenness and that the power of preaching changes lives.

So, who is right?

Consider how Jesus concludes this reading in verse 21

Luke 4:21 CSB

21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”

Everyone is looking to Jesus… He just read from Isaiah, and then He says that HE is the fulfillment of this prophecy. He is saying that He has arrived in order to proclaim good news - not good advice, not good feelings, not good vibes - good news! This good news is what we call the Gospel. The good news about God’s plan. That God didn’t leave us where we were at, but He had a plan all along to send His Son to save sinners. This is the good news! And Jesus does qualify who the good news is for - the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed. If Elon Musk dropped a $100 bill to the floor, it doesn’t make financial sense for him to pick it up because in the 3 seconds it would take to drop to the floor and stand again, he would make over $2,000 dollars in those same 3 seconds. Isn’t that insane to think about!? $100 isn’t good news to someone who is wealthy… but someone who can’t afford food? $100 is life changing. Consider the people who Jesus regularly associated Himself with.

Luke 15:1–2 CSB

1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 15-18 are some of my favorite chapters in the Bible and we’ll get there next fall, I promise! Luke 15 is a chapter that many of us know because it’s the parable of the things that are lost and then are found. But Jesus tells those parables to this audience who complains that He welcomes sinners - how dare He! Jesus regularly associated with sinners, tax collectors, and the outcasts in society. But do you remember what Jesus told those individuals whose lives were often defined by their sin? Go and sin no more. Jesus provides for these people and Jesus changes these people, physically! And He does this most of all, spiritually.

Look at the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:3 CSB

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Today, would you say that you’re poor in spirit? That isn’t to say that you’re feeling a little blue… but that you realize the hopelessness of your situation apart from the radical grace of Jesus Christ. Are you there today? If so, rejoice, because the kingdom of heaven is yours! Jesus saves the poor in spirit, those who were slaves to sin, blinded by darkness, and oppressed by guilt and shame. Today, if you are here and this is you, rejoice that Jesus provides good news! He breaks chains. He opens eyes. He changes hearts. He destroys shame. This is why He came. Something is different - David Garland said it like this, “Jesus’ presence alters the meaning of the present.” Jesus defeated the devil in the desert and has a mission that is to provide hope to the hopeless, rest to the restless, sight to the blind, and salvation to the lost. Today, this is the business that Jesus is still in! Because His purpose was to come and proclaim good news!

Jesus’ Proclamation Receives Mixed Reviews (22-30)

We have to take a step back in 2025 and remember that whenever we read the Bible, we have a different context and lens that we approach Scripture with than the people who were living in the days of Jesus. We have the benefit of living 2000 years on this side of the cross, these people were living 3 years on the other side. This doesn’t mean that what we read in the Bible has changed, but we know how it all ends. It’s easy for us to look at Isaiah 61 or Luke 4 and say definitively that this is Jesus and He is the Messiah and that it would be impossible to get that wrong knowing everything that He did! But these people lived on that side of the cross. They heard His message, they saw His miracles, but they still had mixed reviews. Look in verse 22, they were speaking well of Him and they were amazed with the words that came from His mouth. Consider what Jesus just got done saying, “Today, as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” Luke 4:21 is a Messianic claim that Jesus makes. He is saying that He is the Savior… the people are amazed, but in a few verses they’ll be outraged and Jesus will be abandoned. Understand this, the people enjoy the sermon but they miss the Savior!

They see Jesus as a local kid who grew up and is a gifted teacher and speaker, but nothing more. Some of these people grew up as Jesus’ neighbors. They probably were around whenever Jesus would speak about things and sound very wise. He knew the Bible. He was a know-it-all type! But the Messiah? No way! There is a danger with familiarity.

This past week was the Missouri Baptist Convention Annual Meeting and it was a joy of a time in Branson - as a SBC church, I’d encourage each of you to consider attending in the years to come and see what the Lord is doing in and through our convention of churches as there is much to celebrate that won’t make social media! In October we have our state meeting, and each June we have our national SBC meeting and this year that is in Orlando - so, I’m expecting us to max out on our messengers! This has happened the last few years as Lindsey and I have gone to SBC meetings - we’ll visit with a stranger and get to talking about where we’re from and they’ll say a big place in like Florida, North Carolina, or Texas and then we’ll say that we’re from a small place in Missouri called Springfield and if the person hasn’t been to Springfield, it’s just north of Branson… Without fail, people will say this: That’s one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been, we love that part of the country! Lindsey and I have grown up here. We’ve lived here most of our lives. Lord willing, we plan to stay here because this is home - South Gate is our home. But when I hear someone say that this area is one of the most beautiful places in the country and they love coming here, I often do a double take and ask if we’re talking about the same place because this place is familiar to me. The rivers, lakes, activities, golf courses, restaurants, it’s all familiar… and sometimes that can make us lose sight of just how spectacularly blessed we are!

It’s the same with Jesus, friends. We can get so familiar with the stories. With the rituals. With the history. That we miss Him. Jesus says as much as He quotes the proverb that says that no prophet is accepted in his hometown, because everyone knows everything about you. They know your flaws. Failures. Weaknesses. Jesus unpacks this reality, and He goes back to Elijah and Elisha who in these situations, didn’t help the Israelites, but instead did help Gentiles in need. Elijah helped a Gentile widow during a famine. Next Elisha had many lepers in Israel during his ministry, but he cleansed Naaman. What does this mean? Simply this: These prophets helped those who didn’t deserve it. People who were helpless. This includes Jews and Gentiles alike. See, the people get enraged at Jesus not because of His miracles, but because of His message - He is saying that all people need a Savior. Those who grew up in church and those who have never stepped foot inside a church. Those who are rich and those who are poor. We all need Jesus, and Jesus came for the lost, which is great news for those who understand that they are lost and in need of a Savior

Acts 4:12 CSB

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

There is a Savior whose name is Jesus! Some people “get” this and rejoice… but we see in our text that this enraged the crowd. Why would the Gospel enrage someone? Because it starts out by saying that you don’t deserve heaven. In fact, you don’t deserve something good. We all have fallen short. We all drop the ball. We all are broken people in need of a Savior. And some people don’t want to admit that they need a Savior, and so this message of good news turns into a message that is rejected and detested. Friend, how have you responded to this message today? Have you accepted this good news that Jesus is the Savior of sinners? Have you repented of your sins and asked Him to forgive and to save you? Or, does this message drive up anger in your spirit? The crowd was mad, but somehow, Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus just walks right past them.

Jesus’ Power is Demonstrated (31-44)

As Jesus walks past them, this is big… One commentator notes here that we never see Jesus return to His hometown again. We need to pause here and reflect on a hard truth: There is a point at which it’s too late for Jesus to save you and that is death. Once your life here is over, it’s too late… and we don’t know when our time will be up! We’re not guaranteed tomorrow. But as long as there is breath in our lungs and blood in our veins, there is time to respond to Jesus’ message. Jesus moves to Capernaum and this is where Jesus will be for quite a while in Luke’s Gospel, nearly 25 miles away from home. As he gets there He teaches and, again, they are astonished. Amazed. Look at why, though. They were astonished because He taught with authority.

Think about that word, authority. How does our world think of that word? Mostly negative. People view authority as something that needs to be smashed and destroyed. Others think that they are the ultimate authority and that no one has authority over them. Today, what is your authority? I pray that as a Christian, we all agree that the Bible is our authority! It is our standard. See, God gives us authority because of His love for us - look at Romans 13

Romans 13:1 CSB

1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.

Anyone else find this one difficult? Certainly there are limits to this submission as Acts 5 shows us an example where the disciples didn’t submit because to submit would be to sin, but in so far as the government isn’t forcing us to sin, we are to submit because God has given the government authority. This is the same in the home as Ephesians 6 tells us

Ephesians 6:1 CSB

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right.

Why is this right? Because God has given parents authority over their children and in so far as the parents don’t force their children to sin, children are to submit to that authority and obey. Authority isn’t automatically a bad thing - it is designed by God to be a good thing, but we know that all good things can be corrupted. These people had come to church before and heard the Bible read and taught, but it sounded differently whenever Jesus taught it because, the text says, He taught with authority. It doesn’t say that He taught with emotion or with funny stories, but His message had authority. This is what we need today - we need more “Thus saith the Lord” in pulpits around our world. Less opinion. Less speculation. More Bible. More explanation. More doctrine. More transformation. The power in the pulpit is grounded in the Word of God. Jesus knew God’s Word and His teaching had power.

Jesus doesn’t just exercise power when teaching, but also when healing as we see this incredible scene as a man had an unclean spirit that Jesus once again exercised authority over. Notice this, where is this person in verse 33? In the synagogue! In church! What does the demon say, “Leave us alone!” The demon knew the power of Jesus. With a simple sentence, Jesus commanded the demon to leave the man, and sure enough, the demon did. They were astonished at His teaching and they were amazed at His healing. Guess what, friend? Jesus has this same power today - at the name of Jesus, the demons tremble.

James 2:19 CSB

19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.

Demons know about Jesus… and they shudder because they know the power that He possesses! Jesus silences the enemy, and if Jesus can silence a demon, His truth can silence the lies that we’re tempted to believe as well. Everyone is talking about Jesus, at this point. His authority when teaching, His authority over demons, and finally we see His authority over sicknesses.

Whenever a loved one gets sick, why do we pray? I’m a type 1 diabetic. I take insulin every single day. I’m pro medicine, because that medicine literally keeps me alive. But, when tragedy strikes, when a friend gets sick, when a family member gets cancer, why do we pray? Not because we don’t trust in medicine or trust in doctors, but because we know that there is a God who not only made us, but a God who sustains us, and a God who has the power to heal us. Have you experienced God do something like this? I have. I’ve seen someone be given a bleak diagnosis and be told that they don’t have much time left, only to come back months later to be told that their cancer is gone. I’ve seen people suffer serious tragedies and be told that they would have problems the rest of their lives, only to be back to 100% a few months later. Why do we pray when tragedy strikes? Because the God that we pray to has power over sicknesses, diseases, and tragedies.

Jesus heals Simon Peter’s mother-in-law from something that was likely about to kill her. Not only this, but the text says that Jesus healed various diseases. He healed all those who came to Him! He didn’t charge $500 for a ticket. He didn’t only heal people with basic problems. Every disease. Every person who came. Church, there are many in our world who claim to be able to do these things and the ability to heal on command - if you just have enough faith and pay enough money. To this person, why can’t you go to a hospital and do this? Why must there be music in the background? Why do only some people get to go onto these stages to “be healed” while many others aren’t allowed up on stage? It’s because it’s a sham. Look at this story in Acts 8 of a man named Simon the Sorcerer

Acts 8:18–19 CSB

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

He wanted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit off of them! How convenient. This isn’t how it works. You can’t buy your way to heaven. You can’t earn your way to heaven. The demons know the basics. The Jewish people of Jesus’ day saw the miracles. Seeing and knowing aren’t enough… we must believe. We must obey. We must submit ourselves to His authority. We must be changed by His Spirit and we must share His Gospel message!

This is what Jesus came to do as One led by the Spirit, He proclaimed Good News! If you’re here and you’re a Christian, this is your calling as well today. But, sometimes sharing the Gospel can be difficult. Let’s remember these 3 things as we share the Gospel.

Like Jesus, this is our mission

Like Jesus, some will receive and others will reject

Like Jesus, we speak God’s Word with confidence

As Adrian Rogers and Billy Graham coined decades ago, never be ashamed to say “The Bible Says!” When the Bible speaks, God speaks, and He didn’t stutter… and we don’t need to either. God’s Word is our authority, we may not always like what we read, but we believe it because it’s God’s Word… we obey it… and this means that we share it.

If you are here and you’re looking for good news, freedom, hope, life, Jesus alone provides these things! This is what He came to do! And today, He can change you! South Gate, this is our purpose. This is our mission. To not only be on the defensive and stand on God’s Word when temptation arises… but to go on the offensive. To share the Gospel. To speak the truth in love. To let our light shine in a dark world.