Who Do They Say We Are? pt 1

Every church has a reputation. Something or somethings they are known for. One of the striking things from looking at the NT is all the churches that live in history whose reputations we learn from and seek to grow from - both good and bad.

I am sure those folks never even considered that they were laying the foundation for generations of churches. Or that they various successes and struggles would be chronicled and read about and picked over for 2,000 years and counting. But here we are and here they are…still teaching and challenging and correcting us, and reminding us that we are not any different.

One day when they study the history of the churches in the 21st century, someone may stumble over us as well. I am sure we are on a list somewhere lol and I am for sure that people in some places know where we are. I’ve had some funny and some intense conversations over the years about why we do what we do and each time I have been grateful to know that if all else fails, we have become a church that is trying to be like Jesus would want us to be. And who would not be ashamed if He walked through the doors into our church.

So for the next few weeks, I want us to take some time to remember who we are and remember what we are called to be in the eyes of our community. Next week you will hear from Tommy Haines about how he sees us and the week after that John Bobb-Semple will join us as well. I hope and pray that our times together will be encouraging and challenging, because truly I believe God is doing something very unique here AND He is not done yet.

Turn with my to Isaiah 61:1-4. These are the founding verses of this church. And let’s remind ourselves who God has called us to be.

First, there is a picture of mercy here. All through the passage.

Serving the poor

Binding up the broken

Setting people free.

God has equipped us to show His mercy.

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

The general assignment is to preach the good news. The content of the good news is a message of hope proclaimed to people in Zion (61:3a) who are presently “afflicted, poor,” “broken-hearted,” “captives,” or “prisoners” (61:1).

We have so many people at West Metro who have received mercy

Broken addictions

Tragic losses

Cancer

Divorce

Job loss

List goes on and on, but at every turn people who have come here have been met with Mercy.

Meeting people where they are and mourning with them and standing with them through the trial.

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

The audience is made up of the “afflicted” (ʿănāwîm), a term that can refer to anyone who is oppressed by others or humble before God

Secondly, I want you to see that the people being ministered to are themselves. They are not hiding what and who they are

Poor, Broken, Imprisoned, mourning, in ashes, falling apart.

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

The broken-hearted are despondent in spirit and discouraged, probably the people in 57:15 that God will revive. The reason why they are broken-hearted is unknown, but physical, social, or spiritual problems might cause this condition. “Captives” (from šĕbî) could refer to those taken as prisoners in a time of war or those bound for economic or spiritual reasons. “Those bound” (ʾăsûrîm, NIV “prisoners”) could hypothetically relate to the “release” (dĕrôr) of slaves in the Sabbatical year or the year of Jubilee

They cannot hide who they are.

We embrace that here.

Church I will be honest. I have been going to churches since the day I was born nearly. And I don’t think I have been in 5 churches that are as welcoming as West Metro.

You can come here looking like who you are. Talking like who you are. Being honest about who you are.

You are welcome here.

Now that does not mean you are going to stay the same. I’m not the same because of this church. And notice in the passage that those who come are changed.

They are made whole and not left where they are. That’s so many of us. We came one way and Jesus has used people here to chip away at our vices and brokenness to make something new.

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 (60:20, “the days of mourning will be completed”). The point is that mourning, which was so often a part of the nation’s history, will end and praise will begin

And that has led to restoration. Look at verse 4.

God restores. And He puts back together.

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

These are the people that God planted “to bring glory to himself” (60:21b) for all the marvelous things that he has done. This purpose clause indicates that one of the main goals of mankind will be to fulfill this joyful responsibility of glorifying God forever. Those who receive God’s good news, freedom, comfort, and experience this transformation will have many reasons to loudly praise and glorify God’s name.

Scripture says “God sets the lonely in families.” Psalm 68:6.

And when He brings this many people together in one place with our stories we become a spiritual family.

And we see whole families restored. And families started. And families transformed.

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

The next paragraph (61:4–7) no longer refers to the purposes or goals of the “Anointed One”; instead, it focuses on how God will bless the city and all the people in it. These changes might be called the subsidiary consequences that arise out of the marvelous, transformative work of God and his Anointed One. These announcements confirm that the work of this “Anointed One” will be successful and bring about dramatic changes for Zion and for the people who dwell in Zion

So why does all of that happen?

Look at verse 1.

God’s Spirit is present and He has anointed...

To be anointed is to be chosen.

Set apart for a purpose.

That was Jesus, and West Metro that is us.

And that purpose is summed up in one word- Jesus.

He is our reason and He is who we proclaim.

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

The specific tasks assigned to this Anointed One who was sent by God are outlined in a series of infinitive construct clauses. First, this Anointed One is “to proclaim good news” (the infinitive construct lĕbaśśēr) by telling people that their past situations will change and that a new period of history is about to begin. This idea of sharing the “good news” of what God will do is found at several points in the book of Isaiah. In the eschatological setting of 40:9, God encourages “those who bring good news” (mebaśśeret) from Jerusalem to lift up their voices and proclaim that God is here and graciously reigns over his people with peace and salvation

And this is where our challenge lies this morning.

We have 4 words that we live by here.

Jesus, Mercy, Family, and Authenticity.

We need to leverage the last 3 to make much of the first one.

Church, we have not baptized anyone in over a year. We can be good at all these other things, but we can’t miss the main thing.

We have to make much of Jesus.

And when we do that consistently we will begin to see people come to Jesus.

Do you want to see that?

How can we see that?

By being faithful to share and trusting God with the results.