Last time we saw that the word of faith includes Speaking out in faith as seen through the teaching of Jesus. ‘Speak to the mountain.’ ‘Whatever you ask for will be done.’
Today we will look at one of the biggest criticisms by heresy hunters, that the people that they are speaking against, do not preach the Gospel! They mean the Gospel of salvation from eternal death. But they fail to acknowledge that the true Gospel is more than just this born-again experience. Though they would be careful not to use the word experience, because that sounds too much like having some feelings!
Let us take a look at what the Gospel is, from the words of Jesus. He said and told His disciples to tell people that the Kingdom of God is near. This was the Good News, the Gospel. —– This was Jesus’ declaration in the synagogue in His hometown. In Luke 4
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed. To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord has anointed Jesus to preach the Gospel to the poor! A question, what would be good news to you if you are poor. Maybe it is that the poverty curse of the law has been broken, that God will provide for every need that you have. That’s good news to the poor!
The Spirit of the Lord anointed Jesus to release the captives. This takes a little bit of thinking, the logical meaning to me is that the captives are those who are under the bondage of sin, or under the bondage of the law of sin and death.
The recovery of sight to the blind can means a couple of things, actually blind people will be able to see again, as we see that Jesus opened the eyes of several blind people. Also, Jesus speaks of spiritual blindness. People who are unable to see the truth that was before them, ‘Jesus as the Messiah.’
To set free the oppressed! In the book of acts we read that Peter said in acts 10.38, Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. This seems to indicate that sickness is oppression of the devil. Jesus quote in Luke was from Isaiah 61, it reads…
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me, to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, Isaiah 61:1-2
Jesus used the word poor instead of afflicted. This indicates that poverty was an affliction, one that was brought on by the curse of the law. The Good News is that the curse of the law concerning poverty has been lifted through Jesus.
The heresy hunters will be quick to tell us that there were still poor believers in Jerusalem during the apostolic times. Yes, there was a famine, Yet God provided for the needs of the church in Jerusalem, through generous gifts from the churches of the gentiles. This is clearly seen in the Epistles.
To bind up the broken hearted, sounds to me like mental healing is part of the Gospel, liberty to the captives, is not talking about those in a literal prison, but held captive by sickness and disease.
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38
Jesus told His disciples to go and declare that the Kingdom of God is near, and to heal the sick and cast out demons. This is all a part of the Good News. Especially for those who were sick, and demon possessed. It is all a part of the Gospel.
The Good News, the Gospel is that the Kingdom of God is here, to those of us who believe, is near to those who don’t believe. The Gospel is for this life as well as eternity. The Gospel is spiritual as well as physical. It is not just for a hope in the future, it is also for a hope in this life.
Jesus at the Sermon on the mount spoke of future hope and present physical hope. Blessed are the poor in heart, for they shall see God. – Spiritual hope for the future.
The prosperity Gospel is not about getting mega rich or even just rich, it is about God providing for every need that we have. I believe that will include an abundance, or overflowing. This is so that we have surplus to be able to help others too, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Of course, the heresy hunters do not see this. They will say that God or the Holy Spirit does not speak to us anymore, except by reading the Bible, because that would be adding to the scriptures! Jesus tells us;
Look at the birds how God cares for them to feed them, look at the lilies Solomon was not clothed as good as them. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. Look at what God has done for His creation why would He not do the same for us His children?
Some will say that my theology is off, but it not a question of theology, it is more a statement of logic. That is what Jesus is using, pure logic!
Matthew 6:25-34
“For this reason, I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil, nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34
The Apostle Paul strengthens this in the letter to the Philippians.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
Be anxious for nothing, Jesus said cast your burden upon Him. Here Paul says with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. That is the same as Jesus said in Mark 11, when you pray believe that you have received. With thanksgiving. This is the word of faith that I/we are preaching.
When we came to Jesus, we believed what He said and did for the salvation of our souls. We have believed for an eternity that we cannot see, or even understand fully, what it will be like to have immortal bodies. We just know that when we see Him at the rapture, we will be like Him.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. Hebrews 11:1-2
Jesus tells us that faith the size of a grain of mustard seed would enable us to do what naturally seems impossible. ‘Nothing with be impossible for you.’ We cannot even please God without faith. We need to have faith in God for all areas of our lives. Not just for signs and wonders.
If we do not have faith for small things in our lives, such providing for our needs, how can we have faith for signs and wonders? This is an important question. Faith is necessary in thinking words and actions, according to God. It is a God given faith; faith comes by hearing the Word of God!
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
Faith is a living thing, that should be active, within us at all times for all things in our lives. Galatians 5 tells us that if we walk by faith, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh.
Jesus tells us that the words of our mouths reflect the state of our hearts. Are we going to speak word of doubt and negativity or are we going to speak out words of faith.
This is not some new age doctrine, it started with God in His word. Other religions and the world have their own counterfeit versions of what our Bible clearly teaches.
Be Blessed
Charlie
FREEDOM IN CHRIST 