Anointed Preachers

Anointed Preachers

By: Al Carlisle

Luk 4:16¶And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Luk 4:17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus is the picture of faithfulness; the standard by which we are all measured. He knew what his mission on earth was, and always prepared to share his message. Here we find him in the synagogue eager, he was not timid, to read the scripture. He knew what book and verse he was going to read from. No fumbling through scrolls looking for that elusive text. When he found his text he began to read with authority and knowledge and familiarity, as one who has an intimate relationship with the author.

He began with Isaiah (Isa 61:1) a messianic prophecy. Within these verses lies the mission of the one who now stands before them. For indeed Jesus was anointed and Gods Spirit consumed him to proclaim the good news of Gods promise fulfilled in the man from Nazareth, whom they had watched grow from childhood. Many of whom had watched him around Josephs carpenter shop. “Could this Jesus be the one”? “Nah! He’s just the carpenter’s son”. “Yet he speaks with such authority and knowledge.” Many present that day vowed to keep an eye on this Jesus.

For those who did they were rewarded with watching God’s eternal plan unfold before their eyes. I’m reminded of my own calling. How family and friends reacted upon my announcing that I was entering the ministry. They too had seen me grow and mature. They had seen me as I was in the flesh. All those who have had God speak to their hearts and separated them for service can relate to that too.

The mission of Jesus is now our mission: To preach the gospel to the spiritual poor. To heal the spiritual broken hearted, to preach deliverance to those in bondage to sin. To give sight to spiritual blind and to give liberty back to those spiritually bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord, an allusion to the jubilee year ( Lev 25:10 ), a year of universal release for person and property.(Jamieson-Fausset& Brown)