Empowered to Proclaim

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Beginning early on the morning of September 17, 1862, Confederate and Union troops in the Civil War clash near Maryland’s Antietam Creek in the bloodiest single day in American military history.

The Battle of Antietam marked the culmination of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the Northern states. Guiding his Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac River in early September 1862, the general daringly divided his men, sending half of them, under the command of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, to capture the Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry.

President Abraham Lincoln put Major General George B. McClellan in charge of the Union troops responsible for defending Washington, D.C., against Lee’s invasion. Over the course of September 15 and 16, the Confederate and Union armies gathered on opposite sides of Antietam Creek.

Fighting began in the foggy dawn hours of September 17. As savage and bloody combat continued for eight hours across the region, the Confederates were pushed back but not beaten, despite sustaining some 15,000 casualties.

By the time the sun went down, both armies still held their ground, despite staggering combined casualties–nearly 23,000 of the 100,000 soldiers engaged. McClellan’s center never moved forward, leaving a large number of Union troops that did not participate in the battle.

On the morning of September 18, both sides gathered their wounded and buried their dead. That night, Lee turned his forces back to Virginia.

While days later, President Abraham Lincoln would go on to issue his preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation, which went into effect on January first of the following year, would declare slaves in all territories "shall (quote) be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

We hear this story this morning, and as many of you are in one way or intrigued by military history. If nothing else, I imagine you have a degree of interest in Jacob Parrott, who himself was a civil war hero and of course a recipient of the medal of honor.

But here’s where I want us to go for a moment… That with each battle, with each victory, that certain implication resulted… That today we live in a nation in which we enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That we live in a nation, although not perfect, but in which, there are many things we get to freely enjoy…

We transition then to ourselves this morning and our walk with Christ. And here’s the key, the battles already been won. Jesus Christ, on Calvary… Brought us victory. He brought us freedom… but many of us are still living as captives. Many of us are living as though we weren’t free… and God’s desire for you this day, and every day… is to proclaim, and live out the victory you have in Jesus.

If you have your bibles, turn with me to Luke 4. Our message this morning is entitled: I am Empowered to Proclaim… 1. Victory (Good news) 2. Freedom. 3. Favor

1. Empowered to Proclaim Victory (Good news)

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

We stop and consider the scripture for a moment we find that Jesus has returned to Galilee, which is northern Israel. and This is where Jesus begins His public ministry near His hometown of Nazareth. Recently Jesus has been baptized, and the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness has taken place.

Now in vs 15 is that 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. In other words, he has a good rapport with the people. His fame and popularity has began to spread. I mean, this is God incarnate. He’s all-knowing, he’s all perceiving. And earlier from the book of Luke that as Jesus is at the temple: that even at the age of 12… 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. And the bible explains: 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

So here’s Jesus at the synagogue, and was customary the Jewish people would gather on the Sabbath. (or shabbat) which would have been Saturday. And there would have been many synagogues all throughout galilee, in fact, a synagogue would need at least 10 men to form. But it’s estimated that all, if not most of the 240 cities and villages in galilee would have had at least one synagogue. With the some of the larger cities having multiple synagogues.

But here, in true Jewish custom. The worship service would have included reading a time of prayer, the reading from the old testament scripture, and a sermon based on the word that was just read.

And here Jesus starts out. He begins to read the scripture of Isaiah 61:1-2 and of Isaiah 58:6. Which his listeners are well aware of these verses. They would have known the scriptures from a young age.

Jesus would say: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And Jesus stops short of finish Isaiah 61:2

And does something unheard of… vs 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

I mean, in this moment. Jesus completely drops the mic on all those listening. In effect, he says, everything you’ve been looking for in a savior, all your expectations of the Messiah, all the prophecies that have been spoken or written in time… They were all leading to me.

And the people there are dumbfounded. I mean, they’re at a loss for words for what to say and do. and at first, the people are amazed: 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. (I mean this is the carpenter’s son, this is Mary and Josephs boy… and yet moments later, when they’re expectation of the Savior didn’t meet what they had in mind… The people are chasing him out of town and trying to throw him off the edge of a cliff…

But look with me again if you would at verses 14 and 18… 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

You see Church, the spirit of the Lord, the power of the Lord is upon Jesus… and he’s empowered, to proclaim the good news.

You see I’m reminded of General Jonathan Wainwright who was captured by the Japanese, and held prisoner in a concentration camp. Wainwright was Cruelly treated, he became "a broken, crushed, hopeless, and starving man." Finally, the Japanese surrendered, and the war ended. A United States army colonel was sent to the camp to announce personally to the general that Japan had been defeated and that he was free and in command.

After Wainwright heard the news, he returned to his quarters and was confronted by some guards who began to mistreat him as they had done in the past. Wainwright, however, with the news of the allied victory still fresh in his mind, declared with authority, "No, I am in command here! These are my orders." From that moment on, General Wainwright was in control

You see here’s the point, because of the enemy had been defeated… There was good news, it changed his outlook . He no longer had to stay defeated, he longer was captive… That day, that news, completely changed his perspective… and he wasn’t afraid to declare with authority who was in charge of his life.

Friends for us this morning. The victory has already been won. A common scripture that I read at funerals -

1 Cor 15:51-56 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Church, we have victory this morning in Jesus. It’s time that we proclaim it. It’s time that we declare it over ourselves, it’s time that we declare it to our neighbors, and it’s about time that we remind the enemy that we’ve already got the victory. I’m sure if Ohio state beat Michigan… we would probably tell everyone we know… but are we doing the same thing with our faith??? - Share the good news.

2. I am Empowered to Proclaim Freedom.

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[g] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

We stop and consider the scripture, and in verse 23 the demeaner of those present changes from this sense of amazement and approval, to distaste. And Jesus, calls them on them out. 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

In other words, Jesus knew their hearts. That they wanted him to prove he was the Messiah by performing signs and wonders, just as he had done in Capernaum.

Jesus off course did many miracles, and John 12:37 speaks to the response of the people 37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.

And Jesus, as we go back to Luke 4 continues to call the people out on their hardness of heart. We’re told:

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

By the way, in preparing for this morning’s sermon… it was kind of neat to circle back to where we’ve been the last couple months and look at both Elijah, and Elisha. And for me, one of the things I really enjoy, is chewing and meditating on the scripture… and so, this was just one of those cool moments... in which there’s a tie between the book of 1 and 2 kings, and here this morning Jesus would reference them…

But in looking into this passage this week, I found that the Jews would have been appalled by Jesus bringing up these illustrations.

I mean there were many widows living in Israel at the time of Elijah. Yet Elijah wasn’t sent to any of them… instead he was sent to this gentile widow, in Zarephath in the region of Sidon… which Sidon was the homeland of the wicked queen Jezebel… and again, the Jews hated to be reminded that God would extend his love to the Gentiles.

Then we see, as discussed last week. Vs 27 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

Which Naaman was not only a gentile, he was also a leper , and if that weren’t enough, he is also the commander of the Aram army… Which if you were here last week, 2 kings 5:1 1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

But if you’ll remember with both Naaman, as well as the Widow from Zarephath. That God would provide freedom for them. That in the midst of their needs, Show Compassion. That God would extend an olive branch. Not only to the Jew, but also to the gentile. That there would be freedom, not only in their conditions, in their physical needs, but also, freedom in their hearts.

A story I came across this week states. A March, 2011, issue of The New York Times featured a story about a 51-year-old ex-convict named Robert Salzman. After a horrific childhood, Salzman spent most of his adult life in prison. When he was released from prison in 2001, Salzman found it difficult to enjoy freedom outside prison walls, struggling to pay rent or doing stints in homeless shelters.

Finally, in June of 2010 Salzman had a grace-like experience. While he was riding a New York City subway car, he was "found" by Rashaad Ernesto Green, a writer and director who was searching for someone to play a tough-looking former convict for an upcoming film. After an audition, Green surprised nearly everyone when he gave Salzman a key role for the film.

In the ensuing months Salzman found it hard to believe that he had actually been set free from his prison life. On one occasion, while filming with Green on location in a Long Island prison, an exhausted Salzman fell asleep on a cot in the prison cell. When he woke up, he became confused and thought he was still a prisoner. Salzman started weeping in despair … until it slowly dawned on him that he was now a free man. Salzman was overwhelmed by the joy of knowing that at any moment he could walk out of that cramped cell and through the prison doors. On the other side of the prison walls, he could enjoy his new life of freedom.

As those who trust in Christ, regardless of our past, we can leave our slavery to sin and condemnation as we joyfully step into our freedom in Christ.

Church for us this morning, we not only have the gospel… but we also have freedom in Jesus. You see, you don’t have to be the same version of you… that you used to be… 2 Cor 5:17-20 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Church this morning, In Christ we have freedom

Gal 5:1 tells us: 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

We have freedom, are we walking in it? I’m going to call the worship team back up …

And as they come up… I just want to briefly touch on this last point.

3. That we are empowered to Proclaim Favor

Luke 4:18-19 tells us: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

We have freedom in Christ, we have forgiveness … That’s the gospel. But we also have the Lord’s favor.

You see that word favor; I looked it up this week. And I was expecting a lengthy Greek definition. But it came back with one word, one idea… that you’re “accepted,” You’re “acceptable.”

You see as the child of the king… You don’t have to earn the love of God. What God accomplished on calvary, through his son… was sufficient..., It was enough. Today friend, you’re enough. You’re accepted. You’re loved. You’re more than a conquering and you have victory in Jesus…

Are we living up to that?

1. How is God speaking to you today? Do we need to share the gospel with others? Pray? Evangelize?

2. Do we need to live up to the freedom that we have?

3. Maybe we just need to be reminded that we are accepted… that we are enough this morning.