Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:42:02 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Dec. 10); BP: Is. 61; RBTTY: Revelation 1; Hosea 1-4
December 10 “The Coming Deliverer”
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound—to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the Day of vengeance of our God. . .to comfort all that mourn. . .to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. . .that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. . .that He might be glorified”
&n bsp; Isaiah 61:1-3
No one has ever been able to do more.
Which is He—this Man from Galilee—the long-awaited Messiah? A spiritual, General Practitioner? Or a Specialist? One treats a variety of illnesses, while the other deals only in a limited area of expertise.
Today’s Manna reveals this “Promised/Anointed One from God” is both.
And, in reality, such is always the case when “the Spirit of the Lord is upon you.” That’s why the Apostle Paul said “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (I Cor. 9:22b). The difference is Paul’s desires were limited by his fleshly weaknesses and abilities; such is never the case with Jesus, God’s Heaven-sent Deliverer.
There was no way for Isaiah to know some 700 years beforehand the full meaning of his prophecy of the coming Messiah. Through inspiration of the Spirit and God-ordained visions he caught only a glimpse of this One Who would impact the world as no other person ever has.
Thus, we should not be surprised Jesus’ embodiment of this prophecy would include the words “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me” because He was/is the “Spirit of the Lord.” Neither should we be surprised that the Lord God “anointed Him” to do His bidding—for such “unction” (Grk. “chrisma”—“an unguent, smearing, special endowment, anointing, etc.”) is the “consecrating oil” of the Spirit Himself (I Jn. 2:20). Simply put, when we’re “adopted” and “appointed,” we’re also “anointed.”
In reading today’s “to-do list” of the Messiah’s Ministry we realize what a wonderful list it was/is: “To preach good tidings unto the meek.” Those who are downtrodden. . .always feeling like the doormats of the world. . .desperately need to know they’re worthwhile and someone cares. Isn’t that part of the Gospel (Jn. 3:16)? Assuredly it is.
And, as we read His other invaluable ministries—“binding up the brokenhearted, freeing the captive, comforting all who mourn, healing broken hearts, etc.”—we realize that this special One from God is truly the One for Whom we’ve been looking all of our lives (Jn. 4:25-26).
Where do you fit into this list today, Pilgrim? Are you in need of a word of encouragement? Are you bound by some stronghold of sin or gripped by guilt from sins of the past? Have you lost your joy in the midst of your struggles and about to lose hope? Are heartache and sorrow flooding your soul, causing your “tears to be your food day and night” (Ps. 42:3a)? If so, take heart—for the Deliverer has come. And, He’s right there with you right now.
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