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Cell Notes on the Spirit and Proclamation
On Sunday we looked together at the connection that is made between the Holy Spirit and proclamation by Luke in his gospel and also in Acts. This week's home group is an opportunity to seek to grow in order to live this out more...
Word
Read together: Luke 4:16-21 and Isaiah 61
Key Questions to Discuss together:
1. Was there anything you didn't understand from these verses?
2. What did you like in these verses?
3. Why was Jesus' appearance on the earth 'good news' for all?
4. In the context of these Bible verses, why might Jesus' death and resurrection be very good news for specific friends, work colleagues and neighbours of yours? [maybe you'd find it helpful to write this down?]
5. Again and again in Luke's gospel and in Acts one fruit of the Spirit is a boldness to share the good news with others. How is this fruit being demonstrated in your life at the moment? What specific things are you going to do to stir up this gift that is in you through the Holy Spirit? How can the home group help you in this?
[2Tim. 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2Tim. 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.]
Witness
Share [in smaller groups?] who you are currently seeking to reach out to with the good news of Jesus and pray for each other to be anointed with the Spirit for this task...
ADVERT: the next Evangelism Breakfast is going to be 9am-1pm Saturday 13th December. This is a great chance to join with other church members in growing in confidence in sharing good news...
My Preach Notes from Sunday:
Anointed to Proclaim Good News
Recap: last in series, looking at ministry of the Spirit in Luke’s gospel - looked at healing, deliverance, prophecy.
This week, looking at preaching or telling others the good news about Jesus as a Holy Spirit ministry v. much present in Luke and Acts.
Study this ministry in Luke’s writing to look at how we might grow in this ministry ourselves!
Overview of preaching/telling others the good news in Luke (and bits of Acts) observing the link between anointing by the Spirit and proclamation + share stories from my own life and the lives for others and consider together application.
Otis salesman
Announcement of Jesus’ ministry in Luke 4:
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
Luke 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
1 preach, two proclaims
A. emphasis on proclamation as part of Jesus’ ministry
B. Anointing of the Spirit for proclamation
Q. Preach good news - why is it good news?
Recap on Jesus’ message amended from Isaiah 61
* Sovereign Lord - Yahweh, the Exodus God
* evangelise (always message of Jesus’ advent, death, resurrection) to those held back from progress by people or circumstances
* sooth/heal emotionally broken inc. those convicted of sin
* announce the resettling of all things + release of debtors
* release of every sort to those held in bondage by people and by place
personal renewal and restoration - binding up the brokenhearted
release from restrictions imposed by people (captives)
rectification of circumstances (release for prisoners)
removal of every cause of sorrow + positive work of transformation
holistic message of salvation - body, mind, spirit, soul
the Lord exactly replaces the hurt with the remedy - e.g. v3 ashes smeared on the head replaced by oil
Emphases on anointing by the Spirit for proclamation of good news throughout Luke (and Acts):
Luke’s gospel itself introduced as proclamation of good news
Luke 1:1 ¶ Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
Luke 1:3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
Luke 1:4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
A. Addressing the world at large in their language - preface in excellent Greek as one would find in a history or learned writing
B. Luke-Acts as recording the sound basis of their faith
Angelic visitations associated with John the Baptist and Jesus - e.g. angels to shepherds in ch.2 - ‘I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’
John the Baptist -
Luke 3:3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 3:4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
Again, anointed by the Spirit to preach or proclaim in order to turn people back to God - Luke explicitly relates this ministry to the anointing of the Spirit - 1:15 ‘he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.’
Start of Jesus’ ministry ch.3 and 4
Baptism - outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jesus
temptation
Luke 4:14 ¶ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
Luke 4:15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
Spirit and proclamation
Jesus proclaiming:
e.g.
Sermon on the Mount - ch.6
Parables - e.g. ch. 8
Luke 8:1 ¶ After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God...
Luke 8:4 ¶ While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:
Luke 8:5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
(wisdom in his mode of communication)
The sending of others to proclaim:
ch. 9 Jesus sends out the Twelve
given authority and power by Jesus (presumably through the Holy Spirit)
to heal sick, deliver those with demons + sent out to ‘preach the kingdom of God’
ch.10 Sending of the 72
v5 speak peace to house staying in
v9 heal the sick and tell them ‘The kingdom of God is near you’
Peter
ch.22
v33 Last Supper - Jesus announces Satanic opposition to Peter’s ministry - Jesus has prayed for him. Peter states his readiness to go with Jesus ‘to prison and to death’
Peter’s denial of Jesus when asked if he is with Him > weeps
(lovingly restored - end of John)
Acts 2 Pentecost - Peter full of the Spirit stands up and shares boldly
jokes, explains what seeing, explains who Jesus was, invites them to repent of sins they know they have committed
Characteristic of Spirit-filled church at end of ch.2 is growth - more people wanting to embrace this good news.
ch.4 Peter and John on release from prison praying for boldness
Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
Acts 4:30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Points to make:
We really do have good news to share!
The Spirit is our helper as we seek to share with others - fruit of the Spirit is love, also boldness:
2Tim. 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2Tim. 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Story of John Wesley on coach
Jesus’ proclamation was about more than just words - the witness of His life told the world what God was like
Proclamation as announcement/explanation of the Kingdom coming - miracles, signs and wonders - pray for these
Not just a ministry for the gifted speaker or evangelist, for the 12 apostles only, but for His body... e.g. Acts (ch.6 Seven deacons ‘full of the Spirit and of wisdom’ v3 ch.7 Stephen v2 ‘brothers and fathers listen to me,’ ch.8 v5 Philip went down to a city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there’)
They are excited and want to share it
My Experience:
Cricket - don’t hit the ball to me! - dropped
Upbringing and experiences at school - cared about what people thought
How changed?
Around people who were actively sharing their faith
God’s Spirit moving in me - want to share it
Persistence - experience grows through doing
Application:
Jesus has a ministry for all of us of proclamation, of announcing good news
Are we bothered?
We want to grow in this - but how?
1. Good news?
Are you confident that the message of the cross and resurrection of Jesus is good news for all?
Are you excited about the things of God?
When was the last time you spent quality time with Jesus?
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to help us
Ask for His love for others (perfect love casts out all fear)
Where to start - ask Jesus now...
3. Join with others
Inc. those more experienced - Cell group, Evang. Breakfast
Response:
The ministry of the Holy Spirit in Luke/Acts is not just feel good or fall down, but bear fruit
Have you denied Jesus when asked if you are with Him?
Repent and ask the Spirit to fill you and reveal Jesus to you now
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Robin Plummer, 03/12/2008 |
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