Let The Praises Ring, Hosanna (Praise Is Rising), Firm Foundation (He Won’t), Greater Than, More Like Jesus

What are your goals or plans for 2024?

18 “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, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”

We will be stepping into a brand-new year, unfortunately, even if the date changes many of our circumstances do not really change. We may feel like we’re living life in a rut: wake up, survive, sleep… repeat!

Fortunately, we can find real purpose and satisfaction in life if we follow God’s blueprint for our lives. Before an edifice or house is built, there needs to be a blueprint with specifications as to how that house is to look like when it’s standing. In the Bible, a house or building is oftentimes a symbol of our life.

The simple definition of God’s blueprint for our life is to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:4-6). The Bible use “walk” to mean how we live on a daily basis—our lifestyle. It’s meant to be a Christ-like lifestyle.

There are three things to know about God’s blueprint for our life:

1. POWER (Luke 4:18)

The first thing Jesus mentioned is the source of power (Acts 1:8). “Power” is a miraculous strength or ability. We cannot do this purely out of positive thinking or by listening to our favorite motivational speaker. There is a Source of power. He is the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Godhead and He’s real. He is the source of our power. The purpose of our power, in the case of the Christian life, is to be a witness. A “witness” is someone who can claim to have heard or seen what happened and has firsthand knowledge.

Before Jesus enumerated all of the things that He said He came to do which actually serve as a pattern or the blueprint for our own preoccupations or mission on earth, the first mention He made is the Holy Spirit. This is important because Jesus modeled to us the Spirit-filled and Spirit-empowered life (Luke 4:1-2). He modeled it to us at a time in His life when He was in the wilderness and was subjected to extreme temptation. Many times we will experience a wilderness season in life. We will be tempted as Jesus was tempted. He was tempted but did not commit any sin. But we are not Jesus and we will at some point fall and fail.

What do we do when we sin? Dr. Bill Bright came up with the term “Spiritual Breathing” which is to “exhale” or confess (1 John 1:9) and to “inhale” or be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The proof or result is the Spirit-filled life (Galatians 5:22-23).

2. PRIVILEGE (Luke 4:18-19)

The Christian life is a privileged life because it’s by grace. We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). An “ambassador” is a trusted and respected person authorized to speak as God’s emissary and represent His kingdom. The appeal is to come alongside people and encourage them that God’s desire is for them to be reconciled to God.

Jesus says our job as an ambassador is to:

PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR
Announce the good news to anyone who is spiritually bankrupt. Anyone without Jesus is spiritually bankrupt (Luke 12:16-21). Introduce people to the one who is the greatest treasure in the universe— Jesus.

PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES
We are just like Barabbas, a murderer, who was set free because Jesus took our place on that cruel cross (Luke 23:18-19,25). Introduce people to the one who unlocks the jail cell that people are in because of sin.

PROCLAIM RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND
Bartimaeus called out to Jesus (Mark 10:46-48). He knew Jesus was his only hope. He acknowledged Jesus for who He claimed to be— the Son of David, his Messiah and Savior. He acknowledged his helplessness (Mark 10:51-52). Bring people to the sight giver. We are not the one who open people’s spiritual eyes. Only Jesus can do that. We also have the privilege of watching people begin to follow Him!

SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED
The general meaning of “oppressed” is people whose lives are broken and shattered. Jesus came to set free those who are oppressed (Luke 8:26-27,35). This whole world is under the control of the evil one. Without Jesus in our life, we are prone always to follow the devil’s blueprint for our lives. Bring people to Jesus who sets free those who are oppressed.

PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD
Proclaiming the favorable year of the Lord (Luke 4:19) is simply to tell people that they are loved by someone who is infinitely great and infinitely powerful—the King of kings and Lord of lords.

3. PERIL (Luke 4:22-30)

Jesus throughout the Bible makes the expectations very clear. When you experience peril because you’ve decided to be an ambassador for Christ and exercise your privilege and responsibility, Jesus and everybody else who is doing the same thing experience it too (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Jesus did not have a hometown advantage (vv.22-24). He said to the Jews that He’ll take His kingdom’s business elsewhere—to the Gentiles (vv.25-27). He faced opposition (vv.28-30). There will be peril in our living the Christian life according to God’s blueprint.

No matter how beautiful life on earth gets, it will come to an end someday, thus there is urgency. Do you know anyone who is spiritually bankrupt? Captive to a sinful lifestyle? Blind to the truth of God? Oppressed and broken? In need of the favorable year of the Lord? What will you do about it? This 2024, live out God’s blueprint for your life!

Are you consistently practicing the Spirit-filled life? Why or why not?

How can you better represent Jesus this new year? Who among your family and friends need to know Jesus, and what will you do about it?

What challenges do you anticipate in the new year? Take time to pray about these.

Pray for those who need the blueprint of God, the person and work of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit in their life. Show love and care for people you know and do not know. Practice your responsibility to share Jesus to others as much as we enjoy our privilege as Christians.

• Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.

• Upright and moral governance of public servants; repentance and salvation for government leaders and citizens for a Christ-centered Philippines.

• God’s help and comfort, salvation for Israel, wisdom for their leaders in government, military and their soldiers as they defend themselves against terrorists’ attacks. PRAISE GOD for the release of hostages so far! Continue to pray for the release of the remaining ones.

• War in Ukraine to end, loss of lives prevented; conflict in African, East Asian and Middle East countries to stop.

• Pray for Christians from different countries who have been persecuted, attacked and killed in recent weeks.

• CCFers would honor and love God and make disciples.

• Elders, pastors, dleaders, and families (holy, humble, harmonious, happy, heart-working).

• Ministries and churches expansion worldwide.

• Worship and Training Center

• Prayer Mountain

• Deeper intimate relationship with God.

• Righteous living.

• Salvation of family and friends.

6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.