The Story of Jesus - His Exemplary Ministry

Bible Book: Luke 4 : 18-19

Subject: Jesus, Ministry of

Series: The Story of Jesus

Introduction

Last night, on the way up here, my youngest son asked if we were going to be eating dinner today with the preacher. My wife explained that you all didn’t have a pastor, and so daddy would be the preacher today. Jonathan thought about that for a moment, and then said, “So they don’t have a real preacher?”

I have known some real preachers in my life. Men who set before me a great example of what a preacher ought to be. I can think of many right now whose names would perhaps be unknown to you, but whose lives have set a pattern for a man of God. I think of the first pastor that I ever sat under – Willard Rhodes; I think of my Dad, Wayne Owen, because for a number of years when I was growing up, he was my pastor. I think of other preachers like Ray Aiken, George Thompson, R.A. White, Roy Goodson, and others who in my childhood seemed to me to be giants in the faith. As I grew older, men like Jerry Clark, Harold Sightler, and my dear friend Tom Hayes became examples to me.

Over the years there have been many whose writings and ministries have stood out in my mind as men who were worthy of my emulation and respect. Of course, the greatest example of a preacher, the greatest example of a man of God was the God-man. As the Emmaus road disciples said, Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people (Luke 24:19).

Here in Luke chapter 4, Jesus claimed the words of Isaiah chapter 61 and applied it to Himself. These statements in Luke 4, and Isaiah 61 offer some defining qualities of Christ’s ministry and offer us a great example to strive for in ministry. These are the principles of the Christ-like preacher.

Consider…

I. The Exemplary Anointing Of Christ’s Ministry

A. The Anointing Of The Spirit For The Wilderness

(Luke 4:1) And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

In Paul’s discourse to the Ephesian elders, we learn certain things about the role of the pastor. Paul speaks of... The Adversities Of A Preacher (Acts 20:17-27)

1. He Mentions The “Tears” vs. 19

2. He Mentions The “Temptations” vs. 19

3. He Mentions The “Testifying” vs. 20-27

B. The Anointing Of The Spirit For The Word

(Luke 4:18) The 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,

His Duty In The Word

Consider 1 Timothy 4:13 where Paul said, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” He told Timothy to apply himself (give attendance) to...

1. A Public Reading Of The Word to reading

2. A Practical Rendering Of The Word to exhortation

3. A Precept Realization Of The Word to doctrine

C. The Anointing Of The Spirit For The Weaknesses

(Matthew 26:41) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

II. The Exemplary Aspects Of Christ’s Ministry

A. The Lifting Aspect Of Christ’s Ministry

(Isaiah 61:1) The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

1. Lifting The Depressed

meek – [Hebrew 'anav] depressed (fig.), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, espec. saintly):--humble, lowly, meek, poor`.

2. Lifting The Destroyed

brokenhearted – [Hebrew shabar] to burst (lit. or fig.):--break (down, off, in pieces, up),]), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, X quite, tear, view

B. The Liberating Aspect Of Christ’s Ministry

1. Liberating The Bound

captives – [Greek aichmalotos] a prisoner of war, i.e. (gen.) a captive:--captive.

2. Liberating The Blind

blind – [Greek tuphlos] opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by anal.) blind (phys. or ment.):--blind.

3. Liberating The Bruised

bruised – [Greek thrauo] a prim. verb; to crush:--bruise.

C. The Looking Aspect Of Christ’s Ministry

(Isaiah 61:2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

1. Looking For The Grace Of Our Lord the acceptable year of the Lord

(Jesus left off reading there in Luke 4 – this is the first advent.)

2. Looking For The Glory Of Our Lord the day of vengeance of our God

3. Looking Is Lifting For The Grieving to comfort all that mourn

III. The Exemplary Appointing Of Christ’s Ministry

(Isaiah 61:3) 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.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. The Body Is The External beauty for ashes

B. The Soul Is The Eternal the oil of joy for mourning

(Psalms 42:5) Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

C. The Spirit Is The Essential the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness

Conclusion

Samuel following Jack Green out to car – as if to say, “I want to be like him.”