WHEN JESUS SHOWS UP!

SCRIPTURE
Luke 4:14 [Message] Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit. News that he was back spread through the countryside. 15 He taught in their meeting places to everyone’s acclaim and pleasure. 16 He came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, 17 he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written, 18 God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, 19 to announce, “This is God’s year to act!” 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. 21 Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”

OBSERVATION
I love passages like this one in the Bible because of the nuances: "Jesus returning to Galilee, is like Jesus returning to my harden heart - and in the power of the Spirit. The "News that he was back spread through the countryside."- and people notice when He is back in my life. He taught then, He still teaches now. He read, "God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, 19 to announce, “This is God’s year to act!” - and that which He read He acts out in my life today.

APPLICATION
Just as:
1] God's Spirit is on Him, so God's Spirit is in me.
2] He chose to preach the Message of good news to the poor, through me He choses to share Jesus with the poor, especially the poor in spirit.
3] Just as He came to announce pardon to the prisoners, so He uses me to help people get beyond their preferences to their purpose.
4] Just as He gave sight to the blind, through studying His word and spending time with Him, I see!
5] Just as He set the burdened and the battered free, today, He does the same thing and sometimes uses me to help.
6] Just as it was "...God’s year to act!” - So it is: God's year to act!

PRAYER
Father,
In the precious name of Jesus, continue the work you once began in Him.
Continue it in my life, and the lives of those you allow me to influence.
Just as you've allow me to experience Jesus, allow other to experience Him
Just as you helped others in the past to see and to be set free
So may this be once again, "God's year to act!"
And since you've showed up in my life, - use me - act through me - be glorified!