These are the words Jesus read in the synagogue at the beginning of his ministry (Luke 4:18). Jesus declared that these things were coming about through his ministry, a ministry that now continues through the church. The Spirit of the Lord is upon you now to do the very things described here. This is your commission. This is the agenda for your life. God wants you to shape your aspirations and priorities for life by this purpose. Not only must you do the things described in this chapter, but you can also do these things. They are possible for you. What makes these things possible is the indwelling of God’s Spirit in your life. Fulfilling this commission therefore means, first of all, ensuring that you are yielding yourself to God’s Spirit and that he is filling your heart. Paul speaks of being filled with the Spirit as an ongoing necessity (Eph. 5:18). Mission begins therefore with you waiting on God and seeking greater measure of his indwelling. Jesus promised that those who ask for the Holy Spirit will indeed receive what they seek (Luke 11:13). The Christian life is not a life of achieving what we can but a life of achieving what God can. It is not a life determined by our natural capacities, but rather it is a life lived by the Spirit (Rom. 8; Gal. 5:16ff). Seek more of God’s indwelling today. Yield yourself to God fully. Empty yourself of all other aspirations for life than those described here. God fills empty vessels.
Yield yourself to God and seek more of his indwelling Spirit.
Read Isaiah 61
