One plus One

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

Luke 4:14-21

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%204%3A14-21&version=NIV;GNT

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

One plus one is two; two plus two is four; three plus three is six. You get the idea. It’s basic math. You start with addition, go to subtraction, elevate to multiplication and take a quantum leap to division. You have to master the basics before you jump into analytical geometry or calculus. A foundation must be laid.

The same is true with regards to your faith. You start with a simple concept… “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so”. Then you move on to a more mature understanding… “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” A foundation is laid in order to develop a fuller understanding.

I believe the same principle is true with regards to our calling to ministry; at least it was for me. God’s call on my life took years before I began to follow it; understand it; and owned it. He brought people, circumstances and experiences into my life that were well beyond the realm of just being coincidental.

He took a simple, specific desire of “using basketball to reach black inner city boys for Christ”, and grew it into a twenty-five year career of full time ministry.

When Jesus went to the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, he stood up and read the following prophecy from Isaiah.

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”       NIV

Following the reading, he sat down and said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled”. By making this statement, he was claiming to be the expected Messiah.

This passage helped me in my understanding of the calling God had given me. Not that I saw myself to be Jesus; but as someone who had been called to bring the message of hope, freedom and salvation to those who needed to hear it.

What is your call to ministry?

CELEBRATE!

Isaiah 61:1-11

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2061&version=NIV;ESV

  

What is your most memorable celebration? For me, it was when my wife had a surprise birthday party for my fiftieth birthday. My brother’s job was to get me out of the house while my wife and sister-in-law decorated and all the guests arrived.

 

When my brother and I were about to return early before everything was ready, he faked heart attack symptoms. He must have been a good actor because I believed him. When we finally returned, all the guests were on the deck waiting to yell “Surprise!” And it was. In fact, it was a wonderful celebration.

 

As a young Jewish nation was preparing to occupy the Promised Land, God gave them the Law and rules to live by. Rules that would lead to celebration. The Year of Jubilee (described in Isaiah 61, but originated in Leviticus 25) was a yearlong celebration to be repeated every fifty years.

 

During Jubilee, all the prisoners were to be set free; all the slaves were to be released; all debts were to be forgiven; and all property was to be returned to its original owner. In addition, people were to not work land, which means that Jubilee provided a year of rest for not only the people, but also the land.

 

For many, Jubilee was to be an opportunity for them to start over with a clean slate; with nothing to feel guilty for or ashamed of. What would it mean for you to start over with a clean slate?

 

When Jesus started his ministry, he quoted from Isaiah 61.

 

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”       Luke 4 ESV

 

According to Leviticus 25, the Year of Jubilee started on the Day of Atonement. This was when the sins of Israel were laid on the head of a scapegoat, and were taken into the wilderness to pay for their sins.

 

Jesus did the same thing for you and me. He took our sins upon himself into the wilderness. We didn’t deserve to be set free from sin, but he did it anyhow. Just like those who were set free as a part of the Year of Jubilee.

 

Let’s celebrate!