The Anointing

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,  because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,  to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor  and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
³     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.  Isaiah 61:1-3

Jesus quoted this text about himself and declared that the promise was fulfilled in Him.  It characterizes his purpose and mission on the earth.  Some would say that the church has the same mandate in fulfilling its mission to bring God’s kingdom to earth.

All of the mission stems from the provision of anointing.  No anointing, no effective ministry.  If the church is going to take up the task to fulfill Jesus work on the earth, then they need to secure the anointing.  Jesus said that this anointing abides in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. This anointing includes a proclamation, a ministry, and change in status. 

We are to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom to captives and the favor of the Lord has arrived.  What would good news to the poor include?  It must be more than a change in their physical status.  Yet, when you are poor that appears to be the most important problem.  Jesus dealt with this idea when he fed the 5000 and the wanted to make him a king.  But he did feed them.  The good news is mostly about a relationship change.  Once the were lost, but now they are found.  Now they have the privilege to become children of God.  Their poor economic, mental, or social challenges can not inhibit them from receiving this gift.  It is the year when God makes things new

Not only is there a change in the status of your relationship with God, but there is a task that needs to be accomplished.   Binding up the broken, releasing those who prisoners to spiritual darkness, and comforting those who mourn.  In the spirit of reconciliation the task is to find those made a mess of their lives, those who are bound in addiction and sin, and those who have suffered loss.  This anointing equips you to engage and see transformation to those who are hurting.

Having been helped in your pain, the transformation in status begins.  The great exchange is experienced by His children.  Beauty for ashes, joy, and a garment of praise are for those who have been hurt, and mourning.  For those who feel exposed (a feeling that dirty laundry is seen by others), HE promises a garment of praise and a robe of righteousness that can be worn even now.

This is what Jesus knew He was offering about the kingdom of God which was now upon them.  Jesus knew that these kingdom values and gifts were available now for those who would receive them by faith.  That is why he was so excited to proclaim the good news.  It arrived with Jesus’ ministry and it is available for all who are needy today.