The Spirit That Was on Jesus Is on You: The Gospel of Release
Dr RJ Sing, 2 hr 4 min
Originally recorded as “The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me”
Sermon outline
The same Spirit who anointed Jesus to preach good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted and set captives free rests on believers today, so the gospel preached in power, not religion or psychology, can release anyone from whatever binds them.
Main text
- Luke 4:16-21
Opening
He opens in prayer, giving the Holy Spirit first place in the service, then moves into a long time of prophetic ministry and healing, with several people testifying that chest pain, a shoulder injury and eczema were healed. After welcoming visitors and announcing the new month's Faith Chronicles, he teaches briefly on the anointing that rests on God's Word, ministers in holy laughter, and then turns the church to Luke 4.
The anointing on the Word: a transmission of power
Jesus said His words are spirit and life, so there is an anointing on the Word and on writings that carry it, just as handkerchiefs and aprons from Paul's body carried healing and drove out evil spirits. It is the anointing that breaks yokes and removes burdens. The devil has an 'anti-anointing' of evil spirits, but Jesus spoiled principalities and powers, and the Holy Ghost brings liberty, joy and laughter. Sermons cannot change you; the Holy Ghost can, so be hungry, open and free of inhibitions rather than 'dignified and dead'.
Illustration: On a week in Cape Town he gave copies of Faith Chronicles to hotel staff, and a security guard from Zimbabwe was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues while reading it at night. He also tells of the flames seen over the Azusa Street church, the piano that kept playing when the pianist fell under the power of God, and Smith Wigglesworth telling a man with an amputated foot to go and buy shoes.
“Sermons can't change you, the Holy Ghost can change you.”
- John 6:63
- Acts 19:11-12
- Isaiah 10:27
- Colossians 2:15
- Psalm 2:4
- John 16:7
Anointed to preach the gospel to the poor
Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth: the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him because He was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor. We think the poor need financial help or food, but what they need is the gospel, because it has power to make the poor rich and to change any situation.
“The gospel has the power to make the poor rich.”
- Luke 4:16-18
To heal the brokenhearted
The brokenhearted do not need a psychiatrist or psychologist but the gospel. Many people dress well and put on make-up while carrying pain from rejection, divorce, a spouse or children who left, or parents who abused them physically, verbally or sexually. God goes deeper than psychology: psychology reaches the mind, but God touches the spirit of man. Forgive those who hurt you, let the love of God in, and walk away free.
Illustration: A person of 40 or 50 who cannot remember the last time they laughed, 'living life every day pretending everything's okay'.
“Psychology reaches the mind, but God reaches the spirit.”
- Luke 4:18
Liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed
Whatever holds you captive, whether alcohol, lust, nicotine or gambling, the gospel has power to release you. There are the physically blind and the spiritually blind, and the oppressed are set free not by sermons alone but by the anointing of God's Spirit. Jesus came to give abundant life: you can be happy on your own and with nothing, because joy is not found in other people.
“Whatever has got you captive, the gospel has the power to release you.”
- Luke 4:18
- John 10:10
The same Spirit is upon you
The Spirit who was upon Jesus is upon the ministry gifts He gave the church, and upon every believer. That is why the gospel comes in demonstration of power, not fancy academic words. Religion makes a swollen head, but God wants a heart big enough to believe Him; Jesus is the only way, and He takes the foolish things to confound the wise. As Jesus said, 'Woman, thou art loosed', he declares people loosed from financial pressure, sickness and bad dreams.
“Religion makes a swollen head. God doesn't want a swollen head, he wants a swollen heart.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:4
- John 14:6
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
- Mark 11:23
- Luke 13:12
- Romans 5:5
This day is this scripture fulfilled
When Jesus closed the book and said the scripture was fulfilled that day, He announced that humanity need not live in deprivation, sickness or poverty. Your mistakes, your past and your qualifications do not decide your future: if God be for you, who can be against you? Believers are kings and priests and citizens of heaven, free in spirit even where others are not. So be anxious for nothing: your station in life does not determine your joy, and the same Christ touches the cleaner and the CEO.
Illustration: Some people sit in prison yet are free because their spirits are free, while others live outside prison and are bound.
“Your station in life does not determine your happiness and your joy.”
- Luke 4:20-21
- Romans 8:31
- Revelation 1:6
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
- Philippians 4:6
The ministry of reconciliation
In the kingdom of God there is no race and no male or female; God loves His born-again children, and He also loves those outside who do not know Him, whatever their religion or sin. Believers have been entrusted with reconciling people to God, so do not criticise or condemn; tell them Jesus loves them. Both the 'down and outers' and the 'up and outers', who look for fulfilment in drink, cars and houses, need Christ.
“Don't criticize people, don't condemn people, tell them Jesus loves you.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Putting it into practice
- Be open and hungry for the Holy Spirit in services instead of trying to stay dignified.
- Let the gospel, not only counselling, heal old rejection and hurt: forgive and let God's love in.
- Stop letting your past, mistakes or qualifications define your future.
- Refuse anxiety and remember your security is in Christ.
- Tell people, rich or poor, that Jesus loves them, without condemning them.
Closing
Feeling the fire of the Lord, he releases the anointing over the church and declares protection, safety and peace over their homes and travels. He gives an altar call and leads those who come in a prayer of salvation, announces the week's believers' class with Pastor Zubeda and a leaders' meeting, and pronounces the benediction. He then welcomes the visitors, gives them Faith Chronicles and prays for the sick among them, including people with hearing loss, heart trouble and arthritis.
Declarations he led
- The same spirit that was upon Jesus is the same spirit that is upon you.
- Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you this morning for this opportunity. I make you Lord over my life. I accept you as my Lord and my Savior. Forgive me my sins. I believe with all my heart my sins are forgiven. I'm free today. I now receive Jesus Christ into my life. I'm now born again. I now have salvation. I now declare with my mouth, I'm a son of God. I'm a daughter of God.
In his words
- “Sermons can't change you, the Holy Ghost can change you.”
- “Psychology reaches the mind, but God reaches the spirit.”
- “Religion makes a swollen head. God doesn't want a swollen head, he wants a swollen heart.”
- “You can be all alone and be happy.”
- “We are not playing church, we are preaching the gospel.”
Every scripture in this message
- Romans 5:5
- Matthew 18:20
- Proverbs 10:22
- Isaiah 10:27
- John 6:63
- Acts 19:11-12
- Colossians 2:15
- Psalm 2:4
- John 16:7
- Luke 4:16-21
- John 10:10
- 1 Corinthians 2:4
- John 14:6
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
- Mark 11:23
- Luke 13:12
- Romans 8:31
- Revelation 1:6
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
- Philippians 4:6
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
- Psalm 91:10
- 2 Corinthians 13:14
- Numbers 6:24-26
- Mark 16:18
- Mark 8:24
- John 5:8