Mission & Message Of The Lord Jesus

Chartridge Mission Church

#Jesus #Mission #Message #Isaiah #Nazareth #Israel #Nathanael #Faithful #Encourage #LearningTheBibleTogether #JohnBillett #LongCrendon #ChartridgeMissionChurch #Chesham  John Billett from Long Crendon Baptist Church preaches on the message and mission of The Lord Jesus. Jesus never watered down His message nor wandered from His mission. In the face of similar resistance, John encourages us to be faithful as Jesus is.  John Billett YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@ChartridgeMissionChurch/search?query=john%20billett  Chartridge Mission Church, a beacon of faith, was founded in 1844 and remains in the village of Chartridge, just outside Chesham, in the picturesque Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, England, UK.  We are a warm and welcoming fellowship and would be delighted to have you visit us in person. Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm, followed by refreshments.   Our Church is fully accessible, with wheelchair ramps and an accessible toilet, ensuring everyone can participate in our services.     Chartridge Mission Church, Chapel Lane, Chartridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2TH  The village Church with an international audience.  Support our work at Chartridge Mission Church:  Donations via Stewardship.org.uk:    https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20005300    Cheques can be made payable to Chartridge Mission Church and sent to the above address for the attention of Pastor Barry Kempson.   Recorded on Sunday, 26th April 2026.     Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm.  www.Chartridge.UK   The Friendliest Fellowship.

Transcript

00:00Lord for ourselves, in living power we make us,

00:08self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne.

00:16Christ put behind us, for the future take us,

00:25Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

00:35Luke, chapter 4, verses 14 to 30.

00:41Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.

00:48And news about him spread through the whole countryside.

00:53He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

01:00He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.

01:05And on the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.

01:12He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.

01:20Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written,

01:25Listen, the Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the

01:34poor.

01:35He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind.

01:44To set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.

01:51Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.

01:58The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

02:04He began by saying to them,

02:07Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.

02:16All spoke well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.

02:26Isn't this Joseph's son, they asked?

02:31Jesus said to them,

02:33Surely you will quote this proverb to me,

02:37Physician, heal yourself.

02:40And you will tell me,

02:43Do here in your hometown,

02:46What we've heard that you did in Capernaum.

02:51Truly, I tell you,

02:53He continued,

02:55No prophet is accepted in his hometown.

03:00I assure you,

03:01That there were many widows in Israel,

03:04In Elijah's time,

03:06When the sky was shut for three and a half years,

03:10And there was a severe famine throughout the land.

03:14Yet Elijah,

03:16Was not sent to any of them,

03:18But to a widow in Zarephath,

03:21In the region of Sidon.

03:24And there were many in Israel with leprosy,

03:28In the time of Elisha the prophet.

03:31Yet not one of them was cleansed,

03:35Only Naaman,

03:36The Syrian.

03:39All the people in the synagogue were furious,

03:43When they heard this.

03:45They got up,

03:46Drove him out of the town,

03:48And took him to the brow of a hill,

03:51On which the town was built,

03:53In order to throw him off the cliff.

03:57But he walked right through the crowd,

04:00And went on his way.

04:03So reads God's precious and powerful word.

04:09A couple of weeks ago,

04:11Andy phoned me up and said he was getting his scheme and plan ready.

04:16What will I be preaching on tonight?

04:20I have no clue.

04:22So I said,

04:24I know,

04:25Put the good news.

04:28That covers everything.

04:31You have a copy of the good news in front of you.

04:34The Bible is good news.

04:37And people need the good news.

04:40And in this passage we're looking at tonight,

04:42We see the Lord Jesus proclaiming the good news.

04:46In line with Old Testament prophecy.

04:50So let's think about this good news as it is in this incident given us here in these verses.

04:58There are three things I want to say.

05:00First I want you to notice with me the mission of the Lord Jesus.

05:05Verses 14 to 16.

05:07The mission of the Lord Jesus.

05:11Verse 14 begins with the word.

05:13Jesus.

05:14The person.

05:15We're introduced here to him.

05:18This is in chapter 4.

05:21The first three chapters have been about his birth and childhood and so on.

05:30And now we come to the beginning of his ministry.

05:34And the good news he has.

05:36Jesus returned to Galilee.

05:40He'd been through the temptations.

05:42And faced the onslaught of the enemy.

05:47It's interesting isn't it?

05:48That whenever you want to do a work for God.

05:52Satan is subtle.

05:53And will try and upset it.

05:55One way or another.

05:57In fact if it all goes too smoothly.

05:59You want to ask yourself.

06:00Have I really got this right?

06:03Because the enemy of souls.

06:05Would want to hinder the work of the gospel.

06:08And the Lord Jesus had been through that terrific time.

06:11Of temptation in the wilderness.

06:15But by the grace of God.

06:17And the power of the spirit.

06:19Because he came through.

06:20He's God the son.

06:21And now that he's returned to Galilee.

06:27And this is the beginning of his ministry.

06:29And notice again how it comes.

06:31It's in the power of the spirit.

06:35The early chapter shows he was born of the spirit.

06:39And he was full of the holy spirit.

06:43He was led by the spirit.

06:45And now as he comes to Galilee.

06:49It's in the power of the spirit.

06:51That's another lesson to us isn't it?

06:54Jesus said without me you can do nothing.

06:57And we need to recognise that.

06:59We cannot live the sort of life we ought to live in our own strength.

07:04We're helpless and hopeless.

07:06We need the help of God the Holy Spirit.

07:10We need to rely on that help in our lives day by day.

07:17So here's the Lord Jesus back to preach in the power of the spirit.

07:24And as we think of this mission of the Lord Jesus.

07:27We see his person.

07:28We see something of his preaching.

07:30It's interesting isn't it?

07:31That we're told here in verse 15.

07:36He was teaching in their synagogues.

07:39And everyone praised him.

07:41But he went throughout the whole countryside.

07:44Teaching and preaching.

07:45Causing quite a stir.

07:49Seemed to be very acceptable.

07:51They were there to listen to him.

07:53And to speak well of him.

07:56But crowds are fickle aren't they?

07:58And after all.

08:00Read on in the gospels.

08:01And when the Lord Jesus enters Jerusalem.

08:04On the first Palm Sunday.

08:07They are singing his praise.

08:09Hosanna to the son of David.

08:11And a week later.

08:14Crucify him.

08:15Crucify him.

08:18We can follow people when they say what we want.

08:21But when they say things that challenge us.

08:25It can be a different matter.

08:28That's a challenge isn't it?

08:31Look at the people who began to follow the Lord Jesus.

08:35Those who said you know Lord.

08:38I would follow you.

08:39But first let me go and bury my father.

08:42And the excuses they made.

08:44Or in John 6.

08:4566.

08:46Where it says.

08:47At that time many of his disciples went back and walked no longer with him.

08:53He wasn't saying what they wanted.

08:55So they went.

08:57That's sad.

08:58Jesus calls us to follow him.

09:01To follow him all the way.

09:04Every day.

09:05Until glory.

09:07And we need to recognise that.

09:09Here he is.

09:10He's teaching and preaching.

09:12He's in the synagogues.

09:14And they seem to accept it.

09:17And to praise him.

09:18But notice where he was.

09:20He comes to Nazareth.

09:23Nazareth.

09:24The place where he grew up.

09:27Nazareth which was not really a very attractive place.

09:32As far as scripture is concerned.

09:34You may remember in John chapter 1 verse 46.

09:39When Nathanael hears about Jesus and he comes from Nazareth.

09:44Nathanael says.

09:46Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

09:49What a place.

09:51What a place.

09:53In John 7.52.

09:56Where the question is.

09:58Are you from Galilee too?

09:59Look into it.

10:00You'll find that a prophet does not come.

10:04Out of Galilee.

10:06So they got to write off the Lord Jesus.

10:09Because of Nazareth and Galilee.

10:12Of course they didn't bother to check the facts.

10:14They had known different.

10:17But Jesus grew up there.

10:19Not in some secluded quiet spot.

10:24But in a tough village obviously.

10:26With all sorts of problems.

10:29There he grew up.

10:31And the grace of God was with him.

10:33And the locals would have watched his behaviour.

10:38Luke 2.

10:3951-52.

10:41Jesus went down to Nazareth with them.

10:43That's with Mary and Joseph.

10:45And was obedient to them.

10:47And grew in wisdom and stature.

10:50And in favour with God and man.

11:16I wasn't like that.

11:19I've not run over my childhood and all the ups and downs of it.

11:22But you know there are things that I was ashamed of.

11:31It's the hardest place isn't it to witness.

11:34At home.

11:35In your own town.

11:37Or village.

11:37Or street.

11:38Or wherever.

11:39Where people know you.

11:41And what you're really like.

11:44What do they say about you?

11:45Because you don't know this do you?

11:47What do people say about you?

11:48Your neighbours.

11:49The people down the street.

11:50The people in the shop you go into.

11:52Or a place where you work.

11:54What do they say about you?

11:57That's a challenge isn't it?

11:59Am I bearing a good confession for the Lord Jesus?

12:05And then as we see the ministry of the Lord Jesus.

12:08Notice his practice here.

12:11Because we're told aren't we that he.

12:13On the Sabbath day.

12:16He went to the synagogue.

12:18As his custom was.

12:19And after all.

12:21There's a commandment isn't there?

12:23Often the forgotten command.

12:25Exodus 20 verse 8.

12:27The fourth commandment says.

12:29Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

12:34Sometimes in these days in our land.

12:36You'd hardly know it was a Sunday would you?

12:39Because things are so different.

12:41Well if that's the way the world goes.

12:43What about us?

12:45Do we honour the Lord's day?

12:48We keep it holy.

12:50What a challenge.

12:52And are we committed?

12:54Jesus' custom was.

12:56To go to the synagogue.

12:58On the Sabbath day.

13:00He didn't look at the list of preachers and say.

13:03I'm not going there tonight.

13:04I don't like his ministry.

13:06So.

13:07What a challenge isn't it?

13:09Because we can be like that.

13:10Can't we?

13:13What a privilege to have a day.

13:16Set aside for us.

13:18By God in his word.

13:20And still in part.

13:22In this country.

13:24There is some freedom.

13:26To meet on the Lord's day.

13:28John said in Revelation chapter 1.

13:30In the Omni-Hard of Patmos.

13:31I was in the spirit on the Lord's day.

13:34Why are we?

13:36Whereas the Corinthians were challenged.

13:40In 1 Corinthians 11.22.

13:43Concerning the Lord's people meeting for communion together.

13:48Do you despise the church of God?

13:52What are we like?

13:53Here's this ministry of the Lord Jesus beginning.

13:57And the crowds coming.

13:59And all that goes with it.

14:00And his clear stand.

14:03So move on secondly.

14:04To the message.

14:06From the Lord Jesus.

14:08In verses 16 to 19.

14:11He's in the synagogue.

14:14The people are there.

14:16The service has commenced.

14:19And he's allowed to take part.

14:22As the custom was.

14:25And we read don't we look.

14:27He stood up to read.

14:29Some churches do that don't they?

14:31When the word of God is read.

14:33They stand.

14:35And I guess it's a mark of respect.

14:38In some ways.

14:38This is the word of the King of Kings.

14:40The Lord of Lords.

14:42And we're not to become legalistic.

14:45But we must be those who honour the word of God.

14:50Sadly sometimes in some churches.

14:52They don't even read the word.

14:55That's awful isn't it?

14:57So what have they got to say?

14:59They haven't got the word of God.

15:01Jesus stood up to read.

15:04And a scroll was handed to him.

15:07And it was the prophecy of Isaiah.

15:12God's wonderful word.

15:14Apparently in the synagogue service they had.

15:16One of the readings was always one of the prophets.

15:19And this day when Jesus was there it was from Isaiah.

15:24Isaiah is a wonderful part of God's word.

15:27Sixty-six books.

15:28Some people see it as almost a mini Bible.

15:32Because there are sixty-six books in the Bible aren't there?

15:35Sixty-six chapters in Isaiah.

15:38One to thirty-nine.

15:40A bit like the Old Testament.

15:44Up to the captivity of God's people then.

15:49And then chapters forty to sixty-six.

15:51That's the last twenty-seven.

15:53A bit like the New Testament.

15:55Words of comfort and help for the future.

15:59And Jesus takes the scroll.

16:02Unrolls the scroll.

16:03And it says he found the place.

16:07He chose where he was going to read.

16:11Do you read all of scripture?

16:14Or just the bit you like?

16:18Our church in Long Crenton.

16:19Now we started a new scheme.

16:22And it's for the whole church.

16:24Nobody's forced to do it of course.

16:25But encouraged to do it.

16:27And we're hoping to read through the whole of the Bible in a year.

16:32So that's what's happening at the moment.

16:35We're going through a section every month in our groups.

16:40And we're just finishing off Matthew's Gospel at the moment.

16:44And it's good.

16:46And then in our home groups or in other groups.

16:49People who want to just share what's been a blessing to them.

16:52And that's fed back to the elders to encourage them.

16:55It's good to read the Bible.

16:57All of it.

16:58Not just the bits we like.

17:01Or the bits that leave out the bits we can't understand.

17:07God's precious word.

17:09All scripture says to us in 2 Timothy 3.

17:12All scripture is God-breathed and is profitable.

17:16All of it.

17:17And some of it is a challenge.

17:19But isn't it wonderful that we have the help of the Holy Spirit?

17:27The Bible is the sword of the Spirit.

17:29The Bible is the sword of the Spirit.

17:29Ephesians 6.

17:31We're not left on our own.

17:33That's why, you know, sometimes a little child who loves Jesus understands the Bible.

17:40But some great intellectual person who doesn't really doesn't make much of it.

17:47How good is God to his people?

17:49How wonderful.

17:51So the Lord Jesus found the place.

17:55And it was a deliberate choice of his.

17:59What's it about?

18:01Well, it's about proclaiming good news.

18:05We read the words just now, didn't we?

18:07And when we read from Isaiah 61 and those first two or three verses, proclaiming good news to the poor.

18:16That's not talking about the people who are hard up.

18:19It's talking about the people who are spiritually poor.

18:22They need the good news.

18:24We all need the good news because we're all spiritually poor.

18:28Sunday mornings at Long Crendon, we're going through the Beatitudes.

18:32You know one of those in Matthew 5, verse 3.

18:35Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

18:42So it's good news to the poor.

18:46Old Matthew Henry, the commentator, makes this comment.

18:51The books of the Old Testament were in a manner shut up till Christ opened them.

18:59Jesus is the key to the Old Testament, isn't he?

19:02And, of course, the new is about his life and the ongoing church.

19:10How wonderful is that?

19:12And so the Lord Jesus begins.

19:15The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.

19:19He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

19:24Isn't that wonderful?

19:25Again, you see the dependence of our Saviour on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

19:32And he is to proclaim the good news.

19:36Not to whisper it in a corner, but to proclaim it, to make it known, to spell it out.

19:48We've got good news.

19:49Don't we tell others?

19:50This has been, simply say, another birth in our families.

19:54Another addition to the family circle.

19:56We tell people, it's good news, some of us have had a baby.

20:00It's great news.

20:01Here is the best news.

20:03It's all about the Lord Jesus.

20:06Who came into this world for our sakes.

20:09Who died on the cross to bear away our sin.

20:12Who rose again and never lives to intercede for us.

20:15How good is that?

20:17There's nothing better.

20:19And it's to be proclaimed.

20:22The word proclaim means to announce.

20:25To declare.

20:27It can be translated to cry out.

20:30Let people know.

20:34We've got a story to tell to the nations.

20:38That would turn their hearts to the right.

20:41How wonderful.

20:43Proclaiming the good news.

20:45Proclaiming freedom for prisoners.

20:48Again, it's not talking about people locked up in jail, is it?

20:53They would like to be free, no doubt.

20:55But there's a worse jail, isn't there, than the local prison.

21:01Those who are bound by guilt and sin and shame.

21:06How does Wesley put it in the old hymn?

21:09Long my imprisoned spirit lay.

21:13Fast bound by sin and nature's night.

21:16Thine eye diffused a quickening ray.

21:20I woke the danger and flame with light.

21:23My chains fell off.

21:25My heart was free.

21:27I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

21:30Is that true for you?

21:32Are you rejoicing in that?

21:33The good news of Jesus, the saviour of sinners, is freedom.

21:37It says, doesn't it, if the Son sets you free, this is John 8, 36, you will be free indeed.

21:46Isn't that wonderful?

21:47If you're here tonight in the grip of some sin, some burden, some trouble, seek the Lord, while he may

21:56be found, asking to set you free.

21:59And this proclamation of the Lord Jesus was for recovery of sight to the blind.

22:07Now, of course, Jesus did give sight to the blind, like Bartimaeus.

22:12What a wonderful incident that was.

22:14What did Bartimaeus do after he received his sight?

22:17You know what he did.

22:18He followed Jesus down the road.

22:21He was committed to the Lord Jesus Christ.

22:25He received two lots of sight.

22:28He received his physical sight.

22:31That was wonderful.

22:32He received spiritual sight.

22:35That's even more glorious.

22:37He could see how wonderful is that.

22:41What a glorious message.

22:44Matthew Henry again says,

22:46Christ came to tell us he has eyesalve for us.

22:54Eyesalve, that's an old expression, isn't it?

22:56That's Matthew Henry, that's a long time ago.

22:58You know what it means.

22:59Ointment, so heal the eyes.

23:02I talked to someone last night on the phone when they'd been to the doctors.

23:06And had been given some medication.

23:09So he asked how it was working.

23:11Well, not a lot of improvement.

23:14Which was disappointing.

23:16But what the Lord Jesus gives is healing.

23:21Is life transforming.

23:24Men haven't got all the answers.

23:25Even the best of doctors get it wrong sometimes.

23:29But not so our Lord Jesus.

23:33Once I was bound, now I am free.

23:37Once I was blind, now I can see.

23:41That's how I know there's a saviour for me.

23:44Oh, such a saviour.

23:46Rejoice in that.

23:50Recovery of sight to the blind.

23:52Goes on.

23:53To set the oppressor free.

23:57Those who were under pressure.

24:00Crushed.

24:01Made down with sin.

24:03Gripped by Satan.

24:05Set free.

24:05I've just been reading a book of lovely testimonies of people in all sorts of trouble.

24:13And how they've met with Jesus.

24:15And how they've met with Jesus.

24:15And they've been delivered and transformed.

24:18And they're living godly lives.

24:22For the glory of God.

24:24By the grace of God.

24:25It's true, isn't it?

24:27If the Lord Jesus has made no difference to you.

24:31I would say, well, are you really a Christian?

24:34Because he transforms lives.

24:37He saves and he keeps.

24:39He promises never to leave us nor forsake us.

24:42He answers our prayers.

24:43He watches over us.

24:45He's a wonderful saviour.

24:48If your heart isn't stirred, there's something wrong.

24:53Read again this passage.

24:55Read again this prophecy that the Lord Jesus uses because it applies to him.

25:01That's what Isaiah was speaking about.

25:02Was it 600 years before?

25:04Now being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ.

25:08to set free the oppressed.

25:11To proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.

25:14It was a jubilee year.

25:1650th year.

25:18Leviticus 25 verse 8 would show us that.

25:21And it reminds me of 2 Corinthians 6 too.

25:26Now is the accepted time.

25:28Now is the day of salvation.

25:31And if you're here tonight or listening to the recording,

25:36let me challenge you.

25:37Do you know the Lord Jesus?

25:39If not, seek him while he may be found.

25:43Call on him while he is near.

25:45The Bible says,

25:46Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

25:53He answers prayer.

25:54He meets needs.

25:57That's the message from the Lord Jesus.

25:59Our time has gone.

26:01The third part is, of course, verses 20 to 30.

26:04The messenger was the Lord Jesus.

26:08It's his message.

26:10If we see his actions,

26:13he rolls up the scroll.

26:15This was customary procedure of prison in the synagogue.

26:18Gave it back to the attendant,

26:19the official who was in charge of those things.

26:21And then notice what it says.

26:23And he sat down.

26:26Preachers don't often sit down these days, do they?

26:29The congregations get that.

26:30We keep standing.

26:32But they often sat down.

26:34And obviously, the Lord Jesus sat down.

26:37It mentions again, it's Matthew 5, verse 1.

26:39At the beginning of perhaps the best sermon of all,

26:41the Sermon on the Mount.

26:44Now, when Jesus saw the crowds,

26:47he went up on a mountainside and sat down.

26:51Now, they were in for a long sermon, weren't they,

26:53if you read your Bibles.

26:55And that's probably only a summary.

26:57He began to teach them.

26:59And here, notice, it says,

27:02the eyes of everyone were fastened on him.

27:05Can you imagine that synagogue?

27:07We went to Nazareth some time ago

27:10on a trip organized by day one.

27:13That was the old Lord's Day Observance Society.

27:16And one of the visits was in Nazareth

27:18into a synagogue there.

27:21And we just sat down.

27:23And I think this is a passage that was read to us.

27:26Just gave it a bit of an interest in colour

27:29and a chance to take some photographs too.

27:32But, I guess, when we were there,

27:36we listened to what the guy who was leaving it had to say.

27:40Here, everyone has got their eyes fixed on Jesus.

27:46There's a lesson there, isn't there?

27:49Isn't that the way to live?

27:52With our eyes fixed on Jesus.

27:55Matthew Henry again,

27:56keep the eye fixed on Christ speaking to us.

28:01Don't let your gaze wander from him.

28:04Look at him.

28:05Listen to him.

28:07Hebrews 12, verse 2,

28:09where we're told on to be looking unto Jesus.

28:12Are we focused on Christ?

28:15Do we know him and love him

28:17and want to please him

28:18in every area of our lives?

28:21Home, work, whatever.

28:23At leisure?

28:25All the time.

28:27Centred on the Lord Jesus Christ.

28:30So, we see the actions of the Lord Jesus.

28:32We see the announcement of the Lord Jesus.

28:35Listen to this.

28:36This will have made that congregation sit up.

28:40Because Jesus then said, didn't he,

28:43in verse 21,

28:45today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.

28:50Wow.

28:52He's quoted the prophecy of Isaiah

28:55about the coming Messiah.

28:59Jesus says,

29:01today this is fulfilled in your hearing.

29:05Oh, wonderful.

29:07What a shock.

29:08What a surprise.

29:10But it was true.

29:12How glorious.

29:14He's come to seek and to save.

29:19It was emphasized again, wasn't it,

29:22in Luke 7, 22,

29:23when people came from John the Baptist

29:26to see Jesus,

29:27to see if he really was the Messiah or not.

29:30And Jesus sent them back saying,

29:34go back and report to John.

29:36The blind receive sight,

29:39and so on,

29:40and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

29:45Yes, he's the one who fulfills prophecy.

29:50He's the one who saves and keeps.

29:53His ministry was not just to heal or change people then,

29:57not again.

29:59It's the abiding message of God's word.

30:02It is the only answer.

30:04When we were driving along the M25 recently,

30:07a lorry went shooting by us,

30:09and I looked at the name on the side.

30:11I said to Barbara,

30:12write that down quick.

30:13If she does that,

30:14if I want the sermon illustration to see it.

30:17And this is what it said,

30:20on the side of the lorry,

30:24Temporary Solutions Company.

30:26The Temporary Solutions Company.

30:28A quick fix.

30:29Well, maybe they need it for some things,

30:31I don't know.

30:32But the gospel is no quick fix.

30:36The gospel is permanent.

30:38He that,

30:39believing on the Son of God,

30:41hath everlasting life.

30:43God so loved the world,

30:44that he gave his one and only Son,

30:46that whoever believes in him

30:48shall not perish,

30:50but shall have everlasting life.

30:54Our Lord Jesus does an internal,

30:57eternal work in the hearts and lives

31:00of those who come to him.

31:03So here's his announcement.

31:06We see then the acceptance of the Lord Jesus.

31:09All spoke well of him,

31:10amazed at his gracious words

31:12that came from his lips.

31:15Their admiration,

31:17their commendation at the start.

31:19But, says Matthew Henry,

31:21in his commentary,

31:22but they did not believe in him.

31:26And you know what happened.

31:28We see their attitude towards the Lord Jesus

31:30in verses 23 to 30.

31:32They said,

31:33Just a minute.

31:35Isn't this Joseph's son?

31:38You know,

31:38this lad who grew up round here?

31:43And Jesus spoke to them

31:45and showed them how

31:47all too often

31:49people who claimed to be God's people

31:51were bypassed.

31:53Like the widow of Zarephath

31:55who was chosen

31:56to look after Elijah,

32:00not by another widow in Israel.

32:03Naaman the Syrian with leprosy.

32:05There were no lepers in Israel.

32:07Now, Naaman the foreigner,

32:09the Syrian was healed.

32:12And as Jesus began to show

32:14that in their eyes a prophet

32:17might not be without honour

32:19accepting his own country,

32:21it says that they were,

32:23got the word there in your Bible?

32:25They were furious.

32:28What a change.

32:30They were enraged.

32:33But this man

32:35who spoke the word of truth

32:38powerfully,

32:39clearly.

32:40Because their hearts

32:41were affected.

32:43And they were guilty

32:45of sin

32:47and rebellion

32:48and rejection

32:49of the Lord Jesus.

32:51He came to his own

32:53and his own received him not.

32:56And what did they do?

32:58They got up

32:58and they drove him

33:00out of the synagogue

33:01and up to the hill

33:03to throw him

33:04over the cliff

33:05and get rid of him.

33:09And what happened?

33:12Isn't it amazing?

33:13Because it's Jesus

33:15who turned

33:16and walked through them

33:18and went on his way.

33:20Because he's the eternal,

33:22almighty,

33:23son of God.

33:26What a chance

33:27those people had

33:28and what a loss

33:30and I'll say

33:33Jesus went on

33:34to proclaim

33:35the good news

33:35until

33:38Calvary.

33:39It is atoning death.

33:41And it's the Sunday

33:42his glorious resurrection.

33:46And you know

33:47the rest of the story.

33:48What a wonderful

33:49saviour we have.

33:51And one day

33:51he's coming again.

33:53So are you ready?

33:54Looking forward

33:55to the Lord Jesus.

33:57Even so,

33:57come Lord Jesus.

33:59Is that the cry

34:00of your heart?

34:00But more than that,

34:02this is one reason

34:03I'm hounding

34:04on this passage.

34:05Because the challenge

34:06is to us

34:07who receive

34:09the good news

34:10to share it.

34:12It's not just ours.

34:14It's to be shared.

34:16Go into all the world.

34:19Treat the gospel

34:20to all creation.

34:21Make disciples

34:22of all nations.

34:23The Great Commission

34:25still stands.

34:27And God has

34:28saved you.

34:29If Christian you are,

34:31that you might

34:32yet enjoy

34:32his blessings

34:33and look forward

34:34to glory.

34:36But we used to sing

34:37an old hymn,

34:38there's a work

34:38for Jesus

34:39none but you can do.

34:40What is it

34:41that God

34:41will have you do?

34:43Unconverted neighbours,

34:45family,

34:45friends,

34:47missionaries,

34:48miles away

34:48who need

34:49the support

34:49of your prayers

34:50and finance maybe.

34:52There's a lot

34:52to be done.

34:53Don't ever say,

34:55because I'm retired,

34:56you know,

34:57I can sit down

34:57and put my feet up.

34:59No.

34:59There's always

35:00something to do.

35:01Actually,

35:01people who retire

35:02very often

35:03seem busy

35:03and I was at work

35:04but in Christian work

35:07there's so much

35:08to do.

35:09And if we love

35:10the Lord Jesus,

35:11we want to be

35:12his disciples.

35:13He said,

35:14follow me

35:14and I will make

35:16you fishers of men.

35:18Jesus came

35:18and proclaimed

35:19the good news

35:21and has entrusted

35:22it to us

35:23to carry on

35:25proclaiming

35:25the good news

35:26in this day

35:27of grace

35:28and opportunity.

35:30Let's do that.

35:31Amen.

35:32Your love has

35:36kept and guided

35:38urge and inspired us

35:42cheered us on our way

35:46sought us and saved us

35:51pardoned and provided

35:54Lord of the years

35:59we bring our thanks

36:01today.

36:04Lord of the word

36:07the word of life

36:09which fires us

36:12speak to our hearts

36:15and sets us

36:17old to play

36:28Lord of the word

36:32in this generation

36:44Generation, spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth, and care.

36:54For young and old, for common man and nation, Lord of our land, be pleased to hear the prayer.

37:11Lord, for a world where end is so and how true, loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain.

37:28Hungry and helpless, lost in dealing without you, Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

37:44Lord, for ourselves, in living power we make us, self on the cross and Christ upon the throne.

38:01Cause us, put behind us, for our future, take us, Lord of our lives, to live for Christ's home.

38:22You

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended