ESOCS Devotional 3 February 2021
TEXT: LUKE 4:14-30
MEMORY VERSE: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19
There is so much to gain from the gospel preached or taught, especially in church services. There is so much to gain for attending church services and paying attention to the anointed preacher on each occasion, and other spiritual activities in worship (Bible reading, prayers, hymns and spiritual songs). There is therefore need for preachers to be well prepared under the anointing as the congregants come with high expectations. And as no one knows the day of his visitation, it is imperative that we cultivate this habit, which was in the Lord and the apostles: “… and as his custom was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”
Though Jesus was God incarnate, though he needed no one to teach Him the way of God, and though He was the master Teacher, Preacher, Prophet and Priest, He zealously attended public worship, not as a Synagogue official but as one who by tradition was also qualified to read the scripture in public. Regular attendance to worship and Bible study is very important. God has so ordained it that we should “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb.10:25). No matter how poor the infrastructure, no matter how few the population, and no matter how unorganized the music and teachings may fall short of our expectation, it is still better to be in church at worship time than to be elsewhere. It is reported of Paul that this was his manner (Acts 17:2).
Anointed preachers will do well to follow the pattern of Jesus Christ and centre their sermons on delivering these four blessings to their congregants, even as congregants are advised to focus and tap into them:
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Preach to the comfort of the poor and let the poor draw comfort from the gospel, especially the poor in material possessions who are despised by the rulers and the wealthy.
There are in church those afflicted by calamities, broken marriages, failed businesses, or disappointment by a fiancé or fiancée. These and those whose hearts are broken by the burden of sin come to church to have their hearts healed and restored by the gospel. The anointed preacher should ensure that they are properly ministered to.
CHALLENGES
Have you always felt discouraged from going to church?
PRAYER POINT
Ask God to make this year the year of Jubilee for you.
FURTHER READING: 1 Corinthians 1:18-21; Romans 1:16-17; Isaiah 61:1-3
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ESOCS Devotional 3 February 2021
