“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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 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.”
Jesus was anointed for the kind of ministry which was filled with compassion and love, characterized by preaching and teaching the Gospel, healing the sick, miracles, casting out demons, and feeding the poor as indicated by the quotations below.
Mathew 4:22 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”
Luke 4:43 “But Jesus told them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent."
Luke 7:21 “At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.”
Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.”
Mathew 15: 35-39 “He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.”
We have received the same anointing that was upon Christ. Being baptized in Him to do the work that He left on earth by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” The only way to accomplish this work is by receiving the love of the Father and giving it out. We cannot give what we don’t have. LOVE IS THE KEY NEEDED TO UNLOCK THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE WORD OF GOD. You may pretend to display the gospel with your mouth, but it will not have a great impact if not seasoned with the love of the Father. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” One of the ways we can demonstrate love is by analyzing Mathew 15: 35.
Around the world there are different types of suffering, to name a few; war, hunger, poverty, drought, poor health, no accessibility to resources common to man and enslavement. In the same world, there are some who never understood what it means to suffer. The selfishness of man has resulted to wickedness and unnecessary pain being inflicted in the lives of the poor.
Pray that we will not waste the anointing of God that has been placed upon our lives; going around and doing good like Jesus (Acts 10:38).
Pray that we will be consumed by love and compassion that Jesus demonstrated in His ministry of serving the people. Matthew 15:32 “And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
Pray that we will have a heart to always remember the suffering communities in giving, praying or helping in whatever way possible. Leviticus 19:9-10 “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.” Isaiah 58:7 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Taking care of the needy is a command from the Lord. Pray that the Spirit of obedience will be our portion so we will not neglect the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11 “For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.”
God expects justice and mercy from man but around the world we see many unjust things. What explanation do we have for rich leaders existing in the same nation with the poor who cannot afford a basic meal? Pray that God will touch the hearts of leaders and the rich to distribute their wealth. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.” Psalm 72:4 “He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor?”
Pray that we will arise and shine our light by physically getting involved in assisting the poor and the afflicted in the nations. Isaiah 58:10 “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”
If the same spirit of Christ is upon us then we must pray that we will be moved with this same compassion for those who do not have around the world. Be it our churches, communities, families, or nations. Matthew 15:32 “And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
Pray that humility will consume every aspect of our lives in our service to God. It will take humility to come to the level of inviting the poor, lame or blind to our rich lives and homes. Luke 14:13-14 “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Pray that God will help us to consider the needy in any way possible. Psalm 41:1 “Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.”
Pray that our ears will be opened to the cry of the needy in our communities; those in jail, those in the war-torn nations etc. Proverbs 21:13 “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.”
Pray against the spirit of slavery against the needy in the nations. Proverbs 14:31 “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.”
The anointing that breaks the yoke of the wicked, frees the captives. It is upon us so arise and defend them in the spirit realm. Psalm 82:3-4 “Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.”
In many parts of the world, we hear conflict, recurring severe drought resulting in high prices of food and sometimes no food at all. People are starving to death. Pray that God will water the earth and enable production in the land. Zechariah 10:1 “Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.”
Pray that the heart of man will be opened towards the unreached in the rural and poor communities. 1 John 3:17-18 “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but indeed and in truth.” Deuteronomy 15:7-8 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.”
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