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ISAIAH 61:1-3

"THE GOOD NEWS"

I. "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME."
        A. This should be the witness of any who seek to proclaim the gospel.
                1. Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and
                   preach the gospel.
                2. He told them to first wait in Jerusalem until they be endued with
                   power from..." "For you will receive power...you shall be witnesses
                   unto Me."
                3. We cannot be effective for God without the power of the Spirit.
                        a. Many churches have sought to substitute man's programs for
                           God's Spirit.
                        b. The work of the Spirit cannot be accomplished in the ability
                           or energy of the flesh.
                        c. To attempt to do so, leads to defeat, discouragement and
                           frustrations.
        B. "The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings."
                1. What is the good tidings that we preach?
                        a. Liberty to captives, freedom from prison?
                                1. No, this is the effect of the gospel.
                        b. Jesus in Synagogue in Nazareth - "This day has this scripture
                           been fulfilled."
                        c. Jesus is the gospel.
                        d. Paul said, "But we preach Christ crucified."
                                1. Jesus died for you.
                                2. If you were sitting on death row in San Quentin.
                                3. You are sitting on death row.
                2. The Spirit has come to testify of Jesus Christ.

II. TO WHOM DOES THE GOSPEL COME?
        A. To the meek.
                1. Those who know they need help. (me-ek.
                2. Not too proud and self-sufficient.
                        a. You're wasting your time if you try to preach the
                           gospel to them.
                        b. They that are whole need not the physician.
        B. To the broken hearted.
                1. My heart is broken over my sin.
                        a. I seem so weak.
                        b. I desire to do what's right, but I lack strength.
        C. To the captives, those that are bound.
                1. Sin brings one into captivity and        .
                2. I lose control of my own life.
                3. I may have started because I wanted to. I continue because
                   I have to. I can't stop.
                4. My heart is broken over what it has done to my family and to myself.
        D. To those that mourn.
                1. Weeping over emptiness of life.
                2. Weeping over frustrations from my own weakness.
        E. To those who are burned out. Ashes.
                1. When a person's life is burned out, we think there is no hope.
                2. Burned out on drugs or alcohol.
                3. Burned out on life, nothing to live for. Tried everything - still empty.
        F. Spirit of heaviness.

III. THE EFFECT OF THE GOSPEL.
        A. Bind up broken hearts.
        B. Liberate the captives.
        C. Beauty for Ashes.
        D. Oil of joy for those that mourn.
        E. Garment of praise to replace spirit of heaviness.


IV. THE ULTIMATE END OF THE GOSPEL. "THAT HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED."