{"id":962,"date":"2017-12-17T17:14:50","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T01:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=962"},"modified":"2017-12-17T17:16:17","modified_gmt":"2017-12-18T01:16:17","slug":"come-lord-jesus-to-set-us-free-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/17\/come-lord-jesus-to-set-us-free-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Come, Lord Jesus&#8230;to Set Us Free!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-962-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Advent-3-1.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Advent-3-1.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Advent-3-1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Third Sunday in Advent<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">December 17, 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah 61:1-3, 10, 11<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Come, Lord Jesus\u2026to Set Us Free!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoBodyText\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">The Spirit of the Sovereign L<\/span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt\">ORD<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> is on me, because the L<\/span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt\">ORD<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>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 L<\/span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt\">ORD<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">\u2019s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion\u2014to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the L<\/span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt\">ORD<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> for the display of his splendor.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I delight greatly in the L<\/span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt\">ORD<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">; my soul rejoices in my God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign L<\/span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt\">ORD<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever heard of the Innocence Project?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The purpose of the Innocence Project is to \u201cassist prisoners who could be proven innocent through DNA testing.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As they celebrate their 25<sup>th<\/sup> Anniversary, the Innocence Project is happy to announce that they have exonerated 350 people\u2014 some of whom have served time on death row.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The California Innocence Project was founded in 1999.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is based at the California Western School of Law in San Diego.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On average, the California Innocence Project reviews more than 2,000 claims of innocence from California inmates each year.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since it opened the California Innocence Project has exonerated 23 people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Currently they are actively investigating 16 cases.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Personally, I can\u2019t imagine what it would be like to be sent to prison\u2014 perhaps even sentenced to death\u2014 for a crime that I knew in my heart I did not commit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I do, however, know what it is like to be set free from a sentence that would most certainly end in death.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How can I say that, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we will see today, I can say that for the same reason you can say that!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The sermon text that we have before us today proclaims to us a glorious message of freedom.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For that reason we will study this text under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Come, Lord Jesus\u2014 to Set Us Free!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let\u2019s see how these prophetic picturesque words of our God teach us two truths.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, let\u2019s see how these words teach us that Jesus came into this world to set us free\u2014 free <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">from<\/b> sin.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then let\u2019s see how these words teach us that Jesus came into this world to set us free\u2014 free <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">to<\/b> rejoice!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Since these words are indeed a prophecy concerning what the Lord God was going to do for His Old Testament children we would be remiss if we did not look at these words in the context in which they were originally written.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So let\u2019s take a moment to do just that.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As you may recall from last Sunday\u2019s sermon God had told His people that because of their sin and because of their unfaithfulness He was going to allow first the Assyrians and then the Babylonians to conquer them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While the Northern Kingdom was never allowed to return home (they are now called the \u201cTen Lost Tribes of Israel\u201d), God promised the people of Judah and Jerusalem that after 70 years of captivity in Babylon they would be allowed to return home once again.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our text for today gives God\u2019s people the opportunity to peer into the future and picture in their minds what it was going to be like when they were given the freedom to leave Babylon and go home.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">While the return from Babylonian Captivity was indeed the first fulfillment of these prophetic words, I would like us to focus our attention on the fact that the ultimate fulfillment of these prophetic words is found in none other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do we know this? <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>In Luke chapter four we are given the account of Jesus returning to His hometown of Nazareth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the Sabbath Day He went to the synagogue.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As a visiting Rabbi Jesus was asked to deliver the message for that day.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus unrolled the scroll, read the opening verses of our text and said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cToday this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing\u201d<\/i> (Luke 4:21; See also Luke 7:22).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Approximately 700 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah was given these inspired words of our text to describe who Jesus is and what Jesus would do for you, for me, and for the entire human race.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Look at the opening verse of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One\u201d<\/i>\u2014 which in Hebrew is the title <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cMessiah\u201d<\/i> and in Greek is the title <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cChrist.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201canointed\u201d<\/i> with the Holy Spirit at the time of His baptism (See Matthew 3:13-17).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One,\u201d<\/i> Jesus\u2019 ministry centered on <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cpreaching good news to the poor.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Without a doubt Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of these prophetic words of Isaiah.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As we look at the pictures that the good Lord gave to Isaiah here in our text and as we look at the ministry of Jesus the Christ it is so very clear that the reason Jesus came into this world was to set us free\u2014 free from our sin.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Just look at the two pictures contained in this opening verse.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The first picture is found in the words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whether it is our own sins or the sins that others commit, sin leaves God\u2019s children <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbrokenhearted,\u201d<\/i> doesn\u2019t it?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of the woman who was caught committing adultery and then publicly dragged to Jesus for justice.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(John 8)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of the apostle Peter who denied even knowing who Jesus of Nazareth is.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Matthew 26:69ff &amp; John 21:15ff).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of the women as they went to Jesus\u2019 tomb early on that first Easter Sunday.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of Jesus\u2019 disciples as they locked themselves in a room somewhere in Jerusalem.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See John 20-21).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (See Luke 24:13ff).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of\u2014 yourself!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You know <u>exactly<\/u> what it is like to be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbroken\u201d<\/i> by sin.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You know <u>exactly<\/u> what it is like to be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbrokenhearted\u201d <\/i>either when you realize the sins that you have committed or when you find out that someone you love has sinned against God or against you<i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">.<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One\u201d <\/i>Jesus came to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbind up the brokenhearted\u201d<\/i> by proclaiming to them the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgood news.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What is the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgood news\u201d<\/i>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s an easy question to answer, isn\u2019t it!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgood news\u201d<\/i> is found in Jesus\u2019 words to the paralytic:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cTake heart\u2026your sins are forgiven\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 9:2).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgood news\u201d<\/i> is found in the very first words that the risen Christ spoke to His <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbrokenhearted\u201d<\/i> disciples on Easter Sunday:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cPeace be with you!\u201d<\/i> (John 20:19).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgood news\u201d<\/i> is that through faith in Jesus as the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One\u201d <\/i>our <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbroken hearts\u201d<\/i> now have the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cpeace\u201d<\/i> that comes from knowing that all of our sins <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">are<\/i><\/b> forgiven! <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Now look at the second picture.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is found in the words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe sent me\u2026to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature we are all born prisoners of war, aren\u2019t we.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature we have been taken captive by our three most powerful enemies:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>sin, death and the devil.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Can we defeat any one of these enemies on our own?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Absolutely not!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature we don\u2019t have either the strength or the desire to even fight our enemies much less defeat them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Left on our own we would <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> hear the Judge of the living and the dead pronounce this \u201csentence\u201d upon us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cDepart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 25:41).<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Is that what our heavenly Father wants for us, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Of course not!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>His love for us\u2014 His love for you\u2014 is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">so<\/b> great that as we heard last week, He sent His own Son to fight and defeat our enemies for us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of John 3:16, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFor God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of John 8:36, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cSo if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of John 19:30, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIt is finished.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think of 1 John 3:8, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil\u2019s work.\u201d<\/i> The war against our spiritual enemies is over and our Brother Jesus won!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Through the work of the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One\u201d <\/i>you <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are<\/b> free, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But you know as well as I that because of the sinful nature that lives inside of us we still need to hear and we still need to heed God\u2019s warning, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYou, my brothers, were called to be free.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We are so fickle and we are so weak that sometimes we find ourselves completely engulfed by sin even before we realize what\u2019s happening.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We are so fickle and we are so weak that sometimes we jump into the deep end of the sea of sin knowing full well what we are doing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If\/when we find ourselves in either one of those situations <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">now<\/b> is the time to turn to our God and say, \u201cCome, Lord Jesus to set me free!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we find that for one reason or another we have taken our eyes off of Jesus and His cross and now find ourselves sinking deeper into a sea of sin, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">now<\/b> is the time to say along with Peter, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLord, save me!\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 14:30).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And as you have heard me say on more than one occasion\u2014 whenever a repentant child of God turns to the Lord and asks Him for help, will He ever say \u201cNo!\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Absolutely not!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is <u>always<\/u> there to help us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is <u>always<\/u> there to forgive us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is<u> always<\/u><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> <\/i>there to set us free\u2014 even from the foolishness of our own sin!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Once again we have spent most of our time discussing the first portion of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But, we understand the freedom that the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One\u201d<\/i> has secured for us it is not difficult for us to see that because of what Jesus had done <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for<\/b> us (pointing to the cross) you and I are indeed free to rejoice!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verses two and three of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Using pictures that were very common for God\u2019s Old Testament children Isaiah describes our \u201cfreedom to rejoice\u201d!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cyear of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u2019s favor\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> in verse two is a reference to the Old Testament Year of Jubilee.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God commanded that every fiftieth year be declared a Year of Jubilee.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This meant that if you fell on hard times and had to sell your family property, during the Year of Jubilee\u2014 you got it back \u201cfree and clear.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This meant that during the Year of Jubilee all slaves were to be set free.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Leviticus 25)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We can only imagine the freedom to rejoice that the Year of Jubilee automatically brought to God\u2019s people.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Now look at verse three of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It dove-tails perfectly with verse one! <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>Set free from captivity by the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One\u201d<\/i> God\u2019s people would rejoice by wearing <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ca crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Again, we can only imagine the joy that God\u2019s people felt when they were set free from their Babylonian Captivity and were allowed to return home once again!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">But what I would like you to especially take note of, my friends, is the next picture that Isaiah uses and how that picture applies to you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Isaiah writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThey will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> for the display of his splendor.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the eyes of God you <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">are<\/i><\/b> an <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201coak of righteousness.\u201d <\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>In the eyes of God you <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">are<\/i><\/b> a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdisplay of his splendor.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because you have been so \u201cgood\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because you are so \u201cgood looking\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">are<\/i><\/b> an <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201coak of righteousness,\u201d <\/i>you <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">are<\/i><\/b> a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdisplay of his splendor\u201d<\/i> because of what Isaiah says in verse ten of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI delight greatly in the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">; my soul rejoices in my God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When God the Holy Spirit created the gift of saving faith in your heart\u2014 either through the power of Holy Baptism or through the power of His holy Word\u2014 He <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201carrayed\u201d<\/i> you in a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crobe of righteousness.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You now have the joy of knowing that when the God of heaven looks at you He sees one of His dearly beloved children dressed in a beautiful white robe of perfect righteousness\u2014 the robe of righteousness that His own Son won for you right there on the cross of Calvary\u2019s hill.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You now have the joy of knowing that when you die and find yourself standing at the entrance to your heavenly Father\u2019s Home that beautiful white robe of righteousness guarantees that you will hear the Owner of the House say to you, \u201cWelcome home, My child!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Welcome home!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Matthew 25:21; Matthew 25:34; Revelation 7:13-17)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Yes, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter what difficulties you could possibly face in your life here on this earth, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crobe of righteousness\u201d<\/i> that the good Lord has given to you means that you <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">always<\/b> have both a reason and the freedom to rejoice!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Personally, I think we are to be very thankful for the people who are involved in the Innocence Project and the work which they are doing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sometimes our system of human justice does indeed fail\u2014 even here in our great country.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, as Christians you and I realize that the work of the Innocence Project will always pale in comparison to the work done by the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One,\u201d<\/i> our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Son of God didn\u2019t come into this world as our true Brother to prove that we are innocent.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>From all of eternity He knew that we are guilty\u2014 \u201cguilty as sin.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No rather, the Son of God came into this world as our true Brother so that as the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One\u201d <\/i>He could set us free from the \u201csentence\u201d we deserved to receive by enduring that \u201csentence\u201d for us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through faith in Jesus we now have the joy of knowing that we have been \u201cDeclared: <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>Not Guilty!\u201d by the living God Himself!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">May God grant that as we continue preparing our hearts and our lives to once again celebrate the birth of the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnointed One\u201d<\/i> that in both humility and in confidence we will kneel before the Lord our God and pray, \u201cCome, Lord Jesus to set us free!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Set us free from our sin.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Set us free to rejoice!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Advent-3-1.mp3\">Advent-3.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Third Sunday in Advent December 17, 2017 Isaiah 61:1-3, 10, 11 Come, Lord Jesus\u2026to Set Us Free! &nbsp; The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.&nbsp; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/962\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}