09/03/2026
Blog Post Thursday! Invest in your spiritual growth with Pastor Schoon's newest post on the commissioning work of giving hope.
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What has God’s Spirit enlivened you to do?
Isaiah 61:1-7 says: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.
There are ministries that all of God’s people have been called to do. One of them is to help bring back those that have fallen away for whatever reason. Out of the fire and into the Kingdom.
Isaiah 61 begins with a proclamation of the Lord’s governance over the prophet’s identity. The Spirit of God has given him and his message the “oomph” of purpose we find in those sent by Him. His core message is to bring a message of hope to those feeling lost and exiled. It is a transcendent decree that has stood fast against centuries of those who have sought to destroy the presence of God.
While our commissioning may not exactly echo the work of Isaiah 61, we share in efforts related to it as Christians in conjunction with other gifts the Lord has given to us.
And, as we seek to take part in the apportioned work of God’s Kingdom, here are three reminders from our text:
(1) We want to steal people back from lost hope.
Through the work of God, we are hope-givers, working against an eternity devoid of hope.
The book of Jude exhorts the Christian to sn**ch people from the fire and one of the great ways to restore those who’ve fallen away is with the hope that presents itself to us through our need of the Gospel. So many live with the regret of sin and the feeling of eternal consequences driving them further from God. But, His Word promises release from bo***ge and peace to those living in spiritual captivity.
The message of the world is simple: do this or you lose; God says: with Me there is no loss.
(2) Those sn**ched from Satan will be better (in a better position and a better place).
We all understand bo***ge and prison, and that is why the liberation of God is such a wonderful and powerful proclamation. What if we didn’t have to live with the threat of eternal death? What if we didn’t have to look forward to regret but to mercy? When we give people a reason to receive what God has given, they are immediately in a better situation.
(3) The nations will want to be sn**ched as well.
Why wouldn’t you want to share in the wealth of God’s presence? Scripture promises the dominos will fall as people move toward glory and away from evil. When the nations see the allotment of what the Messiah offers, they will want a participation in it. May all receive that message that calls them to rethink hopelessness and find a moment to rejoice.
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The brokenhearted need us. The captives need release. All need the Good News of Christ’s Gospel, especially when we feel unworthy to stand in His presence. May the encouragement of this passage for the nations stir us to be sent by God for greater things. Amen.
