Introduction

Good day to all, let us delve into the second part of Luke Chapter 4. Previously, we studied verses 1-13 of Chapter 4, understanding that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a triumphant Gospel. A common and potent lie from the devil against this victorious Gospel is: How can Jesus be victorious? I myself cannot even achieve victory!

The first three chapters of Luke record the birth of Jesus and His upbringing. Jesus is God, but also a man of flesh and blood. If you prick Him with a needle, He would feel pain. His reactions to events are like ours, which refers to the incarnation of Jesus Christ. However, when tempted by the devil, Jesus overcame. This victory was not because He was God, but because Jesus, as a man, overcame the devil's temptation. Therefore, Jesus Christ paved a victorious path for us. All who emulate Jesus Christ can triumph.

The opening of Luke Chapter 4 speaks of Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, followed by the devil tempting Him. In fact, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, one is still tempted by demons. The key is to overcome these temptations. The first point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it is a Gospel of victory. Just as Jesus Christ overcame, we too can overcome through Him. The second point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, from Luke Chapter 4:16-19, is that it aligns with the Gospel prophesied in the Old Testament.

The Gospel Preached by Jesus Christ is the Gospel Foretold in the Old Testament

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

This passage appears in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. After reading this, a question arises: What exactly does the Gospel of Jesus Christ do? Some believe that the most important part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not healing and casting out demons, but going to heaven after death. Such a notion is truly harmful, leading many to be oppressed, captured, and blinded by the devil, causing much suffering!

In reality, the Gospel of Jesus Christ truly solves problems, because many issues in this world are closely related to the spiritual realm. God's Spirit is upon us, anointing us, so that we may receive spiritual power. This spiritual power is to send us out to set the prisoners free, restore sight to the blind, and liberate the oppressed. This refers to releasing those imprisoned in the spiritual world, freeing those oppressed in spirit, and restoring sight to those whose spiritual eyes have been blinded.

Combining this with what Jesus Christ did, the Old Testament prophecies carry strong and pronounced characteristics of casting out demons. Jesus overcame the devil Satan to preach the Gospel of victory. This Gospel of victory brings liberation to the captives, freedom to the oppressed, and sight to the blind. When people are captured or oppressed, their spirits are controlled, and they lose freedom, becoming involuntary. For example, a headache is pain that is beyond one's control.

There are generally two characteristics of being oppressed by demons: First, physical illness; second, financial problems. If the spirit prospers, the body will be healthy, and all things will prosper. Therefore, I encourage everyone to take the time and pay the price to obtain the benefits of the Gospel. Without paying the price and spending the time, how can one obtain the benefits of the Gospel? For example, many people pray, either for only a second or just a few minutes. Can such prayers be effective?

Someone always had trouble sleeping. After we ministered to him, the problem was resolved. We asked him how long he prayed each day, and he said at most ten minutes. No wonder he couldn't sleep, because his spirit was not prospering. We must be spiritually prosperous and victorious people, so that we will prosper financially, be healthy in body, and prosper in everything we do. Therefore, know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Gospel prophesied in the Old Testament, which is to set the prisoners free, restore sight to the blind, liberate the oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Despised in His Hometown

Third point, from Luke Chapter 4:20-30.

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. (Luke 4:20-22)

Was Jesus qualified to say such things? Jesus was qualified to say such things because He had already performed many miracles when He came to Nazareth, but He was despised in His hometown. It is difficult to understand how the pure Gospel could be despised among those who knew Him well. Some were not completely dismissive; they thought the words were good. But then they thought, Isn't this Joseph's son? The carpenter's son? He grew up in our neighbourhood. Isn't he just an ordinary person? There's nothing special about him. How did he suddenly become so arrogant?

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ” “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” (Luke 4:23-24)

Why was it that Jesus, who preached the powerful Gospel of the kingdom of Heaven, was despised in His hometown? Actually, this proves nothing. As people grow up, they will experience many embarrassing moments. People go through a process from being ignorant to being knowledgeable. People said to Jesus, We have heard what you did in Capernaum; do something for us to see. But Jesus' answer was a bit unexpected.

“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” (Luke 4:24)

Earlier in this chapter, during Jesus' conversation with the devil, even when Jesus faced temptation, He never tried to prove Himself. Why is that? Wouldn't it be good if He performed a lot of miracles in His hometown and they all applauded? But Jesus didn't do that. Even when challenged and despised, Jesus did not want to prove Himself through miracles. Instead, He said that no prophet is accepted in his hometown. This is true. For example, Elijah and Elisha, two famous prophets of Israel, were not honoured in their own hometowns and countries. This is very strange.

Jesus went on to give a few examples. During the time of Elijah, there was no rain for three and a half years, and there was famine everywhere. Elijah did not go to any widow in Israel, but was sent to a widow in Zarephath in Sidon. People always feel that many things are taken for granted. For example, during the great famine, every family suffered, but Elijah was not among them; he went to Sidon. During the time of the prophet Elisha, there were many lepers in Israel, but none were cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.

What is this saying? Many people feel that they deserve it. I am a descendant of Abraham; you should perform a miracle for me to see. But the fact is that there were no miracles for them to see. When the people of Nazareth heard the words of Jesus Christ, their first reaction was to be filled with anger, wanting to throw Jesus off the cliff. But Jesus passed straight through the crowd and went on his way.

When faced with the powerful Gospel, are we willing to be humble and ask ourselves: What is this Gospel? This is a wonderful Gospel, a Gospel that sets the prisoners free, liberates the oppressed, and restores sight to the blind. And Jesus has indeed done many great things. But there are also some people who, when faced with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, either say to Jesus, You should do it for us to see, or tell Jesus, You should do this, you should do that. In this situation, not to mention Jesus, if it were me, I wouldn't do it either.

Why is the Gospel of Jesus Christ despised in His hometown? Because people are so self-righteous. We receive God's grace because God is willing to give it to us, and we are very eager to receive it. We must be careful of statements like: Heal me first, and then I will believe in the Lord with you. This attitude toward believing is very problematic, and we will not do as they say, because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so precious.

Never think that we deserve the grace of Jesus Christ. Actually, we do not deserve it, but we are eager to receive this grace, so we must seek it with a repentant heart. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, wherever it goes, will be despised by some and valued and treasured by others. Chinese Mingding Destiny is indeed such a treasure.

The teachings of many pastors in this generation do not make sense; they are neither systematic nor logical. It is unclear why they interpret Scripture in this way. After their interpretation, it still doesn't make sense, and it cannot set the prisoners free or liberate the oppressed. What kind of Gospel is this? These people often say, If we convert this person, many people around him will come to believe. But that is not the case.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of Healing and Deliverance

Then Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. (Luke 4:31-37)

Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. (Luke 4:38-41)

These scriptures clearly record that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of healing and deliverance. If we merely say that this Gospel changes people's lives, changes this, and changes that, the author of Luke would not have written it this way. After writing about Jesus Christ being tempted by the devil, the author immediately followed with Isaiah 61:1, and then stated that this Gospel was not accepted in His hometown. Later, when He arrived in Capernaum, He began to heal the sick and cast out demons. In fact, Jesus cast out demons wherever He went. Peter's mother-in-law, as well as many other sick people, came to Jesus, and He healed them all. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, through what Jesus Christ did, best illustrates the following scripture:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

When Jesus Christ cast out demons, the demons began to say, I know who you are; you are the Holy One of God. Then Jesus commanded the demons to come out, and they came out. Everyone was amazed, realizing that this was the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the state described in Isaiah 61:1. Jesus also trained his disciples to go out and preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. Therefore, deliverance plays an important role in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If this Gospel cannot cast out demons, cannot solve people's problems, then we must ask ourselves, is this still the Gospel that Jesus preached?

So let us ponder, why did Jesus use miracles and wonders to prove the Gospel He preached? Why did Jesus use miracles and wonders to prove that He is the Son of the living God? Because Jesus Christ uses His power and His miracles to confirm Himself. Why did the devil not want Jesus to prove Himself when he asked Him to do so? Why did the people of Nazareth want Him to perform miracles in Nazareth, but Jesus did not want to do them? But Jesus took the initiative to solve people's problems at this time? Because He wants to prove that He is the Son of God through this.

You may be confused, why is this so? I tell you: It is not that people demand Jesus to prove Himself, but because Jesus Christ is full of grace and compassion, seeing the brothers and sisters in the church working so hard, He releases them from the oppression of the devil. If we cannot release people from the oppression of the devil, cannot cast out the demons from people, cannot set the captives free, recover sight to the blind, and set the oppressed free, brothers and sisters, ask yourselves today, is this still the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Therefore, in our Chinese Mingding Destiny, being like Jesus is a very important concept. If you can deeply imprint the phrase like Jesus in your mind, then you are very powerful. Why pursue being like Jesus? It is to set the captives free, recover sight to the blind, and set the oppressed free.

Therefore, the church must return to the Bible, especially to Jesus Christ's definition of the church:

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)

What is this saying? It is saying that the most basic work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is healing and deliverance. Does this have anything to do with having this gift or that gift? No, Jesus did not mention the topic of gifts in this place. Jesus Christ simply gave such a demonstration and started such a beginning. Do you think Jesus Christ will continue to do so in the days to come? In fact, Jesus Christ kept doing it until he was crucified.

Therefore, we must know for sure that the most basic work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to release the captives and release the oppressed. We begin to imitate Jesus Christ and take up the authority that Jesus Christ has given us. We must also speak like Jesus Christ, with authority in our words. We must also be like Jesus, releasing those who are possessed by demons from the bondage of the devil.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is truth, and truth sets people free. Jesus first sets people free and then teaches them the truth. For example, if someone has a headache, you say, Come, I will teach you the truth. Can he listen? If someone has a backache, you must first release him, so that his head no longer hurts and his back no longer hurts, and then it will not be too late to teach him the truth. In addition, Jesus did not preach a lot of great principles when He healed people. So should we also rethink whether the Gospel of Jesus Christ first releases people and then brings them into the truth?

Therefore, for us, healing and deliverance are the most critical parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, absolutely not optional. Do not change the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some churches are not good at casting out demons, but they are good at casting out pastors. The Gospel that some churches believe in is just doctrinal preaching. It has no authority and power, and cannot set the captives free or set the oppressed free.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, you must know for sure that people who preach the wrong Gospel will be cursed, and people who believe in the wrong Gospel will also be cursed. Getting the Gospel wrong is the source of many problems. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is first, a victorious Gospel; second, the Gospel foretold in the Old Testament, which can set the captives free, recover sight to the blind, and set the oppressed free; third, the Gospel that is despised in the hometown; fourth, the Gospel that can heal the sick and cast out demons.

From this chapter onwards, you will see that Jesus Christ recruits disciples, not to train them into a group of preaching fellows, but to train each person to be practical and able to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons.

May God bless you all!