What Are God’s Plans for His Kingdom?

3rd Sunday after Epiphany, 1/23/22 Isaiah 61:1-6 What Are God’s Plans for His Kingdom? I. The Savior proclaims his good news. II. His people carry on his kingdom work. In addition to making personal resolutions for the new year, many people also try to forecast what will happen in that new year. I took a look at an online article entitled “22 predictions for 2022,” to see what others think will happen this year, but the article wasn’t all that enlightening. One of the predictions was that 80% of the world’s population will receive at least one COVID vaccine by the end of the year. Another prediction stated that inflation would remain under 3%. Other predictions centered around the winners of presidential elections in countries such as France and Brazil. Each of the predictions was accompanied by data which supported the predictions, but in the end the predictions were merely guesses. No one knows for sure what will happen in the new year. No human being knows, but the only true God certainly does. He knows the future exactly. And his number one concern is the future of his kingdom. In this morning’s Gospel reading, Jesus appeared on the scene in the synagogue of Nazareth and announced that his work in God’s kingdom as the promised Savior had begun. What would that kingdom become? What would it look like? How would it benefit the Jewish people? As you’re probably aware, the Jewish people had a far different expectation for the kingdom of God than God himself did. But the Jewish misconceptions about the kingdom of God were entirely their own fault. The Lord had carefully laid out his plans for the promised Savior’s work in his kingdom well in advance. He informed them of what the Savior would say and do to establish his kingdom. He shared those plans with his people 700 years before the Savior would appear. And he shares them with us today here in these words of Isaiah 61. These aren’t merely predictions; they’re promises from the God who knows the future exactly. And those promises not only involve our Savior, but you and me as well. So, what are God’s plans for his kingdom? Keep that question in mind as we ponder this section of God’s word this morning. I. When I arrived here as the pastor of Resurrection in the summer of 1989, one of the first meetings I had was with the Board of Elders. At that meeting they carefully laid out what they expected me to do as the pastor of this congregation. Since I had no prior experience as a pastor, their efforts to have me see in writing what they expected of me was very helpful. I came away from the meeting knowing fairly well how I would be spending my time each day and what tasks to focus on. When Jesus appeared on the scene as the world’s Savior from sin and began his work of establishing a kingdom that would never end, the Lord God didn’t leave it up to him to figure out how he would do that. Jesus didn’t have to wonder how he was going to spend his time and what he would do each day. God laid it all out for him well in advance. Listen again to his job description, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach 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 gladness 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.” That’s a rather detailed description, one which sounds as if it encompasses a wide variety of activities. It may sound that way at first, but let’s take a closer look at it. All those activities really center around one thing: the gospel, the good news about Jesus as the Savior from sin. Jesus was sent and anointed to proclaim that good news and that’s what he did for the lion’s share of his earthly ministry. Among crowds of thousands and with individuals he shared the news that he was the promised Savior from sin. And, as he did so, he accomplished all other details of his job description. He healed hearts that were broken with sin and guilt. Recall how he announced forgiveness to the adulterous woman and the tax collector Zacchaeus. He freed sinners from their death sentence in hell. Recall how he drove out a legion of demons from one man and seven demons from Mary Magdalene. He announced God’s favor or grace. Recall how he restored Peter as one of his disciples after Peter had denied him. He comforted those who mourned. Recall how he comforted Mary and Martha at the death of their brother, Lazarus, by raising him from the dead. He came to turn down-in-the-dust sinners into towering oaks of righteousness. Recall how he poured out his Spirit on a motley crew of disciples and turned them into steadfast apostles who spread his word near and far in spite of persecution and martyrdom. That’s what the Savior’s proclamation of the gospel produced. But how could the simple proclamation of words produce such amazing results? Because that gospel was founded on the Savior’s perfect life, his innocent death, and his glorious resurrection. The power of the gospel to accomplish those amazing activities of healing and freeing and comforting and building is based on the Savior’s life, death, and resurrection. None of that critical work was left to chance. God laid out exactly what the Savior would do. So now, back to our question. What are God’s plans for his kingdom? The Savior proclaims his good news. Earlier we heard about the unfortunate reception Jesus received at the synagogue of Nazareth. This is what God had said the Savior would do and this is what Jesus was doing. But they weren’t impressed. In fact, they were offended. It makes you wonder what they wanted the Savior to do. But a much better question to ponder is what do you want the Savior to do? Think about your prayer life. What do you pray most often about? Is it your earthly life or your heavenly life? Are your thoughts and desires mostly centered on the here and now or on the life to come? Do you seek solutions to the problems in your life more fervently that you seek to be comforted by the good news of your Savior from sin? It’s so easy for us to become consumed with life in this kingdom to the detriment of our life in God’s kingdom. But that’s why Jesus came to this earth and carried out his Father’s plans for God’s kingdom. He redeemed you by his death on the cross and brought you into his kingdom by faith in him. In that kingdom you enjoy the full and free forgiveness of sins every day of your life until he calls you home to heaven. Your eternal future is secure because Jesus carried out the Father’s plans for his kingdom. II. Speaking of the future, what would your reaction be if I told you that, 25 years from now, Resurrection in Centerville would be comprised of 50% formerly Muslim people? You’d be skeptical at best, wouldn’t you? On what am I basing that prediction? How are we going to accomplish that? As amazing as it would be, it doesn’t seem possible, does it? Our God had something far greater than that in store for his kingdom. Listen again to these words of our text, “They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.” First, he speaks of his people rebuilding ruins. That’s most likely a reference to the Jews returning from exile in Babylon and rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. Once again, they would be a nation of people in the Holy Land. And God would use them to bring about the coming of the Savior. But he also speaks of aliens serving as shepherds and workers in his vineyard. What’s that all about? It’s what occurring right here, right now. Gentiles are gathered here, each of us serving in God’s kingdom. In fact, he tells you, “You will be called priests of the LORD.” In Old Testament times, only the descendants of Levi could serve as priests. It was a select few. But in New Testament times, all God’s people have the privilege of serving as priests. Finally, he states, “You will feed on the wealth of nations.” All around the world, Gentiles are bringing their offerings to the Lord to support the work of God’s kingdom. The Jews who lived at the time of Isaiah and Jesus couldn’t possibly imagine such a blessing occurring, but that’s our reality—Gentiles serving in and supporting God’s kingdom. So now, back to our question. What are God’s plans for his kingdom? His people carry on his kingdom work. Did you come to worship today feeling like a shepherd or a priest in God’s kingdom? Is that something you even desire to attain? I know that can be difficult. It’s so much easier to remain on the sidelines and watch rather than get out on the field and compete. And the competition to kingdom work is fierce. It’s none other than Satan himself. Who’s up to the task? How can we possibly succeed, let alone find the motivation to try? It’s through Christ. Christ alone! His love for us which moved him to complete his kingdom work motivates us to love and serve him as we serve others. That’s God’s plan for his kingdom. You and I working to share the gospel with as many people as we can. I don’t know what 2022 will bring. But when it’s done, may we be able to look back on it and say, “We were part of God’s plans to extend his kingdom to others.” May God abundantly bless our efforts! Amen.