1. Luke 4:18-19 - This passage defines the kingdom of God and is built around four key concepts:
the Spirit, the poor, the oppressed, and Jubilee justice.
2. Messianic Passages from Isaiah: 9:7; 11:1-4; 16:5; 28:16-17; 42:1-4; 61:1-4 (in the NRSV, Isaiah 61:1 is translated as oppressed instead of poor) Again we find the Spirit, the kingdom, Jubilee justice and the oppressed poor as central concepts.
3. Acts 1:1-8; 2:38-45; 4:32-35 Here again the Spirit, the kingdom, the poor and justice are closely tied together.
Back to Luke 4:18-19. The kingdom message and ministry of a Spirit-filled church is described as follows: release the oppressed poor by doing Jubilee justice. This is the essence of the kingdom of God here on earth.
In Acts 1:3, immediately after his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus continued to talk incessantly about the kingdom of God. One might have thought Jesus would have spent this time, this brief time, before Pentecost explaining in some detail the meaning of the cross and the resurrection. Instead he was talking about the kingdom and the kingdom as justice that releases the oppressed. In Acts 1:6 his disciples asked Jesus a question, "Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus gave a yes and yes answer. Yes, to Israel, if Israel will repent. See Chapter 2:38, 40. In Jerusalem at this time it was full of poverty and oppression. See Isaiah Chapter 10:1-2 The kingdom could be restored back to Israel only if the Jews would repent and then do justice. Here is a description of Jubilee justice which they immediately did. Chapter 2:45, "Selling their possessions and goods they gave to anyone as he had need."
When the Spirit and kingdom are authentically combined, economic need revolving around oppression is immediately addressed. (see Nehemiah 5 and Act 4:32-35 for more detail).
Next, further elaboration on Luke 4:18-19:
On rich and poor, based on James 2:1-7 from The Message: James condemns the church for favoring the rich and discriminating against the poor. James says God favors the poor; "God has chosen the down and outers, the poor and oppressed, as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges."
Is your church favoring the rich or the poor? Prove it!
Based on Isaiah 58:6 from The Message: Releasing the oppressed is a profoundly spiritual act, "to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the work place, cancel debts."
In what ways is your church releasing the oppressed?
On Jubilee justice - based on Amos 5:24 from The Message: "I want justice - oceans of it. I want fairness - rivers of it."
A challenge - In five years could your church devote 50% of its budget to justice/mission ministries?
What percentage of your church's current budget is devoted to justice ministries?
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