Made to Proclaim

Deuteronomy 32:3 “For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God!”

Mankind is to be an expression of Gods Word, and we are His creation. All people who are called by His name are meant to proclaim His glory.

The proclamation of God’s glory is a demonstration of His nature, a revelation of His commands, and a recognition of His power. For those who bear His name, the mandate is clear…but will we be obedient?

When Jesus entered the synagogue, He opened the ancient scrolls and read from Isaiah. It became a proclamation of the Messiah, that only He could fulfill.

Isaiah 61:1-3 “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.”

Most Bible scholars would jump in here and remind me that Jesus stopped short of the vengeance part. When Jesus first came, it was all good news. The long awaited Messiah had come, the fulfillment of 4000 years of waiting had culminated in this little synagogue in the region of the Galilee. Proclaiming liberty was to announce freedom to all entrapped by sin. For those held by the chains of darkness, the time had come to release all who would follow Jesus.

The age of the Messiah was the year of the Lord’s favor. Creation had lay groaning for the day of deliverance and comfort followed the way of the Master. The sorrow of death had been bathed in the glorious light of God’s goodness. The anointed One was here, and out of His people emanates praise.

What is the work of the proclaimer? None other than to glorify God’s name.

When the church of God was first formed, there was a miraculous display of God’s power. What sounded like a rushing wind blew into the room and flames of fire seemed to emanate above their heads. The Holy Spirit had come and empowered God’s people, their first act was to proclaim.

Acts 2:14 “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.”

When the disciples spoke in tongues of the people from various lands, the Lord was the One who proclaimed….it was His people who were vessels used by God. Jesus spoke on this subject when He was encouraging His people in how to share the Word.

Matthew 10:19 “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.”

There is no need to fear what you will say when the time comes to proclaim. Walking in the Spirit is far more important than memorizing something that may not be received by everyone. The Lord has commanded His people to go, you can be certain He will be there when the opportunity presents itself.

No other Name

What message is greater than God? What good news holds any merit compared to God’s surpassing greatness? The message carries power and might, it pierces the soul and reveals knowledge. There is no other hope than the gospel and the honor of carrying the message is given to God’s people.

There was a time when Moses stood before the Lord and God himself proclaimed His name.

Exodus 34:5-7 “The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

When the Lord proclaimed His name, the message was timeless. The Lord, the Lord….the revelation of the great I Am, Yahweh, Jehovah…when God revealed His name, He revealed 8 characteristics of who He is.

• Merciful
• Gracious
• Slow to anger
• Abounding in steadfast love
• Abounding in faithfulness
• The keeper of thousands
• Forgiver of iniquity
• Judge over all

If we have any question as to what we are to proclaim, the attributes of God are a good place to start.

Each description is a narrative that has been revealed in the lives of many. Each attribute contained in the ministry of Christ. Jesus came to proclaim liberty, He will return as judge. The ominous warning must be given, it would be highly unfair of God’s people to withhold such news. For those lost in sin, their arraignment awaits. The judgement has already been set, the evidence too great to ignore, and the offense against God’s holiness too far reaching.

God’s people have a mandate, until the Lord returns it remains the same. Just before Jesus returned to Heaven, He gave a final command….

Acts 1:7-8 “He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

For those who walk in the power of the Spirit, the natural inclination is to proclaim. Witnessing in their home towns, in the country side and to those whom the world despises. Then the witness continues on until all of the earth has heard the good news.

Be a proclaimer. Like John the Baptist, set the stage for the Lord’s return. Prepare the way and you will have great joy when He comes.