The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19
The faith established by Christ is currently navigating the Laodicean age, the final church age of the Gentile dispensation. In this era, a significant distortion has crept into the church world, replacing the core message of Christianity with the worship of Mammon. To counteract this deception, we must return to God’s Word and understand the sixfold purpose of the gospel, as revealed by Jesus Christ Himself.
The Scriptural Foundation
The title, “The Six-Fold Purpose of the Gospel,” is drawn directly from Luke chapter 4, verses 18 and 19. Reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue, Jesus outlined the mission that the Spirit of the Lord had anointed him to accomplish.
These six purposes are:
- To preach the gospel to the poor.
- To heal the brokenhearted.
- To preach deliverance to the captives.
- Recovery of sight to the blind.
- To set at liberty them that are bruised.
- To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Mammon and the Deception of the Age
Today, the dominant “rave in Pentecostalism” is centered on enthroning another god called Mammon and dethroning Jesus Christ. For many ministries, the proof that they are impactful is found in the display of wealth. This has led to bragging in the holy place, with preachers measuring success by packages, being named the richest pastors, or gracing the front page of magazines like Forbes.
This preoccupation with wealth is not a new spirit; it echoes the deception of Simon the sorcerer, who saw the apostles’ spiritual ability as a commercial potential that could make money. Simon attempted to buy the divine ability, leading the apostles to rebuke him severely, saying, “Your money perish with you,” because he thought the holy things of God could be commercialized. That biblical standard has not changed: Jesus Christ will give the same response to those who think that godliness is gain or who see Christ as a source of wealth.
Mammon is not simply money but a demonic figure of greed associated with the love for money, the craving for it, and the sway it has on the mind. Jesus compared Mammon with God because that power is potent enough to control your emotions and become more important to you than Christ the Creator.
The church age of Laodicea is cursed by the spirit of materialism. Jesus described this age in Revelation 3:16-17: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Yet, Christ responds, “and knowest not that thou art wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Purpose One: Preaching to the Destitute
The very first purpose of the gospel is “to preach the gospel to the poor.” This does not primarily refer to material poverty but spiritual poverty. The Greek word used for “poor” implies being destitute of something. This is the same word used to describe the Laodicean church, which is materially wealthy but spiritually destitute.
The gospel brings true wealth. Jesus tells the Laodicean church to “buy of me gold that is tried in fire.” This command signifies an exchange. The spiritual gold tried in fire is the unadulterated word of God. The exchange requires trading the love for materialism and the worship of Mammon for the love and sway of the Word of God.
The sign that you have received the gospel and the Word of God is not that you are going to be rich. If this is your expectation, “disappointment is waiting for you.” In the book of Acts, which chronicles the inauguration and early ministry of the church, there is no story about God transforming one person into the richest person in the Roman Empire; this is simply not what the gospel is about.
The Importance of Diligence and Excellence
While the gospel’s purpose is not to guarantee material wealth, we acknowledge that God can and does bless. The Bible states, “The blessing of the Lord makes rich and has no sorrow to it.” However, God’s blessing follows principles that are set in the world, and you don’t need to be a Christian to observe them and access certain blessings.
One of these crucial principles is diligence. Proverbs 22:29 states, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mere men.”
Excellence is not a gift; it is a habit. Especially for the youth, a certain age is meant for learning skills and cultivating excellence, not primarily seeking money. Whatever your hand finds to do, you must “do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). If you learn to be shabby now, your whole life will follow that pattern. When you have an outstanding skill, people will look for you.
Colossians 3:23 instructs us: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” If you approach your work with the mindset that you are doing it to glorify the name of Christ, you will receive a reward from God Himself.
Finding Rest in Christ’s Purpose
It is normal to experience trials and have questions that challenge your faith (such as the loss of a loved one). Even the Captain of our salvation had questions, asking if the cup could pass over him. However, we must never let these questions drive us away from Christ. If you are His chosen, God is working all things for your good in accordance with the purpose that He has for your life. These “all things” include challenges and trials that test you, try you, and mold you according to His purpose.
The true change brought by the gospel is internal transformation. When you start walking with Christ, your physical circumstances may not change—you may remain a blind person or a cripple—but “something is changing in your inside”. This transformation of your spirit is a down payment.
Evidence of this spiritual change was seen even in the ministry of William Branham: when a believer came before the prophet, their spirit would sometimes blend with the Light, signifying that they were at peace in the presence of that light and were truly Christian.
Therefore, prioritize God above everything else. Let your children know that Christ is the center of it all and the main priority, not just a secondary thing. Trust that God is a good Father who doesn’t spoil His children. Be grateful for the trials and mountains He allows you to go through, for you never know what He is using that fire to accomplish.