“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also
had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible]
heaven was opened
And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove,
and a voice came from heaven saying, You are My Son, My
beloved!
In You I am well pleased and find delight!”
Luke 3:21, 22
This is a very familiar passage of scripture we can all agree. Pretty
straight forward as well but there is something else I saw that I
would like to share.
Jesus was about to start His ministry. But before He started He
had to be baptized. Something powerful happened as He got
baptized. The Holy Spirit came upon Him.
As I read this scripture I couldn’t move on. There were some
things which stood out for me.
Jesus would not be able to accomplish His mission without the
Holy Spirit. He would not be able to do all the things He did
without the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t getting baptized because it
was a “nice” thing to do.
Without the baptisim of the Holy Spirit Jesus would be powerless
and He would fail His mission.
As I was getting these insights I couldn’t help wonder if I really
understood the role of the Holy Spirit in me.
“However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is
profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away.
Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper,
Advocate, Intecessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you
[into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him
to you [to be in close fellowship with you].”
John 16:7
I have not fully understood the role of the Holy Spirit in my life.
I have taken Him for granted but I see now.
I was wrong!
But it makes sense right, all the sense in the world! It makes
sense how God uses the foolish, the broken, the weak, to do
great things.
I have issues, major issues, flaws, weaknesses……..
I don’t do the right thing a lot,
I think wrong,
I get afraid at times,
I struggle speaking to strangers about Christ,
I struggle with self esteem,
I am lazy,
I am selfish…..the list goes on and on
We are broken but God knows that and He has the answer….
Let’s look at one man who had major issues, Peter.
He was afraid, he doubted Jesus a lot, and he denied the Lord
three times. He had issues like we do but….
“But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and
adressed them: You jews and all you residents of Jerusalem,
let this be [explained] to you so that you will know and
understand;
listen closely to what I have to say.”
Acts 2:14
He was bold!
“And [Peter] solemnly and earnestly witnessed (testified) and
admonished (exhorted) with much more continuous speaking and
warned (reproved, advised, encouraged) them, saying, Be saved
from this crooked (perverse, wicked, unjust) generation.
Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were
baptized, and there were added that day about 3000 souls.”
Acts 2:40, 41
He wasn’t afraid anymore. He spoke with power and authority,
something he didn’t have before.
“But Peter said, Silver and gold (money) I do not have; but what I
do have, that I give to you: in [the use of] the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, walk!
Then he took hold of the man’s right hand with a firm grip and
raised him up. And at once his feet and ankle bones became strong
and steady, “
Acts 3:6, 7
I could give you more examples but you get the idea. There
was an amazing transformation in Peter’s life. He wasn’t perfect
but there was a change. He was spirit-filled!
He did amazing things for God because he had the Holy Spirit
living in him.
May we get a revelation of what it means to be spirit filled.
As I end I would like to share one more scripture:
“And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the
dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable)
bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me, lives
in you. I missed it somewhere but I see now.
I want to walk in the same power Jesus did? I need Him…
Without Him there is no power, no impact, no fruit!
What about you?
Will you seek Him, cry out to Him?
We all need Him if we are going to impact this world for Christ!
God bless you friends……
Rolain
photo credit: google images
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