HOLY SPIRIT—WE NEED YOU!
Luke 4:1 – “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”
Luke 4:14 – “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.”
Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…”
In this entire chapter, Luke gives us great insight into the involvement of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus, which is a model for us as believers. Let’s personalize the activity of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus by highlighting four distinct actions in the verses above.
The Holy Spirit fills us – “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit…” We are consumers as human beings. Every day we are “taking in” a lot of “stuff” into our minds and into our lives. Some of it good and some of it…I believe you and I need to be very intentional about making sure we are absorbing everything that pertains to life, healing, wholeness, growth, etc. Why don’t you take a minute today and become very still and quiet, then ask the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit all over again!
The Holy Spirit leads us – “(Jesus) was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” It is imperative in the days we are living in that we are led by the Holy Spirit. There are important decisions to make, mistakes and pitfalls to avoid and too many voices and opinions to influence us. Scriptures contain instances where people suffered needlessly because they did not inquire of the Lord. Ask Him to lead you today, this week, this month…
The Holy Spirit empowers us – “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit…” In verses 1 and 4 above Jesus returns from the Jordan full of the Spirit and returns from the wilderness temptation in the power of the Spirit. When you “return” from somewhere, wherever that may be, does it energize you or deplete you? Living a drained life spiritually, emotionally and mentally is sooooooo exhausting. We need to live our lives empowered by the Spirit. Make sure you connect to environments that feed you and pour into you.
The Holy Spirit rests upon us – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…” What follows after that is a ministry list that Jesus quotes from the prophet Isaiah that is fulfilled in Him. This formulates the mission of Jesus and the church. You and I cannot accomplish this apart from the Holy Spirit resting upon us. He grants us an anointing to minister in a kingdom way that is desperately needed in our world today.