Do You Know Him? Part 5

Now that we saw the release of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh which began on the Day of Pentecost, it is vitally important to understand that this could only be fulfilled through The Lord Jesus Christ. His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification is the foundation for the releasing and work of the Holy Spirit. So, before we proceed forward with the Holy Spirit working through the lives of the believers in the early church and the believer today, let's look at His work through the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus sets the example for all believers through His three and one half years of ministry as the Son of Man.

The Angel Gabriel and the Apostle Paul reveal some important things concerning the Incarnation. "Behold, you (The Virgin Mary) will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus...The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:31, 35)
"...Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself..." (Philippians 2:5-8) In short, though Jesus was fully God, He was also fully man. For His mission on earth, although He did the work of deity, He chose to "empty Himself" of His deity and work out His mission through His humanity. We see this very thing at the beginning of His ministry. 

"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him...When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him." (Matthew 3:13-16)
In John the Baptist witness concerning Christ, he tells us, "For He (Jesus) whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure." (John 3:34) So, we see clearly that Jesus' ministry would set the example for all who would follow Him. We see Him being filled with the Holy Spirit. It would be this infilling of the Holy Spirit that Jesus would rely upon to fulfill His mission by not doing His will, but the Father's Will. (John 6:38) Although Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure and the believer is not, we will see the similarities of the Holy Spirit's work in Jesus to that of the believer. The Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus... 

• He was led by the Spirit (Matthew 4:1)
• He cast out demons by the Spirit (Matthew 12:28)
• He was born of the Spirit (Luke 1:35)
• He was empowered by the Spirit (Luke 4:14)
• He was anointed by the Spirit (Luke 4:18)
• He spoke and taught by the Spirit (Luke 4:18)  
• He healed the sick by the Spirit (Luke 4:18)
• He was filled with the fullness of the Spirit (John 3:34)
• He gave commandments to the disciples by the Spirit (Acts 1:2)
• He was baptized and empowered the church by the Spirit (Acts 1:5-8)
• He was resurrected by the Spirit (Romans 8:11)
• He was justified by the Spirit (1 Timothy 3:16)
• He was offered up on Calvary by the Spirit (Hebrews 9:14)    
• He governs and directs the church by the Spirit (Revelation 2:7-11)

Although this list is not all inclusive, we do see the workings of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus. Jesus' entire life was governed by the Holy Spirit. If the Son of God depended on the Holy Spirit, how much more should believers depend on Him. All that our Heavenly Father has for us and everything He desires to do through us will only be accomplished as believers yield more of their lives to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is available to every believer 24/7 and if we want more of Him, then it requires less of us. For those readers who are born again, you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. However, as Jesus set the example of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, do not hesitate to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit's infilling. Jesus said to those around Him, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13) All you have to do is ask and believe that you have received, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:24)

For all the readers who have been filled with the Holy Spirit and desire more of Him then act upon the wisdom of God spoken through Solomon, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  (Proverbs 3:5-6) Either way, let us all, "Be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always...