The Spirit Life
Today’s Verse:
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, ~Luke 4:1
As Christians, we are in a constant war between the Spirit and the flesh. It boils down to who is in control of our life. We are either feeding the carnal desires of our flesh or we are completely controlled by the Holy Spirit. The evidence that a person is God’s purchased possession is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If there is none of this evidence, then that person is none of His (Romans 8:9). In Luke 4, we see the working of the Spirit in the life of the Lord Jesus. This entire chapter shows us the importance and the impact of a life controlled by the Spirit. Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” This morning, let us consider the necessity of the Spirit life.
We see the appropriation of the Spirit.
In Luke 4:1, Jesus is full of the Holy Ghost. I believe that there is only one kind of condition God wants to see in His servants, and that is the complete fullness of the Spirit. Being full of the Holy Spirit speaks to us about our appropriation of His filling. This appropriation comes by way of death to self, confession of sin, and much time in prayer and the Word of God. As Jesus journeyed from the Jordan River to the Judaean wilderness where He would fast and pray for forty days, He was appropriating the fullness of the Spirit in every step that He took. There is no filling without time being set aside for appropriation.
We see the appointment of the Spirit.
Jesus was led of the Spirit into the wilderness. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we become very sensitive to His leading in our life. We come under the realization that the Spirit-led life is one where the Spirit makes our appointments for us. Peter, under the influence of the Spirit, preached a great salvation sermon on the day of Pentecost and, again, when he came to the house of Cornelius. Philip was led of the Spirit into the desert called Gaza to tell one man how to be saved. Paul, on his first missionary journey, being filled with the Spirit, confronted a magician regarding the soul of a deputy consul and that man got saved. A Spirit-led life is under the Spirit’s appointment.
We see the application of the Spirit.
The fullness of the Spirit guarantees us a multifaceted application. Jesus is under the protection of the Spirit as He battles it out with the devil in the wilderness. Jesus is under the power of the Spirit as He returns to Galilee and ministers to the needs of the people in that city. Jesus preaches in the power of the Spirit as He stands in the synagogue and addresses the people. The power of the Spirit is a power that is to be unveiled through a surrendered servant for the purpose of reaping much fruit to the glory of God. We need the power of the Spirit for serving the Lord.
We see the approval of the Spirit.
Jesus had the approval of the Spirit upon Him. As He preached, the people marveled because His Word was with power. As He ministered to some very tough situations, it was evident that the power of the Spirit was upon Him. People were healed, demons were cast out, and lives were changed. The Spirit showed His approval by blessing what Jesus did and bringing much fruit in the way of lives that were changed.
We must remember that "the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." God’s blessing is foremost upon those who walk in the power of the Spirit. Take time this morning to evaluate how much of you the Spirit controls. Be convicted that there is more that He needs to have in order for us to please God.
Have a Spirit-controlled Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalms 80-85