Posts Tagged ‘Spirit of the Lord’
Scripture reading for March 20th: Luke 4:1-30
The Holy Spirit that came on Jesus at His baptism by John immediately led Him to the desert for a time of testing. Jesus withstood each test over the forty days by quoting Scripture. “Man does not live by bread alone” was Jesus’ word to the Devil. (Deuteronomy 8:3) Jesus returned from the testing in the desert by Satan in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:14)
Jesus then went to his home town of Nazareth and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. He stood up to read and the scroll of Isaiah the Prophet. He unrolled it to find the Scripture He wanted to share with them. “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)
The Holy Spirit in a person brings power to witness to God’s love and grace. Jesus announced in His home town the focus of His life as He was now empowered by the Spirit. The Spirit anoints a person, just like oil poured over a king brings empowerment to do the work called of them, the Spirit empowers. The Spirit would empower Jesus to preach the ‘Good News’ to those lost and bound by sin, sickness and disease. He would open eyes that were blind and enable them to see. Because of the Spirit, prisoners would be set free in glorious liberty.
The best news was the ‘acceptable year of the Lord’. This spoke of the year of Jubilee that God had proclaimed in the Law for every fiftieth year. On the year of Jubilee, land was to be restored to original owners, slaves were to be set free, and debts were to be forgiven. Each person would receive a new start! It was a little picture of God’s restoration process in action. (Leviticus 25:8-54) Jesus proclaimed that in the Holy Spirit’s anointing, He announced the ‘acceptable year of the Lord’.
This ‘good news’ is something to get in on for yourself. Jesus is our ‘Jubilee’! In Him we are set free, healed, and delivered from bondage. In Him we have an eternal inheritance that cannot be stolen or lost! The Holy Spirit is the down-payment!
Scripture reading for July 20th: Isaiah 9-12
Isaiah lived over 700 years before the coming of Jesus Christ. He was an ordinary man who was by grace chosen to see the Lord in a glorious vision. He humbled himself and responded to God’s call to go and become a prophet. As he lived his life and shared from his heart and relationship with the Lord, God used him to give prophetic pictures of His Son, Jesus Christ. These pictures encourage us today and inspire faith and trust!
After speaking of a virgin giving birth to a son who would be called “Immanuel”, God with us, Isaiah continued to write about this coming one. (Isaiah 7:14) He himself had two sons who were given prophetic names that spoke to the future of the nation of Israel. He told that the nation would go into captivity but that God would bring back a remnant. The people were caught up in conspiracy theories and were tormented by fears. Isaiah warned them that the Lord was the only one to fear! (Isaiah 8:12-14) The Lord himself would be a stone to cause the nation to stumble and a rock that would make them fall. Seven Hundred years later, Jesus was that stumbling stone to the nation of Israel.
The coming child who would be born would honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by way of the sea, along the Jordan River. He would show God’s light to those living in darkness there. (Isaiah 9:1-2) He would carry the government on his shoulders. This child’s names signified that He would be special. His names would be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! His government would be one of peace and from everlasting to everlasting. He would also reign on David’s throne, establishing it in justice and righteousness. (Isaiah 9:6-7) God’s own zeal would accomplish this! These scriptures all speak of Jesus Christ who lived and ministered in Galilee. He did great miracles and mighty works there, bringing light to the Gentiles. He is the fulfillment of the names given by Isaiah through the Holy Spirit!
In chapter 11, Isaiah speaks again of Jesus. He talks of a shoot coming from the stump of Jesse that will become a Branch that would bear fruit. After the judgment that Isaiah spoke of, the nation would resemble a stump. God would have a remnant that would bring His Son to fulfill His purposes! God would place His Spirit on this Branch. It would be a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and power, and a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-3) He would delight in the fear of the Lord! Jesus Christ fits this description perfectly! He was wisdom and knowledge personified! He had wise counsel and power to heal, save and deliver! He knew all things and taught with authority! He delighted in the fear of the Lord in that He only did what His Father showed Him to do and always did that which pleased His Father!
There is so much more in these chapters today! Read and enjoy and rejoice in God’s faithfulness to fulfill His Word!