Welcome back, my dear friends. Throughout this lesson, I want us to look at the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the God/man. I’ve filled this lesson with verses from God’s holy word so that you will fully understand the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the God/man, Jesus Christ.
The entire life of the God/man was the orchestrated effort of the Triune God— God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. If we look back to the first lesson titled “A Secret From Eternity Past God Had a Plan!”, we’ll see step one of God’s Plan. I talked about the covenant called the Covenant of Redemption between God the Father and God the Son. Just to remind us of what a covenant is, it is a formally defined relationship between two parties, a solemn promise or oath. Every covenant is built on binding principles or rules (i.e., you do this, and I will do that, or if you don’t do this, then I will not do that) that are determined by the two parties entering the covenant or agreement.
Charles Hodges states.
“The Father gave the Son a work to do; He sent Him into the world to perform it and promised Him a great reward when the work was carried out. Such is the constant representation of the Scriptures. We have, therefore, the contracting parties, the promise, and the condition. These are the essential elements of a covenant.”
God the Father did not send God the Son alone to face the most important task of all, which was the redemption and salvation of humanity.
42 “See! My servant, My chosen one! My much Loved, in Whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit on Him. He will say to the nations what is right from wrong. Isaiah 42:1(NLV)
Therefore, Jesus Christ had the Holy Spirit, that he might fulfill all that the Father sent Him to do.
Who is God the Holy Spirit?
The work of the Holy Spirit is to manifest the active presence of God in the world and especially in the church. The Holy Spirit is the member of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) and whom the Scripture most often represents as being present to do God’s work in the world.
Understanding the Holy Spirit
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
His delight is in the fear of the Lord,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; Isaiah 11:2-3 (NLV)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. (Isa. 61:1–3)
The Old Testament prophecies tell us that the God/man would be empowered by the One Spirit, described seven ways:
1) The Spirit of the LORD
2) The Spirit of wisdom
3) The Spirit of understanding
4) The Spirit of counsel
5) The Spirit of power
6) The Spirit of knowledge
7) The Spirit of the fear of the Lord
This is the sevenfold spirit which rested upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The book of Revelations mentions the seven Spirits of God:
He saw seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are explained to be the seven Spirits of God Revelation 4:5 NIV
How was the Holy Spirit actively present in the life of the God/man Jesus Christ? The Holy Spirit played a crucial active role in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Here’s a look at some of the key aspects:
Conception and Birth
The Holy Spirit participated in the miraculous conception of Jesus. According to the Gospels, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, affirming Jesus’ divine origin.
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:30-35 (NIV)
Empowerment, Guidance, and Revelation for His Ministry
At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. This event marked the beginning of his public ministry and proved his anointing by the Spirit. The Spirit’s descent was a sign of Jesus’ divine approval and empowerment.
16 So Jesus was baptized. As soon as he came up out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw God’s Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 17 A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him.” Matthew 3:16-17 (ERV)
After his baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This guidance was crucial for Jesus’ preparation for his ministry and for overcoming temptation.
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2 (NIV)
Before beginning his ministry, Jesus faces off with Satan after being led by the Spirit into the desert. Luke makes such leading clear by noting both that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and that he was “led by the Spirit in the desert.” What occurs here, therefore, takes place under God’s direction.
The Fathers testing of His Son came through Satan’s temptations which were attempts by Satan to deceive Jesus into sinning. Thanks to the power of the Spirit, He recognized and resisted them, emerging sinless.
Jesus Began His ministry and teaching in Galilee:
14 Jesus went back to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. Stories about him spread all over the area around Galilee. 15 He began to teach in the synagogues, and everyone praised him. Luke 4:14-15 (ERV)
Jesus’ teachings also were empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gave him wisdom and insight to reveal deep spiritual truths and to interpret the Scriptures in a way that fulfilled and expanded upon the Law and the Prophets.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of wise words and strength, the spirit of much learning and the fear of the Lord. 3 He will be glad in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what His eyes see or decide by what His ears hear. Isaiah 11:2-3 (NLV)
Living a Life of Obedience to God’s Commandments
Jesus’ obedience to the Father was accomplished through the Holy Spirit. He lived a life that was in perfect harmony with God’s commandments, demonstrating obedience in every aspect of His life. He lived without sin, fulfilling the law completely
17 “Don’t think that I have come to destroy the Law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have come not to destroy their teachings but to give full meaning to them. 18 I assure you that nothing will disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone. The law will not lose even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter until it has all been done. Matthew 5:17-18 (ERV)
His life serves as an example of perfect obedience.
Performing Miracles
Jesus’ miracles were powerful demonstrations of His divine authority, compassion and the reality of God’s Kingdom breaking into the world. These were signs that pointed people to the truth of who He was and invited them to believe in Him as the Savior.
Jesus performed miracles and healings through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enabled Jesus to do works that proved his authority.
38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit assisted the God/man by
Revealing His Divine Nature: His miracles showed that He was more than just a man; they revealed His identity as the Son of God.
Demonstrating God’s Compassion: Through His miracles, Jesus showed God’s love and care for people, especially those who were suffering.
Calling People to Faith: Jesus used His miracles to invite people to trust in Him as the Messiah and the Savior.
Fulfillment of Prophecy
His miracles fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah:
4 People are afraid and confused. Say to them, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid!” Look, your God will come and punish your enemies. He will come and give you your reward. He will save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened so that they can see, and the ears of the deaf will be opened so that they can hear. 6 Crippled people will dance like deer, and those who cannot speak now will use their voices to sing happy songs. Isaiah 35:4-6 (ERV)
Resurrection From the Dead
The most significant miracle of all was Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead. His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead is the ultimate demonstration of His divine power and authority over death.
The Holy Spirit was involved in the resurrection of Jesus. The Apostle Paul refers to the Spirit as the one who raised Jesus from the dead, affirming the Spirit’s role in the resurrection and victory over death.
11 The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. If the same Holy Spirit lives in you, He will give life to your bodies in the same way. Romans 8:11 (NIV)
His resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian faith, guaranteeing eternal life for all who believe in Him.
Promise of the Spirit
Before His crucifixion, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to continue His work among his followers after His departure. This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles.
1The followers of Jesus were all together in one place fifty days after the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. 2 All at once there was a sound from heaven like a powerful wind. It filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw tongues which were divided that looked like fire. These came down on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they began to speak in other languages which the Holy Spirit made them able to speak. Acts 2:1-4 (NLV)
Conclusion
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ is a foundational belief in Christian theology that underscores the unity of the Trinity, the divine empowerment of Jesus for his earthly ministry and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. This belief highlights the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit, showing God’s presence and action in the world through the person of the God/man, Jesus Christ.
For Believers, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Jesus serves as a model and inspiration for our own lives. Believers are called to live by the Spirit, seeking guidance, empowerment and wisdom in their daily lives
16 I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to. 17 For we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite of the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures. 18 When you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you need no longer force yourself to obey Jewish laws.
19 But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine, 21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws.
24 Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there.
25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:16-25 (TLB)
Through faith in Jesus Christ, Christians receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within them and empowers them to live as children of God. This same Holy Spirit gives us the assurance that we will see our Lord and Savior again.
The Apostle Paul explains the presents of the Holy Spirit this way.
21 And God is the one who makes you and us strong in Christ. God is also the one who chose us for his work. 22 He put his mark on us to show that we are his. Yes, he put his Spirit in our hearts as the first payment that guarantees all that He will give us. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (ERV)
Does the Holy Spirit live inside of you, my friend?
Are you filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Or, is your life still full of impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group(and there will be wrong doctrine 21 ), envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing?
You can fix this right now, my dear friend, and be filled with the fruits of the Spirit instead of the fruits of this world.
God the Father right now is offering you the greatest gift you could ever receive. It is God’s free gift to you, no strings attached. You can take it and be filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The prayer below is meant to be prayed in your mind and heart joined together in agreement. Read this simple prayer out loud from your heart, not just your mind:
“Dear God, I realize I am a sinner in need of salvation. I know that all my own good works and religious rituals can never save me. Only Jesus can save me. I believe that Jesus, my Savior, came to earth for me and that he died on the cross for my sins. I believe that He was buried and on the third day rose and now sits at your right hand of God the Father as my advocate. I am asking you Lord Jesus to forgive my sins and to come into my life now and be my Lord and Savior now and forever more. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”
If you prayed this prayer with your heart and believe that Jesus Christ is now your Lord and Savior, except for your birth, this is the most exciting day of your life.
You are now redeemed with God, your Father. You have now secured your place in eternity with Him. The Bible tells us that right now that all of the Angels in Heaven are rejoicing with you. Can you hear them?
Until next time, my friends, when we will dive into God’s Holy Word and learn about the various names for the God/man, both human and divine. I’m sure this study will reveal ways of looking at our Lord and Savior that we’ve never thought of. Now may Mercy, Peace and Love be multiplied to you.