THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST
LUKE 4:18
LUKE 4:18
Introduction:
Although Jesus was God during His earthly life and ministry, He still recognized His dependence upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This was particularly necessary in view of His humiliation in the Incarnation. So intimate was the relationship between Christ and the Holy Spirit that in the New Testament, He is viewed as endued with the power of the Holy Spirit.
I. THE NEW TESTAMENT RECOGNIZES THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CHRIST’S…
A. Incarnation, Hebrews 10:5, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:”
B. Birth, Matthew 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
C. Growth, Luke 2:40, 52, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
D. Baptism, Luke 3:21, 22, “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
E. Temptation, Luke 4:1, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”
F. Ministry, Luke 4:18, 19, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
G. Miracles, Matthew 12:28, “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
H. Death, Hebrews 9:14, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
I. Resurrection, Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
J. Glorification, John 16:14, “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
II. THE APPLICATION OF THE NEED OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. The Lord recognized His need to have an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, Luke 3:22, “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
B. This in turn emphasizes the Christian’s need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
1. The Holy Spirit’s work in the world, John 16:8, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
2. The Holy Spirit’s work in the Believer,
a. He indwells the believer, John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
b. He guides the believer, John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
c. He comforts the believer, John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”