Jesus - empowered by the Holy Spirit

Very interesting talk in church today.

Mark 1:11 (NIV)
And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

We are called to be salt and light and to be ordinary where we live.

Mark 1:10 (NIV)
As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Who is Jesus more like: Spiderman or Superman?

Superman - who he is, is part of his nature.

Spiderman - receives his superpowers at a certain moment.

Jesus is like both of them. He was born human and Divine. Some people thought that everything started when the Spirit came on Jesus. Although his teaching started at this point the birth narratives point in other directions. Our failing is the opposite. Sometimes we think today that there was something special with Jesus but not yet ready to do it.

Mark says that there is a point where He starts His public ministry. Jesus is like a combination of both.

Luke 4:1 (NIV)
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,

Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when He went out.

This stage of Jesus life begins in the power of the Holy Spirit.


Luke 4:14 (NIV)
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.




Luke 4:18 (NIV)
"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,

Matthew 12:28 (NIV)
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

It is the Spirit of God that enables Him to do the amazing works.

A spirit filled human being

John 14:16-17 (NIV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever--- [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

But then ..

John 14:12 (NIV)
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

The promise of the Spirit only comes a little later.

Strong argument that what Jesus does is because the Spirit is on Him and the Spirit is in Him.

The same Spirit which empowered Jesus is available and promised to us. Because of the empowering presence of God we too can be caught up and empowered.

John 14:17 (NIV)
But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

An essential element of Christian living. If we are in Christ the Spirit is within us.

We may feel inadequate and lacking but we do have the Spirit of God who is so powerful.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Self-discipline

Ezekiel 36:27 (NIV)
And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Galatians 5:25 (NIV)
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Daily examen

- become aware of God's presence.
- look back over the day.
- ask God for Holy Spirit to help you look at your actions, attitudes and motives with honesty and patience.
- review your day again in detail with prayer.
- look forward to tomorrow with hope.

With the power and gift of the Spirit we have power to change?

How is my self discipline at the moment? How aware am I?

The Spirit gives the gift of self discipline.

Love

The Spirit of love stops self discipline simply becoming an empty act. 

Coming into the powerful presence of God fills us with love for both him and for others. 

Power

The Spirit of God is powerful and gives us power to serve. We need God's power as ours is not enough.

- power to serve
- power to sustain
- power of peace

What can we do!

It's a gift.
We ask.
We spend time with God.

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. [30] Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; [31] but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

They who wait upon the Lord.