Jesus and the power of the Holy
Spirit: Luke 4:14-18
As Jesus emerged from the wilderness, anointed by the
Spirit, he began his ministry in the power and fullness of God. The passage in
Luke describes how he entered the synagogue in Nazareth and declared the fulfilment
of Isaiah’s prophecy: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor….” This moment marked the
beginning of a new era—a time when the Spirit’s presence would not just rest on
prophets and kings but would be made available to all who believe.
The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus now invites each of us into a life marked by divine influence and supernatural grace. Through the Spirit, we participate in the ministry of Christ: healing the broken-hearted, setting captives free, and announcing the arrival of God’s favour. This is not a distant ideal, but a present reality for those who are open and receptive. As we yield to the Spirit, we find ourselves equipped for every good work, not in our own ability, but in the sufficiency of God’s presence.
The tremendous and continuous
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
The Ascension
Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart
from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Act 1:5 For John truly baptised with water; but ye
shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father
hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In this sacred pause between promise and fulfilment, the
disciples found themselves in a liminal space—called to wait, to trust, and to
prepare their hearts for what was to come. This waiting was not passive, but a
posture of expectancy, a gathering together in unity and prayer, holding fast
to the words of Jesus. The promise of the Father was more than an abstract
hope; it was the assurance of a coming baptism, an immersion into the very life
and presence of God. It was a call to readiness, to be attentive and available
for the Spirit’s arrival, which would transform ordinary lives into vessels of
extraordinary purpose.
Just as they were instructed not to rush ahead in their own
understanding, so too are we invited into seasons of waiting—moments when God’s
timing and provision are at work beyond what we can perceive. In these spaces,
faith is deepened and spiritual hunger awakened, cultivating an atmosphere ripe
for the Spirit’s move. The story of Pentecost is not merely about a single day,
but about the posture of a people prepared to receive all that God desires to
give. It is in this waiting, in the sacred anticipation, that hearts are
refined and vision is clarified, making room for the fullness of the Spirit to
be poured out.
This outpouring is not a single event confined to the pages
of history, but an ever-renewing river, flowing from the heart of God,
saturating every open soul with grace and power. It is the fulfilment of
ancient promises, where sons and daughters, young and old, dream dreams and see
visions, awakened to the nearness of God’s presence. The Holy Spirit is poured
out without measure, moving across generations, across boundaries, igniting
faith where there were only embers, and refreshing the weary with living water.
As we turn our hearts in expectation, we encounter the
Spirit’s torrents of love and revelation—an unceasing cascade that washes away
doubt, restores hope, and stirs within us a passion for the things of God. Each
wave of the Spirit’s movement brings renewal, illuminating Christ in our
hearts, uniting believers in purpose, and equipping us with spiritual gifts for
the building up of the community. In this divine outpouring, heaven and earth
are drawn close, and we become living witnesses to the reality that God is with
us, empowering us to live and love with a supernatural courage and compassion. Acts
2:17-21; Joel 2:28-32
Resurrection Power and the Seven Spirits of God
To walk in resurrection power is to live from the wellspring
of Christ’s victory over death, as vessels animated by the life that conquered
the grave. This power does not merely revive our mortal existence; it
transforms our entire being, quickening our Spirit to the reality that, in
Christ, we are made new. Each step taken in resurrection power is a testament
to the triumph of love over fear, hope over despair, and light over darkness.
As we yield to this divine life, we are drawn into deeper intimacy with the
Holy Spirit, through whom resurrection life flows unceasingly. Rom 8:11
Integral to this journey are the seven spirits of God—a
fullness described in the book of Revelation. These are the Spirit of the Lord,
of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of knowledge, and of the
fear of the Lord. As these attributes rest upon us, they equip us to discern,
to stand firm, to walk humbly, and to radiate the multifaceted glory of God in
our daily lives. The Spirit of wisdom unveils the mysteries of divine purpose;
understanding grants insight into the heart of God; counsel provides direction
in moments of uncertainty; might imparts strength to persevere; knowledge
reveals the ways of the Lord; and the fear of the Lord anchors us in holy awe.
When these seven streams converge in our lives, we begin to walk not by human
effort, but by supernatural empowerment. Isaiah 11:2-3; Rev 1:4, 4:5, 5:6
This dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit invites us
into a daily rhythm of dependence and expectancy. Rather than striving in our
own strength, we become attentive to the gentle promptings and quiet urgings
that invite us toward greater faith and obedience. The Spirit intercedes in our
weakness, nurturing within us the fruit of love, joy, peace, and
patience—virtues not manufactured by willpower but received as gifts from the
very heart of God. Rom 8:26; Gal 5:22-23. As we surrender our desires and ambitions,
a holy exchange takes place: our limitations are met by the Spirit’s
sufficiency, our anxieties eased by divine assurance, and our wounds touched by
healing grace.
Living in this awareness reshapes our identity and our
priorities. We begin to recognise the fingerprints of God in the ordinary
moments—a word of encouragement spoken at just the right time, an unexplainable
peace during turmoil, the courage to forgive or to hope where all seemed lost.
The Spirit’s presence becomes the atmosphere in which we move, guiding our
choices and deepening our trust. In this sacred partnership, we find that the
journey of faith is less about perfection and more about participation, yielding
to the flow of resurrection life that continually renews, empowers, and
transforms.
To encounter the Holy Spirit is to awaken to a divine
presence at work within us, guiding, shaping, and empowering our daily walk. The
Spirit is not a distant force, but an intimate companion, offering comfort,
wisdom, and strength as we navigate the journey of faith. Through quiet
whispers and sudden insights, the Holy Spirit illuminates the path ahead,
beckoning us to deeper trust and surrender. As we open our hearts, we discover
that spiritual transformation is not achieved by our own striving, but by yielding
to the loving influence of the Spirit who dwells within.
This journey with the Holy Spirit unfolds as a continual
invitation to let go of self-reliance and embrace the reality of divine life
within. The transformative work of the Spirit is not reserved for extraordinary
moments. However, it is woven into the fabric of everyday existence, teaching us to hear
the still, small voice amid the noise, to discern God’s gentle direction in our
choices, and to rest in the assurance of being entirely accepted and deeply loved.
As we become more attuned to the Spirit’s promptings, our motivations shift
from self-centred pursuits to a longing for spiritual realities that echo
eternity. The life of faith, then, becomes a beautiful paradox: we are
empowered not through striving, but through surrender; we are made strong, not
by clinging to our own resources, but by depending on the sufficiency of the
Spirit.
Gradually, the impulses of the flesh lose their grip, and
the desires of the Spirit become the heartbeat of our daily walk. We discover
that true freedom is found not in autonomy, but in belonging to Christ, to the
family of God, and to the purposes for which we have been lovingly chosen. In
this sacred relationship, the Holy Spirit continually affirms our identity as
beloved children and heirs, whispering hope into our innermost being and
inviting us to live from the abundance that is ours in Christ.
Rom 8:5 Those who are motivated by the flesh
only pursue what benefits themselves. But those who live by the impulses of the
Holy Spirit are encouraged to pursue spiritual realities.
1
Corinthians 12:1-11 Differing spiritual gifts.
In this transformative journey, the Holy Spirit not only
renews our hearts but also bestows upon each believer a unique manifestation of
divine grace. As described by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, there
are a variety of spiritual gifts—each given for the common good, each an
expression of the Spirit’s creativity and intent. To some is granted wisdom or knowledge,
to others, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, tongues,
or interpretation of tongues. These gifts differ in function and appearance,
yet all originate from the same Spirit, who distributes them as he wills.
The diversity of spiritual gifts speaks to the richness and
unity of Christ’s body. No one gift is superior or complete on its own; rather,
each is vital, each complements and strengthens the whole. Ministries also
vary—some are called to shepherd, others to teach, encourage, serve, or
administrate—yet all are empowered by the Spirit to build up, equip, and unify
the church for the work of love and service in the world. Embracing our
differing gifts and ministries, we learn to honour one another, celebrating the
varied ways God’s grace is revealed through us. This diversity is not a cause
for comparison or division, but an invitation to more profound interdependence,
humility, and joy as we participate in the Spirit’s ongoing work.
To live in step with the Spirit, then, is to embrace both
our unique calling and our shared inheritance as members of God’s family. The
Spirit not only gifts and empowers us but also continually draws us back to the
truth of our identity: we are not defined by our failures or by the
expectations of this world, but by the unshakable love of the One who calls us
beloved. This profound belonging sets us free from striving for approval and
anchors us in the assurance that we are fully known and entirely accepted.
As we yield to the Spirit’s leading, old patterns of fear,
insecurity, and self-reliance begin to fade. Instead, we find ourselves carried
by a current of divine love and purpose, invited to participate in the life of
Christ in ever-deepening ways. Every act of obedience, whether grand or simple,
becomes an opportunity to express the character of Christ and to bear witness
to the transforming presence of God among us.
Through the Spirit’s work, we learn to exchange anxiety for
trust, striving for rest, and self-sufficiency for humble dependence. The
result is not a life marked by perfection, but a life increasingly
characterised by freedom, joy, and the unforced rhythms of grace—a life that
overflows with gratitude as we discover all that it means to be heirs with
Christ. Ephesians 1:17-21; Romans 8:12-17
To taste the good Word of God is to savour, not
merely to sample, the living reality of divine truth and promise—a foretaste of
the powers breaking into our experience from the age to come. The Spirit grants
us moments when the veil between now and eternity thins, we glimpse the
transforming reality of resurrection life, discern the nearness of God, and are
emboldened to hope beyond what our eyes can see. In these sacred encounters,
the Word becomes nourishment for our souls, strengthening us to walk as people
of promise, grounded in the assurance that what is begun in us will be brought
to glorious completion. Such tasting is not passive; it is a summons to live
awake to the new creation, to anticipate with holy expectation the fullness
that is yet to be revealed. Hebrews 6:1-5
To walk in this Spirit-led life is to cultivate an
attentiveness that grows not through formula but through ongoing relationship.
The path is not always marked by certainty or ease, but by a quiet confidence
that the indwelling Spirit is both companion and guide. Each day presents fresh
opportunities to say “yes” to God’s invitations—sometimes in gentle promptings,
sometimes in the call to courage or surrender. As we trust the Spirit’s wisdom
over our own understanding, we notice subtle shifts: old habits of mind lose
their hold, inner restlessness gives way to peace, and our responses reflect an
emerging Christlikeness that is not self-made but Spirit-born. Hebrews 10:35-38
This journey is profoundly communal as well as personal. The
Spirit weaves our individual stories into the tapestry of God’s people, where
encouragement, accountability, and love are both received and offered.
Together, we learn to discern the Spirit’s voice within the noise of competing
desires, helping one another resist what diminishes life and embrace what
brings true freedom. As we practice yielding—moment by moment, choice by
choice—we are shaped into a people whose lives point beyond themselves to the
hope and beauty of the kingdom.
It is in the ordinary rhythms of life that the Spirit’s presence becomes most tangible, guiding our speech, shaping our desires, and filling even mundane moments with meaning. We are invited to walk surrendered and awake, confident that the same Spirit who raised Christ also empowers us to live in newness, bearing fruit that endures.
Blessings
Wiley
