WHAT WE FIND IN JESUS (PART 2)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him

Isaiah 11:2

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Isaiah’s words of hope come alive in the opening words of Chapter 11 of the bible book that bears his name. For a Branch was foretold that would emerge from the roots of Jesse, a Branch who would come to be known as Jesus, the Savior of the world. As we examined yesterday, we find an abundance of fruit in Jesus, the perfect fruits of the Spirit that include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), fruits that we too can have in abundance when we place our faith and trust in Him and ask Him into our hearts, minds, and souls.

But how can Jesus live in us and bear abundant fruit in and through us? Didn’t He die and then ascend to heaven to sit at the right hand of God Almighty not long after He was raised from the grave on the third day?

The answer is “yes”, Jesus does come to live and abide in and through us, bearing His abundant fruits but He does so through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit He promised to comfort as well as lead, guide, and advocate for us through life (John 15:26).

But how was Jesus able to send us the Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord that originated with God, His Father and ours?

Because the Spirit was placed on His from the very start of His life. Take a look at the verse for today and see where the Spirit of the Lord is the second thing we can always count on finding in Jesus:

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him. Isaiah 11:2

God was sending His people of Israel (and in doing so all humanity) a Messiah, One who would come to give them deliverance. That deliverance of course wasn’t so much from the bondage of people, although the Israelites thought that was why he was coming. No, Jesus, the promised One who was to come and save Israel (and all mankind) lived and died to deliver all people from the bondage of sin. His death and resurrection opened the gates of heaven for others to follow if they would place their faith and trust in Him as Savior. And in that, He offered everyone a hope that would endure. For anyone in Christ would have a victory that no one could ever take away, an assured victory over death and the grave.

They would also have His Spirit living and abiding within them, the same Spirit that came to rest upon Him when He came. What do we gain with this Spirit inside us? The scriptures share the following:

1. Instruction.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

2. Words to speak.

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. Luke 12:11-12

3. Revelation.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Luke 2:26

4. Joy.

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. Luke 10:21

5. Power.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

6. Boldness in testimony.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31

7. Encouragement.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. Acts 9:31

8. Goodness.

He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Acts 11:24

9. Acceptance from God.

God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. Acts 15:8

10. Warning.

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. Acts 20:23

11. God’s love.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

12. Righteousness and peace.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

13. Overflowing hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

14. Sanctification (or made holy).

He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:16

15. Help.

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 2 Timothy 1:14

16. Rebirth and renewal.

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

What do we find in Jesus through the Holy Spirit that rested first on Him and now lives and abides in the heart, mind, and soul of every Christian believer?

Instruction, words to speak, revelation, joy, power, boldness in testimony, encouragement, goodness, acceptance from God, warning, God’s love, righteousness, peace, overflowing hope, sanctification, help, rebirth, and renewal, just to name a few.

Remember the fruits that Jesus would bear, fruits from the Branch of Jesse. In the Holy Spirit, we find just one more offshoot of the Branch, One that bears its own fruits and freely shares with those who have Him within them.

Question: Have you received the Holy Spirit in your life?

If not, come to Jesus today and you will.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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