"Through the Power of the Spirit"
Numbers 30:1-31:54
Luke 4:1-30
Psalm 63:1-11
Proverbs 11:20-21
How are you getting through life? In your own strength, or the power of the Spirit? Too often I catch myself trying to "Live the DREAM" in my own strength. We need to live the balanced Christian Life, but we need to be doing it through a power far greater than our own: The power found only through the Holy Spirit.
Luke 4:1 says, "Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River, being urged by the Spirit..." In verse 14 it says, "Then Jesus returned to Galilee, full of the Holy Spirit's power."
It should grab our attention that Jesus was not operating in his own strength even through He was the Son of God. His path was forged through the power of the Spirit.
In our reading in Numbers today, Numbers 31:24 says, "Anything that will stand heat - such as gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead - shall be passed through fire in order to be made ceremonially pure;"
Do you remember what John the Baptist said in Luke 3 two days ago? "I baptize only with water; but someone is coming soon who has far higher authority than mine... He will baptize you with fire - with the Holy Spirit." (Luke 3:16)
We need the power of the Spirit to be present in our lives. This is why Jesus came. To give us life, and more abundantly. That happens through the power of the Spirit. Do you want it? YES! ok, let's look at something:
Notice that in Luke 4:1 Jesus is full of the Spirit, and in Luke 4:14 he's full of the spirit's power. What happens in between? Yup, you guessed it. it's that wilderness word again. In the wilderness Jesus is tempted. He's tempted in the midst of great hunger. His will is tested to prove that he's the Son of God. Satan throws all he has at him. Testing Jesus at a "weak" moment.
What does Jesus do? Does he respond in his own strength? "yeah, that doesn't really sound bad... stone into bread... after all, who would know... I am the son of God..." Not at all! He responds with the word!
The wilderness is the trial that refines. To many times we think it is an obstacle to the Christian Life we are called to live rather than the fire necessary to refine us. Like Numbers said, "Anything that can stand heat..." What about me? Can I stand heat? Can I be a place where the Spirit can move freely? It can only happen as I devote my life to the Word and to overcome THROUGH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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