Sermon for 24 January 2010 entitled The Power of the Holy Spirit

Good Morning! I trust that you had a wonderful week this past week spending time with Jesus Christ. And, Didn’t We have some awesome weather? Some very unusual weather for this time of the year. But, none the less, A Wonderful, Beautiful Week.

We have a very powerful Text to examine this morning, so, I will ask that you pay very close attention. But, First, Our Old Testament reading which comes from the Book of Psalms Chapter 19. I am going to read the entire Psalm. Psalm 19. Psalm 19. Please follow along as this Text is read. Psalm 19...

1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
2. Day unto day uttered speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.
3. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.
5. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6. His going forth is from the end of heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10. More to be desired are they than fine gold, yea, than much find gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

What an awesome Psalm written by King David. Do you see the Powerful imagery here in these verses? King David shows us that the Heavens declare the Glory of God and the firmament shows us the handiwork of God. The Heavens and the firmament came to be by the spoken Law of God which King David declares is perfect, converting the soul.

In other words, Understanding the Law of God changes the way a servant of God thinks. Because, A Servant of God wears the Mind of Christ. Kind David also tells us the importance of God’s Law. God’s Law is to be desired more than fine gold, yea, than much fine gold. King David tells us that the Law of God is sweeter than honey and the honey comb. King David also shows us a servant keeping the Law of God not only is he warned of danger and the pitfalls of sin designed by the devil, but he receives a great reward in obedience to the Law.

King David also shows us that a servant of God keeping the Law of God keeps the servant from presumptuous sins and also the servant of God would be found innocent of the great transgression. King David also shows us that meditating on the Law of God brings the servant of God to a level of acceptance in the eyes of the Lord.

Questions: Do the words that you speak and the thoughts of your heart Honor God? Does God find your words and thoughts to be acceptable in His sight? Do you study the Law of God? Do you know how to obtain Godly Wisdom? Do you study the Scriptures to gain a closer relationship and a closer walk with God?

In order to know and understand God, a Believer in Christ must study the Law of God. A Believer in Christ must live by the Commandments of Christ. When a Believer lives by the Commandments of Christ in Faith, They will find that they are under no condemnation because their lives will bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit against such there is no law.

The Title of my message this morning is…The Power of the Holy Spirit. The Power of the Holy Spirit. Our New Testament reading is found in Luke 4:14-21. Luke 4:14-21. If you have your Bibles with you this morning, please follow along as the Text is read. Luke 4:14-21...

14. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18. 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 broken-hearted, 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.
20. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Here ends the reading of God’s Holy Word and may God add His Blessing on this reading this morning. Let us bow our heads for a word of prayer. Father in Heaven, We are so thankful today for your presence and for your Holy Word. Father, I bind the works of the enemy that would hinder our understanding. Open our hearts and our minds and help us to see the Power in your Holy Word. In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

First of all, Let us get a little background information on our Text this morning. We are reading from Luke’s account of when Christ came from the Wilderness experience. We find that Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness being tempted of the devil and did not eat any food during this time. No food for 40 days and 40 nights.

This information paints us a powerful picture of how the devil operates. He patiently waits to tempt us at our weakest moment. Then, The devil will strike. But, Jesus overcame the devil by speaking the Holy Word of God. Jesus said three times…It…is…written. Then, The devil departed him for another season. This information brings us up to our Text this morning beginning in verse 14...

14. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Do you see the picture here? Jesus comes out of the Wilderness experience after defeating the devil by SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD and the Holy Spirit is with Him. What is happening here?

When the Power of the Holy Spirit was with Jesus, The Power of God WENT BEFORE Him and people did not only see something but sensed something different about Him. In this case of Jesus, In teaching in the Jewish synagogues with the Power of the Holy Spirit, He was glorified of all.

16. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Now, Let us take a look at this verse. Jesus came to his home town which is Nazareth where He grew up and He entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Matter of fact, This was a custom of Jesus. Everywhere He went, He would enter into the Synagogue and teach the Jewish people.

Now, This Sabbath day is Saturday for the Jewish People which comes from Old Testament Judaism still practiced in the New Testament known as New Testament Judaism. And, Jesus stands up to read the Scriptures.

So, Let us ask a question here. Who is the specific audience that Jesus is teaching here? According to the Seed Covenant of Abraham of the Old Testament in the Book of Genesis, Jesus is teaching the Seed of Jacob multiplied as the dust of the earth in the New Testament. Genesis 28:14.

17. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

Now, Let us examine this verse for a moment. Every Sabbath day, The Minister of the Synagogue would read a portion of Scripture from the Book of the Law. That is the Law of Moses. Also known as the Torah. This reading would take place every Sabbath day. Scripture Reference is Acts 15:21.

Now, Notice something very carefully here. Jesus was not given the Book of the Law. Jesus was given by the Minister of the Synagogue the Book of the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah. The Question is…Why?

Here is the answer. The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah held the key to the understanding of the Jewish people, i.e. the seed of Jacob multiplied as the dust of the earth, who Jesus Christ was at this time and why He came. Powerful isn’t! Now, Let us take a very close look at what Jesus specifically read from The Book of Isaiah.

18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

Let me stop right here for a moment. Please take a very close look at what Jesus read. Jesus reads…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Do you see the Powerful picture here?

The Operation of the Holy Spirit for Judaism during Old Testament times and in the New Testament before the cross for the Seed of Jacob multiplied as the dust of the earth…is external. Additional Scripture reference is Revelation 7:4.

After the Church Age, In the Tribulation Period, The 144,000 here from the seed of Jacob have an external stamp on their foreheads for all to see which is a stamp of preservation. And, The 144,000 with this stamp on their foreheads become the promised seed called in Isaac because they accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Romans 9:7 and Hebrews 11:18. Old Testament reference is Genesis 21:12.

Jesus said…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. The Greek word used for upon is epi, pronounced ep-ee’, which has several definitions two of which is on or over. Continuing with our Text…

18. 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 broken-hearted, 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.

What do you see here? Jesus proclaims why He came. The First Advent of Christ is a two fold reason. 1) To Preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And, 2) To be the Perfect and Sinless Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. In other words, To pay the sin debt of the world’s entire population. John 1:29.

But, Did you notice something else here? The Power of the Holy Spirit enables Jesus Christ to preach, to heal, to deliver, to recover sight of the blind, to set at liberty people who are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Questions: Do You operate in the Power of the Holy Spirit? Is your life a powerful witness for Jesus Christ with the Power of God going before you opening doors that no man can open?

Does the Power of the Holy Spirit enable you to lay hands on the sick and they recover? Does the Power of the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you in everything that you say and do? Does the Power of the Holy Spirit bear fruit in your life?

20. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

There is a very Powerful picture here painted by the Holy Word of God. Do you see this picture? The Bible says…And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.

But, wait a minute. Jesus Christ did not finish reading Isaiah 61:2. Here is verse 2 in its entirety…To preach the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort those who mourn. Jesus only read a part of this verse. Then, He closed the book and sat down.

Do you see this? The Question is…Why did Jesus Christ not finish reading Isaiah 61:2? Here is the powerful answer. Jesus came for His First Advent to Preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord and to pay the sin debt of the entire world. God’s plan stopped here in this verse for Israel, temporarily.

The Picture of Christ’s earthly ministry is God showing us His Eternal Love and Mercy toward His human creation by desiring for all to come to Christ and accept Him as their Messiah for the Jews and Lord and Savior for the Gentiles before Judgment is brought to this earth. Revelation Chapters 6 -16 and 2 Peter 3:9.

This is why Christ did not finish reading Isaiah 61:2. God is giving every human being a chance to accept Jesus Christ and believe in Him so that everyone who believes shall receive everlasting life. John 3:16. But sadly, Not everyone will.

The Bible says…And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. The Greek word used here is atenizo, pronounced at en id’ zo. In other words, The Jewish people in this synagogue gazed intently at Jesus Christ as He was reading the Book of Isaiah.

They were watching Jesus very closely and listening to every word. Scripture reference for this is Nehemiah 8:1-3. The Bible shows us that anytime any portion of the Torah was read in the Old Testament, The Jewish People would listen intently for hours. But again, Jesus did not read the Torah here.

Questions: Do you hunger for the Holy Word of God? Do you desire to hear the Holy Word of God every Sunday? Do you desire to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ? Would those around you say, You love the Word of God?

21. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Finally, The Jewish People of this synagogue heard something that they have never heard before until this day. They have heard many times the reading of the Torah by the Minister, but, They have never heard anyone read and say what Jesus said from the Book of Isaiah.

Jesus said…This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. I have a very important final question to ask. But first, You have heard the Word of God. You know who Jesus Christ is. And, You realize that there is Power in the Holy Spirit.

My final question to ask…Is the Power of the Holy Spirit being fulfilled in your life? If there is any doubt today, humbly examine yourselves before the Lord Jesus Christ, and make certain of your answer today. I say Blessed be the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us bow our heads for a word of prayer.

Heavenly Father, We give you praise, honor, and glory for your Holy Word. We thank you that you give wisdom and understanding to those who diligently seek you. Help us today, Father. Lead us and guide us by your Holy Spirit and help us to live in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Help us to ponder these powerful Truths that we learned today in our hearts and minds so that people around us will know that there is a Power that goes before us. We thank you Father for hearing and answering our prayer in the Name that is above all names, The Precious Name of Jesus Christ and everybody said, Amen and amen.

Dr. Michael Dickson, Th.D.