- The Fuel in the Engine -
The Power to Succeed
I believe, after salvation, this is the next thing. The power that feeds strength to the runner.
When Jesus was ministering on the earth, He was on His way to fulfilling His ultimate mission here – salvation for mankind. He had a race to run, just as each of us has been given a race to run. He ran His course and won!! Do you agree?? Do you also agree that Jesus’ life was an example for us to follow? YES! There was not a more perfect example than our Lord!
Hold that thought of Jesus as our example…
Before Jesus started His public ministry, something very significant happened to Him. It was noteworthy enough that all 4 gospel accounts recorded it. So I must ask…
“What happened when the Spirit descended upon Jesus as He arose from the water?” It was not the experience of Salvation! Jesus did not need salvation, because He had never been separated from God. The purpose of Salvation is to unite man with God. Jesus was already one with God. (His spirit had never been dead like Adam’s) So what happened when the Spirit descended on Him?...
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:
Jesus explained what happened Himself:
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit 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.
Jesus spoke from personal experience concerning when the Spirit descended on Him. The Holy Spirit was the power of God to go about “doing” not just being.
Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
People do not really understand the job of the Holy Spirit. It is not a spooky thing and never should be perverted into that. The Holy Spirit is the power of God. Like fuel in a car. That engine is very powerful, and that car really has the engine in it. But the gas is what that engine feeds on. Just to belong to God is not enough. It’s like having one boot on and the other off. It’s harder to run. You need the gift of the Holy Spirit to be more than a pew or couch sitter. Jesus promised that gift:
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
NOTICE Jesus said to them: wait in Jerusalem until you have received the power (the fuel). The commission to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out devils, was to WAIT until they had received POWER. Jesus Himself did not begin His public ministry until the Spirit had descended upon Him – interesting….
Luke 4:1 “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness…”
If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to descend on Him, who are we to think we do not need the Holy Spirit? I ask you, do not turn away this mighty Gift. You will need it in the days ahead. Do not think your life is chance. You were brought into the kingdom for such a time as this.
You need the precious power of the Holy Spirit to run (to do the works of Jesus and greater than these John 14:12)
HOW do I receive the Holy Spirit?
Ask Him. Just ask for what He promised. He is not a man that He should lie. God cannot and will not refuse to do what He promised. Receive it even as you received Jesus as your Savior.
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
Act 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off…
Act 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
“…Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him (Jesus), the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” – John 1:33
Matthew_3:11 I (John) indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He (Jesus) that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire:
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