The Spirit

DEVOTION

PROPHESIES AND FULFILLMENTS CONCERNING CHRIST

THE SPIRIT

Isa 11:1-3

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD — 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

NIV

There are actually two different prophesies within this passage. The first has to do with Jesus coming through the line of Jesse. The fulfillment of that is found in the letter to the Romans,

Rom 15:12

12 And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."  

NIV

But today we are focused on the second prophecy of this passage about the Spirit of the Lord resting upon Jesus. We know the event in which the Spirit rested on him when he was baptized by John,

Matt 3:16-17

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

NIV

All four of the Gospels record this event. There is no question that was a time when all three of the persons of God were present. Jesus, the Spirit and the Father speaking audibly to the people there. What a powerful time in the history of man to witness the full triune God at one time. Did the dove, the Spirit leave after that moment. Although we are not told one way or the other, it is doubtful the Spirit ever left him. However, we are also told Jesus made it clear to his disciples he must go so he can send the Spirit to them. Does that mean the Spirit was back in heaven waiting for Jesus to arrive so he could come? If so then after descending upon Jesus he ascended back to heaven. But the prophecy makes it clear the Spirit remained on Jesus all throughout his ministry. The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. There is no doubt the Spirit remained on him. But here is the kicker. Jesus said that he would send us the Spirit, the very same Spirit. Could that mean if we are indwelled by the Spirit, which we are, then we have available to us wisdom and understanding. We also would then have his counsel and his power and in addition we would have knowledge and the fear of the Lord. This would have to mean we are meant to live a full and productive life within the kingdom of God. Just as Jesus has told us that we would do even greater things.

John 14:12-14

12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

NIV

We either believe or we don’t. We cannot just believe part of the word of God, but we have to believe it all.  It is all or nothing and therefore we should be doing what Jesus did and even greater things because we have the Spirit resting upon us. Although it is us, it is not really us who does all this, but it is the Spirit living in us, living through us as us. Yet there it is. If we do not avail ourselves of the Spirit, yielding to his counsel, his power within, we will live as a crippled Christian, perhaps what might be called a carnal Christian, that is trusting in our abilities rather than of the power of the Spirit. Should we not be availing ourselves of all the Spirit has to offer? Let us seek that which Jesus has bestowed upon us. As the Military has said, “Be all that you can be”, we need to be all that we should be by the power of the Spirit.