In the Power of the Spirit

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

Luke 4:14-15

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

NIV

This was after the forty days in the desert and having been tempted by the devil without yielding and thus did not sin, he returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. Some think that he returned to Galilee under the influence of the Spirit, but the Greek word means miraculous power, so Jesus is filled with the miraculous power of the Spirit. Second, although Luke does not specifically say where in Galilee, with the use of the word return we have to believe Jesus returned to the home area of Nazareth. Although it could have just been the region of Galilee where the town of Nazareth was. At the time Israel was divided into three parts, Judea to the south, Samaria in the middle, and Galilee to the north. However, the point here that Luke is making is that Jesus being in the power of the Spirit, caused news about him to spread through the whole countryside. From Matthew’s account, we understand that Jesus did not return to Nazareth but lived in Capernaum where he called the sons of Zebedee, James, and John to follow him. Matthew also tells us that many sick came to him and he healed them all. Thus, this would be why news about him spread throughout the area. But it was also his wisdom with which he taught that amazed the people and caused news to spread about him. Now, how do we relate this to our lives? First, because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us, to fill us, dwelling within us, we would have to believe that we can walk in the power of the Spirit. We should also be able to speak from the wisdom of God and do miraculous things because of the power of the Spirit within us. However, the question is whether we actually believe this and live it throughout our daily lives. Have we crippled ourselves becoming weak or disabled because of unbelief, or unwillingness to allow the power of the Spirit loosed within us? Do we believe Jesus when he said that anyone who has faith in Him will do what he had done, in fact, we will do even greater things than all the miracles Jesus did because we can ask in the name of Jesus, he will do whatever we ask in his name so that Jesus may bring glory to the Father. Jesus promised, by His very words, that He will do whatever we ask in his name. we may ask him anything and He will do it. Put both being filled with the power of the Spirit and having Jesus telling us he will do whatever we ask in his name, we should be powerhouse believers, so that news about us will spread all over the places we live, in our neighborhoods, our workplace, and even in our place of worship. If we are walking in step with the Spirit then we should also be walking in the power of the Spirit.