September 18, 2020: SOAP #3942:  Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 1:15 [angel speaking of John] for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. …
35 The angel answered, [to Mary] “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God….
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit….
67 His [John’s]father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Observation:   The Holy Spirit had a major role in the life and ministry of Jesus.  And it does not take Luke long to introduce the Holy Spirit into his narrative.  As we continue in the book of Luke, we will find the stream of Spirit-empowered ministry continuing.

God the Father sent God the Son to live on earth as a man.  Jesus laid aside His deity (God-ness) to live as a man.  Though He had always been, and was while on earth, and always will be God the Son, He emptied Himself of His God-ness to live as a man.  He commonly called himself the “Son of man.”

While on earth as the Son of Man, he limited himself to only what was available to man, the Written Word and the Indwelling Holy Spirit. 

Application:  As we read through the book of Luke, we find the Son of Man surrendered to and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  As we read through the book of Acts, we find the early church continued surrendering to and being empowered by the same Holy Spirit.  As we live each day, we should expect to live our lives today surrendered to and empowered by the same Holy Spirit!   It continues today!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, how we limit our potential when we do not acknowledge you, submit to your infilling, and learn to depend on your presence.  Bring another day of Pentecost revival to the church today we pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!