INTRODUCTION

1. What makes a person fail as a servant of God?

2. What made Israel fail as a servant of God?

a) Disobedience

b) Stubbornness

c) Idolatry

3. What makes a person succeed as a servant of God?

a) Faithfulness

b) Obedience

c) The filling of the Spirit of God

 

THE VITAL MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. In the Old Testament

a) He is given as an Anointing

b) This confirms the calling of the individual

i) As a king

ii) As a prophet

iii) As a servant of God

c) There are many examples of Spirit-filled servants of God

i) Elijah

ii) Elisha

iii) Ezekiel

2. In the New Testament

a) The Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ Acts 2

b) The Spirit of God:

i) Empowered the Apostles

ii) Led these servants of God

iii) Transformed their lives and ministries wondrously

 

THE ANOINTING OF THE MESSIAH

1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,

Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; Isaiah 11:1-3

1. Jesse was the father of king David

a) He was not famous

b) He was not known as outstanding

2. Yet, the Messiah would come forth

a) As a stem from Jesse

b) As a Branch out of his roots

 

THE MESSIAH WOULD BE GIVEN THE FULNESS OF SPIRIT

1. He would be given the Spirit of God

2. Seven features were highlighted

a) He would reflect God gloriously

b) He would display great Wisdom

c) He would have an extraordinary Understanding

d) He would be given profound Counsel

e) He would be filled with Might

f) He would be given great depth of Knowledge

g) He would always have the true Fear (reverence) of God

 

THE GOSPELS NOTED THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN THE MESSIAH

1. At the Commencement of His Public Ministry

21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him,

and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22

a) The Spirit of God descended on the Lord Jesus

b) God affirmed that the Lord Jesus was His beloved Son

c) The Lord Jesus was pleasing in God’s sight

2. The continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit

1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing,

and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. Luke 4:1-2

a) The Lord Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit

b) The Spirit of God led the Saviour into the wilderness

c) He would be tested by the Devil

3. The powerful ministry of the Lord Jesus

14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. Luke 4:14-15

a) The power of His ministry was noticed by many

b) The Spirit’s ministry is of vital significance

 

CONCLUSION

1. We need to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

2. We need to seek to be filled with the Spirit of God

3. Let us be challenged to yield ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit