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Do We Know The Holy Spirit?
Short explanations to 335 Bible texts that speak of the Holy Spirit
II. The Holy Spirit in the Gospels
1. The Spirit of God in the events at the birth of ChristThe announcement of the birth of John the Baptist The Announcement of the Birth of John the BaptistLuke 1:13-17 After more than 500 years of waiting, the promises surrounding the powerful entrance of a new age of grace began to be realized. The birth of the promised prophet was announced by an angel, the voice of one crying in the wilderness (Is. 40:3-5) who would prepare the way of the Lord in the power of Elijah (Mal. 3:1; 4:5-6). He would be born to the aged and barren Elizabeth. His name, “John”, opened the oratorio for the age of grace, for Yahweh has mercy and compassion! The promised prophet would be filled with the Holy Spirit already in the womb, reflecting the fact that John was the greatest of all prophets of the Old Covenant and, at the same time, the one who would open the door to the new age (Matt. 11:11,13). His proclamations, spoken in the power of the Spirit of God, brought about the conversions of many, both young and aged, in the people of the Old Covenant. His ascetic lifestyle and service would forge the Spirit-led preparation of his people for the coming of the Covenant-God. The two Announcements of the Birth of JesusLuke 1:30-35 The announcement of the birth of Christ by the Angel Gabriel began with the words: ”Do not be afraid!” The age of grace dispels all fear of God´s judgment and Satan´s power. The unlimited grace of God was promised to the bewildered Mary. The Redeemer of her people was to be born through this virgin. His name is Jesus: The coming “Son of the Highest” would be the invincible Lord and Protector of His people in His eternal kingdom. The Angel Gabriel kindly explained to the perplexed Mary the mystery of her pregnancy. Her Son would not be begotten in a normal human fashion, but the Holy Spirit would come upon her as the power of the Most High. Therefore, the Holy One to come forth from her was to be called the Son of God. At the birth of Jesus there was to be no humanly conceived embryo filled with the Holy Spirit, such as there was with John the Baptist. Much more, God Himself, by way of His Spirit, became a man in Jesus. The Eternal One joined Himself with that which is passing, the Living One with mortal man, the Holy One with the inherited burden of generations of sinners! Why? He did it so that those in iniquity could become children of God, so that mortal men could be born-again and reconciled to God. With the announcement of the birth of Christ, the age of Grace had descended on our world. Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph was shocked, sad, and dismayed when he heard that the woman to whom he was legally engaged was pregnant. He loved Mary, and first wanted to flee as if he had been the cause of her pregnancy. The angel of the Lord did not appear personally to Joseph, but in a dream. He forbade him to be fearful or sad, and commanded him not to abandon Mary. Instead, he was to take her under his protection, since Mary was righteous, and had only become pregnant through the will and power of God. Joseph was God-fearing and knew from the Old Testament scriptures the promises regarding the Holy Spirit. He believed the message of the angel, and took the woman to whom he was engaged to be his wife. Nevertheless, he did not touch her until after she had born her Son. The angel also commanded the descendant of the kingly generation of David to give the future Son the name “Jesus”, for He was to be the God-sent Saviour of His people. He would not be the redeemer from the Roman occupation, but the Saviour from the slavery to sin and the imminent judgment of God. We should never forget that the name Jesus means: “Yahweh helps, saves and is victorious!” Joseph believed, obeyed the revelation, and did not name the newborn after his family, but gave Him the name “Jesus”. The entire plan of God´s salvation is contained in this singular and unique name! An angel of the Lord helped him who knew the Holy Scriptures to understand the entry of the Spirit of God into his family and into our whole world. He referred him to the promise of the prophet Isaiah (Is. 7:14), that the birth of the Messiah would be by a virgin. Thereby he understood that his foster son would also be called “Immanuel”, which means: “God with us!” The woodworker or carpenter had to comprehend that Jesus, the Son entrusted to him, would not be a normal man, but God incarnate, who had come to mankind in order to redeem him. Mary´s visit to Elizabeth, the Mother of John the BaptistLuke 1:39-45 The angel of the Lord had revealed to Zacharias, the priest, that the son promised him would be filled with the Holy Spirit already in the womb. John was not conceived through the Holy Spirit, but through his parents. His filling with the Holy Spirit, however, extended to Elizabeth, when Mary approached her with Jesus in her body. The yet-to-be born John jumped with joy in the womb of his mother, when he sensed the approach of the coming Christ. His mother, Elizabeth, immediately recognized through the spirit of prophecy and confessed, as perhaps the first person ever, that Jesus is Lord, who created and maintains everything. She called Mary the mother of “her Lord”, something illogical, yet spiritually true. She instantly submitted herself totally to her Lord. She had been spiritually instructed to understand that Mary was with child of the Holy Spirit. The betrothed Mary did not have to explain to her the mystery of her pregnancy. Elizabeth further recognized that Mary was not with child without her permission, but had become pregnant by the Holy Spirit through her faith in God´s word. For the sake of this faith Elizabeth blessed Mary, and further prophesied that the promised plan of God would be completed through Jesus. Nothing could hinder the accomplishment of this salvation. The Working of the Holy Spirit at the Incarnation of ChristLuke 2:8-11 The three special titles of honour of the newborn Jesus are Spirit-filled Names for the Son of God. “The Saviour” means, (from the Greek) the Prince of Peace and the sovereign world ruler, who is victorious on all fronts and secures lasting blessing for His kingdom. Upon Him rest the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of council and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord (Is. 11:1-2). “Christ” means the one anointed with the Holy Spirit, just as He Himself testified: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God.” (Is. 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19) “The Lord” is God Himself, who through His Holy Spirit in Jesus became man, as He had revealed to Isaiah and to John the Baptist: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; The crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 10 Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him…13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counsellor has taught Him? (Is. 40:3-5, 10, 13; 42:1-4; 60:1-3). The Leading of the Holy Spirit at the Circumcision of ChristLuke 2:22-32 We read in the peculiar report of Simeon, a pious member of the Old Covenant, that he was encompassed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. He responded in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit and encountered the baby Jesus when His parents brought Him, as their firstborn, to present Him to the Lord of the Covenant. The Spirit of God revealed to this faithful and obedient aged one: This young one wrapped in swaddling clothes is the promised Messiah! He is the Prince of Peace and the World-Ruler, who has not only been sent to His obstinate people, but also to all the lawless nations as the Light of the World. Now you can die in peace, for the age of grace has arrived. |