The Goal of Faith part 8
The Holy Spirit Who Empowers the Image
Last week we looked at Jesus’ proclamation of freedom in Luke 4 and compared it with the lies of Satan who keeps us captive in sin. As we begin this week, let’s take one more look at Luke 4:18-19:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Luke 4:18-19
Christ came to set us free! Far more important than any civic freedom, Christ brings true freedom by freeing us from the chains of sin and the devil. John would later write in 1 John 3:8, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
But Christ does not free us only to say, “OK, go about your way. I’ll catch up with you later.”
No, when Christ frees us, He also gives us His Spirit, the Holy Spirit who comes along side us to help us in our walk with God and fight with the darkness still in this world. He is our Helper. Today, I’d like us to look closer at this truth:
It is Christ who frees the Image of God in us, and it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live in God’s Image.
To help us, let’s turn back to Isaiah a quick second and look at 11:2. This verse is a part of a prophecy that describes who the Messiah will be. But, for us today, what is interesting is verse 2 that describes the Holy Spirit.
And 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 the fear of the LORD.
Isaiah 11:2
Isaiah gives a threefold description of the Spirit, and today, we will look at the Holy Spirit's work in the life of the believer by looking at these three descriptions.
The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding
The first aspect of the Spirit is that He gives us wisdom and understanding.
It is through the Holy Spirit that we can begin to understand the higher wisdom of God.
Now, I should reinforce the point: our understanding of God’s wisdom is an ongoing, growing process. We do not receive the Holy Spirit and immediately understand everything God does, but receiving the Holy Spirit is the first step towards true understanding.
James reminds us if anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God, “who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all with ought reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:5
And when we ask for wisdom, it is as Solomon records in Proverbs, she has been calling out to us the whole time. If you have been with us through this series, you’ll remember we took a look at Proverbs 8 in order to see how seeking wisdom helps us recover the image of God in us. Now, we don’t have time to cover everything there, but I want to point out a parallel in Proverbs 8 and John 14:6.
Jesus says, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”
In Proverbs 8, Wisdom declares she walks “in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice” (8:20).
Wisdom speaks only the Truth, giving knowledge to those who ask of her (8:7-8).
Wisdom gives life to those who harken to her voice (8:35-36).
Jesus is the Way to Heaven, and the Holy Spirit keeps us going in the right direction.
Jesus is the Truth of Who God is, and the Holy Spirit teaches us that Truth.
Jesus is the Life, the source of life, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to live that abundant life.
Look back at John 14.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:15-17
And then later Jesus says,
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
John 14:25-27
It is the Holy Spirit that brings us understanding, and then, when we understand more of Who God is and what He has done, it brings us peace.
The Father creates us, the Son restores us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us—all for peace.
All of Scripture points us to the realization that God’s love is poured out on us in that we have done nothing but rebel against God, and yet He still desires to save us, sustain us, and let us know Him. And it is that knowledge of God that brings us ultimate peace.
The Spirit of Counsel and Might
Second, the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of Counsel and Might.” These are very much military terms. Now, having just said “the Holy Spirit brings peace” may seem contradictory, but remember the violence in our lives comes from the oppression of dark forces. Just as it takes an army to defend against an invading army, it takes a spiritual force of good to defend against a spiritual force of evil.
Paul calls our walk with God in this life ‘spiritual warfare,’ because we are not fighting against each other—at least we aren’t supposed to be. Our true enemy is Satan and sin. The Good News is that we don’t have to fight him alone, because Jesus has already come and brought victory. And:
The Holy Spirit helps us walk in victory.
We see this truth throughout Scripture. In Judges, Othniel, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson are empowered to bring victory to Israel’s oppressive enemies. Judges recounts a series of leaders who help free Israel during times of invasion, but these four are specifically said to be aided by the Spirit of the Lord.
First, Othniel, in Judges 3:7-11, is raised up to be a deliverer for the people of Israel. In verse 10,
The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand.
Judges 3:10
Gideon breaks the altar of Baal and tells the Midianites to let Baal contend for himself, if he is a god. Then, as the armies of Midian and Amalek come together, we read
But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to see them.
Judges 6:34-35
The Spirit of the Lord empowers Gideon to lead an army to defeat Midian. Of course the victory comes after some unorthodox battle tactics so that everyone knows it is the Lord who gives the victory.
Then, in Judges 11:29, Jephthah passes through hostile territory to destroy the Ammonites, because “The Spirit of the Lord was upon [him].”
And, last of course, is the famous Samson who, several times, is said to have the Spirit of the Lord “rushed upon him.”
Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.
Judges 15:14
Now, something interesting about the end of Samson’s story is that it does not mention the Spirit of the Lord giving Samson his final strength. It is certainly implied, but it isn’t specific.
Just something to ruminate upon for another day…
Now, these Old Testament stories foreshadow what occurs in the life of Christ. Israel’s judges and kings could only give a partial victory—a victory that would not last forever. But in Jesus, Israel and all who call on His Name, receive a full victory! Turn with me to Romans 8.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2
Some of the greatest words in Scripture are right there in verse 1. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the “Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus.”
We are forgiven because of Christ, and we can know we are forgiven because of the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
Our victory is over death itself, and how can we know we will defeat death? Look down to verse 11.
If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11
Our victory is assured! If Christ is risen, then we will rise too!
Hold your place in Romans 8, but let’s take one more look in John’s Gospel.
The Spirit of Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord
This last description points us to how we typically think of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7-15 is perhaps the most famous of descriptions, and rightly so. But in that description are verses 13-14 which are key for us today:
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:14-15
The Holy Spirit guides us to all truth glorifying Christ.
Romans 8 describes the work of the Holy Spirit in that He gives life, He gives victory, and He gives knowledge—all of which point us to the Fear of the Lord. Let’s read 8:12-17.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:12-17
When we live according to the Spirit, we will put to death the deeds of the body. We are heirs with Christ, and though we will suffer like him, we will also be glorified with him! The Truth of God’s work in our lives pushes us toward holiness. It pushes us to strive to live as He has called us to live, because the more we understand what God is doing, the more we will want to imitate Him.
And that is why Paul then says later,
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18
And also further down,
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
The Holy Spirit guides us to God’s love which compels us toward holiness—which is living in the image of God.
The last two sessions in this series are going to look at some very practical ways in which it means to live and grow as a Christian. But those practical ways only work when we receive the Holy Spirit. We must receive the Spirit in order to live according to the Spirit. And the Holy Spirit only comes to those who have turned from their sin and surrendered to Jesus Christ who brings victory over sin and death.