Going Back

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Why Substack? What was it that brought me here? At the time I learned of Substack I saw it as an opportunity to put my meditations out for others to hopefully learn from, be encouraged. I had been writing my meditations for two years before that. Unfortunately many of those beginning writings are gone. Yes, some still are somewhere, but when I began Richard's meditation journal I had begun exploring what were things during the life of Jesus that though fully God, and also being fully man and facing unbelievable personal attacks He remained yet without sin. In my studies it was easy to see from Philippians 2 that Jesus counted it not something to be grasped to be equal with God. Also, being tempted in all points as we are and yet without sin, just how did He do that being fully man? And as I explored the through the Psalms asking "could Jesus have prayed this Psalm?"

Because those thoughts and questions remain, especially as each new truth learned about what Jesus was throughout His days on this earth and how He was able to live life as a man "yet without sin" there is still a need to know. And so another key of a powerful truth comes from Peter preaching to Cornelius, or rather explaining to Cornelius and his family and friends.

Ye know the word which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, which is Lord of all: even the word which came through all Judea, beginning in Galilee, after the baptism which John preached, to wit, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with him.

Acts 10:36-38 GNV

Along with that is what John the Baptist had to say about Jesus shortly after He talked with Nicodemus.

For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for God giveth him not the Spirit by measure. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth in the Son, hath everlasting life, and he that obeyeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 3:34-36 GNV

So God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and He gave the Holy Spirit without measure. What other connections were there with rhe Holy Spirit?

Then was Jesus led aside of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil.

Then the devil left him: and behold, the Angels came, and ministered unto him.

Matthew 4:1, 11 GNV

And immediatly the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, and was tempted of Satan: he was also with the wild beasts, and the Angels ministered unto him.

Mark 1:12-13 GNV

And Jesus full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by that Spirit into the wilderness, and was there forty days tempted of the devil, and in those days he did eat nothing: but when they were ended, he afterward was hungry.

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a litle season. And Jesus returned by the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went a fame of him throughout all the region round about.

Luke 4:1-2, 13-14 GNV

So into the wilderness Jesus was led and driven by the Holy Spirit to go there. After the temptations it was the Angels that ministered unto Him, not the Holy Spirit. Remember in the garden it was Angels that came and ministered unto Him (Luke 22:41-43). But Luke gives the key here, Jesus returned by the power of the Spirit into Galilee.

Though we're not told of the work of the Spirit again during the life of Christ we are reminded that God said that He would put His Spirit upon Him (Matthew 12:17-21). Even so Jesus focuses on the Holy Spirit when He is accused of casting out devils by Beelzebub. His simple reference is "if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God..." He does not need to say He is doing things like "I am casting out devils by the Holy Spirit" to be casting out devils by the Spirit of God (Matthew 12). This is much along the same line of thought that Jesus sent out His twelve and tells His disciples, tells those who are His disciples today,

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour, what ye shall say. for it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Matthew 10:19-20 GNV

His disciples will speak in times described by Jesus, but the words they speak will be the Spirit from the Father speaking in them. And again Jesus points out the goodness of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If ye then which are evil, can give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to them, that desire him?

Luke 11:13 GNV

How important it is to recognize that Jesus knowing the power of the Holy Spirit in His life, Jesus Himself being fully man knew that need His followers, and believers today would have, would require. Therefore we read:

He that believeth in me, as saith the Scripture, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life. (This spake He of the Spirit which they that believed in him, should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 7:38-39 GNV

Indeed Jesus tells His disciples at the Passover meal the day before His crucifixion:

But when that Comforter shall come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth of the Father, he shall testify of me.

John 15:26 GNV

Yet I tell you the truth, It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, that Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Howbeit, when He is come which is the Spirit of truth, He will leade you into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself, but whatsoeber He shall hear, shall He speak, and He will shew you the things to come.

John 16:7, 13 GNV

After His resurrection Jesus would say,

The same day then at night, which was the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be unto you.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father sent me, so send I you. And when he had said that, He breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive the Holy Ghost.

John 20:19, 21-22 GNV

So in Acts 10 where Peter is speaking to Cornelius and those gathered with him we see that the Holy Spirit fell upon everyone there who believed in the same way for those Jewish believers present on the day of Pentecost. Every believer has that very same Spirit living in each of us that Jesus had, not only to live His life without sin, but even more like Jesus to speak the truths of God and do even greater things as Jesus said (John 1:50). But unlike Jesus every man and woman has the body of flesh with sin that continuously is at enmity with the Spirit. Therefore that battle will continue until the final death of the body.

Oh that we might go back to our salvation! Oh that we might go back to living a life in the power of the Holy Spirit. Oh to go back to living a life so close to God. May we be such that the Holy Spirit works in our lives in a new and powerful way. We need no new annoiting of the Spirit, but rather we may need a new cleansing. Just go back.