“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.” Isaiah 11:2
Though the outpouring of the Spirit of God at Pentecost was accompanied by a sound like wind, and there appeared flames, or tongues of fire upon each of the disciples gathered together to pray, the quiet anointing by the Spirit of God upon the Lord Jesus after His baptism was no less significant. Indeed, the contrary is true, for with the coming of the Spirit, Christ’s anointing in a specific way, though it was quiet, was accompanied by the words of the Father, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well-pleased.” (Luke 3:22) With the disciples at Pentecost, came the confirmation of the realization of the promise of the Father, that Jesus had shared with His disciples. That confirmation was clear, unique, and very powerful. With regard to Jesus, and the confirmation of God concerning the coming of the Spirit upon Him, equipping Him for His mission and work, it too was clear, and very significant. With the words of the Father would come the full commitment of the Holy Spirit to meet every need that Jesus, the Son, would have, at every moment of the day, and in every circumstance. Whether it would be facing Satan in the wilderness, when this adversary would come to tempt Christ to turn aside from His devotion to the Father, or whether it would be in the almost unceasing appeal of the crowds of needy souls, crowding around Him to be healed of disease, delivered from demons, or to hear the Gospel that they should be saved, all the power of God the Father, given by the Spirit, was Christ’s to receive and live by. In this picture of Christ, and every glimpse of Him during His earthly ministry, culminated on the cross of Calvary, the Father’s testimony to all who would follow Christ, to know and serve Him is this: “My God shall supply ALL your need … by Christ Jesus.” How is this to be not only known in truth, but experienced in the life of every disciple of Christ?
When Isaiah wrote concerning the ministry of the Spirit to be given to “the Rod from the stem of Jesse,” and “the Branch which shall grow out of his roots,” all referring to Christ, He was revealing the relationship between the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. It was to be a relationship of unity, and a work in unison together as one, whereby the Son would walk this earth and accomplish the work of redemption, and the Holy Spirit would be there at every second, strengthening and blessing the Lord Jesus in every circumstance, in every need. The same principle and truth apply to the believer in Christ. The believer has been made one with the Father, and Son, by the Spirit. The believer, because of the precious blood and righteousness of Christ which has been given him, justifying him before the Father, is now “beloved of the Father” for Jesus’s sake. The same Holy Spirit which anointed Jesus that day at the Jordan River is the same today who anoints the believer. This anointing is eternal, and perpetual, in that the Holy Spirit is constantly with and in the believer, never to leave or forsake him. The difference between the Lord Jesus and the believer with regard to the Spirit of God, aside from Jesus being the Redeemer and Creator of men, and man the creation, needing salvation, is that Jesus appropriated, believed and received constantly the perfect power of the Spirit because He had a perfect faith. The most faithful believer can never exercise faith perfectly, but he can, by God’s grace, appropriate Christ more consistently day by day.
God told Israel, “…Be separate, … do not touch what is unclean.” He then said, “I WILL receive you; I WILL be a Father to you.” (2 Cor. 6:17)
Dear Father, Grant us Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.