This quarter, we focus on the baptism with the Holy Spirit in our weekly devotional series. This week’s devotional comes from Luke 9 – 15.
Many of us can remember a moment in our lives when, as children, we received a word of encouragement, wisdom or of love from our fathers. Jesus, the Son of God, received that same type of word from His Father.
The gift that gave Jesus the power to complete His mission came when John baptized Him in water: “As He was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, ‘You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy’ ” (Luke 3:21 – 22, NLT).
Jesus prayed, the Father spoke, and the Holy Spirit descended!
After this, Jesus went to the mountains, the valleys, the sea and the desert, ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit. Miracles, healings, deliverance and wonders happened everywhere as He traveled. Jesus taught His disciples, and gave them power and authority to cast out demons, to heal sickness and to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:1 – 2).
Through it all, prayer was the secret to Jesus’ power and authority to do what He did. Luke 9:28 – 36 tells us that when the disciples saw Jesus transfigured, they witnessed the intimate communion He had with His Father. The disciples could have asked Him how to preach, how to heal the sick or how to rebuke demons. Instead, one of the disciples asked the Lord to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). And He did.
Jesus taught them to ask the Father not simply for practical, earthly or temporary things, but for His Holy Spirit: “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13, NLT). Here, Jesus communicated to us the availability of the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is up to us to ask for and use the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will give us the power to lead victorious lives. We will see our lives marked with wisdom and compassion for those around us. We will see our families touched by His Spirit. We will see our churches full of compassion for those who do not yet know God’s love, and we will see our communities transformed by His Spirit.
In the same way that we ask our Father for our daily food, let’s ask Him also for His Spirit. His promise is the same for us today as it was when Jesus and His disciples walked the earth (Hebrews 13:8).
What a great opportunity we have to live in wholeness when we receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Ask for it, search for it, use it, and share it. The Father is ready to give it.
By: Aura Perez, co-pastor at Familia de Dios (Boyle Heights L.A. Foursquare Church) in Sun Valley, Calif.
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