Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 357

December 23;      Luke 3:23;      47/260;   `   ‘Jesus is Empowered’

Luke 3:23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age……

Jesus was now 30 years old.  As He was water baptized by John the Baptist, the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit came upon Him.  His ministry began after the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  God the Father spoke from heaven saying that Jesus was His beloved Son in whom the Father was pleased.  The Lord Jesus willingly left heaven and became a Man to not only die to redeem us from our sins and sicknesses, but His life was to be an Example of how we can and should live our lives.  The Holy Spirit’s power through Jesus enabled Him to teach and preach with great authority, heal and do miracles, signs and wonders.  His ministry, as a Man, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is our pattern for ministry.  When a Christian is baptized in the Holy Spirit, and that is the intention of the Lord for each of us, the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit comes upon them, just like Jesus.  Continuing the ministry of the Lord Jesus is not possible for us to think we can do it by our strength and ability alone.  The Lord Jesus after the Holy Spirit came upon Him preached with great authority, we can too.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus healed everyone and astounded the multitudes, we can too.  Flowing in the supernatural, and continuing the ministry of our Lord Jesus is the greatest honor anyone can have.  The religious leaders thought that when Jesus was crucified His ministry was over.  By the power of the Holy Spirit the disciples did and all of us can continue His ministry. Spend time in the Word, make sure you are Spirit filled and step out, relying on the Holy Spirit to help you.