Jesus Operated In the Gifts of the Spirit

Greetings, it is good to have you here to read the blog post today. The teaching in this post is exciting because it reveals a truth that seems to be lacking in the Church today. I am praying you will grab hold of it and see wondrous changes in your life as you minister to those the Lord leads you to minister to. Eric

Last week, we shared how to properly accomplish the work of the Holy Spirit - by desiring to be used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and being motivated by, and to minister in, the love of God.

Before we begin our lesson today, I believe it is important to once again share some foundational truths. When Jesus came to earth, He was fully God and fully man. John 1:14 reveals that the Word became flesh and we have see His glory as of the only Son from the Father. Colossians 2:9 reads, “For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” Then Philippians 2:7 reveals that He emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

When we accept Christ as Savior and become an adopted Child of God, we are to be a disciple or follower of Him. We also become part of the Body of Christ and are to accomplish the bodily work of Christ on the earth, until He returns.

However, we must never lose sight of the fact that even though we are accomplishing (through the direction and empowering of the Spirit of God) the work of the Body of Christ, we will never be God! Every miraculous thing Jesus did on earth was done through the power of the Spirit. Yet, we must always remember that He was also God. There were things He accomplished due to His spiritual nature (deity) which did not come about by the specific motivation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I would not for a second claim to be aware of what all motivations or leadings caused Jesus to accomplish all of His actions and deeds.

As we read and study the Word of God, we realize that Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and Ephesians 4:11 and 12 teaches that the Holy Spirit distributes gifts as he wills, to enable the members of the Body of Christ to accomplish the work of Christ.

When we read the Scriptures and gain knowledge of the spiritual gifts the Spirit has given to the Body of Christ, we will be able to recognize that Jesus operated in the same gifts which the Spirit desires we move in. When we operate in the gifts of the Spirit, the results come through His power! Jesus operated in the gifts as a man and we are to imitate Him.

Our pastor is anointed by the Holy Spirit and gives thought provoking messages from Scripture. A few weeks ago, he was teaching on how to evangelize. He shared the Scripture in John where Philip invited Nathanael to “come and see.” John 1:45 and 46 , “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

I have been thinking about this and the question that has come to my mind is, “Come and see, what?” When Nathanael came to meet Jesus, we read in John 1:47-50, “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." In verse 48 the word ‘know’ means: to know one, his person, character and mind. Jesus demonstrated the gift of a word of knowledge when accurately describing Nathanael’s character and telling him that He saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him. The demonstration of this gift was the evidence that convinced Nathanael that Jesus was indeed the One they had been waiting and looking for (the Messiah).

Jesus and His disciples attended a wedding at Cana where He performed His first miracle. He turned water into wine, demonstrating operating in the gift of ‘miracles.’ (John 2:1-11). Verse 11 reveals, “it was the first of Jesus’ signs.” A ‘sign’ is a miracle or wonder. The verse goes on and reads, “And His disciples believed in Him.” Once again we see a gift of the Holy Spirit being used to reveal who Jesus was.

In John 4:1-30, we read the account of Jesus ministering to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Again, we recognize that Jesus was operating in the word of knowledge when we read this conversation He had with the woman in verses 16-19, “Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”

I especially want you to notice though, what we read in verses 28 and 29 - that the woman left her water jars, went into town and said, “Come and see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” Verse 39 reveals, “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.”

Just as with Nathanael, the sign of the ‘word of knowledge’ given by the Holy Spirit, drew the woman and subsequently the entire town to become believers!

Then Jesus moves in the gift of prophesy in verse 23 as He foretells of a future event when He said, “true worshipers will worship in Spirit and truth.”

In John 9:25, a man who had been blind from birth testified to the Pharisees, “though I was blind, now I see.” We recognize the gift of ‘healing’ in Jesus’ ministry to this man.

It saddens us to recognize and see that the knowledge and importance of the gifts of the Spirit is absent in many churches. Why does it sadden us? It is only through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that we members of the Body of Christ can accomplish His work! Apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5)

John 21:25 reads, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” Jesus was setting an example for His disciples in how to live and minister to the world, so that those, in the world, would also become followers or disciples of Jesus. God sent Jesus into the earth so that mankind could be reconciled to the Father. As believers, we have all been given the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Some of the other gifts Jesus moved in that we can recognize as gifts of the Spirit are: the driving out of evil spirits (Mark 1:21-27). He was able to discern spirits, raise a widow’s son from death (Matthew 7:11-17) and raise Lazarus from the dead by using the gifts of faith, miracles and healing. We also read that He had the power to still a tempest (Mark 4:37-39).

When in prison, John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus to ask if He was the One (Messiah) or if they should look for another. Luke 7:21 and 22 discloses what John’s disciples witnessed when they arrived to meet with Him, and how Jesus answered their question. Verse 21 “In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.” Jesus told John’s disciples to tell John what they had seen and heard!

They had seen the proof of Who Jesus was by the signs and wonders they witnessed and also by hearing the preaching of the good news.

Since Jesus ministered as the Son of Man, we can also minister in the same way He did, because the Holy Spirit was sent and gave gifts for the Body of Christ to use. Jesus told His disciples in John 20 and 21, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ‘As’ here signifies, in the same manner. This sending, is not just a task, but a continuation of Jesus’ work on earth.

Jesus’ disciples are to carry forward the message of the Gospel empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Luke 24:4, Jesus told His disciples that He is sending the promise (Spirit) and that they should stay in the city until they are clothed with power from on high. It was vital that they were endued with power before they went into the world to spread the gospel. The ‘power,’ dynamis is the miraculous power of God through the Holy Spirit. ‘Clothed with power’ is a metaphorical expression indicating being endowed or equipped with divine strength and authority. This is the power of the Holy Spirit, who enables the disciples to carry out their mission (Acts 2:1-4). (Bible Hub, Study Bible).

Jesus also tells His disciples that they will do the works He does and even greater works than these, because he was going to the Father. What happened when He went to the Father? That is when the Father sent another Helper to His disciples. (The Holy Spirit).

Mark 16:20 reveals, “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

You see, the Lord calls, equips, and sends.

“When Jesus performed miracles, he wasn’t demonstrating what God can do, but what God can do through a man.” (Bill Johnson).

Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Be willing to minister in obedience to the will of the Holy Spirit.

Imitate Jesus!

Use the gifts the Lord has provided to authenticate the reality of your God and His works!

If you have no knowledge of the Holy Spirit or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, prayerfully read the Scriptures mentioned in this post. Then, if you desire to operate in the fullness of the Lord’s provision for the church to be effective, all you have to do it ask the Father.

Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

(If you need more knowledge of the Holy Spirit, read the post from 4/19/23, “Be Filled with the Holy Spirit”")

All Scripture taken from the English Standard Version.