The Spirit within
Out of the stump of David’s family[a] will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. Isaiah 11:1-3 From the text, Isaiah provided a contrast of those who were proud and unwilling to submit too God (see 10:33-34). Then he described the reign of the Messiah for David’s dynasty was about to end. Out of David’s family, the Messiah would come. His kingdom will involve righteous rule because the Son of God and the Spirit of God will administer its affairs justly. When the Messiah-King speaks the word, it is with power. The Messiah’s spiritual abundance will be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Isaiah had described what the Spirit’s presence would mean for the Savior. Throughout His ministry, Jesus relied upon the Holy Spirit to direct Him as He made crucial decisions and faced relentless opposition (Mark 1:12). The Spirit would give Jesus the knowledge of the will and ways of the Father. As a young boy, Jesus already possessed unusual knowledge of God’s word (Luke 2:47). It was through the working of the Spirit that granted Him the wisdom to use this knowledge. The Spirit was the One that enabled Jesus to take the word of God so He could apply it effectively to the specific needs of those He encountered. When you claim that you are a Christian, the same Spirit abides in you. We need to frequently pray and ask God to send His Spirit “in power” for that is the only way the Spirit ever comes! More importantly, once we are filled with the Spirit wisdom comes. This is what will provide understanding of God’s ways. We need God’s wisdom for the decisions we face; “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge!” (Romans 11:33). If God has placed you in a position of great responsibility and you feel overwhelmed by the decisions you must make, then seek out God’s wisdom. The same Spirit who enabled Jesus to see through the deceptions of Satan will also guide you through the temptations that confront you (see Matthew 4:1-11). It is the same Spirit that enabled Jesus to use God’s word so He can fend off Satan’s attacks resides those that trusted Christ as Lord and Savior. Pray that God will fill you with His Spirit of wisdom so that through the decisions you make you can live your life effectively and glorify Him with your actions.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
