Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. - Isaiah 42:
The last part of Isaiah contains passages that are often called the Servant Songs. Jesus claims several of these songs for his self-identity. The early church claimed several others, quoting them to define Jesus' ministry and understanding them as prophecies of his coming. Not only were these words of prophecy inspired by God's Spirit, but the Spirit also empowered Jesus as God's servant to bring justice and display God's mercy.
The work of Jesus is rooted in the work of God's Spirit in prophecy that foretells his coming and in his conception, at his baptism, at the start of his ministry, in the words he spoke, in the joy he experienced, through the power that raised him from the dead, and in the gift he pours out on us when we come to him in conversion. The ministry of the Spirit is so tied to Jesus and his work for us that Jesus calls the Holy Spirit "another advocate" (John 14:16, also "counselor," "comforter," or "helper" in various translations). The Holy Spirit is our advocate like Jesus himself was when he was present with his first disciples.
Jesus promised to send this advocate, the Holy Spirit, to the apostles when he returned to the Father (Acts 1:8) and then to all who came to faith in him (John 7:37-39). The work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit are joined inextricably in God's dance of grace that brings us life now, hope for the future, and intercession before the Father!
Spiritual Thoughts
. We are designed to function poorly, to feel overwhelmed and alone apart from our relationship with Jesus. We are made to be lost without God. - Angela Thomas McGuffey
. A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven. - Charles Swindoll
. You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of it? - Hannah Whitall Smith
. Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves. - Joni Eareckson Tada
The last part of Isaiah contains passages that are often called the Servant Songs. Jesus claims several of these songs for his self-identity. The early church claimed several others, quoting them to define Jesus' ministry and understanding them as prophecies of his coming. Not only were these words of prophecy inspired by God's Spirit, but the Spirit also empowered Jesus as God's servant to bring justice and display God's mercy.
The work of Jesus is rooted in the work of God's Spirit in prophecy that foretells his coming and in his conception, at his baptism, at the start of his ministry, in the words he spoke, in the joy he experienced, through the power that raised him from the dead, and in the gift he pours out on us when we come to him in conversion. The ministry of the Spirit is so tied to Jesus and his work for us that Jesus calls the Holy Spirit "another advocate" (John 14:16, also "counselor," "comforter," or "helper" in various translations). The Holy Spirit is our advocate like Jesus himself was when he was present with his first disciples.
Jesus promised to send this advocate, the Holy Spirit, to the apostles when he returned to the Father (Acts 1:8) and then to all who came to faith in him (John 7:37-39). The work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit are joined inextricably in God's dance of grace that brings us life now, hope for the future, and intercession before the Father!
Spiritual Thoughts
. We are designed to function poorly, to feel overwhelmed and alone apart from our relationship with Jesus. We are made to be lost without God. - Angela Thomas McGuffey
. A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven. - Charles Swindoll
. You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of it? - Hannah Whitall Smith
. Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves. - Joni Eareckson Tada
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