The early disciples were familiar with what God had spoken through the prophets concerning the Messiah and outpouring of the Spirit. In his sermon in Acts 2 Peter connected what God had revealed through David and Joel; who basically summed up what God had revealed through Isaiah’s numerous prophecies about the Holy Spirit, which reached a climax in Isaiah 61, the very scripture Jesus quoted in Luke 4:18-19.
Having experienced the outpouring of the Spirit, these disciples now were in a position to fully grasp and understand what the prophets had been seeing. They connected what Jesus had spoken and demonstrated. They came to know the Holy Spirit, and learn the truth about how God’s kingdom is ruled by His wisdom and power as directed by the Spirit through humble and faithful people who know Him and have been granted authority by Him.
RELEVANCE
God progressively revealed to Isaiah insights about how the Holy Spirit administers God’s authority in the earth.
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
(Isaiah 11:1-2)
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD,
Or as His counselor has taught Him?
With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,
And taught Him in the path of justice?
Who taught Him knowledge,
And showed Him the way of understanding?
(Isaiah 40:13-14)
Jesus told his closest disciples that the Holy Spirit “will guide you into all truth”
(John 16:13). Truly, the Holy Spirit is more than our Comforter, but God’s enabling and empowering agent. The Holy Spirit endows and anoints believers with gifts of the Spirit to express and administer His authority.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Meditate on the truths revealed through Isaiah, the scriptures below and other pages on this subject of authority. Ask God to train you through His Spirit about His way of authority; and also to direct you to mentors who know Him and walk in His authority.
REFERENCES
Isaiah 44:3; 59:21; 60:1-3; 61; Joel 2:28-29; Luke 4:18-19