“Behold My servant, whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. I have put My Spirit upon Him…” Isaiah 42:1
Dear Ones:
There is no doubt that this verse refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the perfect servant. But there is a truth embedded in this declaration that applies to every Christian, every servant of Christ, and it is this: “…the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you.” (1 John 2:27) What is the Apostle John saying here? It is that the same Holy Spirit that filled the Lord Jesus Christ, and anointed Him for the ministry that was before Him, is the One that indwells the believer. The greatness of this revelation, and the far reaching effects of it, are revealed in the revealed purpose and provision of God. What is that purpose? It is first and foremost to form Christ in the believer, not by the self-oriented efforts and will of the flesh, but by the faith that God gives in Christ to do it by the Spirit. The great transforming truth that was revealed through Zechariah the prophet, and which applies today to every believer is this: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord.” (3:6) John, in speaking to Nicodemus on the subject of being born again, spoke of the necessity of being born by the Spirit. (Jn. 3:8) He made this ever so clear in the first chapter of his gospel: “…to them gave He power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (1:12,13) Here is the great Enabler, Provider, the very strength and power of the believer…Christ by the Holy Spirit. The servant of God cannot serve God without the working of the Spirit in and through the life. Just as it is impossible for one to be born again without the Spirit of God, so in the service of Christ, it is impossible to know the will of God, and do it, without the working of the Spirit. Peter learned this lesson when “the arm of flesh” failed him at the moment of his denial of Christ. When the day of Pentecost came, and the Spirit of God was poured out, Peter was a different man, filled with the boldness, confidence, and strength, which the Spirit of God gave him. The calling of God to follow Christ is a calling, and opportunity, to rely wholly upon Christ by the Spirit, for everything and at every moment. However, this great truth and reality is something that must not only be known, but learned. The strength of Christ is given to the person who knows that there is no strength in him when confronting sin, self, and Satan. He is also that person who KNOWS, according to the truth of Scripture, that he is IN Christ by the Spirit, and that the Spirit of God has been given to him, not only to bring him to the new birth, but to seal him in Christ, and provide for every need by the resources in Christ. This is done by the Spirit alone.
When David was anointed by Samuel at a young age, the transformation began to conform David into the image of God. However, the great lesson that David needed to know was “HOW” to live by the Spirit. Fleeing from Saul, who desired to kill him, David learned the necessity of knowing the truth of His anointing, and the presence of the Spirit, but also, the practical way of appropriating Him by faith. From confronting his enemies, and needing wisdom as to how to conduct the battle, to quelling a revolt among his own men, David would learn that God does His work in His way, and in His time. He ALWAYS does it by the Spirit, in and through a person, who will truly consistently believe Him.
Dear Father, Give us grace today to be true worshipers of God by the Spirit, consistently filled and led by the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad