“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, . . .

He taught . . . He went . . . he stood . . . he said . . .

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me . . .’

to preach . . . to proclaim . . .to release . . .and he began . . .

Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”

(Luke 4:14-21)

The Holy Spirit fills you to get Kingdom things done!  In Luke 4:14, Jesus resolves to do certain things because the Spirit of the Lord is on Him.  You and I need to do the same!

 

Sometimes in the church world, we act like the purpose of the Holy Spirit is to escape instead of engage.  We try to use the Holy Spirit to ignore what needs to change instead of ignite the very change that needs to happen.  We avoid the part of obedience we are to play in God’s miracles instead of accepting the steps we need to take for God to get the glory. We stay dominated by fear instead of freed by faith!!!

 

That is why its right to say “I resolve!”

 

Sure, the world uses the idea of “resolution” to talk about shallow and empty new year’s promises that always fail.   But in Luke 4:18 Jesus makes resolutions because of a different Spirit-filled reason.  As 2014 starts out, we will begin the new year resolving to live out the same Kingdom commitments as Jesus.

 

Jesus finishes his resolution with a great statement, “TODAY, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  Had Jesus physically already finished all these things he said he would do (preach, release, proclaim)? No.  But in His heart it was finished!  He had come to firm resolution in His heart and by the Spirit.  That day, Jesus said it was done because that day there was no turning back with the Holy Spirit’s power filling Him!

 

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