INTRODUCTION

1. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit is of great significance

2. One of the special ministries of the Spirit of God is with reference to prayer

3. This new series seeks to help us cultivate our prayer life

4. What is the real state of our prayer life?

 

THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE MESSIAH

1. This was carefully noted in the Synoptic Gospels

2. The significance:

a) Approval

b) Anointing

c) Authorised and Empowered

 

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. The Lord Jesus described:

a) “Filled with the Holy Spirit” Luke 4:1a

b) He was “led by the Spirit” Luke 4:1b

2. The filling of the Spirit was prophesied in Isaiah 11:2

a) The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him

b) The Spirit of wisdom

c) The Spirit of understanding

d) The Spirit of counsel

e) The Spirit of might

f) The Spirit of knowledge

g) The Spirit of the fear of the Lord.

3. The meaning of being “led by the Spirit of God”

a) The Role of the Spirit of God

i) He plays a leading role

ii) He takes charge

iii) He is in full control

b) The Role of the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man

i) He yields to the Spirit of God

ii) He follows

iii) He obeys

 

LED INTO THE WILDERNESS

1. The Lord Jesus was led to go to the wilderness!

a) The wilderness is a very rugged terrain

b) It is not a place an ordinary individual would want to spend much time at

c) A weaker person faces substantial danger and even death

d) The Lord Jesus would have to face the following challenge:

i) Solitude

ii) Deprivation

iii) Hardship

2. The Lord Jesus was led to face Satan and his temptations

a) The Cruelty of the Devil

b) The Cunning of the Devil

c) The Coarseness of the Devil

3. The lessons the Lord Jesus would have to learn

a) To be filled with the knowledge of God’s word

b) To be in close relationship with God each and every day

c) A prophetic glimpse of the equipping of the Messiah for ministry

4 “The Lord God has given Me

The tongue of the learned,

That I should know how to speak

A word in season to him who is weary.

He awakens Me morning by morning,

He awakens My ear

To hear as the learned.

5 The Lord God has opened My ear;

And I was not rebellious,

Nor did I turn away. Isaiah 50:4-5

i) Daily learning

ii) Opening of the ears

iii) Hearing as the learned

 

THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Wisdom to counter every Temptation

2. Knowledge and Might to overcome all Temptations

3. The fear of the Lord to remain faithful and steadfast to the Word of God

 

SOME REASONS WHY WE FALTER AND FAIL WHEN TESTED

1. The lack of knowledge and wisdom

2. The lack of faith

3. The lack of might

4. The lack of prayer

 

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To desire to be filled with the Spirit of God

2. To be led by the Spirit

3. To cultivate a stronger spiritual life