The Ambassador Group

Luke-- Jesus, Our Savior and Friend

00. An Introduction to the Book of Luke

01. Luke: The Coming of Jesus

02. Luke: Baptism and the Temptations

03. Luke: Who Is Jesus Christ?

04. Luke: The Call to Discipleship

05. Luke: Christ as Lord of the Sabbath

06. Luke: Women in the Ministry of Jesus

07. Luke: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Prayer

08. Luke: The Mission of Jesus

09. Luke: Jesus, the Master Teacher

10. Luke: Following Jesus in Everyday Life

11. Luke: The Kingdom of God

12. Luke: Jesus in Jerusalem

13. Luke: Crucified and Risen

Edited for audio by The Ambassador Group.

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you.

For everyone who asks, receives, and he who seeks, finds.

And to him who knocks, it will be opened." Luke 11 verses 9 and 10, NKJV.

Of the 3 synoptic gospels, Luke speaks more often than do the others about Jesus' relationship to the Holy Spirit.

While Matthew refers to the Spirit 12 times, and Mark does so 6 times, Luke has 17 references in his gospel, and fifty-seven in the book of Acts.

From the conception of Jesus into humanity, Luke 1, verse 35, to the directive establishing his global mission.

Luke sees an operational link between Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The link is basic to understanding the ministry of our Savior.

Likewise, Luke shows the importance of prayer in Jesus' life and ministry.

Fully divine, equal with the Father and the Spirit, Jesus in his humanity left us an example in regard to prayer.

If Jesus saw the need for prayer, how much more must we need it?

White in her book, Steps to Christ on page 95.

To obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit As a Gentile convert and a missionary companion of the Apostle Paul, Luke viewed the entire Christological entrance into history, from Jesus' incarnation to his ascension and to the spread of the Church, as a divine wonder brought about and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Luke 3 verses 21 and 22 say, Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, that heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.

In Jesus' life, we see the whole Godhead at work in our redemption.

God the Father, the Voice, Jesus the Beloved Son being baptized, and the Holy Spirit, a bodily shape looking like a dove, and through his constant references to the Holy Spirit, Luke emphasizes this point.

What do the following verses tell us about the role of the Holy Spirit in Christ's coming here in human flesh?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee.

Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age.

And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren, for with God nothing shall be impossible.

And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, And the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And he came by the Spirit into the temple.

And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Jesus' mission began with several references to the Holy Spirit.

According to Luke, John the Baptist predicted that although he baptized with water, the 1 who would follow him would baptize with the Spirit.

At Jesus's baptism, both the Father and the Holy Spirit affirmed the authenticity of His redemptive mission.

God the Father declared from above that Christ is His beloved Son, sent to redeem humankind, while the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove.

As we heard before, Luke chapter 3 verses 21 and 22 say, Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him.

And a voice came from heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased." From then on Luke chapter 4 verse 1 New King James Version says that Jesus was quote filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to take on the foe in the desert, as well as to begin his ministry according to Luke chapter 4 verse 14 which says, And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

The opening words of his Nazareth sermon were an application of Isaiah's messianic prophecy to himself.

The Spirit was his constant companion, his affirming strength, and John chapter 16 verses 5-7 say that Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would actually be His abiding presence among His followers when Jesus would no longer be in their midst.

John 16 5-7 reports Jesus' words to his disciples.

But now I go my way to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me, whither goest thou?

But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Not only that, Luke 11, verse 13, says that Jesus promised that God would give the gift of the Spirit to those who ask for it.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" The Spirit that always linked Christ to His Father and the redemptive mission is the same Spirit that would strengthen the disciples in their journey of faith.

That is why the Holy Spirit and the Christian life is so important, and why Luke chapter 12 verse 10 says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the gravest of all sins.

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him.

But unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven.

Friend, what are the practical ways you can open yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit?

In other words, how can you be careful that your choices are not in any way hardening you to His to his voice.

The Prayer Life of Jesus Among the many times that Jesus prayed, Some are recorded only in Luke.

There are 6 events that show Jesus in prayer during great moments in His life.

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.

A new and important era was opening before him.

He was now upon a wider stage, entering on the conflict of his life.

White in her classic book, The Desire of Ages, page 111.

He dared not begin that wider stage of his public ministry, which would take him eventually to Calvary's cross, without prayer.

Jesus prayed before choosing his 12 disciples.

And it came to pass in those days that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God.

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose 12, whom he also named apostles.

No leader chooses his followers haphazardly, But Jesus was not just selecting followers, but choosing those who would understand and identify completely with His person and His mission.

Their office was the most important to which human beings had ever been called, and was second only to that of Christ Himself.

White, in her book, The Desire of Ages, page 291.

And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him, and He asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

Discipleship demands absolute commitment to Jesus, and an understanding of his identity.

In order that the 12 might know who he was, Jesus was alone praying and then after that he challenged them with the crucial question, who do you say that I am?

Number 4, Jesus prayed before his transfiguration.

Luke chapter 9 verses 28 through 36 say, And it came to pass, about an 8 days after these sayings, he took Peter and James and John and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening.

And behold, there talked with him 2 men, which were Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory and spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they were awake they saw his glory, and the 2 men that stood with him.

And it came to pass as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here.

Let us make 3 tabernacles, 1 for thee, 1 for Moses, and 1 for Elias, not knowing what he said.

Series

Luke-- Jesus, Our Savior and Friend

07. Luke: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Prayer

Transcript

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