The Spirit of the Lord is always upon you

Nov 02, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: The Spirit of the Lord Empowers Us for Purpose

God’s Spirit is not given just for personal comfort or spiritual experiences, but to empower every believer to bring good news, healing, and freedom to those in need. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, He equips you to proclaim hope to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and declare liberty to the captives. No matter your background or qualifications, if you have the Holy Spirit, you are called and anointed to share the message of Jesus and to be an agent of His love and deliverance in the world. [36:01]

Isaiah 61:1-3 (ESV)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Reflection: Who in your life today needs to hear the good news or experience the love and freedom of Jesus through you? How can you intentionally reach out to them this week?

Day 2: Jesus Fulfills and Extends the Mission

Jesus declared Himself the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, and then invited His followers to continue His mission by the power of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue, He announced that the Spirit’s anointing was upon Him to preach, heal, and set free—and He now calls us to walk in that same anointing. The works Jesus did are not just stories of the past; they are an invitation for every Spirit-filled believer to participate in God’s ongoing work of redemption and restoration in the world. [42:28]

Luke 4:16-19 (ESV)
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Reflection: What is one way you can step out in faith this week to continue the works of Jesus—whether through a word of encouragement, a prayer for healing, or an act of compassion?

Day 3: The Power and Purpose of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is given not just for spiritual gifts or experiences, but to empower us to be witnesses and to do the works of Jesus in our everyday lives. When you receive the Holy Spirit, you receive power to testify, to love, to bring freedom, and to minister to those around you. The Spirit brings wisdom, knowledge, counsel, and the fear of the Lord, equipping you to face every situation and to be a vessel of God’s presence wherever you go. [44:20]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance, rather than your own strength or understanding?

Day 4: Learning the Language of God

To truly know God and be led by His Spirit, we must learn to hear His voice and understand His ways, which comes through spending time in His Word and in prayer. Just as you would learn a new language to know someone deeply, you must immerse yourself in Scripture and seek the Holy Spirit’s help to understand and communicate with God. Even if it feels difficult at first, persistence in reading and listening will open your heart to the Spirit’s voice and equip you to minister to others. [59:40]

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to deepen your understanding of God’s Word and become more sensitive to His voice?

Day 5: Freedom and Deliverance Are Available Now

No matter what bondage, addiction, or heaviness you face, the door to your prison is open through Jesus—He offers deliverance, healing, and new life by the power of His Spirit. You do not have to remain trapped in cycles of sin, depression, or despair; God’s love and power are present to set you free. Call upon the name of Jesus, receive His deliverance, and step out in faith, knowing that the Holy Spirit is able to break every chain and bring you into freedom. [01:09:48]

John 8:36 (ESV)
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel bound or weighed down? What would it look like to trust Jesus for deliverance and take a step toward freedom today?

Sermon Summary

Isaiah 61 declares that the Spirit of the Lord comes upon us for a purpose: to bring good news to the meek, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to open the prison doors for those who are bound. This is not just a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus, but an ongoing call for every Spirit-filled believer. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, He brings power, wisdom, counsel, and the fear of the Lord—not so we can simply sit in church, but so we can be agents of God’s deliverance and healing in a hurting world.

The Holy Spirit is not given for our comfort alone, or just so we can fit into a Pentecostal church. He is given so we can do the works of Jesus, and even greater works, as Jesus Himself promised. Every believer, regardless of background or education, is called to share the good news. If you can tell someone what God has done in your life, you can preach the gospel. The good news is that no one has to remain in bondage—whether to sin, poverty, addiction, or sickness. The power of the Holy Spirit is available to break every chain.

Sometimes, we feel inadequate to minister to the brokenhearted or the captive. But the Holy Spirit equips us with what we need, even giving us the words to say in the moment. Our job is to go, to be present, to love, and to let the Spirit work through us. Learning to hear God’s voice and understand His “language” comes from spending time in His Word and in prayer. As we do, the Spirit will lead us, give us wisdom, and empower us to bring hope and freedom to others.

The door to freedom is open. Jesus has already paid the price for our deliverance. We are called to step out in faith, receive the fullness of the Spirit, and bring the message of hope to those still in captivity. Whether you are in need of deliverance, healing, or a fresh touch from God, the invitation is open: come to the altar, receive what you need, and let the Spirit of God move in your life.

Key Takeaways

1. The Holy Spirit empowers every believer to fulfill the mission of Isaiah 61. This is not reserved for a select few; if you have the Spirit, you are anointed to bring good news, healing, and freedom to those around you. The Spirit’s presence is the qualification, not your background or ability. [44:59]
2. Sharing the gospel is as simple as telling others what God has done for you. The “good news” is practical and personal: freedom from sin, healing from sickness, deliverance from bondage. If you can testify to God’s work in your life, you are equipped to preach to a world in need. [46:53]
3. Ministering to the brokenhearted and the captive often means simply being present and letting the Holy Spirit work through you. Sometimes, it’s not about having the perfect words, but about bringing the love and presence of God into someone’s pain. The Spirit will give you what you need in the moment. [53:55]
4. Learning to hear God’s voice and understand His ways requires intentional pursuit. Just as you would learn a new language to know someone better, you must immerse yourself in God’s Word and prayer to discern His voice. The Spirit will begin to speak and guide as you persist in seeking Him. [59:00]
5. The door to freedom is open because of Jesus’ finished work. No matter what binds you—addiction, depression, sickness, or spiritual captivity—the power of the Holy Spirit is available to set you free. Receive it by faith, step out, and let God’s deliverance become your testimony. [69:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:48] - Announcements and Thanksgiving Outreach
[32:43] - Introduction to Isaiah 61
[34:07] - Opening Prayer
[35:20] - Reading Isaiah 61
[39:23] - The Power of God’s Word
[41:11] - Isaiah 61 and Its Fulfillment in Jesus
[43:05] - The Holy Spirit’s Role in Believers
[44:59] - The Ongoing Fulfillment of Isaiah 61
[46:13] - Every Believer Can Preach the Good News
[49:24] - The Purpose of the Holy Spirit’s Power
[51:53] - Ministering to the Brokenhearted
[53:55] - Proclaiming Liberty to the Captives
[57:13] - Learning the Language of God
[62:11] - The Spirit’s Gifts: Wisdom, Counsel, and Fear of the Lord
[67:19] - The Open Door of Deliverance
[71:01] - Prayer for Freedom and Healing
[75:26] - Closing and Invitation to Grow

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Isaiah 61 and the Ongoing Call of the Spirit

Bible Reading

Isaiah 61:1-3 (ESV)
> The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
> because the Lord has anointed me
> to bring good news to the poor;
> he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
> to proclaim liberty to the captives,
> and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
> to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
> and the day of vengeance of our God;
> to comfort all who mourn;
> to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
> to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
> the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
> the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
> that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
> the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Observation Questions

According to Isaiah 61:1-3, what are the specific things the Spirit of the Lord anoints someone to do?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the reason the Holy Spirit comes upon believers? ([44:20])
What examples does the pastor give of what the “good news” means for different people (the sinner, the poor, the addicted, the sick)? ([47:29])
How does the pastor describe the role of the Holy Spirit when ministering to the brokenhearted or those in captivity? ([51:53])

Interpretation Questions

The pastor says Isaiah 61 is not just about Jesus, but an ongoing call for every Spirit-filled believer. What does this mean for how we read this passage today? ([44:59])
The sermon claims that sharing the gospel is as simple as telling others what God has done for you. Why might this be both encouraging and challenging for believers? ([46:53])
The pastor talks about learning the “language of God” through time in the Word and prayer. What does it look like to intentionally pursue understanding God’s voice? ([59:00])
The message says the door to freedom is open because of Jesus’ finished work. How does this truth impact someone who feels stuck in bondage or defeat? ([01:09:12])

Application Questions

The pastor says the Spirit’s presence is the only qualification needed to bring good news, healing, and freedom. Do you ever feel unqualified to minister to others? What is one step you could take this week to act in faith despite those feelings? ([44:59])
Think of a time when you shared (or could have shared) what God has done in your life with someone else. What held you back, or what helped you do it? How can you be more intentional about sharing your testimony this month? ([46:53])
The sermon encourages us to be present with the brokenhearted and let the Holy Spirit work through us, even if we don’t have the perfect words. Is there someone in your life right now who needs you to simply show up and love them? What would that look like this week? ([53:55])
The pastor uses the example of learning a new language to describe learning to hear God’s voice. What is one practical way you can “immerse” yourself in God’s Word or prayer this week to better recognize His leading? ([59:00])
The message says the power of the Holy Spirit is available to break every chain—addiction, depression, sickness, or spiritual captivity. Is there an area in your life where you need to receive God’s freedom? What would it look like to step out in faith and ask for help or prayer? ([01:09:12])
The pastor challenges us not to just sit in church but to go and do the works of Jesus. What is one way you can step out of your comfort zone to serve or minister to someone in need this week? ([49:24])
The sermon ends with an invitation to come to the altar and receive what you need from God. What is one thing you need to bring to God in prayer today, trusting Him to move in your life? ([01:11:01])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for boldness to step out in faith, for sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading, and for specific needs for freedom, healing, or a fresh touch from God.

Sermon Clips

“If you know the gospel at all, if you have the Holy Spirit in your life, then you should be able to come to the place that you bring that kind of message to the lost and the dying, to those that are hurting and bound up as far as the world is concerned. Because God wants us to come to the place that we bring that message to the lost and the dying. He wants us to bring that message to those that are bound up with whatever they're bound up with.”

“The thing is is that's the thing. God wants us to do something. God didn't save us and deliver us and fill us with the Holy Ghost for us to come to the place that we sit down on the church pew and do nothing. The thing is is why you know the thing is is that that that stick of dynamite will do nobody no good until somebody takes that stick of dynamite and puts it into action.”

“Well, let me tell you something. We got power as far as the word of God is concerned. We got power in the Holy Spirit and we need to come to the place that we need to light the match. We need to come to the place that we light the fuse as far as the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit is concerned.”

“A lot of times we come across people that are brokenhearted and we don't know what to do. We don't know what to do. A lot of times we we feel like I don't know what to say. I don't know how to how to react. I don't know how to respond to the brokenheartedness heartedness of people. But the thing it is is if you can go in the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the thing is is sometimes all you need to do is bring the presence of God into the circumstance.”

“Some of the thing it is is what we may need to do is bring the fruits of the spirit into the circumstance. Bring the fruits of the spirit into the into the situation and let the fruits of the spirit come to the place that they permeate the room where the brokenheartedness is. So that the brokenheartedness can come to the place that it can be relieved.”

“The thing is is proclaim liberty to the captives. Do you know anybody that's bound up into cap some kind of captivity today? God wants you to bring deliverance to them. God wants you to bring liberty to them. He wants you to bring freedom to those people. You may look at me and you may say, "Pastor, but I don't know how to bring freedom and liberty." Well, there it is. Is go. Go in the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.”

“Now, there it is. Have you not never read where where what Jesus said? He says, "Take no thought for what you will say in that hour because it's going to be given to you in the very moment that you need it." I can tell you a story. I was I was uh going I went on a little walk with a a a young man one time. The thing it is is he was just he wanted to just go for a walk.”

“If you want to know God, then you need to learn the language of God. Yes. If you want to get to know God, then you need to learn the language of God. As far as God is concerned, let and there it is as most people sitting in and on the queue today, but there it is as you speak English and everybody think that God's an English-speaking God, but God's not necessarily an English-speaking God.”

“God can speak Spanish. God can speak Portugu Portuguese. God can speak Dutch. God can speak He can speak Arabic. He can speak any language on the face of this earth. God can communicate with anybody on the face of this planet in their native tongue and in their native language as far as their language is concerned. Amen.”

“The thing it is is when it comes to us, do we know what the language of God is? Can we come to the place that we understand the language of God so that we can communicate with God to to have God to begin to speak to you and have have you come to the place that you able to understand God as far as his word is concerned.”

“But there it is as a lot of people they they pick up the Bible and they start reading they don't understand it. You know what I always tell them? Just keep reading. Just keep reading. Why? Because eventually that the Holy Spirit's going to get involved. The Holy Spirit's going to start talking to you. The Holy Spirit's going to begin to speak into your heart and into your life.”

“So there it is is that right there tells you who that the spirit of the Lord is going to come upon Jesus and he's going to bring some things with him. The Holy Spirit when he comes into your life, he's going to bring some things with him. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, he will bring wisdom with him. He will bring knowledge with him. He will bring counsel with him. He will bring might with him.”

“A lot of people come to the place that on church pews, they don't fear God. The thing it is is that tells me they don't have the they don't have the Holy Spirit in their life. But there it is is if you have the Holy Spirit in your life, he's going to lead you into the fear of the Lord. He's going to teach you how to fear God. He's going to teach you what the fear of the Lord is all about.”

“The thing it is is when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, he comes on you for a purpose and for a reason. There are people that are bound up and need Jesus in their hearts and in their lives. But people all around us that need that the touch of God in their hearts and in their lives. They need for somebody to come along and be able to minister Jesus to them. They need somebody that has the Holy Spirit in their life.”

“The limit is is the reason you can't do the works that Jesus did is because you don't understand. When you come to the place that you begin to understand who you are in Christ and you understand the power of the Holy Spirit in your life, the devil won't defeat you no more. Amen. The devil can't stop you anymore. The devil, you come to the place as far as your life is concerned, you begin to walk out in the power of God and the anointing of God.”

“God wants us to come to the place that we help the brokenhearted, preach to the poor, proclaim liberty to the captives. Could give you a context. As far as this is concerned, Isaiah is sending a message in this particular chapter to the children of Israel who are in Babylonian captivity. What is he saying to the nation of Israel? He's saying this. There's going to come a time when there's going to be a person who's going to come who has the Holy Spirit in their life.”

Ask a question about this sermon