The Holy Spirit's Role in Christ's Ministry and Ours
Summary
Tonight’s study explored the profound and often overlooked work of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. From the very title “Christ”—the Anointed One—we see that Jesus was set apart not by earthly oil, but by the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament’s three anointed offices—prophet, priest, and king—find their perfect fulfillment in Jesus, who was empowered by the Spirit without measure. This divine anointing was not a mere symbol, but the very means by which Christ accomplished redemption, living a life of perfect obedience and sacrificial love.
The humility of Christ’s earthly life—his “humiliation”—was marked by voluntary submission to the Father’s will, empowered by the Spirit. Where Adam failed, Christ succeeded, keeping the law perfectly on our behalf. His divine glory was veiled in flesh, yet at moments, the Spirit permitted that glory to break forth, revealing his true identity as the Son of God. Even in his miracles and teachings, Jesus acted in perfect harmony with the Spirit, never apart from him, yet always as the divine Son.
The Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah, foretold that the Messiah would be uniquely anointed by the Spirit. Centuries before Jesus’ birth, it was declared that the Spirit would rest upon him, equipping him for a ministry of justice, healing, and liberation. This was fulfilled in Christ’s life, from his conception by the Spirit, to his baptism, temptation, preaching, and ultimately his sacrificial death—each step marked by the Spirit’s presence and power.
After his resurrection and exaltation, Christ’s glory is no longer veiled. He now exercises his mediatorial offices—prophet, priest, and king—through the Spirit, poured out on his church. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead now indwells believers, uniting us to Christ and empowering us to live for God’s glory. Our union with Christ is not theoretical; it is a living reality, mediated by the Spirit who abides with us forever. Because of this, we are called to live as those who have been bought with a price, glorifying God in our bodies and spirits, knowing that the very presence of God dwells within us.
Key Takeaways
- Christ’s Anointing by the Spirit Reveals God’s Full Commitment
God did not hold anything back in the work of redemption; the Father poured out the Spirit on the Son without measure. This demonstrates the depth of God’s love and commitment to save, showing that in Christ, we receive the fullness of God himself. The Spirit’s anointing is not a mere accessory, but the very means by which Christ accomplished our salvation. [03:39]
- The Humiliation of Christ Shows the Power of Obedient Dependence
Jesus’ earthly life was marked by perfect obedience, not through self-reliance, but through continual dependence on the Holy Spirit. His glory was veiled so that it could be revealed in the cross, where love and justice meet. This pattern calls us to recognize that true spiritual fruit comes not from our own strength, but from humble reliance on the Spirit’s power. [07:33]
- The Spirit’s Work in Christ Was Foretold and Fulfilled with Precision
Centuries before Jesus’ birth, the prophets spoke of a Messiah uniquely anointed by the Spirit for a ministry of justice, healing, and liberation. Christ’s life and ministry fulfilled these prophecies in detail, demonstrating that God’s plans are both sovereign and trustworthy. Our own lives, too, are part of God’s eternal design, and the Spirit’s presence in us is no accident but a fulfillment of God’s promise. [20:03]
- Christ’s Exaltation Means the Spirit Now Empowers the Church
After his resurrection and ascension, Christ’s glory is fully manifest, and he continues his work as prophet, priest, and king through the Spirit poured out on his people. The Spirit not only unites us to Christ but also equips us for ministry, intercession, and transformation. The same power that raised Christ now works in us, making the church the living body of Christ in the world. [32:24]
- Our Union with Christ by the Spirit Calls Us to Holy Living
Because the Spirit mediates the presence of the Father and the Son within us, we are never alone or abandoned. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and our lives are to be lived in grateful response to the price Christ paid. This union is both a privilege and a calling: to glorify God in every aspect of our lives, empowered by the Spirit who abides with us forever. [48:03]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:12] - Christ: The Anointed One
[02:27] - Anointed by the Holy Spirit
[03:39] - The Fullness of the Spirit in Christ
[04:39] - The Humiliation of Christ
[06:22] - Glory Veiled and Revealed
[07:33] - Divine and Human Natures United
[10:40] - Christ’s Miracles and Divine Power
[12:25] - Ministering by the Spirit’s Power
[13:54] - The Spirit Foretold in Isaiah
[16:12] - The Servant Songs and Christ’s Mission
[18:16] - The Spirit’s Anointing in Christ’s Ministry
[20:03] - God’s Eternal Plan and Our Trust
[22:20] - The Spirit in Christ’s Humiliation
[23:38] - Baptism and Consecration by the Spirit
[25:17] - Temptation and Mission in the Spirit
[27:14] - Ushering in the Kingdom by the Spirit
[28:26] - Serving God by the Spirit
[29:31] - Christ’s Exaltation and Manifest Glory
[32:24] - The Spirit in Christ’s Exalted Ministry
[35:22] - Resurrection and Post-Resurrection Ministry
[36:47] - Ascension, Enthronement, and Abiding Presence
[40:08] - Glorifying the Bride and Final Judgment
[43:29] - The Spirit’s Power in Christ and Us
[46:05] - The Spirit’s Indwelling and Our Union
[48:03] - Living as Temples of the Spirit
[48:52] - Closing and Call to Glorify God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ
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### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 11:1-5 (ESV)
> There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
> and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
> And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
> the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
> the Spirit of counsel and might,
> the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
> And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
> He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
> or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
> but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
> and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
> and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
> and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
> Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
> and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
2. Luke 4:16-21 (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.”
> And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
3. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
> Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Isaiah 11, what specific qualities or roles does the Spirit of the Lord bring to the Messiah?
2. In Luke 4, what does Jesus claim about himself when he reads from Isaiah, and how do the people respond?
3. What does Paul say about the believer’s body in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, and what is the reason he gives for this?
4. The sermon says that Jesus was anointed not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit. What Old Testament roles were anointed, and how does Jesus fulfill them? [[01:12]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon describes Jesus’ anointing by the Spirit as the Father’s full commitment to our redemption. What does it mean that God “held nothing back” in saving us? [[03:39]]
2. Jesus’ earthly life is called his “humiliation,” marked by obedience and dependence on the Spirit. Why is it important that Jesus relied on the Spirit rather than just his own divine power? [[07:33]]
3. The prophets, especially Isaiah, foretold the Spirit’s work in the Messiah. How does seeing these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus help us trust God’s promises for our own lives? [[20:03]]
4. The sermon says that after his resurrection, Christ’s glory is no longer veiled and he now empowers the church through the Spirit. What does it mean for the church to be the “living body of Christ in the world”? [[32:24]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The Father poured out the Spirit on Jesus “without measure” to accomplish our salvation. When you think about God’s commitment to you, does it change how you view your worth or your relationship with him? Why or why not? [[03:39]]
2. Jesus lived in perfect obedience by depending on the Holy Spirit, not by self-reliance. In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely on your own strength instead of the Spirit? What would it look like to depend on the Spirit this week? [[07:33]]
3. The Spirit’s work in Jesus was foretold centuries before and fulfilled exactly. Can you think of a time when God’s plan for your life became clear in hindsight? How does this encourage you to trust him with your future? [[20:03]]
4. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in believers. Is there an area of your life or ministry where you need to remember and rely on this resurrection power? What step could you take to act on this truth? [[32:24]]
5. Our union with Christ by the Spirit means we are never alone and our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Are there habits or patterns in your life that don’t reflect this reality? What is one specific change you could make to honor God with your body or your choices? [[48:03]]
6. The sermon calls us to live as those “bought with a price.” What does it mean for you, personally, to glorify God in your body and spirit this week? [[48:03]]
7. Jesus’ ministry was marked by justice, healing, and liberation through the Spirit. Is there a way you can participate in bringing justice, healing, or freedom to someone in your community this month? What might that look like? [[14:30]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for sending Jesus and for pouring out the Holy Spirit on him and on us. Ask for help to depend on the Spirit’s power, to trust God’s plan, and to live in a way that honors Christ’s sacrifice and presence in your life.
Devotional
Day 1: Christ, the Anointed One: Prophet, Priest, and King
Jesus is the true Anointed One, perfectly fulfilling the Old Testament roles of prophet, priest, and king—not by earthly oil, but by the fullness of the Holy Spirit poured out on Him without measure. In His life and ministry, Christ spoke the words of God, interceded and sacrificed for His people, and delivered us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light, all through the Spirit’s power. The Father’s love for the Son was displayed in giving Him all authority and the Spirit without limit, so that nothing was held back in accomplishing our redemption. As you consider Christ’s anointing, remember that God gave His very self in Christ to save you, holding nothing back. [03:39]
John 3:34-35 (ESV)
For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to believe that God is holding nothing back from you in Christ? How might trusting in Christ’s complete anointing by the Spirit change your confidence in God’s love and provision today?
Day 2: The Spirit’s Power in Christ’s Humiliation and Obedience
From His conception to His crucifixion, Christ’s entire earthly life was one of voluntary submission and perfect obedience to the Father, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Where Adam failed, Christ succeeded—He kept the law perfectly, veiling His divine glory so that it could be revealed on the cross. The Holy Spirit enabled Christ’s human nature to obey, and it is by that same Spirit that we are empowered to live faithfully. Christ’s miracles and teachings were not just acts of the Spirit, but also manifestations of His own divine power, revealed as the Spirit permitted. We, too, are called to minister not in our own strength, but in the Spirit’s power, for only what is done by the Spirit endures for eternity. [12:25]
John 2:11, 24-25 (ESV)
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him... But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
Reflection: Where are you tempted to rely on your own strength or wisdom in serving God or others? What would it look like to intentionally seek the Spirit’s power in that area today?
Day 3: The Spirit’s Anointing Foretold and Fulfilled in Christ’s Mission
Long before Jesus’ birth, the prophets foretold that the Messiah would be anointed with the Spirit to bring justice, healing, and freedom—not just to Israel, but to all nations. Isaiah’s servant songs and Christ’s own reading in Nazareth declare that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon Him, equipping Him to preach good news, heal the brokenhearted, and set captives free. This anointing was not an afterthought, but part of God’s perfect plan from eternity. Just as Christ’s ministry was prepared and empowered by the Spirit, so too is your salvation and calling as a Spirit-filled believer. Trust that God’s plan for you is eternally wise and perfectly timed. [20:03]
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: What is one area of your life where you need to trust that God’s Spirit is at work according to His perfect plan, even if you cannot see the outcome yet?
Day 4: The Spirit’s Work in Christ’s Exaltation and Ongoing Ministry
After His resurrection and ascension, Christ’s glory is no longer veiled but fully manifest, and He continues His work as our prophet, priest, and king through the Holy Spirit. The exalted Christ pours out the Spirit on His church, intercedes for us before the Father, and leads us by His Spirit within. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead now dwells in believers, transforming us into Christ’s image and empowering us to serve. Christ’s ongoing ministry is not distant or abstract; it is personal and present through the Spirit, who applies Christ’s work to our hearts and lives. [32:24]
Acts 2:32-33 (ESV)
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Reflection: How does knowing that Christ is continually interceding for you and leading you by His Spirit encourage you to approach God and serve others today?
Day 5: United with Christ by the Spirit: Living for God’s Glory
Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers are united with Christ and empowered to live for God’s glory. Just as Jesus was anointed with the Spirit to do good and set people free, so we are called to live as temples of the Holy Spirit, reflecting Christ’s presence in our daily lives. The Spirit is not a visitor but abides with us forever, mediating the presence of the Father and the Son. Because we have been bought with a price and sealed with the Spirit, our lives are not our own—we are called to glorify God in all we do, relying on His Spirit’s power. [48:03]
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can honor God with your body and actions today, remembering that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit?
Quotes
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