“BETTER THAN JESUS”
In the fall of 1993, the greatest basketball player of all-time retired after only 9 years in the league. He left on top. By the age of 30, his team torched the league. From ’91-’93, they won back-to-back-to-back championships.
His exit was shocking. Everyone agreed that te had so much more to accomplish. What would his teammates do without him?
In the fall of 1993, the greatest basketball player of all-time retired.
Michael Jordan’s retirement was unprecedented.
And, perhaps, it gives us an idea of how Jesus’ disciples were feeling when he announced he was returning to heaven.
GOD IS ALL IN
This week and next, we are exploring the idea that God is far more committed to us than we are to him. The ultimate power of following Jesus does not come from us, but God.
Yesterday, we learned that the gospel is not one part of the Christian walk, but the jet fuel that propels us as we follow Jesus. It’s like a treasure map that leads us to untold riches in Christ.
God is far more committed to us than we are to him.
Today and tomorrow, we’ll learn about one of those treasures, promised by Jesus to his disciples when he announced he was returning to heaven.
“I SHOULD GET GOING”
When Jesus told his followers that he was going back to heaven, they were devastated. The news shattered their expectations and caused them to question everything.
It is hard to imagine a better scenario than Jesus walking around on the planet.
But before he left Jesus encouraged them, saying it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. (John 16:7 NLT)
It is hard to imagine a better scenario than Jesus walking around on the planet. Yet Jesus claimed that the arrival of the Holy Spirit was the best plan.
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Followers of Jesus believe in one God, who exists in three persons.
We don’t worship three Gods, nor one who shapeshifts. We worship one God, existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. Each is fully God (Jesus is not 1/3 God, for example). They exist in perfect unity with each other. They are one.
Christians refer to our one God, existing in three persons as the Trinity.
We don’t worship three Gods, nor one who shapeshifts.
We see (imperfect and incomplete) examples of this reality through marriage and the church. When Katie and I got married, we became “one flesh”. We are individual people now united as one. The Hebrew word for one, echad, represents a complex unity. The same word used for “one flesh” is also used for “one God”.
A church functions much the same way. There are dozens, hundreds, or thousands of people who gather in a church. But they are one body, joined together.
These imperfect and incomplete examples give us an idea of how distinct people can be united as one.
God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is one of the three members of the Trinity.
THREE RELATIONSHIPS WE CAN HAVE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
My pastor, Mark Balmer of Calvary Chapel Melbourne, explains that “there are three personal relationships we can have with the Holy Spirit.” (Holy Spirit Night, February 12, 2020)
First, we are convicted by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises that the Spirit will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. (John 16:8 NLT)
We do not understand the gospel on our own. It is revealed to us under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He comes alongside us, shows us our sin, and leads us to the Savior.
We do not understand the gospel on our own.
Second, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, speaking to his disciples, explained that the Holy Spirit dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:17 ESV)
When God saves someone, he gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit (for more on this, see Ephesians 1:13-14 and Romans 8, especially verses 1-17, 26-27). Consider this reality! God himself is dwelling with us. (for more on this, see Week 2 – Day 4)
Third, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Listen to Jesus’ promise to his followers: “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.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)
Someone can be saved, but ineffective. There will be people in heaven who made little impact here on earth.
Being empowered by the Spirit is also called “being filled with the Spirit” or “the baptism of the Holy Spirit”.
There is a vast difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at salvation and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for ministry. Someone can be saved, but ineffective. There will be people in heaven who made little impact here on earth.
God wants more for us. When we are filled by the Holy Spirit, God clothes us with power from heaven to proclaim his kingdom with our words and actions.
Most Christians want to do great things for God. But none of us accomplish anything of significance without His Spirit.
R.A. Torrey says that after we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we “will accomplish more of real work for our Lord in one day than we ever would in years without this power.” (“The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit”, chapter 20)
Most Christians want to do great things for God. But none of us accomplish anything of significance without His Spirit.
JESUS WAS EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
When Jesus was baptized at the beginning of his ministry, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. (Mark 1:10 ESV)
Two verses later, we read that the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. (Mark 1:12 ESV)
This is key. Before Jesus began to preach, heal, and lead, he was filled and empowered. Every moment of his ministry was under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus promised the Spirit to his disciples, he was inviting them to have the same relationship with the Holy Spirit that he did.
A TEAM OF MICHAEL JORDANS
In his speech on the Holy Spirit, Jesus said something shocking: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12 ESV)
Here we see God’s vision. When Jesus left the earth, he wasn’t leaving a void. He was leaving copies of himself. His followers wouldn’t be gods. But they would have God dwelling in them through the Holy Spirit.
Imagine if, before Michael Jordan retired, he transferred all his talent and passion to every one of his teammates.
The Spirit would give them the power to do even greater things than Jesus. (Tomorrow, we’ll learn about this power, and how to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit).
Imagine if, before Michael Jordan retired, he transferred all his talent and passion to every one of his teammates. Instead of one Michael Jordan, it would be a team of MJs.
This is God’s vision for his followers: a world filled with “little Christs”, walking as he walked, loving as he loved, and carrying his mission to the ends of the earth.
Tomorrow, we’ll learn how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But today, consider this: Are you walking in the power of the Holy Spirit?
NEXT STEPS
1: Read Mark 8.
2: Spend 10 minutes in Solitude, reflecting on what you learned. Pray using the P-R-A-Y method.
3: Text one friend one thing that you learned.
Tomorrow: Week 4 – Day 4 – “Presence, Transformation, Power”