How Jesus was Radically Led by the Holy Spirit (Lesson 1)

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LESSON 1

Radical and Supernatural

1. First, you must understand that the Holy Spirit leads in no other way but radical. You cannot be Spirit-led and remain in the traditions of religious men or remain tame and harmless. Oxford dictionary says a radical person is "a person who advocates thorough or complete political or social reform, supporting an extreme or progressive ideology or intellectual persuasion."

Photo by Farid Askerov on Unsplash.

2. Second, the Holy Spirit always does things supernaturally. You cannot claim to be Spirit-led and have nothing supernatural going on in your life and ministry. Is your ministry accompanied by signs and wonders?

  • Worship
  • Preaching
  • Evangelism
  • Discipleship
  • Community service

Spiritually, being radical is the advocacy for an entire transformation in Christ which is as extreme and progressive as what Jesus taught and revealed in Scripture. This transformation is supernatural.

HOW RADICAL SHOULD WE BE, EXACTLY? 

Simple. We must have Jesus' radicalism. We ought to follow or be in step with his radicalism. We measure or compare ours to his. This isn't optional. If you claim to be Spirit-led you should be as radical as Jesus (or at least in the process).

Radical Like Jesus

I have heard others say that only Jesus can be as radical as Jesus. No one else can be as radical. Well, they forget that we are CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST and we are seated together with him on his throne. It's the same story as perfection--they say only God can be perfect, and in saying that they oppose Jesus' command to be perfect. "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." 

Why do they opt to interpret God's radical words in the bible in weak terms? Because they are not led by the Holy Spirit. They're misled by the world's or man's theology. If you're not led, you get the rationale of the world, not the Spirit's revelation. 

So here are reasons why we should (and we can) be radical like Jesus:

  1. It's a command. [Matthew 5v48]
    Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  2. It's the fruit of regeneration. [2 Corinthians 5v17]
    If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old is past. The new has come.
  3. Christ must manifest in us. [Galatians 2v20]
    It's no longer I who live but Christ in me.
  4. New heart and new spirit. [Ezekiel 36v26]
    I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
  5. Mindset renewal [Romans 12.2]
    Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.


In the Process

I don't claim to have already achieved it. I'm still way, way behind the goal. But what I do is press on towards the goal. This was what Apostle Paul also said about being radically Christ-like [Philippians 3.10-14]. If you've not yet arrived but still on the journey (and a long way off), it's okay. You're still in. God counts you "enrolled." God says the thing is to "get ready."

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. [Luke 12]

Watch closely what Jesus is saying here. If you know the will but do not "get ready" you will suffer dire consequences. He laid out two options and processes here:

  1. Get ready
  2. Do it
The use of the word "or" means you should be in either of the two processes, either your are getting ready (you have not yet hit the goal but you're on your way) or already doing it (you have arrived and continuing). Better if both.

How Jesus Began

Even Jesus was radically transformed by the work and leading of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus went through it--and he is the Way--how much more us? He was transformed, not because he was a wreck and needed to be renewed, but because he was inducted into a unique, radical and powerful ministry. In our case, we are transformed to be renewed, qualified and inducted into the unique, radical and powerful Jesus ministry.

Mind you, qualification is not through school credentials. 
It's through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in us. 
Credentials are men's inventions.

Jesus never did anything the Holy Spirit didn't supernaturally lead him to--he never copied what works in others, never decided on his own, never planned programs and activities, or even ministered according to what people needed or wanted. NEVER. He was radically led by the Holy Spirit from start to finish, each step of the way. Period.

Filled with the Spirit

Before Jesus turned 30, he didn't do any ministry. Yet, millions then were dying without a Savior. That was what people needed badly at the time, a Savior. Right? But Jesus never started ministry (saving people) until the Father decided it was time. See? It wasn't about what people needed but what the Father wanted.

When it was finally time, we see the Holy Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness right after baptism. He left Jordan "filled" with the Holy Spirit and then led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness. Later, he emerged from it "in the power of the Holy Spirit." 

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. [Luke 4]

Ministry Launch

When Jesus was led and launched into ministry by the Holy Spirit, 4 things happened:

  1.  He was baptized first by a real man of God. 
  2. After baptism he was filled by the Holy Spirit.
  3. He was led by the Spirit to the wilderness. 
  4. He defeated the devil in the wilderness through the Spirit and the Word.
  5. He came out of the wilderness in the supernatural power of the Spirit.
  6. He started ministry.
1. Baptized by a Man of God. He could've opted to be baptized by a priest or Pharisee equipped with necessary credentials honored by men, but Jesus didn't mind any of that. What he did mind were:
  • Fulfilling all righteousness. This means he allowed himself to be baptized by John, a man of God recognized in God's Kingdom though not in man's empire. 
  • Spirit-sanctioned baptism. Baptism per se does not fill you with the Holy Spirit but Jesus and John fulfilling all righteousness apparently pleased the Father so that heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended---a heavenly gesture supporting the declaration, "You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

    The Father declaring the Word, the Holy Spirit filling Jesus, and Jesus being launched to ministry.     We need this happening also in our ministry.

  • Done by a man of God. Not all who serve God are real men of God. The Pharisees and law teachers were also seen as "men of God" by the people, but Jesus had to travel from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John because only together with him could Jesus "fulfill all righteousness."
2. Filled with the Holy Spirit. 
  • A) As seen here, baptism is not just a public confession of faith but a launch into ministry. After baptism, Jesus was led into the wilderness to defeat Satan. Do not baptize anyone who will not seriously partake of Jesus' ministry. Baptism, discipleship  and Jesus' ministry are intertwined. 

"Go you, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...and teaching them to obey all things I have taught you..." 

  • B) Ministry needs the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn't start ministry before he was filled and led.

  • C) Defeat Self (ego) and Satan in the wilderness. You need to defeat self (flesh) and the devil in your spiritual wilderness (not in your comfort zones). This is your first ministry concern. You cannot start other ministries until you defeat the enemy in the wilderness.

  • D) The only way to defeat the devil is through the spoken Word of God and leading by the Holy Spirit. Radical and supernatural.

  • E) The self, ego or flesh is subdued or defeated by denying and starving it. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Fasting really means denying your physical or fleshly needs, wants and cravings until your spirit says, The Lord is my portion and The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

    Satan tried to tickle Jesus' fleshly appetite when he dared him to turn stones into bread. When Satan and the flesh or ego work together successfully, all true ministries collapse, although they may have an appearance of success.

    1) If you are the Son of God turn these stones into bread: EGO
    2) If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down: EGO or PRIDE
    3) All this I will give you: EGO, possession, wealth, prominence, a look of success.

    The temptations all had something to do with the ego. If the devil tricks you with your ego, he wins; you and your ministry will collapse in the spirit realms.

    What are the things people today think will collapse ministry?

    a) Lack of funds?
    b) Lack of building and facilities?
    c) Lack of good programs?
    d) Lack of good music and instruments?

    Thus, Jesus placed emphasis on "every word that comes out of the mouth of God." The spoken Word is something the world cannot provide, Satan cannot mess with and the flesh cannot appreciate. You defeat the devil with the spoken Word.

    KEY IDEA: The devil can get and manipulate the written Word, but not the spoken Word. Why? Because the spoken Word from God's own mouth is Jesus and the Holy Spirit combined.

    The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. [John 6.63]
3. In the Power of the Holy Spirit.

After defeating Satan in the wilderness, we find Jesus "in the power of the Holy Spirit" and starting other ministries. How did the Holy Spirit lead and empower him this time?
  1. The Holy Spirit promoted him. He did not advertise or announce himself to the people or invited them to his bible studies, prayer meetings or worship services. Neither did he went house to house or paid them visits. The power of the Holy Spirit in him promoted him, causing news about him to spread everywhere. 

  2. Empowered his teaching. The Holy Spirit empowered his teaching and that, again, was added promotion for him. His teaching had authority, and this set him apart from religious teachers at the time.

  3. Empowered him with miracles. Jesus gave "orders to impure spirits," [4.36] demonstrating to everyone (humans and spirits) the power of the Kingdom. This defined clearly, more than any form of teaching, what kind of Kingdom he represented. 

  4. Empowered his evangelism. The Holy Spirit combined evangelism with signs and wonders in Jesus' ministry so that "news about him spread throughout."

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him...
32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority...36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. [Luke 4]

Empowered Discernment: Unmasking of Hearts

When you're in the power of the Holy Spirit, your spiritual discernment sharpens so that instantly and powerfully the thoughts and intents of the heart are revealed. When Jesus read the passage from Isaiah and spoke "gracious words," everyone praised him. Later though, he changed topic when he read their thoughts. He saw how in their minds they actually rejected him. People can appear supportive on the outside and yet reject you inside.

But the power of the Holy Spirit gave him sharp discernment as well as supernatural protection from his bashers. In my understanding, Jesus became invisible and walked right through them undetected and untouched.

23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” 
24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD's NEXT MOVES!


My e-books, "God's Flesh" and "When God's Promises Don't Seem to Work for You" can help you catch the frequencies of the Spirit's realm and be acculturated to God's Kingdom and supernatural dimensions, especially HIS last moves in these end-times.

To get your FREE copies of these e-books, please email at godsfleshblog@gmail.com to get the download links. This may be the next-level spiritual feeding you've been praying for. Learn how to be part of God's real moves, according to his supernatural plans.


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