The Way - Don't Bury It // Chris Holm

We continued our exploration of the Holy Spirit by examining a vital truth: Jesus operated not merely as God, but as a Spirit-filled human being. This distinction transforms everything because it means Jesus becomes our model, not just our object of admiration.When Jesus read from Isaiah 61 in Luke 4, declaring "The Spirit of the Lord is on me," he revealed his mission statement. Theologians call this kenosis: Jesus voluntarily set aside the independent use of his divine attributes. He didn't stop being God, but he chose to live as a human in complete dependence on the Father, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is why he could promise in John 14:12 that we would do the works he did and even greater things.The book of Acts proves this promise. Peter, John, and Philip (a table server!) all performed the same miracles Jesus did through the same Spirit's power. The early Moravian community demonstrated this reality in the 1700s when 300 people committed to 100 years of continuous prayer. Their intimacy with God produced extraordinary power and sent over 100 missionaries worldwide, influencing movements like Methodism and modern missions.We explored three pathways to experiencing this power: growing in intimacy with God through consistent prayer and worship, pursuing holiness by dealing with sin and keeping short accounts, and taking risks in faith by stepping out when prompted. The parable of the talents reminds us that God commends those who risk, not those who play it safe. The same Spirit who empowered Jesus is available to us today.