Ministry.  Up until Jesus turned 30 he had lived an obscure life at home with his birth family.  As he worked in the family carpentry business he grew in his awareness of his unique identity and calling by God.  When it was time to begin his public ministry, there was a dramatic change inaugurated at his baptism: “As he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’  Jesus was thirty years old when he began his ministry” (Luke 3:22-23).  It is very important to understand that the ministry of Jesus began only after the Holy Spirit came upon him.  Certainly the Spirit was always with Jesus from eternity past continuing into his earthly life.  But there was a difference between the Spirit being “in” Jesus before his baptism and the Spirit “coming upon” him after his baptism.  This is similar to the prophet’s anointing of the Old Testament kings to signify they were chosen and equipped by God to rule.  The dove represented the peace and purity of Christ’s earthly ministry.  The Father’s voice of affirmation and the presence of the Spirit upon him were prerequisites for Jesus to enter public ministry.  The same is true for you.  To be effective in ministry requires the power of God’s Spirit upon you.  This is called the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit.  He equips you as His representative to do His supernatural work of impacting lives for His glory.  Effective ministry is impossible apart from the Holy Spirit working through you.  So pray to the Lord for his Spirit to be poured out upon you that you might be equipped for ministry.  This is pleasing to the Father.

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