Our last post reviewed the pursuits of sons of God by looking at the life of Jesus. In this post we will look at a few key characteristics that Jesus exemplified for us as Sons of God. These key characteristics of Jesus outlined in scripture are: demonstrating the power and authority of God, walking in humility and having compassion towards others. Ok, so without further ado, let’s dive in!
Jesus walked in the power and authority of God
The power of God is magnificent. Growing up I loved to hear the stories of God’s power how He created the universe with just the words from His mouth. How He parted a whole sea and caused His people to walk on dry ground with a blast from His nostrils. I had this concept of the sheer bigness and awesome might of God as a child! Jesus on the other hand was approachable for me. Jesus was kind and suffered the little children to come to Him. As a follower of Jesus the emphasis on my discipleship as a child was displaying that loving character of Jesus and not necessarily the power and authority He walked in. There was this disconnect in my mind between the willing Lamb of God in the New Testament and the Almighty God in the Old Testament. The truth is however that Jesus had the fullness of God’s power invested into Himself Matthew 28:18. Jesus walked in the power of the Holy Spirit poured into Him while He conducted His earthly ministry Luke 4, Isaiah 11:1-5 and 7:14-15. We too have been given a measure of the power and authority that Jesus walked in through the anointing of the Holy Spirit:
- Luke 10:19-Power and Authority over the works of the enemy
- Matthew 28:18-20-Authority and Anointing to make disciples
- Acts 1:8-Power to be witnesses of Jesus Christ
- Ephesians 3:20-21-We are filled with God’s power that raised Christ from the dead
This power of God as outlined in Ephesians 1: 17-23 surpasses all the power of the enemy. In other words no matter how dark the enemy’s power becomes the power of God shines brighter still. His power cannot be overcome.
This power is greater in magnitude than any other power. This power is inherently powerful and cannot be exhausted. It doesn’t lose strength. It does the supernatural and the miraculous! It doesn’t just give off power rather it is by its very essence power! God’s ability is all powerful. It never misses. It never fails. It is efficient to accomplish whatever God sets His power to do. This power that raised Christ from the dead went up against the powers of death and hell and wrested Christ from the grave.
Its like a rocket ship excelling beyond the forcefulness of gravity’s power. Jesus Christ couldn’t stay down! The zenith of Satan’s power was broken by the mighty display of God’s power that raised Jesus up from the dead. This is the power that is working in you! This is the power that will not be denied until you are every whit whole, sanctified, glorified in Jesus Christ. Be confident beloved; your heavenly Father won’t stop until you are who He says you are; filled with the full measure of Jesus Christ. This is the truth that the early church grasped and conducted themselves in.
In fact, the early church was known for the power they walked in Acts 4:33. After the outpouring of the Holy Ghost in the upper room the disciples of Jesus walked in the power of God giving witness to His resurrection and lordship.
The Church of God is powerful.
The Church walks in the power and presence of the Living God. I pray that we contend in prayerful intimacy and wait as the disciples did for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The early Church was given a blueprint of how to walk in the power of God that they had received. Jesus had modeled for them what operating in God’s power looked like. How did Jesus operate in authority?
- Jesus exercised the power and authority of God by casting out devils Mark 5:6-15,
- All creation obeyed His authority Matthew 8:23-27,
- He raised the dead John 11:38-44,
- He healed the sick Luke 5:17-25
- He has the power to forgive us of our sins Matthew 9:1-8.
“The ministry of Jesus Christ was marked by the power and presence of God.”
Jesus’ life was filled with humility
Jesus who walked in the fullness of God’s power and authority casting out devils and rebuking storms chose two words to describe His character and nature: meek and lowly Matthew 11:29. Can you imagine that?! Jesus the Creator of the Universe describes Himself as being meek and lowly. He embraced humility as a defining characteristic of His Divine Essence. We are not used to that from our earthly leaders. How many emperors stylized themselves as “Emperor So and So The Great” throughout history? And yet Jesus Christ proclaimed Himself to be the meek and lowly. Indeed, He exhorted us to take this aspect of His character unto ourselves: His Humility. We see the humility of Jesus in scripture when He humbled Himself in obedience to experience the death of the cross Philippians 2:5-8. The very path that Jesus walked in His earthly ministry was one of selfless humility. He chose to die to Himself to raise many sons to eternal life Hebrews 2:9-10. He willingly gave by laying down His life as a seed so that many sons born of this incorruptible seed could be raised up in glory 1 Peter 1:23-25. He who dwelt in glory and is the creator of everything Colossians 1:12-19 willingly took on the shame, nakedness, sin of mankind and died so that we can have everlasting life John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21. We too are expected to embody the same humility that characterized Jesus Christ in scripture.
We show our humility by:
- Casting our cares upon God– 1 Peter 5:5-7,
- Repenting from our sins with a broken and contrite heart Psalm 51:17,
- Acknowledging that God is God and we are not Isaiah 57:15,
- Choosing to obey the word of God Isaiah 66:1-2.
Notice that humility allows us to dwell in the presence of God, shows our reliance and dependency upon God, acknowledges our need of God and trusts Him with our cares. The proud cannot obey nor abide in God. Notice also that the elements of dwelling together, relying upon, trusting with our needs are all expressions of a vibrant love relationship with God. Humility is the fuel that propels our experience of God’s love; yet it is the knowledge of God’s Holiness that brings us to a place of humility. Take a look at those verses again and note the set-apart-ed-ness of God and how that becomes the basis for our humility:
- The Mighty Power of God to bring low and exalt men is our basis to humble ourselves before Him. God’s unique power does what man cannot do for themselves: cast down and uplift men. 1 Peter 5:5-7.
- Psalm 51 was written after the prophet Nathan confronted King David with his sin of adultery and murder. David knew there was one King of kings. He knew there was only one God of salvation with the power and authority to know, judge and deliver from sins. He understood he was accountable to God for what he did. It is this knowledge of the Holy Just Judge that propelled David to humbly confess his sins.
- In Isaiah 57 The Lord declares the iniquity of the people abound because they do not fear Him. They run to idols because they have not understood that only God is the giver and sustainer of life. They have not acknowledged that God alone is the One True Living God.
- So He lets them experience the reality of their folly; their gods cannot save them and their lives cannot be sustained by the vices they pursued. God makes a difference between Himself and their idols: “I am the High and Lofty one, I inhabit Eternity, I dwell in the High and Holy Place and My Name is Holy Isaiah 57:15.”
- It is this knowledge that there is no god like Jehovah, that Yahweh is the One True Living God that propels us to repent from our sins and humbly seek His face.
- The prophet Isaiah declares the sovereign Lord is creator of all and rules over all. God is not subjected to nor limited by any created thing. God is not dependent upon us nor is He afraid of any thing or person He has created. As a matter of fact in Isaiah 66 God outlines the effort and power of the humans are vain attempts that end in ultimate defeat before the Sovereign God. It is knowledge of the Eternal Sovereign God that prompts us to tremble at His word.
Jesus’ Ministry was filled with Compassion
As I read through the gospels, I am struck by the number of times the Holy Spirit noted the compassion that moved Jesus as He served humanity. Mark 6: 31-34 shows us a tired and hungry Jesus who had spent time ministering to the people going away to get some rest but was followed by the people. He saw their need and was moved with compassion to feed them. The powerful miracle of casting out the legion into swine Jesus described as God having compassion on the demon-possessed man Mark 5:19. Jesus went about preaching, teaching, healing, and doing miracles because He had compassion on a people in need of what He had to give Matthew 9:35-36. Notice that compassion is not merely a feeling rather it is a compulsion that stirs us to act on behalf of someone in need.
All throughout scripture this is what God has shown Himself to be. In Genesis 2: 18-25 God looks at Adam and sees his need for a companion. Without Adam ever having to ask God made provision for Adam by creating Eve. God saw Adam’s plight and did what He could to fill his need. In Exodus 2:23-25 God heard the cries of His people in bondage and came down to rescue His people. In Jeremiah God prophesies that the coming Messiah will liberate His people from sin and transform them in holiness Jeremiah 31:31-37. He saw that we couldn’t rescue ourselves from sin and so He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus’ earthly ministry exemplified this compassionate nature of God. In Psalms 103 God shows us His compassionate nature that is full of mercy and grace, delighting to save His people. This same compassion is expected to mark us and our ministry in the earth. Indeed, Jesus repeatedly shared His heart for service with His disciples: humility and love Matthew 20:25-28, John 13:1-15.
Beloved let us not shy away from this glorious calling of God on our lives. Let not fear dictate what you can and can’t do. God has equipped us to complete every good work Ephesians 2: 8-10. His presence and power is within us helping us to do His will Philippians 2:13. Yes you can do this! Philippians 4:13. Let us love our neighbor as we love ourselves for by this shall they know that we are sons of God 1 John 3:10-11.
The bible tells us clearly that Jesus is full of compassion towards us:
- Hebrews 2:17-Jesus is a merciful and faithful High Priest
- Luke 7:11-15-Jesus has compassion for the suffering
- Matthew 15:29-32-Jesus feeds His sheep for He is compassionate towards them
- Isaiah 40:10-11-Jesus is The Good Shepherd that tenderly cares for His sheep
- Matthew 14:14-Jesus healed the sick because He had compassion for them
Let this same compassion that Jesus has given us flow freely from our hearts to those around us as we 1.) pray for mercy, 2.) ease the suffering, 3.) feed the hungry, 4.) care for the weak and 5.) heal the sick around us.
In Summary, Jesus revealed the power and authority, mercy and grace, humility and compassion of God The Father towards His children Colossians 1:12-19, 2:9-15. Likewise let us show forth the glory of God by bravely going forward in humility, trusting in the power of God and doing what we can to love the least of these Colossians 3:8-17.
Heart’s Response
Father your word says that your children share your nature and likeness. You have raised us up to continue the work of Jesus as He taught and powerfully demonstrated Your love to His disciples. Even so Father help us to be children who obey Your will. Children who trust in humility, trust in Your power and boldly have compassion on those in need. Father by Your grace let us be children of light in a dark world. Thank you for Your mighty work raising us up into mature sons and daughters of God. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
