About that ‘Boot Camp’ that Jesus went through...which you are I are expected to go through as well...I’m just gonna leave this here today for your own personal study and reflection.

Please make note of Acts 10:38 – “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him.”

Question: When...did God ‘anoint’ Jesus with the Holy Spirit....AND...with power? Well, we are told in all the gospels that after He came up from the water, the Holy Spirit came upon Him and that He was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 3:21-22; 4:1). I’ll answer the second part of that question at the end here.

Please also make note of John 14:12 where Jesus stated – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to My father.”

Jesus: “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now...” (Acts 1:5) ...and...”you shall receive power (supernatural)... when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me...” (Acts 1:8)

“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:19-12)

“But know this: that in the last days...perilous times will come...” (2 Tim. 3:1-4). Paul goes on to describe a people who apparently continue on walking in the flesh, bearing all the wrong kind of ‘fruit’, being ‘haughty and lovers of pleasure more than or rather than God...” and yet...’have a form of godliness but denying its ...power...always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (5-7)

You cannot read the first 8 chapters of the Book of Acts without coming to a quick conclusion that the power of God was operating regularly in the early church. And take into consideration what James advised the early church to do if there was ‘any sick among them’...(James 5:13-16). How often do we see this played out in our churches today...with supernatural results on a consistent basis? Many who claim to be ‘in the know’ would try to convince us those days are over and were not meant for us. Oh, really? (Gen. 3:11)

So...when...did Jesus get ‘anointed with power’? It was after...He completed and ‘passed boot camp’, proving to the Father His heart was totally sold out to Him. “Then Jesus returned in the ...power...of the Spirit to Galilee and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.” (Luke 4:14). Now, please go read and underline Matt. 9:35-36. This...is the ministry Jesus handed off to His church.

How’s that working out for us today? If...we continue to yield to the ‘lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life’, chances are...we have not passed ‘boot camp’ yet ...and remain devoid of that power God wants to anoint us with as well. 

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