THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE INCARNATION
We’re in the Christmas season now, so let’s talk about the major action of the Holy Spirit in the books of Matthew and Luke; the incarnation.
Matt 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. NKJV
`The angel of the Lord had appeared to Mary who was just a young teenager and told her that she would conceive and bring forth a son who would be great and be the Son of the highest. When she asked how this could happen without a husband, the angel said that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her. (See Luke 1:35) The Holy Spirit is the power behind the incarnation. If it were not for the Holy Spirit, the Word would never have been made flesh. Incarnation means the embodiment of God in human flesh. That’s what Son of God means: God in human flesh. This is how Jesus came in the flesh. (1John 4:2-3).
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. NKJV
The Holy Spirit caused the Word of God to be made flesh. He caused a supernatural conception to happen. The gospels tell us that Mary became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. (See our opening Scripture, Matt 1:20 and Luke 1:35 too.) This is how Jesus set aside His omnipotence, His omnipresence, His mighty power and glory and came to this earth as a human being. The Holy Spirit caused this miracle to happen inside Mary womb.
If you look at Luke’s version of the Christmas story, (See Luke 1:38-56) you will see that Mary took off to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also pregnant, supernaturally past the age of childbearing. The Holy Ghost had caused her and her husband to be renewed in their youth and for her barrenness to disappear. When Mary greeted her, the baby in her womb leaped and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then Mary, also filled with the Spirit sang a spiritual song (a song given by the Spirit.)
Also, in Matt 1:19-21, Joseph had a dream from the Lord. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings dreams and visions from God. In the dream, the Holy Spirit enabled Joseph to see in the spiritual realm to see the angel of the Lord warning him to keep Mary. As a result, Mary was not put away but protected throughout her pregnancy with Jesus.
If you read Matt. 2, you will find that Herod the king wanted Jesus destroyed. He thought Jesus would replace him as king and he felt threatened. So, he authorized state sanctioned murder of all babies 2 years old and under. How would Jesus be preserved from this chaotic threat? The Holy Spirit again gave Joseph a dream to take the young child Jesus and his mother and flee into Egypt. He also warned the wise men in a dream not to return to Herod. Later after Herod was dead, the Holy Spirit gave Joseph another dream to move back to Israel and that’s how the family ended up in Nazareth.
Sometimes Christmas time can be difficult, hard and lonely for those without supplies and without close family members. It’s an important season to listen to the Holy Spirit to guide us to make a difference in someone else’s family, give something to them to cheer them up or invite them over. Also, since the Holy Spirit was such a vital Person during Christmas, this Christmas season, invite Him to come celebrate Jesus with you. His ministry is to glorify Jesus. He’s the best help to bring Jesus glory during your Christmas celebrations. Welcome Him, fellowship with Him and work with Him. He’ll make your Christmas like no other, full of fun, joy and peace. Instead of lifeless formalities, you will have a supernatural time, celebrating the One who was born during this season.
Happy birthday Jesus!!! Merry Christmas everyone!
