In today’s message Bro. Leo continues our study of God’s Holy Spirit by looking at the example of Mary and how it illustrates how we are to relate to God and His Holy Spirit in specific situations in our lives.  Mary understood that she , in her own power, could not conceive a child so the Angel explained to her that the power of God’s Holy Spirit would do it.  Nothing has changed since then, man can not do the will of God under in our own power we need the power of His Holy Spirit to accomplish the work.  In every situation in our life we need to turn to God and seek, wait for and expect to be empowered, strengthened and energized by His Holy Spirit.  This can not be accomplished by generalizing, we must be specific with God in every situation we find ourselves in, notice how specific the example of Mary is in Luke 1:34-38.

A quote from Bro. Leo: “Everything done in the NT for Christ, in Christ and by Christ’ people was carried out in the power, strength, energy and wisdom of His Holy Spirit”.  Some examples are Luke 1:36, Rom. 4:19-21, Acts 2:4,14,  Acts 4:8.

The example of Mary not only tells us we need the power of God’s Holy Spirit, but also explains how we go about getting this power.  In Luke 1:38 Mary presented her body to God for the specific work described to her by the Angel.  In this example we see Mary realizing she is powerless to accomplish the work, the Angel telling her God’s Holy Spirit would do it for her and Mary agreeing(presenting herself) to allow God to use her body no matter the cost to her.  In order for us to do the will of God in any specific situation we must follow the same steps illustrated in the example of Mary.

If we do not follow the steps illustrated in the example of Mary it is impossible to do God’s will in that specific situation and it should be considered sin (Rom. 6:13).   We will never operate, flourish,live in the power of God if we are not willing to give it to God.

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luk 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
Luk 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luk 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Luk 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Luk 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.