This is the first Article in a series of studies on the Birth of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. An Event called the “Incarnation.” When God became “flesh!”

Today we visit Luke 1:35. We will be here again I suspect, before Christmas has come and gone! “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.”

Three words, “that holy Thing,” have arrested my attention.

But only one word in Greek, “hagios.”

And why Luke was led to put the word in the neuter gender, I do not know.

The adjective means “different!”

“Other” than has ever been!

“Set apart!”

Even “consecrated.”

HOLY in that sense!

A new thing was happening that day long ago. And Gabriel the angel was announcing it to Mary the virgin.

God the Son was to be born of a human being, a lady, a Jewish girl.

And oh, what a HOLY THING He was.

He still is!

He always will be!

By the way, “that Holy Thing” died on the Cross.

And he too, the Darling Son of God, was raised from the dead.

And is now my Saviour, through His Own shed Blood.

Think of Him today, often.

THAT HOLY THING!

None like Him.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

We now have noticed over two dozen Verses (all from the Old Testament) about the Holy Spirit. These studies occupied most of the month of November, 2015. And though I personally selected the various Passages, they seemed to be extremely profitable to our readers’ understanding of the Spirit of God. Mine as well!

Today, as we conclude the series, Zechariah 12:10 comes to the forefront. “And I (the Lord) will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

Wow!

The Spirit “poured out” upon Israel! “Shaphak” is the verb, meaning “to gush out!” This Event is yet future in its fullest manifestation, at the Second Coming of Jesus to earth.

And what does the Holy Spirit “do,” once He has saturated these people?

He fulfills His role as the Member of the Godhead Who imparts Grace and Supplication upon a person, here upon a people. “Grace” is the Characteristic of God (His good Favour) by which mankind is “saved!” God’s very “gift” to us. And “Supplication” is another way of saying “intreaty,” simply “prayer.” Maybe even begging!

The Holy Spirit here places Israel “under conviction!” Watch these people begin to “mourn!” The word means “to wail, to lament.” Crying over sin!

What sin?

Killing Jesus!

“Piercing” the Son of God!

All we sinners had a part, you know.

The Holy Spirit “creates” within a soul that “hunger,” that “thirst” for the saving Grace of God! The yearning to be “born-again!”

He “points” men to Jesus!

They here “look” upon Him … with “nabat” meaning “to pay attention, to consider, to regard,” even “to study!”

Then comes deep sorrow!

Then (Zechariah 13:1) Israel is “saved.” Read it. “In that day there shall be a Fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

Washed in the Fountain, we say “Washed in the Blood!”

Their sin and uncleanness … all gone!

And How did this salvation miracle occur?

It began with the Presence, the Outpouring of God the Holy Spirit!

Isn’t that how YOU were saved?

Amen.

The Holy Spirit “pointed” (to Jesus).

Israel “repented” (sorrowfully).

The people “asked” (for salvation).

And God “cleansed” (via that fountain)!

That’s Heaven’s great Plan of Salvation.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell