Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit will be moved by the Spirit to minister to the deepest needs of other people.
We can probably view this characteristic of the Spirit-filled life as the culmination of all the other characteristics, because it necessitates the character of Christ; the boldness and power to step out in faith as a witness; the availability to be used supernaturally and spontaneously, as circumstances require; and the power of the “two-or-three gathered” team ministry. And it all grows out of a deep reverential and loving worship of God and the desire to please Him. “This is to my Father’s glory,” Jesus said, “that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). This characteristic ties the others together and reveals in the deepest way who Jesus Christ is and what He is about. Just listen to Jesus as He reads from Isaiah 61:1–2:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18–19).
After reading this, Jesus told His hearers, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus was the “Christ,” which means “the Anointed One” of God. He was anointed by the Spirit of God to proclaim good news, to set captives free, and give sight to the blind. Peter, preaching in the home of Cornelius, said: “You know what has happened throughout Judea . . . how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him” (Acts 10:37–38).
We see the fruit of this anointing for ministry throughout Christ’s earthly ministry, as multitudes were saved, healed, delivered, restored, blessed, raised from death to life, forgiven . . . and more. Compassion moved the heart of Jesus as He saw the desperately needy people around Him. His half-brother James testified of Him, “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11). God’s Word also says of Him, “When he saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). When large crowds came to see Him and hear His teaching, “He had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14). His compassion led Him to miraculously feed thousands of people (Matthew 15:32ff); heal the blind (Matthew 20:34); cure lepers (Mark 1:40–42). Compassion compelled Jesus to minister to people’s deepest needs. It was compassion that drove Him to raise Lazarus, as well as the son of the widow from Nain, from the dead.
And finally, compassion led Jesus to the Cross of Calvary, where “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor 5:21),”so that we could find reconciliation and peace with God, forgiveness of sins, restoration for our souls, deliverance from deception and bondage, and everlasting life. In His compassion, Jesus is like His Father, who so loved the world that He gave His only Son for us. Thank you, Lord! “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:22).
But it doesn’t end there. Jesus very clearly commissions us to be bearers of His message and instruments of His mission. In John 20:21–22, following His resurrection from the dead Jesus instructs His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He charged them to carry on His mission; He had the anointing to preach the good news, heal the brokenhearted, and set the captives free. Now, having made full salvation possible through the shedding of His blood and His resurrection from the dead, He commissioned His followers to preach the good news and to demonstrate its benefits, healing the sick and brokenhearted, setting captives free from the power of sin and Satan. Following this commissioning, “He breathed on them and said ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:22).
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are moved with the compassion of Jesus for people — people who are lost and lonely, sheep without a shepherd; people who are destitute, in body and in spirit; people who are bound by addictions and bent on self destruction; people so desperate for love that they sell their souls for acceptance and a sense of belonging. There are so many needy people everywhere, all around us, who need to know Jesus. They need His love, His restoring and healing power. They need His grace and forgiveness; His truth and meaning to bring clarity and purpose to their lives; His power to help them cope with life’s problems and the hope that He alone can give. We need to get this.
The Holy Spirit moves us and makes us vessels through whom Jesus can carry on His ministry. We become His voice through which He speaks His words of truth and encouragement; His hands with which He touches the least, the last, the lost; and His feet, which enable Him to go to those who need Him, whether that means across the street or in the remotest village on the other side of the world.
The Isaiah 61:1–2 passage that Jesus cited is descriptive, not only of Jesus’ ministry, but of ours, as well. The text continues:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me . . . .
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” — Isaiah 61:1-3
The Holy Spirit gives this Isaiah 61 Anointing to us for the purpose of restoring people’s lives, of bringing them into wholeness and strength, like “oaks of righteousness… for the display of His splendor.” To God be the glory!