Unexpected Side Effects
Did Jesus get tired? We know that God the Father neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4), but did Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of Man suffer physical fatigue? In John’s account of the Samaritan woman at the well, we read about her “happenstantial” meeting with Jesus. “Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.” (John 4:6) The disciples had gone in search of food, so everyone was obviously also hungry. The Samaritan woman came to get water during the heat of the day when no one else was usually there. Jesus engaged her very naturally in conversation that led to Him revealing Who He was and that He knew who she was.
In amazement, she left her water jar to go tell the townspeople, just as the disciples were returning with food, urging Jesus to eat. “But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.’” (v.32) Because they did not understand, Jesus explained that doing the work the Father sent Him to do was His food. That still didn’t make sense based on the fact they were all hungry, but they accepted it without realizing Jesus was modeling it at the time. Tired and hungry, he had not only ministered to the Samaritan woman, but now was teaching His disciples. The power and presence of the Holy Spirit on Jesus rejuvenated His physical body to go beyond normal human limitations.
This phenomenal work of the Holy Spirit also occurs today. One of the most famous examples was Billy Graham who continued in active ministry with Parkinson’s disease through his 90’s. His preaching was anointed, inspired, and energetic, yet he would collapse into a chair after he was finished. He demonstrated that Christ-followers who earnestly desire to serve God and others often find unexpected energy with supernatural power and direction for the task at hand. This really shouldn’t be surprising, as Hebrews 13:20-21 explains: “Now may the God of peace, [ ] 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” This equipping is the same Holy Spirit Who indwelt Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, Whom Jesus left for our benefit when He ascended to the Father.
The Nature of Holy Spirit as Power and Counsel not only equips us for Kingdom work, but often reveals His Presence as a type of supernatural “high” because of His anointing. It borders on ecstasy to observe that we are operating beyond our normal abilities, something like having a Ferrari engine in a Volkswagen chassis. That means the person ministering gets as much, if not more, than those receiving the ministry. It is a different take on giving. “The Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35) While this verse is most often interpreted as being intentional about giving that pleases the heart of God, what happens with the anointing is an automatic by-product that blesses the giver. It is an unexpected side-effect of Holy Spirit’s presence, like light beams naturally radiating from the sun.
Unfortunately, this “high” can be intoxicating somewhat like other chemical or physical “highs,” that leave people wanting more of the same. In ministry, people can be enticed to replicate what they previously did to receive another “high.” God is not fooled and He will not be used for personal gain. When this happens, He withdraws His anointing. This explains why a person who once seemed to operate in supernatural power now does not. The anointing of the Holy Spirit comes at the Father’s discretion, not with man’s effort. God’s prerequisite is a pure heart that permits both His anointing and the discernment to recognize His anointing. Many in the Samaritan village believed Jesus was the Messiah, but the majority of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law did not.
The unexpected side-effect of the Holy Spirit’s Presence is for equipping us to answer God’s calling even when we feel underqualified or inept. In fact, acknowledging those realities allows us to be the humble vessels that would never steal God’s glory. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) God is looking for those who are open and willing. Is that you?