Relinquished and released

Scripture Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (KJV)

Listen, can you hear the cry of Jesus?

Can you hear the resolve and resolute in His voice?

Can you hear how tired He had become?

What a day this his been for Jesus. It’s around three o’clock in the afternoon, the people have spoken, they have elected to release the real criminal and convict the innocent.

Does this sound familiar?

The soldiers have come to take him to his demise,

he is placed in the company of two criminals.

He has forgiven and pardoned his accusers and enemies (1st word),

He has given one of the criminals a reservation in Hotel Paradise (2nd word),

he has made provisions for his mother(3rd word),

He has pleaded for God’s presence and mercy,(4th word)

He has let known his physical needs be known(5th word)

He has given up and resolved that this is the end game (6th word) and then...,

THE SEVENTH (7TH) WORD

FATHER INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT

It’s was time for relinquish and release.

FATHER: You do know that Jesus had a special relationship with God. Jesus was the only begotten son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit.

INTO YOUR HANDS: Not he hands of his accusers. Not the hands of the rulers (Herod and Pilate) but into the hands of God the father, the almighty, the maker of heaven and earth.

Their hands had the power to kill his flesh and they did. But they did and could not kill his Spirit, for it was not theirs to kill. The Spirit was God given and only God can reclaim or recapture it.

People, remember there is no place better to be than in the hands of God. The one who created you, the one who guides you, the one who nurtures and most importantly the one who loves you. Into his hands.

I COMMIT: Jesus says I relinquish my will Lord. Not my will but yours. His words of commitment implies that Jesus submitted to the Father’s will and plan for his life.

Can’t you hear him saying: I was built for this, I was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a young virgin. I was destined for greatness.

I was ordained to rule and reign over the house of Jacob and his kingdom.

I was created to save the people from their sins and offer a guarantee of eternity. I was born to bear light and be a vessel of love. to show and give love. I am full of grace and truth. I can do this God. Can’t you hear him?

But underlying this holy ghost boldness and bravado is lurking the truth. I can also hear Jesus saying, no praying; Lord if I can be transparent, I was not looking forward to this moment. I tried to see if there was another way, I was hoping you would have considered another option, but Lord Have your way. Not my will Lord but yours.

Can’t you hear him? God I am ready. It is at this moment in time when Jesus proclaims his readiness to submit to the will of God. And in his submission comes obedience. Not only was Jesus ready but he was obedient. The commitment and submission of Jesus’ spirit was an act of obedience. Dr. James Forbes the renowned prophetic preacher of the 20th and 21st century says that the power to be obedient to God’s will in the face of human opposition is fundamental for prophetic ministry. Jesus became aware God’s appointment and his assignment. His calling of empowerment and guidance was on the line. and in their faces He cried out FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS, I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.

I COMMIT MY SPIRIT. I surrender God. I surrender all

IT’S YOURS LORD. Can’t you hear him singing the gospel song I’m yours Lord,Everything I am, everything I got, , Everything I’m not, I’m yours Lord Try me now and see, See if I can be Completely yours.

and the second stanza further states My life and my love I’ll leave in your hands I’ll do every thing as your will command..., it’s all I can give And all I can say. I’m yours Lord.

I commit my Spirit. The same Spirit that conceived me, the same spirit that anointed me at Baptism, the same Spirit that indwells in me and empowered me to preach and teach in synagogues and heal all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases among the people. The same spirit that equipped me to feed thousands.

But Jesus not only relinquished and committed His will but he released the Holy Spirit. The scripture as recorded in the King James Version Version and the American Standard says He gave up the ghost. Other versions New King James, NIV, English Standard Version records it as he breathed his last.

Ghost is defined as an embodiment of spirit.

For Jesus, and us the holy ghost is the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit is the breathe of God. Ruah is the Hebrew word for breath in the Old testament. God breathed into the nostrils of Adam and gave him life,(Gen. 2:7), the heavens were made by God’s word and breathe (Psalm 33:6) and after the resurrection Jesus breathed on the disciples and said unto them, receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22)

Jesus cried out, not whispered out. He made both a proclamation and said a prayer.His finale: LORD INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.

Same words proclaimed by King David (Psalm31:5) as Saul pursued him in Keilah (1Samuel 23:7-15), also the words of Stephen the Martyr ( Acts 7:59).

Now I just want to take one moment and speak directly to each of you. Is there an area in your life and particularly your faith life where you have not called on the Father and committed your Spirit. Is there and area in your life where you have not relinquished your personal will and received God’s divine will.

Is their something that you have in your hands and will not commit it to God.

If so I invite you to say the same words as Jesus, Father into your hands, I commend my spirit and breathe.

Closing: As Christians yielding to the Spirit, our total beings are transformed and no area of our lives is excluded from the process. Life nor death. Triumphs nor trials. Blessings or struggles. Giving up the ghost is a process that leads us to yield to the revealed will of God. It is out of a sense of divine power working within us. In this process we are made ready to go forth and to be about the tasks of ministry. Give up the ghost and receive the breathe of God.