The Spirit And The Adat Yeshua

Author: Dwight A. Pryor

AS A MAN AND AS THE MESSIAH, Jesus of Nazareth led a Spirit-saturated

existence. From conception to resurrection he was “anointed” (mashach) of God “with
the Holy Spirit and with power, [and] went about doing good…” (Acts 10:38).

To carry on his good work of advancing the in-breaking Kingdom of God in human
affairs, Jesus pledged to build a “church” (ekklesia), a community of faithful disciples
that would bear his name and his mission after his departure. Even as he had embodied
the fullness of Deity in the earth (Col 2:19), they now would embody the fullness of his
humanity in a continuing way. They would be to others what he had been to them. To
accomplish this would require the same Spirit that had anointed, empowered and guided
Messiah Jesus.

According to Luke’s gospel, therefore, Yeshua’s last recorded words to his disciples
consisted of a promise and a command, both relating to the Spirit. Addressing them as his
“witnesses” Jesus promised that he would send upon them the Holy Spirit from the
Father. He ordered them to remain in Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from
on high” by that Spirit (Luke 24:49).

Just as the congregation of Israel (adat Yisrael) required the covering of the Shekhinah
clouds of God’s glory on its journey from redemption to the promised land, so the adat
Yeshua, the congregation that Jesus established, required the clothing of the Spirit for its
servant mission to bear witness to the world that “Messiah is Lord to the glory of God the
Father” (Phil 2:11).

THE NT BEARS ABUNDANT WITNESS to the reality, scope and influence of the
Holy Spirit upon the life and witness of the early church. The Spirit was essential for:

• Authentic Worship. For Jesus and his followers genuine worship must be done
“in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Paul confirms: “We … worship by the Spirit of
God … and put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3:3).
• Intimacy with the Father. It is through the Holy Spirit that “God’s love has been
poured into our hearts” (Rom 5:5). Because of Messiah both Jew and Gentile
“have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Eph 2:18) – enabling their hearts to cry
out in fervent intimacy, “Abba! Father!” (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6).
• Holy Living. Those who “live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things
of the Spirit” (8:5) and thereby are given understanding of the Scriptures (1 Cor
2:13) and are sanctified in obedience to Jesus the Messiah (1 Pet 1:2). Indeed
those who walk according to the Spirit will fulfill the “righteous requirement of
the Torah” (Rom 8:4).
• Building up the Body. Varieties of gifts, ministries and activities are given by the
Spirit to each member of the adat Yeshua for the common good (1 Cor 12:4-7).
 As each believer does his/her part the Body of Messiah is built up in love (Eph
4:16).
• Bearing Spiritual Fruit. The congregation, like its Master, exhibits love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control when its
members “walk by the Spirit” and are “led by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16-23).
• Fostering Unity. Unity is a cherished value in Jewish tradition. The Apostolic
Writings stress a unity born of the Spirit (not a ‘spirit of unity’) that coheres the
community and advances its mission. Each member is exhorted therefore to be
“eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3).
• Furthering the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God, at its core, pertains to
“righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 4:17). The Spirit
represents the King’s presence in the midst of his people and is the power that
propels his agenda toward its fulfillment.

Before the Day of Pentecost, Jesus commanded to his redeemed disciples to tarry until
the promised Spirit was poured out upon them. Thereafter, the Apostle Paul’s continuing
command to the congregation that bears his name, the adat Yeshua, is to “be filled (again
and again) with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18; cf. Acts 13:52). The Holy Spirit was essential for
Jesus of Nazareth. How much more for the people of faith today that are to carry on his
mission and message?

© 2011 The Center for Judaic-Christian Studies.

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