The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me

 

GOD CONFIRMS HIS WORD

God's law for the people of Israel commanded that, "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity . . . at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established" (Deut. 19:15). Jesus says, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matt. 18:16).

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give similar accounts of Jesus's three-year ministry, yet they are all recorded in the Bible. They are all included in the Bible to confirm the Word of God out of the mouth of several witnesses. When a prophetic word is spoken into one’s life, it is most often a confirmation of something that God has already revealed to the person. God always confirms his Word in the mouth of two or more witnesses, and if we listen, we can hear the echo.

The following passages of scripture in Isaiah 61:1-2 records the prophetic words of Isaiah the prophet regarding the coming Messiah:

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Many times during Jesus life on earth, he confirmed the words of scripture by repeating them. In the following passages of scripture in Luke 4:18-19 Jesus spoke the following words:

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

In speaking these words Jesus was confirming that he was the fulfillment of the words of Isaiah 61:1-3 regarding the coming Messiah. The focus of this article is Luke 4:18-19. These are the words that I have heard repeatedly entering into 2026. I prayed and asked God what these words mean for today, and in this I will share what God spoke to me regarding the words of these scriptures and what they mean for 2026 and beyond.

THE LORD IS DOING A NEW THING

The Lord is doing a new thing in the earth in 2026. He is rising up a generation of believers in whom the words spoken by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 is a mantle that empowers them to demonstrate the authority and power of Almighty God. These will fulfill the words of Jesus when he said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (Jn. 14:12).

The new generation of believers is not defined by natural things, but they are defined by spiritual things. They are not defined by age, culture, education, ethnicity, gender, status, their past, or wealth. The Apostle Paul writes in the following passages of scripture:

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
(1 Cor. 12:4-7)

The new generation of believers is defined by their knowledge of God. They know that Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and through their unity with him they will take their rightful place as kings and priests in Gods kingdom.

The new generation of believers is fearless. Their lives are marked by various trials and tribulations that were designed by the devil to destroy them. Just as the men possessed with devils recognized Jesus (Matt. 8:28-29), the devil recognizes those who have been called of God from the foundation of the world to do miraculous works. The devil has tried everything under the sun to prevent them from fulfilling the call of God on their lives. However, God used what was intended to destroy them to make them stronger. They will declare, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

The new generation understands that they are a part of the body of Christ. Often when the phrase “new generation” is mentioned, it is assumed that the emphasis is on youth. Sadly, in many societies, the elderly are discounted because their usefulness is questioned. However, the new generation of believers is not restricted by their age because they know that they make up the body of Christ. Just as a diversity of members work together in unity to form a natural body, believers are members of the body of Christ, and along with other members make up his body. Paul writes, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Rom. 12:5).

The new generation of believers understands that they represent Christ in the world. The believers of Jesus Christ have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Paul writes, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). The new generation of believers reflects the characteristics of Christ. John writes, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 Jn. 4:17).

They understand that they are ambassadors for Christ. Believers are delegates of God’s kingdom who are commissioned to execute the authority of the kingdom of God in the earth. Paul writes to the Ephesians, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).

They understand that they partakers of the fullness of the divine nature of Christ. The fullness of Jesus Christ is defined as having a plentitude of divine attributes (Bible Hub). Through their union with Jesus, believers partake of the fullness of his divine nature. Paul writes, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:9-10). Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary states that “To be complete, is to be furnished with all things necessary for salvation” (Bible Hub).

They understand that they are one with Christ. In the following passages of scripture Paul describes the oneness of the believer’s relationship with Christ. Paul writes, “But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit” (1 Cor. 6:17). Paul writes, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Eph. 5:30). The close and intimate union between Christ and the believer is compared to that between a vine and its branches (John 15:1-6), and to that of a husband and wife (Eph. 5:22-23).

They understand that the Word of God is God. The new generation speaks the Word of God with authority knowing that the Word of God is God. It is recorded in the gospel of John, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). Jesus demonstrated the power of the spoken word through healings, miracles, signs, and wonders. Matthew writes, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick” (Matt. 8:16). The apostles also used the spoken word to perform many miracles, signs and wonders. Peter tells a lame man to rise and walk (Acts 3:6). Tabitha is restored to life when Peter tells her to arise (Acts 9:40). Paul commands a crippled man to stand to his feet (Acts 14:10). Paul commands a spirit of divination out of a possessed woman (Acts 16:18).

They understand that Christ is in them. Paul is credited with expounding on what it means to be in-Christ. Paul writes, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28). According to Ellicott’s Commentary, “What the words express is not merely the Omnipresence of the Deity; they tell us that the power for every act and sensation and thought comes from Him” (Bible Hub). Jesus says, “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (Jn. 14:20). John writes, “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (1 Jn. 4:13).

They understand that Christ works through them. The new generation of believers knows that the indwelling spirit of the Holy Ghost empowers them with supernatural abilities that they do not possess through natural means. Paul writes, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Cor. 12:7). Jesus says, “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (Jn. 14:10). Paul writes, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

They understand that they are new creatures in Christ. Those who receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ are new creatures and should possess his nature in thought, word, and deed. Paul writes, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Paul writes, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).

They understand that they are kings and priests in God’s kingdom. The new generation of believers knows the following facts about the kingdom of God: 1. The kingdom of God is the spiritual realm in which God rules and reigns (Psa. 103:19); 2. The kingdom of God is a present reality for the saints of God (Matt. 6:33); and 3. The saints of God reign with Christ in the kingdom of God (Rev. 5:10). Peter writes, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).

THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM

The new generation of believers will take up the mantle of Jesus Christ, and declare “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”. They will not be ashamed to witness to those that they encounter as they go about their daily activities. As they go about fulfilling the Great Commission, the world will see the signs described in the following passages of scripture in Mark 16:15-18:

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

CONCLUSION

We have entered into a season where we will see supernatural manifestations of God’s power as never before. The new generation of believers understands their relationship to God, and is authentic in their reverence of him. They will not be confined by the social club settings of modern-day churches, and they will go into the highways and byways to fulfill God’s will and purpose in the earth.

If you would like to have a personal relationship with Jesus, you must be born-again according to Acts 2:38 which reads, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Please share your comments and questions in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.


Diane Margo Penny is an author, content creator, social media specialist, and Web Designer.

Works Cited

All scripture references are taken from The Bible, King James Version unless noted otherwise.

The Holy Bible, King James Version. Giant Print Reference ed. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Publishers, 1990.

[BibleHub.com]

[BlueLetterBible.org]

Image Citation:
paloma-7888493_1920. Ronald Sandino. [Pixabay.com.] Web. 12 Jan. 2026.