Needing the Holy SpiritSample

The Father Will Give You the Holy Spirit 

Jesus knew firsthand the power associated with the Holy Spirit. I’m not talking about atomic power or even explosions on the sun. I’m talking about universe-creating power. When God said, “Let there be” (Gen. 1), He demonstrated a make-it-happen kind of power. All that power dwelled in Jesus, ready to be unleashed with just a word. It was limitless power, able to heal the sick, drive out devils, and calm storms. It was the same power that raised the dead body of Jesus back to life. In the Greek, it is called dunamis power. It’s where we get the word dynamite.

The Holy Spirit was given to Jesus so He could accomplish every assignment given Him. For us to truly be Christ’s followers and demonstrate the same works He did—and even greater works (John 14:12) —we must be empowered by the same Spirit. It is impossible for us to walk in the same anointing Jesus had without it. This is why Jesus insisted that the disciples not leave Jerusalem until they had received the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). Only after the Spirit came upon them would they receive dunamis power to take the gospel “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NLT).

Just as the Father gave the gift of the Spirit to the Son and to Jesus’ disciples, He wants to give Him to us. If my young son asked me if he could drive a brand-new Ferrari, I wouldn’t grant that request. There is so little experience on his part to go with so much power. His maturity doesn’t match the privilege. Yet God knows exactly what He’s doing and gives us the Holy Spirit to grow us up in God. It is truly impossible to be a Christ follower without the Spirit, and the Father stands by, ready to give Him to all who ask (Luke 11:13).