School of the Spirit: Living the Holy Spirit-Empowered Life Sample

Day 2: Why Do I Need the Holy Spirit?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you...” (Acts 1:8).

Some Christians believe they can get through life without the Holy Spirit. They might even say, “I just want to be like Jesus”. Well, did you know that everything Jesus did was through the power of the Holy Spirit? That’s right! Jesus came not only to deliver us from sin and death but also to establish a pattern for how we should live in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit was present at the beginning of Creation, “...hovering over the face of the water.” (Genesis 1:2). He was also present at Mary’s miraculous conception (see Luke 1:35). When it was time for Jesus’ public ministry to begin, Jesus went to be baptized by His cousin, John. The Holy Spirit came down upon Him like a dove, publicly anointing Jesus and inaugurating His ministry. 

Jesus lived in absolute dependence on the Holy Spirit. He didn’t try to compartmentalize parts of His life by saying, “I will follow the Holy Spirit in most matters, but in these things I just can’t do it.” No, Jesus’ life was intricately woven together with the Holy Spirit. Theirs was (and is) a true partnership. 

The Holy Spirit was the One who empowered everything Jesus did, and we too should be driven and empowered by the Holy Spirit. God calls us, as His children, to live naturally supernatural lives. 

Are you hesitant to embrace the Holy Spirit because you aren’t sure what He will do in your everyday life? Here are a few things the Holy Spirit does for believers:

• He helps us remember Scriptures we’ve read when we need them most (John 14:26).

• He intercedes for us according to God’s will, even when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26–27). 

• He empowers us to witness to others (Acts 1:8).

Leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus talked to His disciples more about the Holy Spirit than anything else. He knew He was passing His ministry to them and they would need a Helper. Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13). 

The disciples received the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, and as Jesus promised in Acts 1:8, they were endowed with power and became witnesses “...in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” There was no way they could have spread the gospel without the help of the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine trying to heal the sick, raise the dead, and endure intense persecution with your own power? The disciples needed the Holy Spirit, and so do we.

Holy Spirit, I need you. May my dependence be solely on You and not on my own power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.