Follow: Life-Giving HabitsSample

Holy Spirit Empowers Us

Have you ever tried to tell people about Jesus but struggled to find the right words or the courage to start? 

For such a long time in my life, I struggled with this. I wanted to follow Jesus but somehow, I lacked the strength to do exactly that. The good news however is that Jesus promises His followers the power to be on mission for Him. To follow Jesus without this promised power is like having a remote-control car without any batteries in it. Everything is in place: the new body of the car and the technology to make it do extraordinary things but without the batteries, without the power, it’s a dead toy missing out on everything it was created for.

Acts 1:8 NLT But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The Holy Spirit empowers the followers of Jesus to be a witness. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to go on a mission for Jesus to follow Him unto death. So, who fills us with the Holy Spirit? Would it be good for me to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

John 14:16-17 NLT And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

Luke 11:11-13 NLT You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

1. Who fills us with the Holy Spirit? 

Our heavenly Father fills us with the Holy Spirit. It’s not some great spiritual leader that controls the working of the Holy Spirit, but God does.

2. Would it be good for me to be filled with the Holy Spirit? 

The answer is a resounding YES. In Luke 11 Jesus compares the insight of an earthly father that knows how to give his children good gifts to our perfect heavenly Father. Pointing out how much more our heavenly Father will give us the Holy Spirit, a very good gift.

So, why not receive this gift of the Holy Spirit today? Jesus gave His life so that His followers can have this gift. 

Probably the question I get asked most about the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit is how we can know we have received the Holy Spirit. As we read in Acts 1:8, we’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes over us. So, first of all, you will know about it; it’s something you will experience. Some people experience the power of God’s love coming over them, others feel the power of His joy, while others just have an overwhelming sense of God’s powerful peace. Some people experience the working of a powerful gift of the Holy Spirit like speaking in tongues or prophecy. Whatever the experience, the important part is that the Holy Spirit makes you more aware of God’s love for you, giving you the power to follow Jesus.

Prayer:

Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.