We are in a series talking about different aspects of the Holy Spirit. In this lesson, we are going to talk about something important. We are going to focus on how the Holy Spirit empowers us. The Holy Spirit is powerful and empowers us for the things of this life. To do the works and will of God and to be able to live well and overcome in our own lives.

Let’s start with a verse that shows us this truth. Christ was talking to his disciples shortly before his ascension to heaven. He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem before receiving the power of the Holy Spirit that he was going to send. Then he said to them in Acts 1:8, “But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV) And then when they had this power, they could go out to be witnesses, that is, to evangelize. To win others for Christ or do any other work for the Lord, we need this power of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts chapter 2, which is the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with power, and the believers there were filled with this power that Christ mentioned in Acts 1:8.

What a difference in the disciples after receiving this power from the Holy Spirit. Peter, who a few weeks earlier had denied knowing Jesus three times, stood up and preached to all the people there about this same Christ, and now with boldness and courage, and on that day 3,000 people received Christ, and the Christian church was born.

A touch from the Spirit changes us and gives us power to evangelize and share the good news of Jesus, as Acts 1:8 says. If you have not been able to share your faith because of fear or shyness, you may ask for a new and fresh touch from the Spirit on your life, and God will touch you and give you this power.

With this power, there is also the power to see other people touched through our lives by this power of the Spirit within. Look at how God used Peter and John in Acts 3. In this chapter, they entered the temple, and there was a paralytic who had never walked, begging them for alms, and look at what Peter said to him in verses 6-7. “I don’t have any silver or gold,” Peter said, “but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” ⁷ And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up. Instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” (NIV) What a miracle, and all because of the Holy Spirit within Peter and John. As believers with the Holy Spirit within us, God can use us too to perform miracles and bless others. On that day many more believed in the Lord, and the church continued to grow.

Another beautiful thing about this power of the Spirit within us is that it also gives us power to overcome sin and weaknesses in our lives. Well, one of the nine fruits that the Spirit produces within us is the fruit of self-control. This gives us power to overcome bad habits that may still be in our life. There is power in the Spirit to overcome. There is a very good verse in Romans 8:37, which says, “Nevertheless, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (NIV) And in the verses before v. 37, it talks about many problems and trials that we may experience as Christians. And v. 37 says that amid all this, we are not only conquerors, but more than conquerors!

All this is through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. If you have problems or if you have fallen into something, you can get up and move forward, and you can do it through the power of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you need to confess a sin and ask for forgiveness, and God will forgive you and lift you up again.

There is power from the Spirit for your situation. We must all ask for this new and deeper touch of the Holy Spirit because, as we read in Acts 1:8, we will receive power when the Spirit comes upon us.