We human beings are weak. Try as we might to grow in physical and emotional strength, our power is limited. God, on the other hand, is all-powerful. In fact, nothing is outside of His power. The remarkable thing is that when we place our faith in Him, the Holy Spirit comes and lives life alongside us. This means that we have the power of the Holy Spirit walking with us every day, helping us to live lives that honor Him. Because of the Holy Spirit’s power at work within us, we can walk boldly and confidently in His power each and every day.
Acts 1:8 records Jesus’ last teachings to His disciples about the Holy Spirit in His final moments with them before He returned to heaven. He told them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Indeed, the Holy Spirit is all-powerful, and when the Holy Spirit comes alongside us, the Spirit’s power is at work in us, strengthening us, emboldening us, and helping us. Scripture tells us that after Jesus said these things, He ascended into Heaven. Throughout the rest of the book of Acts, we see the power of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised, at work in the lives of followers of Christ.
The first place we see the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of believers is in Acts chapter 2. In this chapter, we read about the moment that the Holy Spirit came, just as Jesus had promised. When the Holy Spirit came, Scripture tells us that every believer was meeting together when suddenly, “what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability” (verses 3-4). Now, at this time, Jews “from every nation” lived in Jerusalem, which means that Jerusalem was filled with people who spoke different languages (verse 5). When they caught wind of what was taking place, they were amazed to hear the believers speaking their own languages. It was the power of God at work. Trying to make sense of what was taking place, some in the crowd said, “They’re just drunk, that’s all” (verse 13). They did not realize that this had all happened because the Holy Spirit was at work. At this accusation, Peter defended himself and all of the believers, preaching a bold message that what had happened had been a direct result of the Holy Spirit’s power at work.
As Peter defended himself and the believers, he spoke boldly and confidently, in the power of the Holy Spirit. He taught the crowd about Jesus and why they needed Him. As Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit’s power was, indeed, at work. The crowd listening was captivated by his teaching. Scripture teaches that “Peter’s words pierced their hearts” and motivated them to turn to Christ (verse 37). In fact, “about 3,000” people placed their faith in Christ that day (verse 41). Can you imagine seeing all of that take place that day? Around 3,000 people placed their faith in Christ. God’s movement was at work, and nothing would ever be the same. This is the power of the Holy Spirit on display.
The same power of the Holy Spirit at work in Acts 2 is at work in you. Let that truth settle onto your heart and mind for a moment. Because of the Holy Spirit’s power at work in you, you can walk boldly, confidently, and obediently with whatever God asks you to do. There is nothing He cannot do. Will you trust Him and walk boldly today?
What is God calling you to do that requires boldness? Maybe He is calling you to share your faith with someone who is far from Him, to take a radical step of obedience, or to do something else that requires you to be bold in your faith. Whatever He is calling you to do, take that bold step today, remembering that you have the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life, and there is nothing God cannot do.
“God, I want to boldly follow You in the power of the Holy Spirit. Use me…”
1On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.
19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him:
‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
26 No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
28 You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’
29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.
32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
35 until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”’
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
