Holy Spirit

Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by [Paul's instructions] is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

—1 Thessalonians 4:8-9 NLT

Key Thought​

God keeps on giving us the vitally empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. One of the great blessings about this presence is that God pours...

 

Samuel took his flask of oil and anointed [David], with his brothers standing around watching. The Spirit of God entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life.

—1 Samuel 16:13 MESSAGE

Key Thought​

Throughout the Old Testament, God's Spirit would come on leaders for a time and empower them in special ways. However, David was led and empowered by the Spirit for his whole life after he was anointed by Samuel, although his sinful time with...

 

[The Gentiles] were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God's Spirit. In this way, I [Paul] have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

—Romans 15:19 NLT

Key Thought​

The proclamation of Jesus was confirmed by the miracles and signs that accompanied the message (Hebrews 2:3-4), as illustrated in the book of Acts, first among Jews and then primarily through Paul among non-Jews. Paul's...

 

[O]ur gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

—1 Thessalonians 1:5 NIV

Key Thought​

When the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed, much more is happening than just the declaration in words of God's grace in Jesus. Not only did the Holy Spirit inspire the truth of God's message in Jesus that we find in the Scriptures, but the Spirit is also at work in the proclamation of that message today. The Holy Spirit is at work in...

 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

—Romans 15:30 NIV

Key Thought​

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we pray (Romans 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit pours love into our hearts to give us hope and endurance (Romans 5:5; Colossians 1:9-11). So it shouldn't surprise us that the love we have from the Holy Spirit moves us to pray for others in their struggles. Praying for others...

 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

—Ephesians 6:18-20 NIV

Key Thought​

When we open the book of Acts, we see the power of the Holy...

 

[The disciples praying after Peter and John were released from jail:] "Now, Lord, ... enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

—Acts 4:29-31 NIV

Key Thought​

The early followers of Jesus were facing harsh...

 

[Peter said,] "We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

—Acts 5:32 NIV

Key Thought​

The apostles, and some others, were witnesses of Jesus' presence after his resurrection from the dead. However, if we listen carefully to this statement of Peter, there is a great promise for those of us who live centuries after Jesus' resurrection. We have living in us a witness of Jesus' resurrection — the Holy Spirit. Jesus...

 

[Addressing the crowd on Pentecost, Peter said,] "Exalted to the right hand of God, [Jesus] has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."

—Acts 2:33 NIV

Key Thought​

I believe in the resurrection of Jesus. I believe because of the testimony of Scripture. I believe because of the change in fearful men and women who become bold and courageous witnesses to Jesus and his resurrection. I believe because otherwise...

 

[To the apostles, Jesus said,] "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."

—Acts 1:8 NLT

Key Thought​

Everywhere! That pretty much covers the world, doesn't it? The amazing thing is that this ragtag bunch of disciples, who were nobodies from nowhere, did it. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they began a...