Holy Spirit

[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 message was...

 

[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 unimportant...

 

[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 this...

 

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, what...

 

[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...

 

[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 movement...

 

[Jesus said,] "John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."

—Acts 1:5 MESSAGE

Key Thought
"Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, ..." (Acts 1:4 NLT). These were Jesus' words to his closest followers. Now we understand why. When John the Baptizer came, he spoke of one who would baptize in the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:7-8). Soon after Jesus ascended back to heaven, the kingdom of God would break into the world with...

 

Once when [Jesus] was eating with [the disciples], he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before."

—Acts 1:4 NLT

Key Thought
While the apostles were to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:18-20), the Lord also told them to wait — not to leave Jerusalem before receiving the promised gift from the Father. This promised gift is the Holy Spirit. The apostles needed the power the prophets had...

 

[Luke wrote,] In my [gospel] I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

—Acts 1:1-2 NLT

Key Thought
God's leaders in the Old Testament spoke through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was God in human flesh, so Luke emphasized that Jesus' words carried the authority of God — giving "instructions through the Holy Spirit." We...