Holy Spirit: His Power

Understanding the Holy Spirit’s Power

Every Christian must understand that our world is not our own. We reside in territory under enemy occupation, but as believers, we hold the potential to impact the world around us in unique and profound ways. God equips and empowers us to be difference-makers, but it is up to us to yield and walk in His power.

Effecting lasting change requires more than our efforts alone. The Holy Spirit is central to our empowerment, giving us the power, presence, and ability to do and be all God calls us to. When the Holy Spirit enters our lives, He doesn’t remain passive. Instead, He comes with power that resides within us, surrounds us, and acts upon us, just as Jesus states in Acts 1:8.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

This power isn’t for show; it’s bestowed upon us for a purpose and tied to the assignment or calling in our lives. Let’s dig deeper into the power of the Holy Spirit and the significance of His role in empowering believers. Understanding this essential aspect of our relationship with God can ignite a change within us, alter how we face challenges, and lead us to influence those around us.

The Authority and Ability Granted to Believers

Originally written in Greek, the New Testament uses many words to describe power, but there are two that we will focus on today: Dunamis(δύναμις)  and Exousia(ἐξουσία). Dunamis refers to power in terms of inherent power, ability, and strength. At the same time, Exousia means authority or the right to exercise power. There is a depth to the original language that can be more challenging to see in our English translations. This distinction in the meaning of the word “power” is significant. Without the authority to act or to do, what good is having the ability? Fortunately for us, we have both the ability and authority to act, which is activated through our submission and surrender to the Holy Spirit as He leads and guides us.

The Empowering Authority of Jesus

Jesus was given all authority in heaven and on earth. How do we know? We see Jesus speaking about this very thing in Matthew 28. He has received all authority; we are empowered and commanded to go by His authority and command.

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” – Matthew 28:18-19 (NKJV)

We have the authority to act and speak in the name of Jesus. Still, it is up to us to actively exercise our will and use that authority to fulfill God’s purpose in and for our lives. Mark 16:17-19 (NKJV) encourages us to exercise this authority, to step out in faith, and to use the power to fulfill our calling. Jesus demonstrates that believers will do things in His name and the authority He has given them. We later see in Acts 1:8 that the power of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to do so.

Living Out Our Authority

Operating in this authority is the hallmark of a believer. It’s how we stand against the devil’s schemes, speak life and freedom into our circumstances, and exercise dominion over the powers of darkness. Luke 10:19 reminds us that Jesus has given us authority over all power the enemy possesses.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” – Luke 10:19 (KJV)

But it’s not just about knowing we have this authority; it’s about living it out. Romans 8:30 (AMPC) tells us that God doesn’t just call the qualified, He qualifies the called. It’s a reminder not to disqualify ourselves based on our past or the lies the enemy throws at us. Instead, we’re to take authority over our lives, proclaiming the victory Jesus has already won for us.

Maintaining a Christ-Centered Life for Empowerment

Maintaining a Christ-centered life is vital to living in this power and authority. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us, making decisions aligned with the Word of God, and not letting circumstances sway our faith. This alignment with the Holy Spirit is essential for accessing the power and authority Jesus has made available to us through Him.

Jesus did not receive all authority until it was given to Him (Matthew 28:18). He was anointed with the power to do what He did. He did so through the power of the Holy Spirit. We see an example of this anointing in Luke 4:18, where Jesus declares, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach…” This scripture shows that the Holy Spirit anointed and empowered Jesus to do what He did. Not because Jesus could not do it Himself but because He is our example. We see this again in Acts 10:38 (NKJV); the anointing of the Holy Spirit on Jesus let Him do as He did.

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” – Acts 10:38 (NKJV)

Receiving the Gift of the Holy Spirit

As Jesus demonstrates, we must rely on the Holy Spirit, for we cannot do anything unto God’s purpose without the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus was anointed, believers are also anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. He is a gift for us as believers (Luke 11:13). When you receive the Holy Spirit, you are anointed with power and authority.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

Living Victoriously Through God’s Empowerment

Praise God that He loves us and does not want us to be alone and powerless. He wants us to be full of His Spirit and to walk in victory. Do not live as if you’re unarmed, for we have been given powerful weapons through prayer, the Word of God, and the authority to act on His behalf. If that is not enough, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us and guide us! God is so awesome and such a good Father.

As we align our lives with Christ, stay true to His Word, and walk in step with the Holy Spirit, we can fulfill God’s purpose victoriously.

 

 

 

Writing this article has helped me reflect on the authority given unto me to act in Jesus’ name. To tread on snakes and scorpions and speak to the devils in my life by the power of the Holy Spirit so that they flee. I pray that it also helped to encourage you.

 

The information expressed above are excerpts from the sermon “ ” preached by Dr. Lee A. Simpson. You can listen to the complete sermon on our YouTube channel.