Empowered21 (E21)

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Direct Scripture is in “Quotations”

Scripture Quotations from:
Holy Bible, New Living Translation
Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries,
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
EMPOWERS
Have you ever been able to tell how much someone loves God just by looking at
them? Have you walked by someone and instantly felt moved to fervently petition
God on their behalf?

Have you read a familiar piece of Scripture and been so struck by its radical truth
and application it was as if you understand it for the first time?

Maybe you have experienced a time when injustice became more than a headline
for you as you vowed to right wrongs in your neighborhood, in your country, and in
the world.

Perhaps you are constantly aware of the broken and the lost who do not know
Christ. You feel compelled to share the reality of God’s incredible love, mercy, and
forgiveness by whatever means possible.

Do you wonder where these thoughts and feelings come from? The Holy Spirit.
He is the One who unites us, helps us understand God’s Word, equips us to lead,
empowers us to fight injustice, and works through us to reach out to those who don’t
know God.

He makes the ordinary extraordinary and transforms the natural into the
supernatural.

As a follower of Christ, you are part of a global movement bound together and
united toward the common goal of a bright new Kingdom. A Kingdom where pain
and suffering are no more, where the Church follows Jesus in victory, and where
injustice and corruption drown in the tide of freedom and love.

No matter what your current knowledge of the power and person of the Holy
Spirit, He invites you to know Him better and to join Him in making God’s glory and
Kingdom evident in this world.

Jesus gives us a glimpse of the power and authority of the Spirit. He tells the
disciples it would be best that He leave so the Advocate, His Holy Spirit, could
come.

Why would Jesus say the Spirit’s coming would be more powerful than Him
remaining so we could all hear His words for ourselves? One of the main reasons
Jesus lived, died, and ascended to Heaven was so that we could receive the Holy
Spirit.
Paul emphasized it was essential that believers receive the Spirit.
Paul asked some new believers, “Did you receive the Holy
Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they replied, “we haven’t
even heard that there is a Holy Spirit...” Paul baptized them
and “when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came
on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.”
(Acts 19:1-6)

The Holy Spirit empowers

us to live out our identity in
Christ.

The Holy Spirit is God’s good gift to his children.

Do not be deceived by those who say the Holy Spirit is not

at work in you or in the world. In every moment and in every
believer, He is able to fulfill His purpose as the third member of
the Trinity to advance the Kingdom of the Son and to bring glory
to the Father.

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them
a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them
a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how
to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
(Luke 11:11-13)

We should desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit should
influence how we think and live. (1 Corinthians 12:31) “Those who
are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things,
but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about
things that please the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5)

Do you want to understand how the Spirit wants to expand your

current knowledge, experience, and relationship with Him to
accomplish His purpose in the world?

Read Romans 8:1-14 to see more about this.

ROMANS 8:1-14

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to

Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the
life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads
to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the
weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could
not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners
have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over
us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that
the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us,
who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the
Spirit.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful
things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think
about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature
control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control
your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always
hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.
That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful
nature can never please God.

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are
controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in
you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of
Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ
lives within you, so even though your body will die because of
sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right
with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead,
lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead,
he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living
within you.

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to

do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its
dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you
put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all
who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
 UNITY
Tens of thousands of people jump to their feet when their favorite team
scores. As the crowd cheers as one, it is also full of individuals with
unique experiences, talents, and stories.

The Holy Spirit establishes oneness and unity among believers.

You are one in Christ, not only with the millions of believers alive today
but also with everyone who has ever called on His name to be saved.
You are an integral part of God’s Church throughout the world and
throughout the ages.

But unity does not mean sameness. We are diverse, not identical. Our
unity is based on the fact that we all belong to Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:22)

When the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus’ disciples after He ascended,
they were gathered in one place. “Suddenly, there was a sound
from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled
the house where they were sitting. Then, 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.”
(Acts 2:1-4)

These believers were unified but not uniform. They had ethnic, political,
and economic differences. And when the Holy Spirit added to their
group that day, they became even MORE diverse!

The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to speak one united message
about the wonders God had done, but they were also speaking in
different languages. (Acts 2:7-12)
The connection you share through the Holy Spirit eclipses differences in
personality, gender, ethnicity, national origin, and social position.
As followers of Jesus, we have a bond that is greater than any other. The
Holy Spirit is powerful enough to cause even enemies to lay aside their
hatred and stand united.

We are murderers and royalty, beggars and billionaires, geniuses and

children, all eternally linked in our service to our King.

In the power of the Holy Spirit, there is no barrier that is stronger than
our unity. In the power of the Holy Spirit, there is no barrier that is
stronger than our unity. “There is no longer Jew nor Gentile, slave or
free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
(Galatians 3:28)

We are the one, united people of God.

For there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all. However, he has given each
one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. (Eph. 4:5-7)

The Holy Spirit comes powerfully when we set aside petty differences
that threaten to divide us, and we stand united with other believers.

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God
and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who
destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that
temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

HOW DO YOU THINK GOD’S POWER, NATURE, AND LOVE

ARE DISPLAYED THROUGH THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT?

HAVE YOU SEEN FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WANT TO

KNOW MORE ABOUT CHRIST BECAUSE OF YOUR DISPLAY
OF GOD’S LOVE AND THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH?

HAS GOD PROMPTED YOU TO IDENTIFY WITH HIS

UNIVERSAL CHURCH (PRAYER FOR MISSIONARIES,
PASTORS, AND LEADERS, STANDING WITH BELIEVERS OF
OTHER DENOMINATIONS, ETHNICITY, OR COUNTRIES?
 As a believer, how can you be confident that:

God knew you before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5)

You are God’s masterpiece, created to walk in good works
before the world was formed. (Ephesians 2:10)
You have been freed from the bondage of sin. (Romans 6:18)
You are a child of God and a co-heir with Christ. (Romans 8:17)
SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT

You will live and reign with Christ for all eternity.
(Revelation 5:10; 20:4-6)

The Holy Spirit inspired each of the men who wrote the various
books of the Bible. The uniformity of the message, the centrality
of the themes, and the consistent display of God’s character
despite being written over multiple generations support its
authenticity.

The Holy Spirit also confirms your identity in Christ and

empowers you to live out your purpose in the world through
God’s Living Word.

The Bible is full of wondrous and glorious promises that without

the Holy Spirit would be challenging to understand, let alone to
believe.

What transformed Peter from a cowering liar who hid

rather than to be identified with Christ to a man who boldly
proclaimed the truth and ultimately died for his faith?
(John 18:15-17)

We quickly discover the answer is WHO NOT WHAT. It was the

Holy Spirit who radically transformed Peter, the other disciples,
and heroes of the faith even to this moment. This same Spirit
is at work within you to transform you through God’s word into
the image of Christ.

Today, when storms come, and accusations fly, when this world
seems all too real and threatens to dim our view of eternity, it is
the Holy Spirit who brings God’s Word to life in us and in those
with whom we share it.

Just as Jesus promised His followers that the Holy Spirit would
teach them everything and would remind them of what He
taught them, you can trust the Holy Spirit to teach and guide
you. (John 14:26)

WE WANT TO SEE A GREATER MOVE OF SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT

AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION TAKE PLACE AMONG THIS NEXT
GENERATION THAT LEADS TO STRONG BIBLICAL LITERACY,
COMPETENCY, AND INFLUENCE.
It was not until after Jesus’
resurrection that the Spirit
came to live inside the
believers. The true intimacy
of having the Spirit within you
and not just with you is an
extraordinary gift. There is a
deeper connection, there is
increased power, and there is
greater trust and peace.
For all the incredible emotions
attached to the gift of the
Spirit, His presence and power
are very real and practical
weapons you can use each day.
When you are confused and
afraid, ask the Spirit to remind
you of God’s promises.
When you study the Bible, pray
that the Spirit would bring the
word to life.
(1 Corinthians 2:14)
When you do not know how to
pray, or your joy or grief is too
great to put into words, trust
that the Holy Spirit intercedes
for you with groans too deep
for words. (Romans 8:26) Ask
the Spirit to provide you the
right passage for you to share
so that others can experience
the hope, mercy, and comfort
God offers.
When you read a verse or
passage that you have read
many times before but
suddenly see a truth you have
never seen, thank the Holy
Spirit for opening your heart to
understand.
Rejoice with King David, “I see
that the Lord is always with
me. I will not be shaken, for
he is right beside me. No
wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his
praises! My body rests in
hope. For you will not leave
my soul among the dead or
allow your Holy One to rot in
the grave. You have shown
me the way of life, and
you will fill me with the
joy of your presence.”
(Acts 2:25-28)
Why is it essential to
know that the Holy Spirit
inspired the Bible and
that He is available not
only to interpret it but
to make it come alive to
your spirit?
Has there been an
example where the
Spirit led you to a verse
only to later encounter
a person, decision, or
situation where it applied
perfectly? What was the
result?
Has the Spirit used you
or someone you know to
open the Scriptures for
someone else despite
obstacles like youth, lack
of education, or even
common culture?

Jesus said, “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads

into all truth. The world cannot receive him,
because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t
recognize him. But you know him, because
he lives with you now and later will be in
you.” (John 14:17)
LEADERSHIP
The Holy Spirit empowers the unexpected as He provides the right words to
the right person at the right time in the right circumstances.

A Jewish girl hides her ethnicity only to be inspired by the Spirit to approach
the king to save her people and conserve the lineage of Jesus. (Esther)

Facing death, the Spirit emboldens a young man to skillfully lay out the gos-
pel from Abraham to Jesus before his murderers, including Saul. The Spirit
opens the heavens, and Stephen glimpses the Father and Jesus. (Acts 7)

Despite all odds, a group of young people become activists against the wide-
spread modern scourge of slavery and human trafficking. Those rescued are
taught about a God who came to set them free from the chains of their sins.

The transformation is startling. Peter moves from hiding in the shadows,

terrified of discovery to boldly proclaiming the gospel. He addresses a hostile
crowd who see the effects of the Spirit on Peter and claim that he must be
drunk. The Holy Spirit empowers Peter to be the leader who proclaims that
God’s promise is being fulfilled.

“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. In those days I will pour
out my Spirit even on my servants
—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.”
(Acts 2:17-18)
Maybe you are comfortable assuming a position of authority. Throughout the Old
Testament, we see men and women placed in positions of power guided by the Spirit
to do good and glorify God.

But God also delights in raising up the unexpected and overlooked.

The four Hebrew captives who were persecuted on every side by powerful evildoers
but steadfast to their God, even to the point of death. (Daniel)

The young shepherd boy facing the monstrous Goliath with just a slingshot.
(1 Samuel 17)

Example after example stretching right up until this moment of God’s people expe-
riencing the truth of Jesus’ words. He promised His followers, “And when you are
brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about
how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time
what needs to be said.” (Luke 12:11-12)

The evidence of the Spirit is not confined to sharing the gospel. He provides wisdom
and guidance for every aspect of life for those who carry God’s name. Throughout
recorded history, the Spirit has supernaturally placed people in pivotal positions of
power to affect history and accomplish God’s purposes.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THE SPIRIT IS USING YOU TO

LEAD YOUR FRIENDS, COMMUNITY, OR EVEN YOUR NATION
TO FOLLOW GOD?

HAVE THERE BEEN MOMENTS WHEN YOU HAVE STEPPED

FORWARD TO SHARE GOD’S TRUTH OR REMINDED A GROUP
OF HIS WORD?

CAN YOU SEE A POSITION THE SPIRIT HAS SUPERNATURALLY

PLACED YOU IN SO THAT YOU CAN SHARE THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT HIS KINGDOM?
SOCIAL
IMPACT
The gift of the Holy Spirit
changes not only you but
inspires and equips the
world around you to see His
Kingdom principles applied
to the world.
The crowd at Pentecost was
transformed from a group of
strangers into a community
that reflected God and drew
others by their love.
“On that day about three
thousand believed his
message and were baptized.
They spent their time
learning from the apostles,
and they were like family to
each other. They also broke
bread and prayed together.
Everyone was amazed by
the many miracles and
wonders that the apostles
worked. All the Lord’s fol-
lowers often met together,
and they shared everything
they had. They would sell
their property and posses-
sions and give the money
to whoever needed it. Day
after day they met together
in the temple. They broke
bread together in different
homes and shared their food
happily and freely, while
praising God. Everyone liked
them, and each day the Lord
added to their group others
who were being saved.”
(Acts 2:41-47)
The Spirit compels us to put
into action God’s Kingdom.
He does more than equip
us to share God’s message
of salvation. Through the
Holy Spirit, we can address
every aspect of life that
deviates from His heart and
Kingdom.
“Speak up for those who
cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being
crushed. Yes, speak up for
the poor and helpless, and
see that they get justice.”
(Proverbs 31:8-9)
As believers, we wait for the day when every wrong will be made right, when the spread of evil is
stopped once and for all, and when we will reign with God for all eternity.

Until then, the Spirit equips and empowers us to bring God’s Kingdom to our families, com-
munities, and world today. Where there is hatred, you are to be a peacemaker. Where there are
racism and bigotry, you are called to stand against the tide and announce God’s love for all.

This is not a religion confined to one time and one place, but a relationship that invades and
transforms every aspect of our lives.

Throughout the centuries, it has been the Church, guided and inspired by the Spirit, who edu-
cated the masses, established hospitals for the sick and dying, and tore down the barriers of race,
gender, and social position.

In ancient Rome, during the Plague of Cyprian, followers of God disregarded the dangers and
tended to the sick and dying. Stunned by the selflessness of these Christians, many turned from
their sin and became believers.

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends.” (John 15:13)

Whether it is the plight in the world, the scourge of human trafficking, the weight of racial
injustice, or the abuse of the overlooked and disenfranchised the Spirit summons you to battle
injustice with every fiber of who you are.

His invitation is simple.

As the nation of Israel was instructed in Jeremiah 29:7, pray for the welfare of the community
where God has placed you. Cry out to Him for the prosperity and future of your neighborhood,
community, and nation.

Will you hear and respond to His rallying cry? What evil will He empower you to remedy? How
has the Spirit divinely equipped you to battle injustice? Like Esther when faced with the genocide
of her people, can you look at where God has placed you and say that it is for such a time as this?

WE WANT TO SEE A GREATER EXPRESSION OF THE

KINGDOM OF GOD COMING, THROUGH PEOPLE
ENCOUNTERING THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A FRESH NEW
WAY THAT, AS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, WILL
RESTRUCTURE SOCIETY AND CULTURE THROUGH
THIS NEXT GENERATION.
REACHING THE
UNREACHED
You might have your own account of how the Spirit moved within you to follow
Jesus and establish Him as Lord of your life.

Maybe it is the lyrics of a song, the words of a preacher, or the testimony of a

friend which pierced your defenses and prompted you to surrender to God’s
love and mercy.

Even now, you might be hearing His invitation to follow Him with new ears and
a tender heart.

The Spirit inspires the messenger and prepares the listener’s heart to
supernaturally understand and respond to the message of God’s love and
forgiveness.

At Pentecost, Peter instructed the crowds in the story of God’s love from the
prophets to Christ’s death. Overcome by the reality of their sin, they cried out,

“ B R O T H E R S , W H AT S H O U L D W E D O ? P E T E R R E P L I E D, E AC H
OF YOU MUS T 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
G I F T O F T H E H O LY S P I R I T . T H I S P R O M I S E I S T O Y O U , T O Y O U R
C H I L D R E N , A N D T O T H O S E FA R AWAY — A L L W H O H AV E B E E N
CALLED BY THE LORD OUR GOD. THEN PETER CONTINUED
P R E A C H I N G F O R A L O N G T I M E , S T R O N G LY U R G I N G A L L
H I S L I S T E N E R S , S AV E Y O U R S E LV E S F R O M T H I S C R O O K E D
G E N E R AT I O N! T H O S E W H O B E L I E V E D W H AT P E T E R S A I D W E R E
B A P T I Z E D A N D A D D E D T O T H E C H U R C H T H AT D AY — A B O U T
3 , 0 0 0 I N A L L . A L L T H E B E L I E V E R S D E V O T E D T H E M S E LV E S T O
T H E A P O S T L E S ’ T E A C H I N G , A N D T O F E L L O W S H I P, A N D T O
S H A R I N G I N M E A L S , A N D T O P R AY E R . ”

(AC TS 2:37- 42)

It is interesting to note that the Spirit enabled the believers to speak in a multitude
of languages so that the curious and multi-ethnic crowd could hear them in their
own language.

The Spirit moved in the believers to bridge the gap of language so that each heard
the truth of God’s love in their own tongue.

Today, the Spirit still moves within believers to bridge the separation brought by
language, culture, geography, and worldview.

Whether you are called to share God’s love with an isolated people group or those
in class with you, the Spirit promises to give you divine wisdom not only in what to
say but also when and how you say it.

Through His presence in your life, God will use you to experience the words of Jesus
as He announced,

“THE SPIRIT OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD IS UPON ME, FOR THE LORD
HAS ANOINTED ME TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.

HE HAS SENT ME TO COMFORT THE BROKENHEARTED AND TO

P R O C L A I M T H AT C A P T I V E S W I L L B E R E L E A S E D A N D P R I S O N E R S W I L L
BE FREED.

H E H A S S E N T M E T O T E L L T H O S E W H O M O U R N T H AT T H E T I M E O F
T H E L O R D ’ S FAV O R H A S C O M E , A N D W I T H I T, T H E D AY O F G O D ’ S
ANGER AGAINST THEIR ENEMIES.

TO ALL WHO MOURN IN ISR AEL , HE WILL GIVE A CROWN OF BE AUT Y

FOR A SHES, A JOYOUS B LESSING INS TE AD OF MOURNING, FES TIVE
P R A I S E I N S T E A D O F D E S PA I R .”

( I S A I A H 61 : 1 - 3 )

When Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem until the power from on Heaven
came in the form of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49), He said that they (and in turn 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)

The same power that set the first century world on fire and saw thousands at a time
repent and turn to follow Jesus is the same power available to you today.

Have you experienced the Spirit’s revelation open a path to share God’s love with
an individual or group? Has there been a time when you felt compelled to speak
to someone even though they seemed blind and deaf to the truth? What was the
response to your words or even to your courage in approaching them?

WE WANT TO SEE A GREATER MOBILIZATION OF THIS NEXT GENERATION

TOWARDS REACHING EACH PERSON WITH JESUS, WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHA-
SIS ON REACHING UNREACHED, DISENFRANCHISED, AND MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE GROUPS.
OUTPOURING OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT

As we consider the power and character of the Holy Spirit, it is

tempting to take the role of a spectator.

That would be a mistake. What radically transforms Jesus’ followers

is that God in the form of the Holy Spirit comes upon them and that
He lives within them.

Today, God is writing His story in this generation and in you.

“NO EYE HAS SEEN, NO EAR HAS HEARD,

AND NO MIND HAS IMAGINED
WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED
FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep
secrets. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

The Holy Spirit enables you to call God, Abba (Papa). He fills you to
speak in unfamiliar languages, heal the sick, raise the dead, have su-
pernatural knowledge and wisdom, and spread the staggering truths
of God’s Kingdom to the world.
Do you hunger and In the Bible it is not “be
thirst to have for more filled” with the Spirit
of God’s presence and as a one-time event but
power? “being filled” as a
continuous process.
God has promised to
pour out His Spirit on If you experienced this
you, right now. (Luke anointing of the Spirit in
11:13) the past but have grown
dry, ask God to be filled
If you have never asked afresh.
God to drench you in
His Spirit so you can How will fulfilling God’s
perform signs and purpose in your life
wonders in His Name, today, tomorrow, and in
have supernatural the days to come
power to resist sin, and demand that you be
speak the words that set filled with the Spirit?
the captives free, take
a moment to say yes to Why is the power and
His invitation. work of the Spirit so
necessary in this
generation, in this
culture, and in these
days?

WE WANT TO SEE A GREATER

OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ON YOUR GENERATION, AND FOR
THIS NEXT GENERATION TO DEVELOP
A GREATER EXPRESSION OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT COMING ALIVE,
FRESH, AND NEW.
We began our conversation with a statement.

The Holy Spirit unites us, illuminates God’s Word,

equips us to lead, empowers us to fight injustice,
and calls us to reach out to those who live in
darkness.

As you have read about God’s promise to those who

have trusted in Him for forgiveness, you might have
realized that you have never really understood or
accepted God’s mercy extended to you by Jesus’ death
on the cross.

As with any profoundly personal relationship, only

you and God know the actual state of your heart and
whether you are indeed a child of God.

Maybe like those in the crowd at Pentecost who heard

Peter explain God’s plan to rescue you from your sin,
the words you have read have pierced your heart. Like
them, you may be asking, “What should I do?” (Acts
2:37)

Listen to the simple words Peter offered them.

“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.” (Acts
2:38)

If you have repented or turned from your sin and

towards Him, welcome to the family of God. I
encourage you to read on as every promise concerning
the gift of the Holy Spirit is speaking about you.

This is what Paul said to the believers in Ephesus. “And

now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the
Good News that God saves you. And when you
believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by
giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long
ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give
us the inheritance he promised and that he has
purchased us to be his own people. He did this so
we would praise and glorify him.”
(Ephesians 1:13-14)
Perhaps you are confident that you have
trusted in Jesus’ death on the cross to
pay the debt of your sins, but you have
never known or understood the gift of
the Holy Spirit or even who He is.

Threaded throughout the Bible, from

the beginning of Genesis to the end of
Revelation, you will see the unmis-
takable imprint of the Spirit’s position
and purpose. Be encouraged to take a
moment to ask the Spirit to guide you
to know Him better and to teach you
how to trust His guidance and power in
every aspect of your life.

Before His death, Jesus comforted the

disciples by telling them they would
receive the Advocate or Holy Spirit.

“But in fact, it is best for you that I go

away, because if I don’t, the Advocate
won’t come. If I do go away, then I will
send him to you... There is so much
more I want to tell you, but you can’t
bear it now. When the Spirit of truth
comes, he will guide you into all truth.
He will not speak on his own but will
tell you what he has heard. He will tell
you about the future. He will bring
me glory by telling you whatever he
receives from me.” (John 16:7, 12-14)

May you come to experience the Spirit’s

mighty work in your life and the world
around you. May you answer His invita-
tion to follow Him into an understand-
ing and practice of the more profound
things of God with one simple word...

YES.
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