The Holy Spirit’s Work in Us

“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 4:31 (NIV)

If you want to see the difference the Holy Spirit makes, check out the lives of those early Christ followers. Like Peter, every one of them fled when Jesus was arrested in the garden. Peter even denied knowing Him when asked on three occasions. Only the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling their lives could have transformed them and given them the courage to speak boldly about Christ. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter sounded like a different man! He was! Just as you and I are different when the Holy Spirit comes to take up residence in our lives. Rather than shrinking back in fear, Peter steps up and boldly proclaims the message of the Gospel before a huge crowd. 

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through Him, as you well know. 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. But God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him back to life, for death could not keep Him in its grip…. So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah! Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.’ ” Acts 2:22-24; 36-39 (NLT).

Does that sound like the same man who, only days before, denied knowing Jesus? What made the difference? How did his former cowardice suddenly change into such courage? Something happened inside Peter that transformed him!  It was the gift of the Holy Spirit that gave Peter the boldness he lacked before. And look at the result! The Bible says his words “pierced their hearts!”, so much so that according to Acts 2:41 some 3,000 of them repented of their sins, turned to God, and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ!   

Only God could have done that! Only God can change a life! Only God can transform your fears into faith! Without the Holy Spirit, they were merely men who believed but had no power to achieve what God had called them to do. It wasn’t education, or even association with Jesus for three years, that changed them. You can believe in God, go to church, and even get a degree in the Bible, and yet still be powerless without the Holy Spirit. The moment you put your trust in Jesus as your Savior from sin, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in your heart. His purpose is to glorify Christ by reproducing the likeness of Jesus in your life and emboldening you to share Christ with others. Pray today for God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Expect God to answer. In Acts 4:31(NIV), the Bible says, “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.”

The work of the Holy Spirit in us is to teach our minds, control our emotions, and direct our wills so that others may see Jesus in all that we do and say. Are you living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit? Begin each day, asking God to fill you with the Holy Spirit, and discover the difference He makes in your life!  

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Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.