Being empowered by the Holy Spirit is a gift from God that affects us and those around us. Jesus is the model of the importance of being filled with the Spirit. He demonstrates this as He goes to Galilee after overcoming the devil’s temptations. Luke 4:14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region.[1]
When someone is empowered, they are someone with authority. Empowered is defined as giving power, authority, or to authorize.[2] When we are empowered, we are enabled or permitted to carry out the ministry the Lord has given us. When Jesus went to Galilee, He was empowered to fulfill the Father’s plans. The Holy Spirit continually guided Jesus through the three years of earthly ministry.
The Lord Empowers Us With His Holy Spirit
The same Heavenly Father and Holy Spirit who guided Jesus will also direct our lives. But we must let the Lord lead us. Only with the Lord’s help can we overcome the temptation to go our own way and instead be guided by the Spirit. Just as Jesus brought the good news to people, we can do the same. As we witness to others, we may not know what to say, but the Holy Spirit does and will give us the right words as we listen to His voice.
Each person needs the Holy Spirit to open their hearts so they understand they are sinners and turn away from their sins. As we repent of our sins, the Holy Spirit guides us to turn to Jesus and place our faith in Him as our Savior. As believers, the Holy Spirit begins to transform us so that we can become a tool in the Lord’s hand to build His Kingdom. We can only live a victorious life in Christ and fulfill the Great Commission by being empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to free the captives, and as the Holy Spirit empowers us, we can do the same.
The Holy Spirit is God’s Gift to Us
Jesus knows the Holy Spirit’s importance in empowering the disciples and describes that in Acts 1:8. 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.” [3]
Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Father sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon people for a time to fulfill what God was doing. When the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, it would indwell believers’ lives. The empowering of the Holy Spirit would be the beginning of the Christian Church and the spreading of the Gospel, which continues today.
To learn about being empowered by the Holy Spirit, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/rejected-at-nazareth
[1,3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.