THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS FOR WITNESSING
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: Acts 2:1-4
Key Verse: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” — Acts 2:4
Supporting Texts: Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; Romans 8:14-16
INTRODUCTION:
The coming of the Holy Spirit marked a new era in the life of the church. Before Pentecost, the disciples were timid, uncertain, and afraid. They loved Jesus sincerely but lacked the courage and power to proclaim Him boldly. However, when the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost, everything changed. Fear turned into faith, silence turned into proclamation, and weakness turned into power.
The Holy Spirit is the divine enabler who empowers believers to do the impossible. Without Him, the church becomes a lifeless organisation; but with Him, it becomes a living force of transformation in the world. Jesus knew this truth, so He instructed His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high. He understood that ministry without power would yield no lasting fruit.
Every true witness of Christ must be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not enough to have zeal; we need divine power. The Holy Spirit gives believers boldness to stand for the truth, utterance to speak God’s word with clarity, and wisdom to demonstrate the love and power of Christ effectively.
1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL POWER
The believer’s power does not come from human ability, education, or eloquence; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Without Him, even the most gifted Christian will be ineffective in witnessing.
a) Power Comes from God Alone (Acts 1:8)
Jesus promised, “You shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” The power to witness effectively is divine in origin. Human strength can never produce lasting spiritual results.
b) The Holy Spirit Clothes Us with Divine Authority (Luke 24:49)
Jesus instructed His followers to wait until they were endued with power from on high. The word “endued” means “clothed.” The Spirit covers us with authority that demons recognise and bow to.
c) The Spirit Enables Believers to Overcome Fear (2 Timothy 1:7)
The Spirit of God replaces fear with boldness. The disciples who once hid in fear later stood before multitudes and declared the gospel fearlessly.
d) The Spirit Empowers Ordinary People to Do Extraordinary Things (1 Samuel 10:6)
When the Spirit comes upon a person, he is transformed into another man. The weak become strong, and the ordinary become vessels of power.
Biblical Example:
Peter, who denied Jesus three times out of fear, stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached with boldness. Three thousand souls were saved (Acts 2:14-41). That transformation was the result of the Holy Spirit’s power.
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES SUPERNATURAL UTTERANCE AND WISDOM
The Spirit not only empowers but also gives divine utterance. He teaches believers how to speak and what to say when proclaiming Christ.
a) The Spirit Gives the Right Words at the Right Time (Matthew 10:19-20)
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach us what to say. He guides our speech so that our words carry divine conviction and power.
b) The Spirit Reveals God’s Wisdom to the Believer (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)
Spiritual truth cannot be taught by natural wisdom. The Holy Spirit unveils divine mysteries and gives us the language of heaven.
c) The Spirit Inspires Prophetic and Evangelistic Speech (Acts 2:4, 11)
The disciples spoke in languages they never learned, declaring the wonderful works of God. Their utterance broke cultural and linguistic barriers.
d) The Spirit Uses the Tongue as a Weapon for Witnessing (James 3:5-6)
The tongue, once tamed by the Spirit, becomes a tool for edification and soul-winning instead of destruction.
Biblical Example:
Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost (Acts 6:10), spoke with wisdom that his persecutors could not resist. His words pierced hearts and laid the foundation for Saul’s later conversion.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES BOLDNESS FOR WITNESSING
One of the greatest evidences of being filled with the Holy Spirit is boldness. The Spirit gives courage to declare the gospel even in the face of opposition.
a) Boldness Is a Fruit of the Spirit’s Presence (Acts 4:31)
When the believers prayed, they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke the word of God with boldness. True boldness comes from divine infilling, not human confidence.
b) The Spirit Makes Witnessing Irresistible (Jeremiah 20:9)
Jeremiah described the Word as fire shut up in his bones. The Spirit ignites that inner fire that refuses to be silenced.
c) The Spirit Overcomes Intimidation and Opposition (Acts 5:29-32)
Peter and the apostles boldly declared, “We must obey God rather than men.” The Holy Spirit empowers us to stand for truth even when it is unpopular.
d) Bold Witnessing Glorifies Christ (John 15:26-27)
The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus, and He causes believers to do the same. Boldness is evidence of Christ being glorified through us.
Biblical Example:
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached the gospel fearlessly before kings, governors, and Gentiles (Acts 26:19-29). Despite persecution, he never stopped proclaiming Christ.
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFIRMS THE WORD WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS
The Holy Spirit not only empowers believers to speak but also confirms the message with supernatural manifestations.
a) The Spirit Validates the Gospel with Power (Mark 16:20)
The disciples went forth and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming the word with signs following.
b) The Spirit Demonstrates God’s Power through Miracles (Acts 8:6-8)
Philip, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached Christ in Samaria, and the people believed because of the miracles and healings that accompanied his message.
c) The Spirit Bears Witness to Christ through Gifts (Hebrews 2:4)
God confirms His Word with diverse gifts of the Holy Ghost, distributed according to His will.
d) The Spirit Demonstrates God’s Kingdom on Earth (1 Corinthians 4:20)
The kingdom of God is not in word but in power. The Spirit manifests the reality of heaven through the believer’s life.
Biblical Example:
In Acts 3:1-10, Peter and John healed the lame man at the temple gate. The miracle opened the door for thousands to believe the gospel. That was the Holy Spirit confirming the Word through signs.
CONCLUSION:
The Holy Spirit is not an optional addition to the Christian life; He is the very breath of divine power. Without Him, our words are empty, and our efforts are fruitless. With Him, every word spoken becomes a seed of life that produces eternal fruit.
Every believer must desire and maintain a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who empowered the early disciples is still available today. When we allow Him to take full control, we will witness with power, pray with fervency, and live with purpose.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Holy Spirit, fill me afresh with Your power and presence.
2. Lord, baptise me with the fire of boldness for witnessing.
3. Holy Spirit, give me utterance that pierces hearts.
4. Lord, remove every fear and timidity from my life.
5. Holy Spirit, confirm Your Word through me with signs and wonders.
6. Lord, use me as an effective instrument for soul-winning.
7. Holy Spirit, empower the church with unity and divine fire.
8. Lord, let my life be a living testimony of Your power.
9. Holy Spirit, guide my words to glorify Jesus in every situation.
10. Lord, release a fresh Pentecostal fire upon Your people.
