11 Ways to Use the Power of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit lives inside the hearts of all believers and tells us the will of God for our lives. He also lets us tap into His power to withstand temptation and boldly proclaim the Gospel to those around us. Here are 11 ways we can use the power of the Holy Spirit each day.

#1 Recognize That God Offers Us the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Matthew 3:11 says, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

As the forerunner and messenger of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist started the practice of baptizing believers in water. But this was only meant to be a sign of things to come: when the Holy Spirit Himself would baptize believers and empower them to be witnesses for God on earth.

#2 The Holy Spirit Came to Us after Jesus’ Resurrection

Acts 2:38 says, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Believers today do not have literal flames erupting over their heads when they turn to Christ, but the experience is no less powerful today. When Jesus had ascended into heaven after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit came in great power on His disciples, and they were emboldened by the fulfillment of John the Baptist’s prophecy to preach Jesus Christ to the crowds in Jerusalem.

#3 The Holy Spirit Brings Power to Faithful Preachers

1 Thessalonians 1:5 says, “Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

The Holy Spirit makes words that would otherwise be meaningless into words of power. We can be courageous and confident in our witness knowing that we have the Holy Spirit on our side. God did this for the apostles during the early days of the church, and He still does it for His children today.

#4 Jesus Sent Us the Holy Spirit

John 14:25-26 says, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

This gets into some potentially confusing theology, but we should remember that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the three Persons of the Trinity: one God in three forms. They are all fully and equally God, but God the Father sent God the Son (Jesus) to earth, and Jesus (God the Son) sent God the Holy Spirit to minister to us after His earthly ministry.

#5 The Holy Spirit Tells Us How to Bear Witness for God

Luke 12:11-12 says, “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

The Holy Spirit is far more than just a “conscience,” or a guide that tells us right from wrong. He also gives us the words to speak when we are confronted about our beliefs and our faith. He helps us by giving us the power of God with wisdom and understanding, so we can be effective witnesses for the kingdom of heaven.

#6 We Should Strive to Keep in Step with the Spirit

Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

The apostle Paul puts a lot of emphasis in his letters about the ongoing war in our hearts between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Holy Spirit. If we want to remain close to God’s will, we should keep in step with the directions of the Holy Spirit.

#7 Don’t Prevent the Holy Spirit from Working

1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Do not quench the Spirit.”

“Quenching the Spirit” simply means preventing Him from working in your life. Always keep your heart open and yielding your will to God, and the Holy Spirit will have free reign to reveal what God has in store for you.

#8 The Holy Spirit Is the Wellspring of Our Hope

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

The Holy Spirit binds all believers together through the joy and peace of God, and it connects us to God and answers and fulfills the hope that we place in Him. This is one way that the Holy Spirit reassures us each day that God loves us and has a purpose and plan for His church and for every believer.

#9 The Holy Spirit Literally Resides Within Us

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, Whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Paul’s point referred to sexual immorality among believers, but his larger point is that our hearts are the Holy Spirit’s residence. He lives within each of us, and we should be quick to recognize that we do not have primary ownership of our bodies and lives. We were purchased by the blood of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in our lives stakes a claim we can never make, so we can yield to that ownership and honor God with every part of our lives.

#10 The Holy Spirit Guides Us in Prayer

Jude 20-21 says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”

The Holy Spirit helps us shore up our faith through prayer and focusing on God. By abiding in the love of God and looking towards Jesus Christ for our salvation, we can give the Holy Spirit the greatest amount of room to work in our lives, which will ultimately lead us to eternal life with God in heaven.

#11 The Holy Spirit Confirms God’s Witness to Our Hearts

Acts 5:32 says, “And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

The Holy Spirit was given to believers as the presence of God in our hearts and our lives after Jesus Christ repaired the bridge to a right relationship with the Father. Once this was done, the Spirit continually minsters to us and confirms what God has spoken to our hearts. When we recognize and acknowledge that power residing in us, we too can be faithful witnesses for God to those around us.