I recently read The Familiar Stranger by Tyler Staton. Through his gifts of storytelling and expository teaching, I felt as though I was meeting the person of the Holy Spirit in a deeper, more personal way than ever before. 

Staton repeatedly pointed to the early church as a model for Spirit-filled living, which sparked a desire in me to read the book of Acts as a “how to” guide; I wanted to study how the apostles lived their lives after they received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that through the Holy Spirit, His followers would not only do what He did – but even greater things. That promise belongs to us, too. 

The apostles were courageous enough to accept the challenge – are we? 

According to the book of Acts, when we walk in step with the Holy Spirit, we can confidently:

• Share the gospel with fearless confidence: The apostles asked God for boldness and trusted Him to confirm His word through miracles and signs…and He did. We don’t need to fear rejection – when we speak in faith, Heaven moves in power.
• Pray for healing in the name of Jesus: Peter made it clear that it was faith in Jesus’s name – not his own power – that healed the lame man. We can pray with that same bold faith, knowing Jesus still heals hearts and bodies today.
• Maintain our joy and peace in the midst of persecution: Stephen saw Heaven open before he was stoned, Peter slept soundly in chains, and Paul and Silas filled their prison cell with praise – their peace came from the Spirit, not their surroundings. We can endure trials with unwavering joy, trusting that God is present and faithful in every circumstance.
• Brush off opposition: Paul and Barnabas didn’t take rejection personally – they moved on, full of joy and the Spirit. We can do the same, trusting God to open the right doors and handle any resistance we encounter along the way.
• Seek God’s will through prayer and fasting: The church heard the Holy Spirit clearly whenever they fasted and prayed for guidance – and then they obeyed immediately. We must be intentional in creating space to hear God’s voice and respond without hesitation.
• Trust the Holy Spirit to guide our path: The disciples allowed the Holy Spirit to guide their every step, even when His path seemed uncertain. We can rely on the Spirit’s voice to lead us through God’s perfect plan, one step at a time.

The Holy Spirit isn’t a side note in the Christian life; He’s the source of power, purpose, and peace – so lean in, abide deeply, and let Him lead.