The Holy Spirit Empowers Us - An Excerpt from “The Holy Spirit is Greater than AI” Devotional Series
Discover how the Holy Spirit is totally different from power-sucking AI. Part of the new 10-Day devotional series.
In Day 6 of my new 10-day devotional “The Holy Spirit Is Greater than AI”, we explore how the Holy Spirit gives power, rather than taking it. In a world of growing AI-dependence where resources are limited, powering AI is a concern. But the Spirit doesn’t suck us dry like an overworked energy grid, instead He empowers us.
This exclusive excerpt is available now for Substack readers before the full plan launches publicly on YouVersion in late July.
Bible Verse for this day of the plan:
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
~ Luke 24:49, NIV
The Holy Spirit gives power, AI only consumes it. A recent report highlights that in the next few years, 22% of all energy of US households could be consumed by AI.
That’s a lot of power.
Companies racing to be leaders in artificial intelligence recognize the need for more power to fuel machine learning. They’re cutting deals with governments, investing in the grid, and developing more nuclear power, simply to ensure AI can be powered to match its growth and demand.
By contrast, the Holy Spirit doesn’t take power. The Spirit came to give it, from on high.
A few examples of how God empowered his people through the Spirit
The promise of Jesus was true and it’s been lived out ever since He made it. The New Testament is filled with examples of how God used normal people in powerful ways to bring glory to His name.
The Holy Spirit gives believers the power to show. God’s promise of the Spirit was fulfilled in perfect timing so that the message of Jesus could be shared with the Jews who’d gathered from all the nations at Pentecost. The Spirit spoke powerfully through Peter and the disciples in the languages of all the nations–giving them supernatural abilities to show the way to God– so all the people could hear about the mercy of God and respond to it (Acts 2:1-40).
The Holy Spirit gave Philip the power to go. The Spirit set up the appointment with Philip and the eunuch from Ethiopia who was reading over the scriptures and longed to have revelation. He was already working in the Ethiopian’s life and the Spirit made the connection so that the gospel could go forward into Ethiopia after the powerful, divine encounter (Acts 8:26-40).
The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the power to know. As the early church was growing, God gave prophetic insight to a man named Agabus that there would be a huge famine all over the world. The disciples were able to organize relief and collect funds to provide to believers and sent Paul and Barnabas to deliver it as an act of service and love, helping to bring relief and save lives (Acts 11:27-30).
There are hundreds of more examples in Acts and the New Testament of how God works in power through the Holy Spirit. Some are extraordinary; some are “naturally supernatural.” All highlight the Spirit moves in power.
The promise remains today. The Spirit empowers us. Not only to know what is right. Not only to know what pleases God. Not only to know what will bring us great meaning, purpose, and joy. But to equip and empower us to go and do those very things.
The Holy Spirit enables us to do what we are invited and asked by God to do. The Spirit doesn’t require our limited resources and suck out our energy. He gives us power to live our unique callings, based on the unique design of who God created each of us to be.
Reflection
What’s an area of your life right now that you know you need God’s enabling power? Have you asked him for it and sought it out? Take some time to do that now.
Key Takeaways from Day 6 – The Holy Spirit Is Our Advocate
The Holy Spirit gives, He doesn’t take, and He’s given in order to empower us. He has an endless supply of power.
Artificial Intelligence is only growing in what it takes, using more and more energy, set to max out the power grid; governments and platforms are scrambling to find solutions.
Practical step: Pause today and invite the Holy Spirit to empower you in an area where you are week and require God’s supernatural help and strength.
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