Would Anyone Know You’ve Been With Jesus?

The Holy Spirit fills ordinary believers with courage, Christ-centered witness, joy, gratitude, and humility.

What do you think of when you hear someone speaking about being “filled with the Holy Spirit”? Maybe you think of someone speaking in an incomprehensible language. 

When Acts describes believers being filled with the Holy Spirit, three characteristics repeatedly appear:

First, boldness in proclaiming Christ. Without the Holy Spirit giving the disciples courage to share their faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, they would have remained scattered, and the work of Jesus would have been forgotten long ago.

Second, confidence that Jesus is alive and working through His people. The disciples boldly imitated Jesus. Jesus promised, “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12 ESV). Jesus had also promised the Holy Spirit would be a Helper who would be with them forever (John 14:16). Evidence that the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit was seen in their clear testimony about Jesus and their confidence that the risen Lord was still working through them.

Third, a powerful witness that draws others to faith.

Acts 4:1-22 illustrates: After Peter and John had healed the crippled beggar, they had drawn a crowd, and many believed. The disciples were arrested by the religious authorities. Then the interrogation began, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 

If asked by scary men whether or not you’re a Christian, what would you say? Would you wilt under the pressure and promise to toe the line? 

Decide now to follow Peter’s example: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said…” 

If ever you need a Helper, the Holy Spirit, it’s when you’re being grilled and the stakes are high. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit in that moment of witness and spoke boldly, showing that God gives courage when His people need it most. Peter spoke eloquently, quoting how the Bible was being fulfilled in Jesus and by the leaders.

The result?

“Now when (the leaders) saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (emphasis mine)

Many people look for courage in a bottle, but Scripture points Christians elsewhere. Ephesians 5:18 (ESV) says,“Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Verses19-21 indicate that the primary evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is not unusual experiences but a life that points people to Jesus through boldness, joyful obedience, gratitude, humility, and faithful witness.

Today, whatever your circumstances, your greatest need is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Spend time with Jesus in prayer and with an open Bible. As the Holy Spirit fills your life, others will recognize—as the religious leaders did with Peter and John—that you have been with Jesus.