Living Empowered: Embracing the Holy Spirit's Presence

Feb 17, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Living Presenced—Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

To live a life that is truly “presenced” means to intentionally pause, focus, and allow the Holy Spirit to fill every part of your being. Just as a pigeon must stop to see clearly, we too must regularly stop and examine what is consuming our attention and affections. The call is not simply to avoid what is harmful, but to be filled—again and again—with the Spirit, making the most of every opportunity to walk in God’s will. This is not a one-time event but a daily posture of emptying ourselves so that we can be filled with the presence and power of God, setting the trajectory for a life marked by His direction and purpose. [03:21]

Ephesians 5:15-18 (NLT)
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Reflection: What is one thing you are consuming (time, attention, energy) that is crowding out space for the Holy Spirit in your daily life, and how can you intentionally pause today to invite Him to fill you afresh?

Day 2: The Holy Spirit Reveals Jesus—Guidance into All Truth

The Holy Spirit is not just a force or a feeling, but the third person of the Trinity who is present with us, revealing Jesus in and through our lives. He guides us into all truth, speaking what He hears from the Father and making known to us the things of God—even things yet to come. Living “presenced” means being continually aware that the Spirit is with us, in us, and around us, always working to reveal Christ and lead us into deeper relationship and understanding. [09:25]

John 16:13-14 (NLT)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need the Holy Spirit’s guidance right now, and how can you make space to listen for His voice today?

Day 3: The Assurance and Freedom of the Spirit’s Presence

When you are presenced by the Holy Spirit, you are marked by assurance—no longer doubting your worth or questioning if you are good enough. Even in moments of stumbling or weakness, God’s Spirit is with you, enabling you to stand firm and live free from condemnation. The Spirit’s presence brings not only assurance but also freedom, breaking the chains that try to bind you and empowering you to live boldly and confidently as a child of God. [17:41]

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NLT)
It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Reflection: Where do you most struggle with doubt or feeling unworthy, and how can you remind yourself today that the Holy Spirit’s presence assures you of your identity and freedom in Christ?

Day 4: Strength, Joy, and Boldness—The Spirit Empowers Us

The presence of the Holy Spirit brings supernatural strength, joy, and boldness to every believer. Just as God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous because He was with him, so too does the Spirit empower us to face whatever lies ahead. The early church was marked by joy and boldness, even in the face of opposition, because they were filled with the Spirit. This same Spirit gives us the courage to share our faith, to live with joy in every circumstance, and to stand strong in the face of challenges. [24:10]

Acts 4:31 (NLT)
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Reflection: What is one situation or relationship where you need to step out in Spirit-empowered boldness or joy today, and what would it look like to trust the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in that moment?

Day 5: Empowered to Live and Love—The Spirit’s Power in Us

The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence is not just for personal comfort but for empowerment—to live out love, to walk in self-discipline, and to be witnesses of Jesus to the world. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. When we are truly presenced, we don’t just look the part; we possess the power to live beyond the natural, to see miracles, and to impact those around us with the love and truth of Christ. [26:32]

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Reflection: What is one area where fear or timidity has held you back, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you with love, power, and self-discipline as you move forward today?

Sermon Summary

Today, across every campus and every heart gathered, the invitation is to step into a year marked by being “presenced”—not just aware of God’s presence, but living from it, empowered by the Holy Spirit in every moment. Drawing from Ephesians 5, the call is to pause, to be intentional, and to examine what is truly consuming our lives. Just as a pigeon must stop to see clearly, we too must regularly pause to focus on what God is saying and doing, so that we don’t drift through life thoughtlessly, but instead live with purpose and clarity.

The Holy Spirit is not a distant force or a fleeting feeling, but the third person of the Trinity—God Himself, present with us, among us, and within us. His omnipresence means He is everywhere, His manifest presence breaks in with power in specific moments, and His indwelling presence transforms us from the inside out. This is not just a theological idea, but a relational reality: the Spirit leads us into all truth, reveals Jesus to us, and empowers us to live lives that reflect Christ to the world.

To be “presenced” is to live with assurance, knowing that God is with us even in our weakness and failure. It is to be guided by the Spirit, finding direction beyond our own wisdom. It is to be strengthened for whatever lies ahead, to walk in joy that is not dependent on circumstances, and to experience true freedom from the things that bind us. The Spirit gives us boldness to share our faith and empowers us to live beyond our natural limitations.

This year, the challenge is not just to look the part of a Christian, but to access the fullness of what God has made available through His Spirit. As we posture ourselves to receive, removing distractions and opening our hearts, we invite the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh—so that our lives, our church, and our world would be marked by His presence, power, and love. Let 2025 be a year where we are not only aware of God’s presence, but truly “presenced”—living empowered, transformed, and sent into the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Intentional Pausing Leads to Clarity and Purpose Like the pigeon that must stop to see clearly, we are called to regularly pause and focus on what God is saying. In a world full of distractions and constant movement, intentional moments of stillness allow us to discern God’s direction and avoid living on autopilot. This practice is essential for a life that is led by the Spirit rather than consumed by lesser things. [05:21]
2. The Holy Spirit’s Presence Is Relational, Not Merely Theological The Holy Spirit is not just a concept or a force, but a person who desires relationship with us. His omnipresence assures us that God is always near, but His indwelling presence means He is personally transforming us from within. This relational presence empowers us to serve others and to become more like Christ, moving us from mere belief to deep, daily communion. [12:14]
3. Assurance in Christ Overcomes Doubt and Failure Living “presenced” means we no longer have to wonder if we are good enough or if our failures disqualify us. The Spirit’s presence assures us that God is with us even in our stumbling, inviting us to return to Him rather than run away. This assurance is the foundation for a life marked by confidence, security, and the freedom to pursue God wholeheartedly. [17:41]
4. The Spirit Empowers Us with Strength, Joy, Freedom, and Boldness The indwelling Spirit is the source of supernatural strength for every challenge, joy that transcends circumstances, freedom from bondage, and boldness to witness. These are not personality traits or achievements, but gifts that flow from being filled with the Spirit. As we yield to Him, we find ourselves equipped to live out our faith with courage and resilience. [21:02]
5. Accessing the Fullness of the Spirit Transforms Potential into Power It is possible to be a Christian and yet live short of the power available to us. The difference between looking the part and living with true power is our willingness to be continually filled and led by the Holy Spirit. When we posture ourselves to receive, we move from potential to actual empowerment, becoming agents of God’s presence and power in the world. [28:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:27] - Ephesians 5: Living Carefully and Intentionally
[03:21] - Inviting the Holy Spirit’s Presence
[04:15] - The Pigeon Analogy: Pausing to See Clearly
[05:21] - What Is Consuming Us?
[07:04] - The Call to Be Filled with the Spirit
[08:14] - Presenced: The Mark of 2025
[09:25] - The Holy Spirit: Person, Not Force
[12:14] - Omnipresence, Manifest Presence, Indwelling Presence
[15:17] - The Spirit Brings Life and Assurance
[17:41] - Living Presenced: Assurance and Direction
[21:02] - Strength, Joy, and Freedom in the Spirit
[23:09] - Boldness and Empowerment
[25:41] - Receiving Power to Witness
[28:13] - Moving from Potential to Power
[29:39] - Posturing Ourselves to Receive
[36:42] - Prayer for a Presenced Year

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Presenced: Living from the Holy Spirit’s Power”

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:15–18 (ESV)
> Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.

John 14:16–17 (ESV)
> And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)
> Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Observation Questions

In Ephesians 5:15–18, what are the specific instructions Paul gives about how we should live and what we should avoid?
According to John 14:16–17, what does Jesus promise about the Holy Spirit’s relationship with believers?
The sermon uses the analogy of a pigeon needing to pause to see clearly. What is the purpose of this analogy in relation to our spiritual lives? [[04:15]]
In 2 Corinthians 3:17, what is the result of the Spirit’s presence?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul contrast being “drunk with wine” with being “filled with the Spirit”? What does this reveal about what should influence or “consume” our lives? [[07:04]]
The sermon says the Holy Spirit is not just a force or a feeling, but a person who desires relationship. How does this understanding change the way someone might approach their faith? [[09:25]]
The idea of being “presenced” is described as living with assurance, direction, strength, joy, freedom, and boldness. How does the indwelling of the Holy Spirit make these things possible, even in times of weakness or failure? [[17:41]]
What does it mean to “posture ourselves to receive” the Holy Spirit, and how is this different from just going through the motions of Christian life? [[29:39]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to regularly pause and focus on what God is saying, like the pigeon that stops to see clearly. What is one practical way you can create intentional pauses in your daily or weekly routine to listen for God’s direction? [[05:21]]
The message asks, “What is consuming us right now that is actually taking us out of a conscious state of following Jesus with everything?” Is there something in your life (social media, work, entertainment, etc.) that is taking up too much space? What step could you take this week to shift your focus back to God? [[07:04]]
The Holy Spirit’s presence is described as relational, not just theological. How can you move from simply believing in the Holy Spirit to actually relating to Him as a person in your everyday life? [[12:14]]
Living “presenced” means having assurance even in our failures. Is there an area of your life where you struggle with doubt or feeling “not good enough”? How might the assurance of the Spirit’s presence help you respond differently? [[17:41]]
The Spirit empowers us with strength, joy, freedom, and boldness. Which of these do you feel you need most right now? What is one way you can invite the Holy Spirit to fill you in that area this week? [[21:02]]
The sermon says it’s possible to look like a Christian but not access the fullness of the Spirit’s power. Are there areas where you feel you’re just “going through the motions”? What would it look like for you to “posture yourself to receive” more of the Spirit’s power? [[28:13]]
The call for 2025 is to be “presenced”—not just aware of God’s presence, but living empowered, transformed, and sent. What is one specific way you want your life to be marked by God’s presence this year? [[36:42]]

Close in prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to fill each person afresh and to help the group live “presenced” in the coming week.

Sermon Clips

“If we're honest, our spiritual walks can have the same problems as the pigeon because there's a lot of moving parts. And there's a lot going on, and we read things in text, and we say, how can that apply to my current day reality? And we are in a constant state of to -ing and fro -ing, but we have to learn and adapt like the pigeon has learnt to adapt, that as they move, there is a moment to pause, to focus, to see and go, cool, that breadcrumb's over there. I can go forward. I can go back. I can go forward. I can go back. Okay, I better stop there. I might hurt my neck.”

“So the question I have out of this passage is simply for you and me, what is consuming us right now that is actually taking us out of a conscious state of following Jesus with everything? Because wine isn't the issue, but the amount we consume could be. Social media isn't the issue, but the amount we consume could be. Money isn't the issue, but the amount we consume could be. Let me put it this way. Holy Spirit isn't the issue, but the amount we consume could be.”

“This year. This year. I believe it's going to be a year marked by this word, presenced. That your life and my life and our lives would be presenced by the huge drafts of Holy Spirit.”

“Simply put, a presenced life means a life where Jesus is revealed in us, through us, and around us. For the disciples, Jesus was everything. And Jesus was one man that lived and roamed this earth. But He said, actually, in the Gospels to the disciples, it's going to be better I go because the Spirit's going to come. And we're going to discover today that the Spirit is not a force. He is the third person of the Trinity.”

“The amazing thing about the presence of God is that it is not just a feeling or a force. but he is a person and he is presenced among us my prayer would be that we become more aware that the holy spirit is all around us the holy spirit would be continually revealing Jesus to us and that we would be aware holy spirit is in us you know the truth is the holy spirit is omnipresent which simply means he is everywhere all at once which is good news for you and me as the believer it means his grace is at work everywhere”

“This is why when we remove distraction and the clutter of our 21st century and we get out in nature we somehow feel very close to god because all creation tells of the glory and the splendor and the presence of holy spirit not just is he omnipresent but he is manifest present holy spirit reveals jesus to us manifest present means simply this it's a concentrated moment or time much like we're in today as we gather together and much like i'm sure every service in every location stopped and prayed and believed for miracles that he manifests himself in a moment to bring a supernatural breakthrough through you”

“Indwelling presence is simply and I'll unpack it this way is a relational presence that transforms us from the inside out and now empowers us to serve others well. And I'm praying and I'm believing as the senior leader of life that His omnipresence would lead you, me and other people to church where we all experience His manifest presence which would then lead us to respond to the gospel and experience and outwork His indwelling presence.”

“Holy Spirit is far more than a feeling, a moment, a force. He is the third person of the Trinity and He can be and He is the Bible says as followers of Jesus presenced in us. I love how Romans 8 verse 11 in the Message Bible says it stands to reason doesn't it? That if the alive and present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, He'll do the same thing in you that He did in Jesus. He's gonna bring you alive to Himself.”

“I'm praying that we would become more presenced this year that i would cause a that he would cause us to become not just more presence because the truth is you're already presence as a follower of jesus but that we with a new understanding of being presence would actually now become more present in the world around us that we would get a revelation that it's not a personality trait or whether i've got it all together that gives me permission to reveal jesus to others but because i'm presenced by holy spirit whose number one job is to reveal jesus i now am empowered to go forth and reveal jesus to people”

“When you're presenced when I'm presenced there's no more doubt there's no more wondering am I good enough did my week disqualify me what was that thought that was not of God I'm done for no no when you live presenced you realize oh even in my sin and my stumbling God was with me and if he was with me and I'm still here then surely as the Word declares he is for me and I can live assured knowing that I can come back to him not run away from him in the times that I need when we are presenced we live assured”

“When we are presenced it gives us direction Galatians 5 verse 16 so I say let the Holy Spirit guide your lives watch this now then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves anyone like me where you have those moments you're like I wish that didn't happen wish I didn't do that why did I say that wow that was poor effort it's an opportunity to realize that maybe the direction is not being led and guided by the presence of Holy Spirit when we live presence we can allow him to lead and guide and he brings assurance direction”

“I would say living presence means we live with strength we read in the book of Joshua God declares this is my command and this is your command of Joshua God declares this is my command of Joshua God declares this is mybe strong and courageous. Whatever's ahead of you this year, the promised land that awaits you, I believe as God was encouraging Joshua and the Israelites, hey, be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid.Do not be discouraged. Why? For the Lord, your God is with you. Wherever you go.The God of all creation.”

“Around you, in you, and with you, wherever you go. You can live assured. You can live directed. You can live strengthened.I would say a presence life is a life where you live with joy.The early church in the book of Acts, we see a powerful encounter take place where they are filled.But I love this scripture in Acts 2, 28, where it says,When you're presenced and you know you're presenced, presenced, it's like you can walk around with your shoulders back saying to anyone that you think is an enemy, come at me, bro.Because the joy of the Lord is my strength.Presenced Christians are joyful Christians.”

“When you live presenced, you live free. Yeah.I've never met someone to date that doesn't ever wanna be free.The idea of freedom is one that we all strive for because the truth is in our day and our age, there are many things coming at us to tie us up.But 2 Corinthians 3 verse 17 encourages us, for the Lord is the Spirit.And wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, you have access, you have permission, you have the right to live free.”

“I would say a presence life means you can live with boldness.As I said, the early church, the boys were taking some heat for their belief.And verse 31 of chapter four says this, while they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook.They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And I love this.You know what you and I need to witness to our family and our friends and our workplaces, to our society. You know what every Bible believing Jesus fully and Christian needs? Boldness. Christ ??, God bless you.You know where boldness comes from? Being filled.Being presenced with Holy Spirit.”

“This is why Paul's revelation was one that was of such conviction that in Romans 1, he says, I am not ashamed.The gospel of the good news, trust me, no one in their day and age was keen on the idea of the gospel from a societal point of view, but how many know it grew and it spread and the 120 that received the presence of God came to 3 ,000 and the 3 ,000 became to 5 ,000 and as they met in homes, as they met in the temple, as they did life together daily, the Lord added because the power and the presence of the Lord gives boldness to the believer to share their faith.”

“And you and I this year need to declare that I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Why? Because it is the power of God at work saving everyone who believes. Boldness, boldness. And then finally,a presenced life is an empowered life. Empowerment is our reality.And again, wherever you're at, whatever campus you're leaning in from, I want to encourage everyone to access the power of God through the presence of God.”

“Could it be that Holy Spirit is more than just a moment and more than just omnipresent, but He is indwelling, giving you and I everything we need to possess power, to live out love, and actually give us the answers to win over our sinful nature and be self -disciplined in this life.”

“And I think we do a really good job in our 21st century Christianity. Thank you. You're welcome.to declare Jesus because it's at that name by which we are saved, at that name by which we are healed. He is everything. He is the name above all names. He is God's Son. And we get God, God created the world, He spoke and everything happened. But we probably sell short the power of being presenced by Holy Spirit. And it's not that we're not Christians and it's not that we're not believers and it's not that we're not followers of Jesus, but we're just limited to the understanding rather than accessing the fullness of assurance, direction, strength, joy, freedom, boldness and empowerment.”

“I for one don't want to just look the part, I want to possess the power.I want to live with His power, not just with the potential to live with the power.”

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