The Work of the Holy Spirit
" And when He comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement. The world’s sin is unbelief in me." John 16: 8-9
- Who is the Holy Spirit?
"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 said to you." John 14: 26
- The Holy Spirit is God along with the Father and the Son – Matthew 28: 18-20 The Holy Spirit took part in Creation – Genesis 1: 2
- The Holy Spirit gives power and testimony to our salvation – Judges 3: 10; Acts 1: 8
- The Holy Spirit leads, teaches and reminds us what Jesus taught-John 14: 26, 16: 5-15; 1 John 2: 27
- The Holy Spirit guarantees that we will be in Heaven – 2 Corinthians 5: 1-10; Ephesians 4: 30
- The Holy Spirit works through us individually and corporately ( John 14: 13-16; 1 Cor. 12: 13 )
" For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12: 13
- He takes part in our salvation Titus 3: 5; John 6: 23
- He opens our eyes to Spiritual matters– 1 Cor. 2: 10-15; 1 Thessalonians 1: 5-6; John 16: 9-10
- He resides and works in every believer – Rom. 8: 9-27; 1 John 4: 4; John 7: 37-39
- All believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption– Eph. 1: 13-14, 4: 30
- All believers are Baptized with the Holy Spirit– John 1: 32-33; Acts 11: 15-18; Rom. 6: 3-4
- The Fruit of the Spirit shows that we belong to God ( Galatians 5: 25; John 17: 20-26 )
" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5: 22-23
- The fruit of the Spirit is recorded in every New Testament book– Galatians 5: 22-23
- Brotherly love is the greatest mark of a Christian-1 Cor. 13: 1-13; John 13: 34-35; Mark 12: 29-33
- By their fruit we shall know who belongs to Christ– Matthew 7: 21-23; 1 John 4: 7-2; Galatians 5: 6
- The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to make us more like Christ-2 Cor. 3: 16-18; 1 Tim. 1: 5
- We should be filled with the Holy Spirit regularly ( Ephesians 5: 18-20 ; Isaiah 1: 11-20 )
" And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5: 18
- We should return to our first love– Revelation 2: 2-5
- We should confess our sins and change our minds– 1 John 1: 9; James 4: 1-17, 5: 16; Rom.12: 2
- Repentance means to have a change of heart toward our sin– Ephesians 4: 17-29; 1 Cor. 3: 13
- Pray without ceasing – Ephesians 6: 18; 1 John 5; 14-15; Matthew 6: 5-15
- Faith that God has already given us everything we need– Col. 2: 6-10; 2 Tim. 3: 16-17; Eph. 1: 3
- We walk in the Spirit by faith– Romans 1: 16-17, 6: 19, 10: 17
- We shouldn’t grieve nor quench the Holy Spirit– Ephesians 4: 30; 1 Thessalonians 5: 19
- All believers have gifts from the Holy Spirit ( Ephesians 4: 7-8 )
" And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-12
- Gifts are listed in the Bible– Romans 12: 2-8; Ephesians 4: 11-13; 1 Cor. 12: 4-11; Heb. 2: 4
( Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Educator, Service, Exhorter, Financier , Administrator, Advisor, Scholar, Visionary, Healer, Miracle Worker, Discerner of spirits, Interpreter and unlearned languages.)
- Biblical gifts, even tongues served others– 1 Cor. 12: 7 ( every gift builds up the user also )
- All Biblical gifts are to build up the Body of Christ– Ephesians 4: 16; 1 Cor. 14: 7
- We should seek the greater gifts listed in Scriptural order– 1 Cor.12: 31a, 14: 12
- Love is a more excellent way– 1 Cor. 12: 31b, 13: 1-13
- The need for a gift can end and that gift can cease– 1 Cor. 13: 8
- The Biblical Gift of Tongues ( Acts 2: 1-13; 1 Cor. 12, 13 & 14 )
" So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe." 1 Corinthians 14: 22
- The Biblical gift of tongues was a true miracle that amazed the unbeliever, because it was verifiable and translatable as an existing language– Acts 2: 6-12; 1 Cor. 14: 22
- Tongues were always impossible to understand without a translation-Acts 2: 13; 1 Cor. 14: 22
- Tongues were forbidden in meetings without translation- 1 Cor. 14: 26-28
- We need to test everything spoken– 1 Thessalonians 5: 21
- Demons can perform miracles– John 16: 13-14; Matthew 24: 24
- Praying in unknown and unverifiable tongues exists in Pagan worship ( Islamic sect, Mormons, Hindus, Zulu Pagans in Africa, Satanists and people praying to dead humans )
Note: There are other manifestations among some which do not even find themselves in the Bible at all, which can at times detract from the true message of God's greatest spiritual gift - which is salvation from the very power of sin in our lives and eternal damnation. Gifts are to be used properly in service to others and not to be gloated over. The emphasis in the Bible is on the fruit of the Spirit rather than the gifts themself. This is clearly seen when the apostles always commend believers for their love and faith. For good reading and more study, we recommend these classic free on-line messages: Spiritual Growth by Bill Bright on the Campus Crusade for Christ web site.
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." John 16:13-15