In This Lesson
Introduction | His Ministry among Believers | His Ministry in the Church | His Ministry in the World
Introduction
 The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our Helper, and our Teacher. He gives us love and fellowship and guides us into truth.
He has fruit for us, such as joy, peace, patience, humility and self-control (cf. Galatians 5:22); and He gives to us various spiritual gifts that enable us to minister the Gospel of Christ more effectively.
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
The Holy Spirit is quite active in our lives. From convictions of righteousness and sin to aiding our understanding of God's Word, He is actively engaged in bringing each of us into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
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His Ministry among Believers
Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is actively engaged in the sanctification and glorification of all who put their faith in Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation.
- He Anoints Us:
As we learned in the first lesson on the Holy Spirit, in the Old Testament, God's chosen leaders — the prophets, priests, and kings — were anointed with oil to set them apart for God. The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit, which He gave to them to enable or help them to do whatever He called them to do.
"...you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge." (1 John 2:20)
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor..." (Luke 4:18a)
1 John 2:27—
See also Acts 10:38.
He Assures Us of Our Salvation:
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:15-16)
Galatians 4:6—
He Baptizes Us:
"And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'" (Acts 1:4-5 emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 12:13—
He Bears Witness/Testifies to Us:
"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." (John 15:26)
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16)
"And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us . . ." (Hebrews 10:15a)
1 John 5:6—
He Calls and Commissions Us:
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." (Acts 20:28 emphasis added)
He Cleanses Us:
"...may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints." (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 emphasis added)
He Comforts Us:
"So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied." (Acts 9:31 emphasis added)
He Empowers Us:
"But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might..." (Micah 3:8a emphasis added)
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13 emphasis added)
2 Thessalonians 2:13—
He Enables Us to Believe:
"But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13 emphasis added)
He Fills Us:
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)
Acts 4:31—
He Gives Us Joy:
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17 emphasis added)
Acts 13:52—
Galatians 5:22—
"And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 1:6 emphasis added)
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- He Gives Life:
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11)
John 6:63—
- He Gives Us Spiritual Gifts:
4"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
For an in-depth review of these spiritual gifts, go to the teaching "Gifts of the Holy Spirit".
- He Gives Us Victory over the Flesh:
2"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:2-4 emphasis added)
- He Gives Us Wisdom and Discernment:
10...these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
13And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
15The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
16'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
Deuteronomy 34:9—
Isaiah 11:2—
- He Grants Us Access to God: Ephesians 2:18—
- He Guides/Leads Us and Restrains Us: John 16:13—
"And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them." (Acts 16:6-7 emphasis added)
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!" (Psalm 143:10)
Acts 8:29—
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" (Acts 13:2)
Romans 8:14—
- He Guides Us in All Truth:
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (John 16:13)
- He Helps Us:
16"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17even 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."
. . .
25"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
26But 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 have said to you.'" (John 14:16-17, 25-26)
Jesus told His disciples He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit as our "helper". What does that mean, our "helper"? In what ways does He help us? Really, the answer is as broadly defined as is the question. In what areas do you need help today? Do you need help to understand the Scriptures? Perhaps you need guidance or wisdom about a difficult decision or situation. Do you need counsel on how to deal with an intemperate child, co-worker, or neighbor? Are you feeling weak and perhaps even questioning or doubting your salvation? Maybe you've taken a wrong turn while driving and need help to get back on the right road.
With that last example, it is certainly not my intention to trivialize the Holy Spirit's involvement in our lives. Rather, I am trying to demonstrate the simple truth that He desires to be involved in every aspect of our lives because, after all, like the Father and Son, He loves each of us with an everlasting love!
"...I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." (Jeremiah 31:3b)
"I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance." (Philippians 1:19)
Romans 8:26—
- He Helps Us Worship:
"For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3)
- He Indwells Every Believer:
The Holy Spirit indwells [that is, He inhabits] every believer at the time of conversion. In the story of the first Gentile believers, while Peter was explaining the Gospel, as soon as Cornelius and his household began to believe Peter's testimony, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
44"While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47'Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?'" (Acts 10:44-47)
If we belong to the family of God, His Spirit dwells within us. "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." (Romans 8:9)
Romans 8:11—
"For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." (Romans 8:15-16)
- He Inspires Prayer:
"...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication..." (Ephesians 6:18)
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." (Jude 20-21 emphasis added)
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- He Intercedes for Us:
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27)
- He Interprets Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 14—
"...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him." (Ephesians 1:17 emphasis added)
- He Invites Us to Come:
The Holy Spirit invites all to come to the only One who can truly satisfy our thirst — whether for love, acceptance, forgiveness, holiness, healing, or communion — to Christ, the Living Water.
"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." (Revelation 22:17)
- He Is Active in Our Salvation:
The Holy Spirit plays an essential part in our salvation. He shows us how detestable our sins are when compared to the righteousness and glorious beauty of our God. He then helps us to understand the message of the Gospel and accept Jesus as our Savior. In short, He radically changes our lives!
8"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16:8-11)
"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.'" (John 3:5-6)
- He Liberates Us:
Romans 8:2—
"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." (Romans 6:22 emphasis added)
- He Molds Our Character:
"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)
- He Regenerates Us:
"Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.' . . . Nicodemus said to him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:3,5)
"...until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever." (Isaiah 32:15-17)
See also Joel 2:28; Ezekiel 39:29; Zechariah 12:10a.
- He Sanctifies Us:
Romans 15:16—
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
1 Corinthians 6:11—
"But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
- He Seals Us:
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14 emphasis added)
Ephesians 4:30—
"Sealing" something is an acknowledgement by the person who sealed it that it as ours. The seal assures it is rightly so called and binding [similar to sealing a deed or a will]. In the verses above, the Apostle Paul tells us that the sanctifying Spirit has "sealed" us as legitimate children of God. By our receipt of this seal, we agree that it is the truth of God.
- He Searches Our Hearts:
1 Corinthians 2:10—
- He Strengthens Us:
Acts 1:8—
"...my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." (1 Corinthians 2:4)
Ephesians 3:16—
- He Teaches Us:
"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 have said to you." (John 14:26)
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. . . . All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13,15)
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His Ministry in the Church
It began during the first Pentecost following Jesus' miraculous resurrection: the birth of the Church. On that day, the Holy Spirit fell on and filled those 120 believers, emboldening them to begin their ministry of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)
He not only filled the individual believers with His presence and power, but in a demonstration of supernatural power and divine ordination, He also added dramatically to their numbers. "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41)
- He Appoints Officers:
Acts 20:17—
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." (Acts 20:28 emphasis added)
He Baptizes All Believers into One Body:
"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5)
1 Corinthians 10:17—
"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13)
As discussed in the previous lesson on the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit", being baptized "by" the Spirit into the body of Christ is not the same as being baptized "in" the Holy Spirit.
He Fills Believers: Acts 2:4—
"And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:31)
Acts 13:52—
He Sanctifies the Church:
"...to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:16 emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 6:11—
He Sends out and Directs Missionaries:
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' . . . So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus." (Acts 13:2,4 emphasis added)
John 3:34—
"And the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and join this chariot.'" (Acts 8:29)
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His Ministry in the World
- He Convicts of Sin:
8"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16:8-11)
- He Creates:
"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2)
- He Restrains Sin:
"For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way." (2 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV emphasis added)
Job 33:4—
Psalm 104:30—
- He Will Renew All That Had Been Lost:
14"For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; 15until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. 16Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field." (Isaiah 32:14-16 emphasis added)
19"The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." (Romans 8:19-21 emphasis added)
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