InspirationalThe Work of the Holy Spirit

Question No. OneWho is the Holy Spirit?

He is GodGenesis 1:26 says, “...let Us make man in Our

image, according to Our likeness...”

Matthew 28: 19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of

the Holy Spirit...”

He is GodThe Holy Spirit is a divine being just like God the Father (who appeared with Adam & Eve)

and Jesus (who lived here with us).

While the Holy Spirit doesn’t occupy a form that allows us to see Him like we did the other two, He exists as they do. Consider the ways in which He acts, how He is described, and how He is mentioned in context to other beings.

He ActsHe can Speak

1 Tim 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says...”

He can Bear Witness John 10:26,27, “...He will testify of Me.

And you will also bear witness...”

He can Love Rom 15:30, “...through the love of the Spirit...”

Described by OthersHe can be Grieved

Eph 4:30, “...do not grieve the Holy Spirit...”

He can be Lied ToActs 5:3, “...why has Satan filled your heart to lie

to the Holy Spirit...”

He can be Resisted Acts 7:51, “...you always resist the Holy Spirit...”

Mentioned with OthersIn John 16:14 Jesus says, “He will glorify Me...” when He mentions the work of the Holy Spirit among the Apostles. If the “me” represents a

person (Jesus), why wouldn’t the “he?”

Early leaders in the Church also mention Him as a living, functioning being in Acts 15:28, “...it

seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us...” The Spirit is as alive as they are.

Question No. TwoHow did the Holy Spirit work (what was

His role) before the Church began?

CreationThe Holy Spirit had a role in the initial

creation of the universe. Genesis 1:2 says, “...the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of

the waters (deep).”

Job says in 26:13, “By His (God’s) Spirit He adorned the Heavens” and Elihu in 33:4 says, “the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the

Almighty gives me life.”

RevelationSecond Peter 1:21 says, “...prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke

as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Consider also the numerous times that a prophet writes, “The Word of the Lord came

to ...” at the beginning of their very own prophecies. See Hebrews 1:1 which says God

spoke through the prophets.

ProvidenceProvidence is “God working behind the scenes to get His message across without revelation.”

In the OT, the Holy Spirit seems to have been instrumental in the rise and fall of various

nations. Isaiah 63:10 says, “...they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned

Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.”

Question No. ThreeHow does/did the Holy Spirit work for

the Church?

Companion & HelperJesus told His Apostles that He was sending

them someone to “...guide you into all truth...(who will) take of what is Mine and declare it

to you...” in John 16:13,14.

Earlier in John 14:26 He said, “...the Helper, the Holy Spirit...He will teach you all things,

and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.”

Revelation1 Cor 2:9-13 makes it abundantly clear that the Word of God (New Testament) came

through the work of the Holy Spirit just like the OT (see 2 Peter 1:21).

1 Thess 2:13, “...when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you

welcomed it...as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also works in you who believe.”

Validation by MiraclesThe miraculous gifts of the early Church were designed to validate the message (revelation) taught by the Apostles and other teachers.

Mark 16:20 says, “...they (Apostles) went out and preached everywhere...confirming the Word through the accompanying signs.” When the process of revelation was done, these miracles were no longer needed and

passed away (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-13).

The Gift (Acts 2:38)Peter said to them, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you

shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

This gift is promised after baptism and after a person has already received the message (2:41)

and believed it and is ready to act upon it (2:37). It is a consequence, not a prerequisite.

The Gift (Acts 2:38)This gift is the Holy Spirit Himself, but it is not a miraculous gift. There is no proof from Acts 2-5 that anyone other than the Apostles

possessed miraculous gifts following Acts 2:38.

Acts 2:43 says, “...many wonders and signs were done through the Apostles” and 5:12, “...through the hands of the Apostles many

signs and wonders were done...”

The Gift (Acts 2:38)An indwelling seems consistent considering:

Rom 8:9, “...if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have

the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

I Cor 6:19, “...your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have

from God...”

On Our BehalfRom 8:26, “...the Spirit also helps us in our

weaknesses...the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us...” The Holy Spirit is our companion, never leaving us, protecting us.

“Surely the Holy Spirit who has the ability to completely reveal the mind of God to man would have no difficulty in pleading man’s

case to God” (Hardeman Nichols)

Final ThoughtsGod has been with His people from the

beginning through the rise of the Hebrew nation and today with His Church. While He

has taken upon Himself different roles and appearances, He is still with us. Today, God’s

presence with us is validated by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (our “gift”). The Jews didn’t always understand what they had with God, but

they knew He was there. So can we.

Final ThoughtsJoshua 1:5, “...I will not leave you nor

forsake you.”

Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous

forsaken...”

2 Cor 4:8,9, “We are...persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...”