WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The way the Holy Spirit is portrayed in many Christian circles, is different to what is revealed in the Bible. Even though, some believe that He is God however, He is treated as some kind of experiential force. Hence, the person and work of the Holy Spirit has been distorted. 

In this article, I will give a brief biblical overview of the work of the Holy Spirit. Also, I will show how the third Person of God operates within the Godhead. We discover from Scripture that the Holy Spirit was the agent of Creation but the focus of this article, will be on His work in the history of Redemption.

THE REVELATORY WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE WRITTEN MESSAGE 

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. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-14 ESV

In these verses, the Lord Jesus was telling His Apostles that the Holy Spirit will guide them into all the truth, which means that His Spirit will grant them infallible abilities to write the New Testament scriptures. Hence, the Apostles of Christ were divinely aided to write the inspired Word of God just like the Old Testament Prophets. 

As Jesus stated, the work of the Spirit is to shed light on the Person and Work of Christ. Therefore, the focus is on the Son and not the Spirit. 

The operation within the Godhead is that the Father initiates, the Son does the work of the Father and the Spirit applies the work of the Son (1 Peter 1:2). The scriptures testifies that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son (John 15:26).

THE CONFIRMED MESSAGE 

while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:4 ESV

The Holy Spirit revelatory work of the New Covenant was performed during the foundational period of the New Testament Church. As Christ promised, the signs and wonders and various miracles, authenticates the Apostles testimonies of Jesus Christ.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON A CHRISTIAN

HE REGENERATES 

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 3:5 ESV

To be born again is to be regenerated by the Spirit (Titus 3:5). Being born of the water and Spirit is symbolic of one action by the Spirit to cleanse and change the stony heart of a sinner to a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27). 

As a consequence, the Holy Spirit gives the sinner the ability to trust in Christ. Furthermore, those He saves, He dwells in them as a deposit guaranteeing that they are God’s possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).

HE SANCTIFIES 

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 1 Peter 1:2 ESV

The sanctifying work of the Spirit makes the believer holy through God’s Word and providence. He purifies them through sufferings (Romans 5:1-5). In addition, the work of the Spirit in a Christian causes them to hate sin and desire to obey God (Romans 8:12-14).

HE ILLUMINATES 

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18 ESV

Simply put, the illumination of God’s word to the believer, is about gaining understanding of His revealed Word. It’s the work of the Spirit in the hearts of believers that sheds light on the beauty of God’s Word. 

Illumination begins with understanding but results in transformation (Psalm 119:27,34,125). It’s the Spirit of God that unveil the hidden glory of Christ (John 1:14).

Therefore, our prayers should be for the Spirit of God to open the eyes of our hearts to see the glory of Christ and the hope of our inheritance ( Ephesians 1:17-18).

HE INTERCEDES AND GIVES ASSURANCE 

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints. Romans 8:27 ESV

The Holy Spirit perfectly knows the Spirit of God and He intercedes according to the perfect will of God for the saints. As Christ our High Priest intercedes for us so is God the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit assures us of the Father’s adopting love. He witnesses to our spirit and prompt us to cry and know that God is our Father (Romans 8:16).

HE GIVE GIFTS FOR SERVICE 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:4 ESV

The Holy Spirit grants believers gifts to serve and bring glory to God. According to His Grace, He gives different gifts to Christians, for the building up of the church.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE WORLD 

HE CONVICTS THE WORLD OF SIN 

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: John 16:8 ESV

He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment through the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. As a result, men are convicted by their sin and thus repent of it. Although, some are convicted however others reject the truth and harden their hearts which then condemn them to eternal punishment.

HE RESTRAINS EVIL 

And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 2 Thessalonians 2:6 ESV

Evil has greatly increased in the world but God sovereign power restrain the great apostasy. Therefore, the only supernatural power that can restrain evil is God the Holy Spirit. His divine power restrains the AntiChrist until God’s appointed time.

In conclusion, God the Holy Spirit applies the saving work of the Son. He regenerates and sanctifies. The Spirit works in the church and on individual believer’s life.

Evidently, the main emphasis of the Spirit work in the New Testament is to make the Bride of Christ holy (Ephesians 5:26, Ephesians 4:30, 2 Peter 1:3-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 4:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 6:11).

It’s not about getting some transcendental experience through an emotional unsound worship music. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit works through the ordinary means of grace, of prayer, God's Word, service and the Lord’s supper and baptism. 

As a consequence, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit progressively for Christians to become more like Christ (Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 8:29). One important thing to note, is that the Spirit empowered life is exciting and joyful.

Lastly, the Spirit of God, gives power to live the Christian life and blesses believers with a partial experience of eternal glory.