The Work Of the Holy Spirit

Empowers

Gives life

The Holy Spirit gives life to all animate creatures on the earth, in the sea, and in the sky. Psalms 104:30

Psalm 104:30 (NASB95)

You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.

Job 34:14–15 (NASB95)

“If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

The Holy Spirit gives us what is necessary to sustain the physical life that we have on earth.

Not only does He sustain life here on earth, but He gives everlasting life. John 3:6-7

John 3:6–7 (NASB95)

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Romans 8:11 NASB95

But 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.

The Holy Spirit causes a person to be born again and to be resurrected to eternal life.

Gives power for service

Old Testament

Numbers 27:18 NASB95

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;

Deuteronomy 34:9 NASB95

Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The Holy spirit equipped Joshua to lead Israel after Moses died.

Isaiah 42:1 (NASB95)

“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

The Holy Spirit allowed the prophets to testify about Jesus. Here Isaiah prophesies about Jesus .

New Testament

The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to enter into His earthly ministry. Matt. 3:16

Matthew 3:16 NASB95

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,

The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to carry on the work of Jesus. Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NASB95

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit equips us to carry on the work of Christ. 1Cor. 12:11

1 Corinthians 12:11 NASB95

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

The Holy Spirit intercedes in our prayer lives and makes our prayers powerful. Rom. 8:26

Romans 8:26 NASB95

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

Purifies

When we receive Christ the Holy Spirit cleanses us from our sin by applying the forgiveness of Christ. 1 Cor. 6:11

1 Corinthians 6:11 NASB95

Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:5 NASB95

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

He also matures us in our faith by giving us the fruits of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB95)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Reveals

Revelation to Prophets and Apostles

The Holy Spirit gave the words to the prophets.

Numbers 24:2 NASB95

And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

Ezekiel 11:5 NASB95

Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord, “So you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts.

Zechariah 7:12 NASB95

“They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.

Reveals God in our lives

Romans 8:16 NASB95

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

2 Corinthians 1:22 NASB95

who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 NASB95

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Romans 8:4–16 NASB95

so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But 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. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

Guides & Directs

Galatians 5:16–26 NASB95

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Reveals truth of Scripture

John 14:26 NASB95

“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 16:13 NASB95

“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.

Ephesians 1:17–19 NASB95

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

Determines God’s Blessing In Our Lives

The Holy Spirit determines the blessings in our lives.

Ephesians 4:30 NASB95

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

We grieve the Holy Spirit by living in sin. God will not bless us when we are living in sin

1 Thessalonians 5:19 NASB95

Do not quench the Spirit;

We quench the Spirit when we do not do the things God calls us to do. Consequently we lose the blessing of the calling.

Ephesians 5:18 NASB95

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Acts 2:4 NASB95

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Galatians 3:3–5 NASB95

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?