The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and plays a vital role in the life of every believer. The Bible has much to say about the power and work of the Holy Spirit in equipping, empowering, guiding, and transforming the people of God.
The Person of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or power, but a person. Scripture refers to the Holy Spirit with personal pronouns like “He” and “Him” (John 14:26; 16:13-14). The Holy Spirit has attributes of personhood, including intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), emotions (Ephesians 4:30), and will (1 Corinthians 12:11). As a person, the Holy Spirit relates to us, guides us, teaches us, and dwells within us.
The Power of the Holy Spirit in Creation
The Holy Spirit was actively involved in creation. The Spirit hovered over the waters at the dawn of creation (Genesis 1:2). The Spirit gave life and continues to sustain all living things (Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30). Every human soul originates as the Spirit imparts life (Zechariah 12:1). The creative work of the Spirit continues as He carries out the new creation by giving spiritual life to those who believe (John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5).
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the Spirit empowered individuals for specific tasks. He equipped craftsmen with skill for constructing the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3). The Spirit enabled people to lead and prophesy, including Joseph, Joshua, the judges, and King David (Genesis 41:38; Numbers 27:18; Judges 3:10; 1 Samuel 16:13). The prophets spoke God’s word inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). Through the promise of a new covenant, God said He would pour out His Spirit so that all His people would know Him, from the least to the greatest (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Joel 2:28-29).
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised His disciples that after His departure, the Father would give them another Counselor – the Holy Spirit – to be with them forever (John 14:16). The Spirit would continue the work of Jesus on earth to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11). The Holy Spirit would also guide Jesus’ followers into all truth, speaking what He hears from the Father and Son and glorifying Christ (John 16:13-15). Jesus commanded the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they received the promised gift from the Father of the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). This occurred at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
The Holy Spirit Indwells Believers
A unique activity of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is His indwelling of believers. When a person trusts in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in that person’s soul (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit’s presence assures believers of their relationship with God as His children (Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 4:6). The indwelling Spirit begins the lifelong process of transformation by conforming believers to become more like Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Galatians 5:22-23).
The Holy Spirit Unites and Builds Up the Church
The Holy Spirit forms the church, the body of Christ. The Spirit baptizes believers into one body upon conversion (1 Corinthians 12:13). Diversity and unity coexist in the Spirit-filled church; He distributes gifts to each person for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). The fruit produced by the Spirit promotes harmony and order (Galatians 5:22-23). Under the Spirit’s direction, the church expands through the empowered testimony of believers (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit preserves the truth and guides the church (John 14:26; 16:13).
The Holy Spirit Equips Believers with Gifts
The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers for the building up of the church. Examples of gifts include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation, apostleship, teaching, helping, and administration (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11). No gift is given to every believer, but the Spirit determines who receives which gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11). The gifts are given not for self-glorification, but for serving others, strengthening the church, and bringing glory to God (1 Peter 4:10-11).
The Holy Spirit Produces Fruit in Believers
As believers walk in the Spirit, allowing Him to guide and control their lives, the Spirit produces spiritual fruit in them (Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23). This fruit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Spirit develops Christlike character in believers as they yield to Him. The fruit of the Spirit enhances relationships in the church, family, and community.
The Holy Spirit Empowers and Equips for Ministry
Jesus did not expect the disciples to carry out His commission (Matthew 28:19-20) in their own strength. He promised the power of the Holy Spirit to enable them to be His witnesses locally and globally (Acts 1:8). The Book of Acts shows the Spirit empowering apostles, evangelists, and ordinary believers for ministry. The Spirit directs Philip to witness to an Ethiopian man (Acts 8:29) and enables Peter to preach boldly before critics (Acts 4:8). The Holy Spirit appoints and sends out missionaries like Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2-3). As Christians yield to the Spirit today, He will equip them for the work of ministry.
The Holy Spirit Helps Christians Pray
One ministry of the Holy Spirit is to assist believers in prayer. We often do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us with God (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit helps us to pray according to God’s will as He guides our thoughts and decisions. Ephesians 6:18 instructs believers to pray in the Spirit at all times. This includes both praying in our spiritual language and learning to follow the Spirit’s leading in regular prayer.
The Holy Spirit Brings Revival
Throughout history, the Holy Spirit has empowered and energized the church for revival. In the early church, persecution could not stop the advance of Christianity through Spirit-empowered preaching and witnessing (Acts 4:29-31; 5:32). The Protestant Reformation, missionary expansion, and various awakenings all evidence the reviving work of the Holy Spirit. Revival comes when the Spirit convicts believers of sin and restores passion for God and His work. Where the Spirit is active, there will be renewal, growth, changed lives, and obedience to the Great Commission.
The Holy Spirit Transforms Character
Sanctification is the Spirit’s work of transforming believers to be more like Jesus Christ. While justification is an instantaneous legal declaration, sanctification is a progressive lifelong process. The Spirit convicts believers of remaining sin and conforming to the world (John 16:8; Romans 12:2). As Christians yield control of their lives to the Spirit, meditate on Scripture, and pray, the Spirit develops godly character traits and destroys sinful desires (Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 4:22-24). The Spirit produces love, joy, peace and other aspects of Christlike character (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Holy Spirit Guides into Truth
Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (John 16:13). The Spirit reveals, illuminates, and applies God’s truth in Scripture. He convicted the hearts of Jesus’ hearers of the truth when they refused to believe (John 16:8-9). As the author of Scripture, the Holy Spirit perfectly understands biblical truth. Christians have the Spirit of truth residing in them to teach and remind them of Christ’s teachings (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27). The Spirit guides believers to discern truth from falsehood and not be led astray by deceiving spirits (1 John 4:1-6).
The Holy Spirit Gives Assurance
The Holy Spirit confirms in believers’ hearts that they belong to God. He assures Christians of their adoption, forgiveness, reconciliation, and future resurrection (Romans 8:15-16; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14). The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children, even when struggles tempt us to doubt our salvation (Romans 8:16). His presence conveys that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). The Spirit produces in believers the assurance of salvation – confidence in the promises and work of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 6:11).
The Holy Spirit Produces Spiritual Fruit
The greatest evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life is spiritual fruit. Rather than concentrate on any particular spiritual gift, Christians should focus on allowing the Spirit to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The Spirit develops these godly traits that characterize Jesus Christ as believers submit to Him and cooperate by saturating themselves in Scripture and prayer. The fruit of the Spirit enhances Christian witness and relationships with others.
The Bible overflows with teaching about the person, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. From Genesis to Revelation, the Spirit actively works to accomplish God’s purposes in creating, redeeming, and sustaining all things. There is no greater privilege than living each moment under the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit.