The Wondrous Works of The Holy Spirit

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; 

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. 

(Acts 1:8)

It is simply amazing the power of the Holy Spirit!  The Holy Spirit is all encompassing as He works in and through us, and not only that, around us.  God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that man left to his own devices and even with the best of intentions, cannot carry out His will.  Thus He gave His Holy Spirit to whosoever will to lead us and to guide us.  

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  John 14:16

The Holy Spirit, though called the Comforter, is much more than that and serves several purposes in the body of Christ [the Church]:

v  Forms Us:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

v  Inspires Worship:

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)

v  Directs Missionary Activities:

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. (Acts 8:29)

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. (Acts 16:6-7,10)

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:2, 4)

v  Selects Ministers:

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  Ephesians 4:11

v  Anoints Preachers:

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.  (I Corinthians 2:4)

v  Guides Decisions:

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. (Acts 15:28)

v  Baptizes With Power:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as a fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

For those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ in our lives and received the precious gift of the Holy Spirit now have a force working within us that enables us to not only resist the enemy and the influences of the world and our self-nature, we also have the power to obey the will of God and the authority to carry it out.  

The Holy Spirit serves an important purpose in the lives of believers:

v  Convicts:   

And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to My Father and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)

v  Regenerates:   

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. (Titus 3:5)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:3-7)

v  Sanctifies:   

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

v  Baptizes:    

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)

v  Dwells Within:   

What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)

v  Strengthens:

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)

v  Unites:  

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (2 Corinthians 6:17)

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body: so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

v  Intercedes:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. (Jude 20)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.   (Ephesians 6:18)

v  Guides:

Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. (John 16:13)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

v  Demonstrates Love:   

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)

v  Conforms To The Image Of Christ:  

In the natural world, after a house has been lived in by a person for a period of time, it reflects the character of that person. Likewise, our spiritual houses should reflect the character of the Holy Spirit who dwells within.  The Holy Spirit conforms the believer to the image of Christ:

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

v  Reveals Truth:

But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)

v  Teaches:

But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. (1 John 2:27)

v  Assures Of Salvation:

The Spirit itself beareth witness, with our spirit, that we are the children of God. (Romans 8:16)

And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us. (1 John 3:24)

v  Gives Liberty:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

v  Comforts:

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. (Acts 9:31)

Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

But the Comforter , which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:17, 26)

v  Quickens:

But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

v  Speaks:

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate; but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. (Mark 13:11)

v  Demonstrates God's Power:

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

v  Inspires Worship:

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

v  Empowers For Witnessing:  

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

v  Gives Gifts and Develops Fruit:

The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers. These are specific abilities to enable him to function effectively as part of the body of Christ [Church]. The Holy Spirit also develops spiritual fruit in a believer's life. Spiritual fruit refers to the nature of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.  

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  (1 Corinthians 12:1-7)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Is there any wonder that John lets us know that what dwells inside us is greater than any force outside of us?

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  (1 John 4:4)

(Biblical Studies)


01/14/16
06/28/19