The Role of The Holy Spirit in Our Lives
Of all the gifts given to mankind by God, there is none greater than the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has many functions, roles, and activities.
Before salvation
He does a work in the hearts of all people everywhere. Jesus told the disciples that He would send the Spirit into the world to “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:7-11).
Everyone has a “God consciousness,” whether or not they admit it. The Spirit applies the truths of God to minds of men to convince them by fair and sufficient arguments that they are sinners.
Responding to that conviction brings men to salvation. (Evangelist )
Reference: From Fishermen to Disciples
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So, they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees. “Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man” when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. Luke 5:1-8 & 11
Point: Pray that people’s sense of the existence of God will be heightened by the presence of the Holy Spirit around them.
2. After Salvation.
We are saved and belong to God.
The Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts forever.
us with the confirming, certifying, and assuring pledge of our eternal state as His children.
Jesus said He would send the Spirit to us to be our Helper, Comforter, and Guide. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16). Greek “Counselor” means “one who is called alongside” and has the idea of someone who encourages and exhorts.
The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the hearts of believers (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 12:13). Jesus gave the Spirit as a “compensation” for His absence, to perform the functions toward us which He would have done if He had remained personally with us.
Reference:
When the Day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.Acts 2:1-4
Point: Thank God that you are saved.
Thank Him for giving you His Son who in turn gave you the gift of the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray in tongues as evidence of the indwelling permanent presence of God in us.
3. Reveals the TRUTH
The Spirit’s presence within us enables us to understand and interpret God’s Word. Jesus told His disciples that “when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
He reveals to our minds the whole counsel of God as it relates to worship, doctrine, and Christian living. He is the ultimate guide, going before, leading the way, removing obstructions, opening the understanding, and making all things plain and clear. He leads in the way we should go in all spiritual things. Without such a guide, we would be apt to fall into error.
A crucial part of the truth He reveals is that Jesus is who He said He is (John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:3). The Spirit convinces us of Christ’s deity and incarnation, His being the Messiah, His suffering and death, His resurrection and ascension, His exaltation at the right hand of God, and His role as the judge of all. He gives glory to Christ in all things (John 16:14).
Reference:
Paul wrote:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. 1 Cor 1:23
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much tremble. 1 Cor 2:2-3
Point: pray that the Holy Spirit will increase the knowledge and revelation of Christ in us to make Him known to the lost.
4. Giver of gifts
First Corinthians 12 describes the spiritual gifts given to believers in order that we may function as the body of Christ on earth.
All these gifts, both great and small, are given by the Spirit so that we may be His ambassadors to the world, showing forth His grace and glorifying Him.
Point: pray for the Holy Spirit to impart His gifts to enable us to accomplish the work of any ministry. Gifts testify of Jesus.
Reference: Luke 10:1-12 - Sending out the 72
Here we hear of Jesus commissioning a His 12 disciples to go out in pairs to the streets and cities, and informing them that He has given them authority to heal the sick, proclaim and declare peace over them that the kingdom of God has come near to them.
The authority He I parted to them was through the Holy Spirit to empower them to accomplish those things He sent them to do.
He gave them special instructions, what to do and what not to do, where to go and where not to go, as well as what to say and when.
They returned with joy after seeing what they thought only Jesus could do, happened through them too.
5. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2
This chapter illustrates the time when the disciples received power of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised them. It was after this that they now moved fully in power and authority of the Holy Spirit.
6. Produces Fruits
When He indwells us, He begins the work of harvesting His fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
These are not works of our flesh, which is incapable of producing such fruit, but they are products of the Spirit’s presence in our lives.
Reference:
Profiting from Trials
James, the brother of Jesus wrote: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces PATIENCE. James 1:1-3
Paul wrote: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Cor 4:7-9
Point: Pray for the work of the Holy Spirit in you to increase more fruits to enable us to accomplish the work of any ministry.
Conclusion
The knowledge that the Holy Spirit of God has taken up residence in our lives, that He performs all these miraculous functions, that He dwells with us forever, and that He will never leave or forsake us is cause for great joy and comfort. Thank God for this precious gift—the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives
