THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (ed. 3.1.13) July 4, 2012
To say the Holy Spirit is ignored in many evangelical settings today
is an understatement, but this is plainly the case. We give lip service
to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as we assemble, regularly,
but since the Holy Spirit is by His very nature mysterious, there is no
understanding of His work. This seems to be the cause for the reti-
icence on the part of believers to share in His unlimited potential. If
we do not understand a process or principle, we tend to avoid use of it.
So, we are limited in our relationship to this third person of God.
What makes the Spirit’s work among us so vital is; when Jesus
returned to the Father, He sent His Spirit to do His work among us?
He is not a different God, but the same God as is God the Son, (Jesus
Christ) and God the Father. In one place in Scripture, Christ makes
this statement, “God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must wor-
ship Him in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4: 24) He was explaining to a
woman at the well in Samaria about a change coming in the worship
of God. God is Spirit. He cannot be contained in buildings made with
hands, or confined in any way. Further aspect of this is; the Spirit is
God without the limitations placed upon Jesus Christ as He walked
among men. Because of the incarnate state, His humanity, Jesus
could be in only one place at a time. He was subject to the bodily pro-
cesses, temptations and requirements as are we. In order to identify
with mankind, bear our sin and remain in a sinless state, Christ was
was housed in a human body. His work has been done here; we now
deal with the same God, but without those limitations. (A clarification
to this fact, would be: There is mystery about this incarnation, since
Jesus Christ did supersede these limitations at times. He displayed
the ability to do miracles and had a unique relationship to the Father
unknown to humanity. Is it possible He was showing us the potential
we also have, with the Father? Do we limit ourselves by our failure to
exercise the faith and power He had through "prayer and fasting?"
Read Matthew 17: 14-23.
Let’s look into advantages we now have since ourn lives are guided
by the God of the universe, The Spirit of God. (Remember Jesus stated
as above, “God is Spirit...”) Is the essence of God the Father that of
Spirit? The question came to mind the first time it registered with me
that Christ had said, God is Spirit. This might be answered by some-
one more knowledgeable than I and possibly deferred to the hereafter.
One thing we can clarify is the fact; God the Father, God the Son and
God the Spirit are one. There is only one God. The other fact is, at
times, in Scripture, God is stated as plural; “Let us make man in our
image...” Genesis 1: 26. This is apparently a reference to God, three
in one.
The word “Trinity” is not used in Scripture. It is the invention of one
who has studied the Scripture, thinking a term needed to be created
describing three persons in one. The term is widely accepted by Bible
scholars, but is not stated, per say, in Scripture. Because of this, some
refuse to accept the doctrine of the Trinity. That will have to be settled
in eternity. (Since I am not a "Scholar," by any stretch, my view is not
relevant.)
Jesus Christ, prior to His ascension, was able to influence his hea-
rers. Now, the Holy Spirit of Christ indwells believers. He, from inside,
inspires and empowers. He stated, believers would do greater works
than He did. (John 14: 12) The only way that could be possible is the
limitless power of the Spirit of the same Christ following his Ascension
What then, is the work of this one called God the Spirit? Staying
with Scripture, we find God’s Holy Spirit convicts sinners, John 16: 8,
comforts the saints, John 16: 7, shows us truth, John 16:13, reminds
us of what we have in the Scripture, John 14:25, and at times gives us
words to say in defense of our life of faith in Jesus Christ. (Mark 13:
11) The Spirit knows us and helps with our inabilities, offering gifts to
be used in service to our God, Acts 2:4 and empowers our words.
Romans 15:19
All of this work of the Spirit is contingent upon our being in the will
of God revealed in Scripture. There is also the work of the Spirit in
prayer. He is said to come along side as we pray when we do not know
for what to pray or are without words, "He prays the Father in our
stead." Romans 8: 26-27. One word of caution: The Berean Church
in Acts had a noble congregation who, when they heard the Apostle
Paul , searched Scripture to see if his teaching were true and in agree-
ment with the Old Testament. Acts 11:17. I trust we are of noble cha-
racter and will imitate them. The only way for one to make Scripture
come alive is to search God's Word, personally. God has children; no
grandchildren. Each of us is to have a personal relationship with God
the Father in the name of Christ with the enlightenment and power of
the Spirit. More information on the "Gifts of the Spirit," are seen in
Chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians. For more on the "Fruit of the Spirit" in
the life of believers, as opposed to the "Works of the flesh," see
Galatians 5: 16-25. A word of clarification is appropriate at this point.
Some groups consider the fullness of the Spirit to be synonymous with
the baptism of the Spirit. For our purposes here, we consider baptism
of the Spirit as separate and occurring at the time of regeneration of a
new believer. As you will see, the Apostles directed persons who were
born again to be filled with the Spirit but no one was ever advised in
Scripture to be baptized of the Spirit.
In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, he directed the church there to
be filled, controlled and empowered, by the Holy Spirit of God rather
than drunk, (controlled and powered) on alcoholic beverages. There
are passages we may take from here and there to determine how this
may be accomplished, but since it is obviously the will of God for us to
be filled with His Spirit, we can pray for this filling and be sure it will
occur. As we look in 1 John 5: 14-15 we see when we ask anything of
the Father knowing it to be His will, He hears our prayer and fills our
request. (Sometimes we have to wait for answer.) These are the first
parts of the process of being filled with the Spirit. He has directed us
to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians and in 1 John 5, He said He
will honor our petition in accordance with His will. There is another
part to being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Lord will not fill unclean
vessels with the Spirit. This gives us another key; repentance from sin
or the works of the flesh. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for
Christ, explained it as “Spiritual breathing.” By repenting and confes-
sing our sin, we exhale the evil. By asking our God to fill us with His
Spirit, we are inhaling the Lord. This word picture helps us to under-
stand the process of being filled with the Spirit. It is a mystery requi-
ring faith in the one who promised His Spirit to the one who asks.
Secondly, as in Ephesians, we are directed to walk in the Spirit of
God. This is accomplished after the act of “Spiritual Breathing,” as we
take a step of faith, acting on something we know to be God’s will for
our lives. This step should be taken, immediately after the experience
of the filling of the Spirit. It might be the act of witnessing to a friend,
giving your personal testimony or by simply making a gift to the Lord.
One reason for making a gift to the Lord as our first act of “Walking in
the Spirit” is, in Malachi we are given a means of trying the Lord. (See
Malachi 3: 8-12) In this way we see the result of walking in the Spirit.
I know of no other place in Scripture where we are directed to “try”
God to see Him fulfill a promise. There are other disciplines we may
practice “in the Spirit,” unavailable to us before being filled with the
Spirit. However; everything done in the power of God is of faith.
"Without faith it is impossible to please God..., Hebrews 11: 6.) A
believer filled with the Spirit of God will, by faith, be able to love the
unlovely, believe things that with men are impossible, and see good
things accomplished in his life; not possible before. This is not blind
faith, but is specifically faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In faith, the
believer’s Spiritual eyes will be opened and the mind of Christ made
available to him. The list of acts done, by faith in the power of the
Spirit might read as follows:
Witness by Faith
Love by faith
Walk by faith in the power of the Sprit
Expanded belief in the impossible
Answers to the prayer of faith
Understanding the Word of God by faith
Teaching others by faith
Reception of Gifts of the Spirit
Overcome sinful practices through faith
New Joy in life
Divine assurance of salvation
Living in conformity to God’s plan and purpose for life.
As you can see by this short list of blessings received through being
filled by the Spirit of God; there are many things we expected to come
through faith in Christ that were not happening prior to being filled
by His Holy Spirit. If we are attempting to live the Christ life without
the fullness of His Spirit, we are still in the flesh and can have no assu-
rance of our salvation. Everything we do as Children of God is by
faith, Christ in us. Our prayer to be filled with the Spirit might entail
the act of confession and repentance of our known sins, in agreement
with God, and believe He has forgiven our sins. 1 John 1:9 "If we con-
fess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness," and petition the Lord to Fill us with His
Spirit. We might then, give thanks to the Lord for forgiving our sin
for filling us with His Spirit. Afterwards, will come the act of faith;
the important first step in "Walking in the Spirit of God.” “For as
many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” See
Romans 8:14. The implication is clear, if one is not being led by the
Holy Spirit there can be no assurance he is a son, or in Christ.
Reading the verses following, points out this very thing. “The
Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
(Romans 8:16) This is the calm assurance from within of our salva-
tion in our Lord Jesus Christ and we can confidently face any situa-
tion in life knowing our eternal destination has been secured in Him
and does not rest in anything we are, we do; have done. As we grow
in our walk with the Savior, we may or may not become scholars or
Bible teachers. We will become disciples of Christ and in turn begin
to disciple others. (Matthew 28: 19-20) This is not a suggestion,
but a commission, or command.
For further study on the Work of the Holy Spirit:
Ephesians 5: 18, We are to be filled with the Spirit.
John 7: 37-39, The Spirit Gives life.
John 16: 12-14, The Spirit glorifies the Son and reveals truth.
Romans 15: 16, The Holy Spirit sets believers apart for service.
Hebrews 13: 1-6, The Holy Spirit will never forsake the believer.
Luke 11: 13, God gives His Spirit to those who ask...
(We must never think of the Holy Spirit as being anyone
but the Lord God. God Is a Spirit, The Spirit of Jesus
Christ and God the Holy Spirit. One entity or person)
donporter July 4,2012 (edited 11.11.14, 3.09.17
Psalms 19: 1, "The heavens declare the glory of God, And the
firmament shows His handiwork." (NKJV)
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