Work of the Holy Spirit

What are the works of the Holy Spirit?

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The role of the Holy Spirit, a heavenly being, is to bring about spiritual rebirth by leading people to faith in Jesus and changing our hearts and thoughts (John 3:3-7). Our lives are always being worked on by the Holy Spirit, who is shaping our personalities and emulating Christ more and more (Romans 8:29).

In the lives of believers, the Holy Spirit bears fruit in the forms of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These characteristics show that the Spirit is present in our life. In addition, the holy spirit acts as an intercessor, praying on our behalf even when we are unable to pray rightly (Romans 8:26), and gives us direction and wisdom, assisting us in making decisions that are in line with God's plan (John 16:13).

1. 1.How is the Holy Spirit described?

   1. Comforter and Spirit of truth. John 15: 26.
   2. Power from on high. Luke 24: 49.
   3. Holy Ghost and power. Acts 1: 5.
   4. Spirit of God. Matthew 3: 16.
   5. Holy Ghost. Luke 3: 22.

   It is plain from these scriptures that the Holy Spirit is the personal representative of Christ upon the earth, abiding in the church by dwelling in the hearts of the believers. It follows that any attempt to make a man the vicegerent of Christ in the place of the third person of the Godhead, is an attempt to put man in the place of God. Thus does the fundamental principle of the Papacy set aside the person and work of the Holy Spirit."—" Bible Readings for the Home Circle," p. 182. " Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location or his personal contact with Christ. By the Spirit the Saviour would be accessible to all. In this sense He would be nearer to them than if He had not ascended on high."—" The Desire of Ages," p. 669.

2. 2.How early in Bible history is the Holy Spirit mentioned?

   Bible⇒ Genesis 1: 2 .

3. 3.How is the presence of the Holy Spirit discerned?

   Bible⇒ John 3: 8 .

4. 4.What is the specific work of the Holy Spirit?

   Bible⇒ John 16: 7, 8.

5. 5.How should man treat the Holy Spirit?

   Bible⇒ John 20: 22 .

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7. 6.What experiences follow the receiving of the Spirit?

   1. Confessions follow reproof. 1 John 1: 9.
   2. Change of heart called new birth. John 3: 5, 6.
   3. Led by the Spirit instead of natural desire. Romans 8: 13, 14

8. 7.What progress is made under His leadership?

   Bible⇒ John 16: 13; Proverbs 4: 18 .

9. 8.Should one refuse to follow these greater truths, what happens?

   Bible ⇉ Ephesians 4: 30

10. 9.If rebellion continues, what finally becomes of the Holy Spirit?

    Bible ⇉ - The Spirit ceases striving with the heart (Genesis 6: 3, first part); the soul is utterly forsaken of God (Proverbs 1: 23-31)

    The limit is determined by the creature rather than by the Creator. It is when there is an utter abandonment to evil, and further appeals would be without avail. God, foreknowing all things, may designate a definite period of probation for man, as in the case of the one hundred and twenty years before the flood (Genesis 6: 3) ; but His Spirit never ceases to strive with man as long as there is hope of his salvation."—" Bible Readings for the Home Circle," p. 183.

11. 10.Where is the mind of the Spirit of God expressed?

    Bible ⇉ John 6: 63

12. 11.When the Word guides, who is leading?

    Bible ⇉ John 17: 17; 1 John 5: 6

13. 12.What will the Spirit teach us?

    Bible ⇉ John 14: 26

14. 13.When He-brings these words to our minds, what are we to do?

    Bible ⇉ John 14: 15-17; John 14:21; John 14:23

    There can be no bestowal of the Holy Spirit where there is an unwillingness to obey God in any matter about which He has already made His will known. There are in many lives questions of long standing about which conscience has often been troubled, but with regard to which the heart has been disobedient to the heavenly vision. These are the hindrances which make all prayer for the Spirit's power noneffective ; and until they are willingly dealt with, and the long-deferred obedience yielded, His fulness will never be received. It often happens that when souls are eagerly seeking this blessing from pure motives, there are revealed to them hitherto hidden acts and attitudes of disobedience, sometimes trifling in themselves, and about these points the whole controversy rages."—" The Ministry of the Spirit," pp. 133, 13I.

15. 14.What change will He work in our lives?

    Bible ⇉ Ezekiel 36: 25-27

16. 15.When we lack the disposition to do right, how may we obtain the Spirit's presence?

    Bible ⇉ Psalms 51: 10-12

17. 16.In what way does the Holy Spirit co-operate with us in our supplications?

    Bible ⇉ Romans 8: 15; Romans 8: 26, 27

18. 17.With what will He fill the heart?

    Bible ⇉ Romans 5: 5; Galatians 5: 22.

19. 18.Of what does the Holy Spirit bear witness?

    Bible ⇉ John 16: 13, 14

20. 19.What promise did Jesus make?

    Bible ⇉ John 14: 16, 17; John 14: 26.

    A great work will be accomplished in a short time under the final outpouring of the Spirit. Many voices all over the earth will sound the warning cry. Signs and wonders will be wrought by the believers, and, as at Pentecost, thousands will be converted in a day. " Those who fail to heed this final gospel call, like the unbelieving Jews, will be doomed to destruction. The seven last plagues will overtake them, as war, famine, death, and destruction overtook the Jews, who, not believing In Christ, failed to heed His call to flee, and shut themselves up in Jerusalem to their doom. Those who heed the call, and separate themselves from sin and from sinners, will be saved." —"Bible Readings for the Home Circle," p. 198.