THE PROMISED SPIRIT

“When the Counsellor comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment”. (John 16: 18).

Throughout the Scripture the Holy Spirit is revealed to us as a person with individuality all His own (2 Cor. 3: 17 – 18; Heb. 9: 14; 1 Pet. 1: 2). He is a divine Person like the Father and the Son (Acts 5: 3- 4). We must never think of the Holy Spirit as a mere influence or power. He has personal characteristics, for He thinks (Rom. 8: 27), feels (Rom. 15: 30), wills (1 Cor. 12: 11), and has the capacity to love and enjoy fellowship. He was sent by the Father to bring believers into the intimate presence and fellowship of Jesus (John 14: 16 – 18, 26).

It is essential that believers recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit in God’s redemptive purpose. Many Christians have no idea what difference it would make if there were no Holy Spirit in this world. Without the Holy Spirit there would be no creation, no universe, no human race (Gen. 1: 2; Job 33: 4). Without the Holy Spirit there would be no Bible (2 Pet. 1: 21), no New Testament (John 14: 26; 15: 26 – 27; 1 Cor. 2: 10 – 14), no power to proclaim the gospel (Acts 1: 8). Without the Holy Spirit there would be no faith, no new birth, no holiness, and no Christians at all in the world.

The Holy Spirit is the agent of salvation, convicting us of sin (John 16: 7 – 8), revealing to us the truth about Jesus (John 14: 16, 26), giving us new birth (John 3: 3 – 6), and incorporating us into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12: 13). At conversion we as believers receive the Holy Spirit (John 3: 3- 6; 20: 22) and become partakers of the nature of God (2 Pet. 1: 4).

The Holy Spirit is the agent of sanctification. At conversion believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and come under His sanctifying influence (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6: 19). Notice some of the things the Holy Spirit does as He dwells in us. He sanctifies us, i.e., cleanses, leads, guides, and motivates us to pursue a holy life, delivering us from the bondage of sin (Rom. 8: 2 – 4; Gal. 5: 16 – 17; 2 Thess. 2: 13). He tells us that we are children of God (Rom. 8: 16), helps us in the worship of God (Acts 10: 45 – 46) and in our prayer lives, and intercedes for us as we cry to God (Rom. 8: 26 – 27). He produces Christlike grace of character which glorifies Christ (Gal. 5: 22- 23; 1 Pet. 1: 2). He is our divine teacher, guiding us into all truth (John 16: 13; 14: 26; 1 Cor. 2: 9 – 16), discloses Jesus to us and guiding us in close fellowship and oneness with Jesus (John 14: 16 – 18; 16: 14). He continually imparts God’s love to us (Rom. 5: 5) and gives us joy, comfort, and help (John 14: 16; 1 Thess. 1: 6).

The Holy Spirit is the agent of service, empowering believers for service and witness. This work of the Holy Spirit is related to the baptism in the Spirit or the fullness of the Spirit. When we are baptized in the Spirit, we receive power to witness for Christ and work effectively within the church and before the world (Acts 1: 8). We receive the same divine anointing that descended upon Christ (John 1: 32 – 33) and upon the disciples (Acts 2: 4), enabling us to proclaim God’s Word (Acts 1: 8; 4: 31) and work miracles (Acts 2: 43; 3: 2- 8; 5: 15; 6: 8; 10: 38). It is God’s intended purpose that all Christians experience the baptism in the Holy Spirit throughout this age (Acts 2: 39). In the area of service, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to the individual members of the church to edify or strengthen the church (1 Cor. 12 – 14). These gifts are a manifestation of the Spirit through individuals by which Christ’s presence, love, truth, and righteous standards are made real to the fellowship of believers for the common good (1 Cor. 12: 7 – 11). Have you identified your spiritual gift(s) and are you applying them for the work of the ministry (Christian service) in order to build up the Body of Christ?

The Holy Spirit convicts believers of judgment. He gives us the inner and unshakable conviction that we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. God’s judgments are just and good. When we heed His judgments we find true peace, joy and reconciliation with God.

In summary, the Holy Spirit is the agent who incorporates believers into the one body of Christ (1 Cor. 12: 13), abides in the church (1 Cor. 3: 16), builds the church (Eph. 2: 22), inspires her worship (Phil. 3: 3), directs her mission (Acts 13: 2, 4), appoints her works (Acts 20: 28), gives gifts to the church (1 Cor. 12: 1- 11), anoints her preachers (Acts 2: 4; 1 Cor. 2: 4), guards the gospel against error (2 Tim. 1: 14), and promotes her righteousness. (John 16: 8; 1 Cor. 3: 16; 6: 18 – 20).

Beloved, always allow the Holy Spirit free reign in your life that He may set you free from the grip of sin and set you ablaze with the fire of God’s love.