The Working of the Holy Spirit
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 07/11/2020
Foundation Scriptures: John 14:13-26; John 15:26; John 16:7-15
A. The Work of the Holy Spirit in Relation to Jesus Christ.
1. Concerning the Person of Christ:
a. Jesus Christ is one with the Father and existed eternally (Isaiah 48:16).
b. His physical body was conceived, or begotten, by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:18-20).
c. The Holy Spirit arranged Jesus’ reception at the temple, for dedication (Luke 2:25-30).
d. His grace was with and upon Jesus as He grew in stature and in wisdom (Isaiah 11:1-2; Luke 2:40,52).
2. Concerning Christ’s Earthly Ministry:
a. Luke 4:18-19 KJV—The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
b. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil—and to gain the victory (Matt. 4:1).
c. He anointed Jesus with power for ministry (Matt. 3:16-17).
d. He was bestowed on Jesus for the purpose of officially equipping Him for His public ministry.
e. His preaching and teaching ministry (Luke 5:14-15; Matt. 4:17).
f. His healing ministry.
g. Acts 10:38 KJV—How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
h. Casting out devils (Matt. 12:28).
3. Concerning Christ’s Death and Resurrection:
a. The Holy Spirit was present with and empowered and sustained Jesus during His sufferings and death on the cross (Heb. 9:14).
b. He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11).
B. The Work of the Holy Spirit in Relation to the Christian Believer.
1. The Holy Spirit’s Work in Salvation.
a. The believer is born again of, and made a new creation by, the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6).
b. Baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13)—a different experience from baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire.
c. Bears witness to the believer’s sonship (1 John 5:10; Rom. 8:16; Gal. 4:6).
d. Seals the believer (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30).
e. Sealed: concealed; hidden; marked (as with a seal or a stamp); to confirm or authenticate.
2. The Holy Spirit’s Work in the Life of the Believer.
a. Sanctifies the believer (2 Thess. 2:1; 1 Peter 1:2).
b. Enables and empowers believers to mortify the flesh (Rom. 8:5-13).
c. Transforms the believer into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
d. Strengthens the believer for greater revelations of Christ (Eph. 3:16-19).
e. Leads the sons of God (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18; John 16:13).
f. Performs the office of the Comforter.
g. Brings forth fruit in the believer’s life (Gal. 5:22-23).
3. The Holy Spirit’s Work in Connection with Ministry or Service.
a. Zechariah 4:6 KJV—…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
b. Baptizes and infills believers, and empowers for service (Luke 3:16; 24:49).
c. Acts 1:8 KJV—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 part of the earth.
d. Revelation and understanding of the Word of God (2 Peter 1:20-21).
e. Helps the believer to pray (Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 6:18; Jude 20; 1 Cor. 14:14-15).
f. Power for preaching and teaching the Word of God, and signs that follow (1 Cor. 2:4-5; 1 Thess. 1:5; Acts 5:32; Rom. 1:16).
g. Gives the believer spiritual gifts for ministry to others (1 Cor. 12:4-11; Rom. 12:6-8).
4. The Holy Spirit’s Work in Connection with Resurrection.
a. The Holy Spirit quickens—makes alive—our mortal bodies from the inside out (Rom. 8:11; 2 Cor. 4:16).
b. Raises the bodies of believers on the last day (2 Cor. 4:14; Phil. 3:20-21).
c. Gives a foretaste of this resurrection life by healing mortal bodies.
5. Represents Jesus on the Earth.
a. John 16:7-11
b. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (Vs. 7-8).
c. Reprove: convict; convince; admonish; tell a fault; chide; rebuke; correct; to bring to the light; to expose; to call to account; show one his fault; to chasten; to punish.
d. The world—every person—Jew and Gentile.
e. Of sin, because they believe not on Me (Vs. 9).
f. Sin: The sin of unbelief—not believing on Jesus.
g. Unbelief is the foundation of sin and the source of sinfulness that will damn men (Mk. 16:16; Lk. 8:13; Jn. 3:16-20,36; 5:24,38; 8:24; 10:26).
h. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see Me no more (Vs. 10).
i. Righteousness: Man’s righteousness is useless; righteousness comes through Jesus Christ alone, and by faith in His atoning work (Rom. 3:22-25; 4:1-22; 2 Cor. 5:14-21).
j. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged (Vs. 11).
k. Judgment: of men and the devil.
l. Of men: that men who believe in Christ will escape the judgment of damnation (Jn. 3:15-20; 5:24); that all who refuse to believe will be damned with Satan (Mt. 25:41; Jn. 3:36; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:8).
m. Of the devil: the devil—the prince of this world—is judged.
n. If the devil has been defeated, and will surely receive a final and irreversible judgment, then his children can be assured that they also will also be judged with him (Jn. 16:11; 12:31; Col. 2:14-17; Rom. 16:20; Rev. 20:10-15).