What does the Holy Spirit do?

The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our helper in times of trouble, our teacher, our advocate with the Father, our counselor, and our friend. Here are some additional tasks the Spirit performs on our behalf.

1. No one can be saved except through the work of the Spirit. “No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3).  It is through the work of the Spirit in our lives that we are saved. “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). The Spirit is the one who gives us assurance of our salvation. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children” (Romans 8:16). 

2. The Spirit gives us the boldness to tell others about God. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

3. The Spirit testifies to our hearts concerning who Jesus is. “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me” (John 15:26). 

4. The Spirit guides each believer into all truth. Our primary standard for truth is God’s Word, but it is the Spirit who reveals the truth of God’s Word to our hearts. It is the Spirit who leads us to the Scriptures which best speak to our current needs. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 16:13‑14). 

5. The Spirit is the giver of supernatural gifts. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:7‑11).

The Spirit gives a variety of gifts for the edification of the saints. Of course, no one person operates in all the gifts. The Spirit allows the gifts to manifest as the body of Christ has needs.  “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:5‑8). It is important for each member of the body to be willing to be used and at the same time to yield to the timing of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:32). Remember, everything in the church should always be done “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).   

This is an excerpt from Daniel King's book, "Welcome to the Kingdom." Over 600,000 copies are in print. Get your copy by clicking HERE.