The Holy Spirit

The Role of the Holy Spirit (Hagios Pneuma)

Part of the Holy Spirit’s role is to reveal Jesus, the Father, the heavenly realms, and the mysteries of God. He will lead and guide us into all truth (John 16:13). Without the Holy Spirit we cannot have truth revealed to us.

In scripture, we see the Holy Spirit revealed as the One who: 1

• Leads/Directs - Matt. 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1; 2:27; Rom. 8:14; Acts 8:29

• Speaks (in, to and through) - Matt. 10:20; Acts 1:16; 2:4; 13:2; 28:25; Heb. 3:7

• Casts out devils - Matt. 12:28

• Releases power - Luke 4:14

• Anoints - Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38

• Comes upon/Falls on - Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 2:25; 3:22; 4:18; John 1:32-33; Acts 10:44; 11:15

• Baptised/Filled with - Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:15; Luke 1:41, 67; 3:16; 4:1; John 1:33; Acts 4:8, 31; 6:3, 5; 10:47; 2:4; 1:4-5; 7:55; 11:24; 13:9, 52; 1 Cor. 12:13

• Gives new birth - John 3:5, 8

• Leads into worship - John 4:23

• Flows like a river from the spirit man - John 7:38-39

• Ministers Truth - John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13

• Dwells in - John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13

• Comforts, heals, and strengthens - John 15:26; Acts 9:31

• Proceeds from the Father - John 15:26

• Shows us things to come - John 16:13

• Gives us the gift of tongues - Acts 2:4

• Releases prophecy, dreams, vision - Acts 2:17-18; 11:28

• Transports - Acts 8:39

• Brings direction, guidance - Mark 12:36; 13:11; Acts 10:19; 11:12; 21:11; 1 Tim. 4:1

• Holiness - Rom. 1:4

• Spirit of Life, gives Life (ZOE) - Rom. 8:1, 10

• Invites us to walk with Him - Rom. 8:4-5

• Groans, prayer, intercession - Rom. 8:26-27

• Sword (the Rhema) - Eph. 6:17

• Produces fruit - Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:969

• Helps us in weakness - Rom. 8:26

• Bears witness - Acts 5:32; 15:28; 20:23; Rom. 8:15-16; Heb. 10:15; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-8

• Spirit of adoption - Rom. 8:15

• Gives power to mortify the deeds of flesh - Rom. 8:13

• Ministers power - signs, wonders, preaching - Acts 1:8;

1 Cor. 2:4

• Ministers love - Rom. 15:30

• Searches the deep things of God - 1 Cor. 2:10

• Quickens the mortal body - Rom. 8:13

• Brings revelation - 1 Cor. 2:10-12; Eph. 1:17-19; 3:5; Luke 2:25

• Reveals to us what has been given by God - 1 Cor. 2:12

• Washes, sanctifies, purifies, justifies - Rom. 15:16; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2, 22

• Has gifts - 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Heb. 2:4

• Seals us - 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 4:30

• Liberty - 2 Cor. 3:17

• Changes us into the image of Christ - 2 Cor. 3:17

• Promise of the blessing of Abraham - Gal. 3:14

• Releases a cry to the Father - Gal. 4:6

• Gives access to the Father - Eph. 2:18

• Builds us together for a habitation for God - Eph. 2:22

• Strengthens us with might - Eph. 3:16

• Unity - Eph. 4:3-4

• Wine - Eph. 5:18

• Supplies - Phil. 1:19

• Fellowship - Phil. 2:1; 2 Cor. 13:14

• Grace - Heb. 10:29

• Glory - 1 Peter 4:14

• Speaks to the churches - Rev. 2:11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22

• Calls for the Bridegroom - Rev. 22:17

• Conception of Anointings and God’s purposes -

Matt. 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35

• Teaches - Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:13; 1 John 2:27

• Gives commandments - Acts 1:2

• Power to be a witness (martyr) - Acts 1:8

• Boldness - Acts 4:31

• Gives sight - Acts 9:17

• Commissions - Acts 13:4

• Retrains - Acts 16:6

• Appoints ministries/Gives authority - Acts 20:28

• Releases love - Rom. 5:5

• Righteousness, peace, and joy - Rom. 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thess 1:6

• Confession of Christ’s Lordship - 1 Cor. 12:3

• Brings the Gospel - 1 Thess. 1:5-6

• Keeping Power - 2 Tim. 1:14

• Brings renewal - Titus 3:5

• Moves on believers - 2 Peter 1:21

• Convicts the world - John 16:8

We cannot legally enter a spiritual experience without the Holy Spirit as our leader, guide, and safeguard. There are many teachings in the world regarding spiritual experiences and how to have them. The New Age movement is built on this. Many have spiritual experiences without the help of the Holy Spirit. These experiences are real but they are neither legal, or legiti­mate. Scripture shows many instances of spiritual experiences that were not legitimate or led by the Holy Spirit. These ille­gal experiences God calls, “witchcraft.” Some examples found in scripture are:

• The magician’s snakes (Ex. 7:8-12)

• The false prophets (1 Kings 22)

• King Saul and the witch of Endor (1 Sam. 28:7)

• The girl following Paul with a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16)

• Simon in Ephesus, who wanted to buy the gift of Holy Spirit and used false signs and wonders (Acts 8:9-24)

Develop a good relationship with the Holy Spirit and fellow­ship with Him. He is not just a servant that you use to do your

bidding (i.e. to lead you into an experience of truth.) He is part of the Godhead; inseparable from the Father and the Son. He is a living personality as real as Jesus and the Father.

Thank Him for who He is and what He does for you. Submit yourself to Him and invite Him to lead you through your day. Look for Him during the day. Ask Him what He is doing. Spend time with Him, as you do with your other friends. Acknowledge when you grieve Him and ask His forgiveness. Enjoy His pres­ence and be settled in the peace and rest that He brings.