The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 4

The Person of the Holy Spirit Part 2

Now that we’ve established, and biblically so that the Holy Spirit is a Person, I want to venture throughout God’s Word and see what the activity of the Holy Spirit entails. This is important to know, because there is much confusion concerning the Holy Spirit, the attributes of the Holy Spirit, and the activity of the Holy Spirit. The confusion I speak of springs not from the Word, which is clear concerning the many works of the Spirit, but from men’s preconceived notions and personal interpretations.

As I said in the beginning of this study, my purpose, my hope, and my desire is to Biblically prove out the things that I share with you, so at the end of this protracted journey of discovering the power, the purpose and the presence of the Holy Spirit, you would not walk away with a sense of my teaching, my opinion, or my presuppositions concerning the Holy Spirit, but with a right and true understanding of what the Bible has to say about Him.

So what does the Holy Spirit do? What are the activities, duties or characteristics of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer?

First, the Holy Spirit is tasked with leading, or giving instruction within the body of Christ. Whether leading Jesus into the desert, leading individuals in certain aspect of ministry, the Holy Spirit leads.

Matthew 4:1, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Acts 10:19-20, “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.’”

Acts 16:6-7, “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia but the Spirit did not permit them.”

1 Corinthians 2:13, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Within the context of leading or giving instruction, the Holy Spirit also chooses the elders, or overseers of the body of Christ, those called to minister, give edification, exhortation, teaching or rebuke.

Acts 13:2, “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them to.”

Acts 20:28, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

The beautiful thing about the Holy Spirit is that when He leads us, He will always lead us to truth, and He will always lead us to Christ. The Holy Spirit will never seek glory for Himself, He will never seek honor for Himself, He will always and without fail lead us to Jesus, point the way to Jesus, and exalt the name of Jesus.

I take umbrage with individuals who place prophecy above Christ, who believe that experiences, angel visitations, words of knowledge, visions or dreams are more important than humbly following after Christ, because when this mentality sets in we are no longer led by the Spirit, because the Spirit will not lead us anywhere else but to Christ Jesus.

John 16:13-14, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

The leading of the Holy Spirit is not exclusive to elders or deacons, but to all who call themselves children of God. When the Holy Spirit leads us, it is not once in a while, it is not infrequently, but consistently, and perpetually. We see this most clearly in Paul’s epistle to the Romans, where within the context of teaching that the Spirit of God makes us children of God, he also says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”

I realize we started this series out a little scripture heavy, but it is necessary. I believe wholeheartedly that it’s high time that we put more of God’s Word in our teachings and less of our own words therein, because the Word of God gives life, it gives strength, it gives liberty, it gives wisdom, it gives strength, it gives comfort and it gives direction.

We discover the greatness of God through His Word, we discover the majesty of Christ through His Word, and we discover the fullness of the Holy Spirit through His Word. Although the Bible has admittedly fallen out of favor with much of the church, because it is too challenging, too unyielding, too rigid, and too controversial, those who would seek truth, those who would seek knowledge, and those who would seek wisdom have no other avenue, no other means of attaining these things than through the Word of God.

Thankfully the Christian walk is not a popularity contest, it is not about how much of the world considers you harmless, or even friendly to its proclivities, it is about growing in grace, growing in faith, growing in power, and growing in wisdom. In essence, this Christian walk is about daily growing in God, and daily desiring more of Him.

We’ve just scratched the surface in regards to the person of the Holy Spirit, as well as His attributes, and for the next couple days it is these truths that we will be fleshing out scripturally, and exploring in depth.

With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.