Holy Spirit - The Purpose Of Series

The Holy Spirit – Part 2

1. The Purpose of the Holy Spirit

We have already looked at the person of the Holy Spirit (the tape is available). Today we’ll look at His purpose or role, as described in the Scriptures.

2. Took Part in Creation

Everyone thinks that God as Father was the one responsible for Creation. In fact, the whole Trinity was involved. The Spirit of God was the ‘agent’, i.e. He was the ‘doer’:

Gen 1:1-3 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

Col 1:16 For by Him [Jesus] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

3. Came Temporarily in the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit came upon certain, chosen individuals to empower or enable them to serve God. Some examples are: Joseph, Samson, Bezalel and Joshua. Of course, there are many others, but these four demonstrate this point.

a. Joseph

Gen 41:38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

b. Samson

Judg 13:24,25 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judg 14:6 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.

c. Bezalel

Exo 31:2-5 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.”

d. Joshua

Num 27:18 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.

4. Comes Permanently In The New Testament

In the New Testament times, everything changed. No longer was the Spirit of God for a few chosen people. Now, the prophecy of Joel was to be fulfilled, and everyone who receives Jesus as Lord and Saviour can now receive the Holy Spirit in salvation and also in power. Note, this applies to every Believer – young, old, man, woman, educated, uneducated.

Joel 2:28-32 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls.”

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Jesus emphasised that it was essential that He must leave and return to the Father. First, if He hadn’t risen and ascended there would be no salvation. Secondly, the ‘Counsellor’ or ‘Advocate’ could not come (John 16:7). Because of this, we can pray to Jesus at any time, in any place and we can serve the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16,17 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever -- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for He lives with you and will be in you.

John 16:13 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.

John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.