How The Spirit Works

For the Holy Spirit to work in your life, first you must be saved. Also, for the Holy Spirit to work in your life, there are two things you must not do:

--Quench not the Spirit (I Thess. 5:19)

Matthew Henry stated, “Quench not the Spirit (v.19), for it is this Spirit of grace and supplication that helpeth our infirmities, that assisteth us in our prayers and thanksgivings. Christians are said to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He worketh as fire, by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying the souls of men. We must be careful not to quench this holy fire. As fire is put our by withdrawing fuel, so we quench the Spirit if we do not stir up our spirits, and all that is within us, to comply with the motions of the good Spirit; and as fire is quenched by pouring water, or putting a great quantity of dirt upon it, so we must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit by indulging carnal lusts and affections, or minding only earthly things.”

--Grieve not the Spirit (Eph. 4:30)

Isa. 63:10-- “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”

To grieve the Holy Spirit is to revel against Him. This can lead you down a very dangerous path.

The Holy Spirit can work in five different ways:

1. YOU CAN BE LED OF THE SPIRIT (Matt. 4:1)

Notice that Christ was led of the Spirit, not by the Spirit; those prepositions are important. When you are led by someone, you are following his lead; but when you are led of someone, you are obeying instructions.

William Moses Tidwell, in his book Effective Illustrations, tells this story: “A gentleman had a pet dove which would light upon his shoulder, walk down his arm and eat out of his hand. One day he decided to experiment with it. As it was eating out of his hand he gripped it a little. When he relaxed his grip the dove flew away and lighted upon a tree. It looked sad. The man coaxed and called. Finally the dove, very reluctantly, came back. He repeated just what he had done before. The dove flew away and acted as before, but this time the man had to call and coax much longer. It seemed it would never return, but finally it did. The man again repeated what he had done. When he relaxed his grip this time, the dove flew farther away and lighted upon a tree. The man began to coax and call, but the dove lifted its wings and flew away. He never saw it again.”

Has the Holy Spirit gripped you lately? He wants to lead you, but you have to obey. And if you continue to ignore Him, He will stop bothering you and leave you to yourself. Some Christians want that; but without the Spirit’s leading in your life, you will go your own way and ruin your life on your own.

Example: Early Church. They couldn’t follow Jesus anymore; they had to follow the Holy Spirit. Where would we be today if the Early Church had not had followed the Holy Spirit’s leading?

2. YOU CAN BE DRIVEN BY THE SPIRIT (Mark 1:12)

Illustration: a boy tries to get a big old box turtle to move, but the turtle hides in its shell. So the boy props it up on a stick and lights a match under it. The turtle hot-foots it our of there! If the Holy Spirit has lit a fire in your heart, you’ll be driven forward for Christ!

What drives you in life? What drives you to do what you do? Perhaps your stubborn will drives you to go to work each day; or maybe the paycheck drives you to work. The Holy Spirit will drive you to stand up for God, or to witness to someone; He will never drive you crazy, but instead will drive you to holiness.

Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil; the Holy Spirit will drive you into trials and temptations because He knows what is best for your life.

3. YOU CAN BE CAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT (Acts 8:39)

Here, Philip was caught up by the Spirit and moved to another location where God needed him. He was caught by the Spirit! At any moment, the Spirit might need you to help someone or to do something; are you willing?

What catches your attention? What catches your time? Do you get caught up in the things of the Spirit or the things of the world? Jesus got caught up in the things of the Spirit or the things of the world? Jesus got caught up in His Father’s work as a 12 year old. He said in Luke 2:49, “How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”