Who Is The Holy Spirit? Part 2

What is the Holy Spirit’s work? What does He do in the world today?

What is the Work of the Holy Spirit?

The holy men of God spoke and wrote as they were carried along or moved by the Holy Spirit. This is not dictation in every case, but inspiration. This should be a lesson for us. If a preacher teaches from God’s word we can be fairly safe. If he doesn’t preach from God’s word, beware!

Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT)

The Holy Spirit comes to us today and teaches us to know the things of God. Traditions and fads are often mere human wisdom. We need to check doctrines against the Scriptures, where we can be guaranteed to find Spirit-taught words.

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13 NIV)

The Holy Spirit has contributed to God’s work throughout history and continues today.

In the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit has been involved in creating and sustaining all things, and even helps us create a better environment, turning deserts into productive land, and thus figuratively fill empty hearts with good things.

When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. (Psalm 104:29-30 NIV)

When the Spirit is given to us from heaven, deserts will become orchards thick as fertile forests. (Isaiah 32:15 CEV)

The Holy Spirit was involved in gently leading Israel and was sad when they rebelled.

You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path. (Psalm 143:10 CEV)

Then the Lord’s people turned against him and made his Holy Spirit sad. So he became their enemy and attacked them. (Isaiah 63:10 CEV)

The Holy Spirit gave special gifts or abilities to Old Testament leaders, to build the tabernacle.

See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship. (Exodus 31:2-5 NASB)

The Holy Spirit gave Zerubbabel the ability to finish the second temple.

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. (Zechariah 4:6-9 ESV)

The Holy Spirit gave men the ability to prophesy.

“However, You bore with them for many years, And admonished them by Your Spirit through Your prophets, Yet they would not give ear. Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. (Nehemiah 9:30 NASB)

Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” (2 Chronicles 15:1-2 NASB)

The Holy Spirit gave some men the ability to lead a nation. Joseph was recognized as such a man, by the king of Egypt, who then promoted him to national leadership.

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

God chose 70 national leaders for Israel and gave them some of the Spirit that was on Moses.

I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. (Numbers 11:17 NIV)