The Work of the Holy Spirit, Part 1
Today, we begin with an important lesson on the work of the Holy
Spirit. Last Sunday, we focused on identifying who the Holy Spirit
is, emphasizing His place within the Godhead—the Trinity. We
explored His divine qualities and characteristics, understanding
that He is not merely an influence but a divine Person, co-equal and
co-eternal with the Father and the Son.
This morning's focus is on what the Holy Spirit has done and
continues to do—His deeds and active work throughout history and
today. A central aspect of understanding His work is recognizing how
the Spirit dwells within believers through the Word of God. The Holy
Spirit guides, instructs, and empowers us as we study and obey
Scriptures, transforming our hearts and minds from within.
Looking ahead, next week we will examine
the Holy Spirit’s work in the present day—what He is
actively doing now in believers and in the world.
In studying such a profound topic, it is essential to approach with
caution and to rely solely on what the Bible reveals. We avoid
speculation, personal opinions, or theories. Our guiding principle
is clear:
the Holy Spirit works through and inspires the Word of God.
Starting with His role in creation, Genesis 1:1-2 describes how the
Spirit was active right from the beginning. The verse states: “The
earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the
waters.” The Hebrew word “hovering” suggests active
involvement—perhaps energizing and moving—and indicates that the
Spirit was initiating and energizing the process of creation. His
work set the universe in motion, bringing order, beauty, and life
into existence.
Many scholars have commented on this role of the Spirit. Leo B.
notably said, “The Holy Spirit’s ministry was to organize matter and
set in motion the functioning of the universe.” This active
participation continued throughout creation, as the Spirit adorned
the heavens and organized the universe, making it beautiful and
purposeful. In Job 26:13, we read, “By His Spirit, He adorned the
heavens,” emphasizing His work in giving beauty and order to the
cosmos. Further, Job 33:4 states, “The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life,” revealing that the
Spirit breathed life into mankind from the very start.
In summary, the Holy Spirit has been active since the dawn of
time—organizing, energizing, adorning, and giving life. His work in
creation laid the foundation for everything we see today, and His
activity continues in believers.
Moving from creation to revelation, the Spirit played a vital role
in inspiring God’s messengers. For instance, Noah, during the days
of the great flood, was a preacher of righteousness, and it was the
Spirit actively inspiring him to deliver God's message. Throughout
the Old Testament, the Spirit inspired prophets, guiding them to
speak God's truths. Nehemiah 9:20, 30 clearly state that the Spirit
instructed and testified through prophets, calling the
people to repentance. His influence ensured that Scripture was
recorded accurately, inspired by God Himself.
The Spirit's work was not limited to inspiring prophets but extended
to His dwelling within believers. Jesus Christ promised in John
14-16 that the Spirit would
guide His apostles into all truth—reminding them of God's
Word and helping them record it for future generations. When
believers study and obey the Bible, the Spirit
dwells in them through the truth of Scripture, working
internally to transform their hearts and minds.
This work was especially evident in the life of Jesus. The Spirit
played a crucial role in His earthly life. Matthew 1:18-20
records that Mary conceived Jesus
by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was baptized in Matthew 3,
the Spirit
descended like a dove and remained on Him. During His
ministry, the Spirit
worked through Him—performing miracles, casting out demons
(Matthew 12:28), and empowering His work. Hebrews 9:14 affirms that
the Spirit was active in Christ’s sacrifice, offering
Himself without spot to God. Not only did the Spirit empower Jesus'
ministry, but Romans 8:11 tells us that
it was the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead—demonstrating
His active divine power.
The Spirit continues His work today; He
dwells in believers when they obey the Gospel: believing in
Christ, repenting of sin, confessing Him, and being baptized.
1 Corinthians 6:11 makes this clear:
“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are
sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and
by the Spirit of our God.” This verse confirms that **the
Spirit participates in the believer’s cleansing and
sanctification at the time of baptism. When individuals
respond obediently to the Gospel—believing, repenting, confessing,
and being immersed—the Spirit
dwells within them, actively working to transform and
empower their lives. His presence in the believer is essential,
guiding them in obedience, and helping them grow spiritually.
Our response to the Holy Spirit's work is clear:
obedience to God's Word. The Spirit
inspires the Bible, revealing God's will for our lives.
When we study and understand Scripture, we are actually
responding to the Spirit’s guidance. As believers, when we
believe in Christ, repent of sin, confess His name openly, and
follow through with baptism, we
invite the Spirit to dwell in us and begin His ongoing work
of transforming us into Christlike individuals.
The Spirit
remains active today, convicting us of sin, guiding us in
righteousness, and helping us develop the fruits of the Spirit—love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control. As we heed His guidance in the Bible, we become
more conformed to God's image.
In closing, let us remember that
the Holy Spirit dwells within us through the Word of God.
Our consistent response should be
obedience, faith, and reverence. As we continue our study
of His work in Scripture, may we be inspired to deepen our personal
relationship with Him, allowing His transformative power to shape
every aspect of our lives.
May we always seek to listen to His voice through the Bible, obey
His guidance, and live fully empowered by the Spirit to serve and
honor God. This is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit—through His
active presence, He continually leads us into truth and
righteousness.
Final Thoughts
As we conclude our study today, let us remember that the Holy Spirit
is not a distant or impersonal force, but a divine Person who dwells
within us—closely connected to the Word of God and active in
transforming our lives. His work begins the moment we obey the
Gospel and continues to guide, teach, and empower us daily. Our best
response is to stay rooted in His truth, obey His guidance, and open
our hearts wide to His leading. When we do this, we invite His
presence and power to shape us into the image of Christ, bringing
glory to God and making us effective servants in His kingdom. Let us
strive to remain sensitive to His work, always seeking a deeper
relationship with Him through the consistent study of God's Word and
obedient living, trusting that His ongoing presence will lead us
safely to eternal life.
The
church of Christ
