Work of the Holy Spirit

By Apostle Aje Pelser, Preached at Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town.

Introduction

Have you considered that the Holy Spirit is possibly the best Friend you could ever have?

Building that divine friendship with God is akin to Abraham, Enoch walking with God, Adam walking with God in the cool of the evening. Is not one of the greatest consequences of sin the grieving of the Holy Spirit? Sin places a chasm between us and God and only the cross of Jesus Christ can fill that gap and restore fellowship. Repentance is not merely saying sorry, but a full restoration of friendship with our Helper, our Comforter, God poured out through His Breath on earth at Pentecost, filling His church, his temples, His saints, you and me!

Ways the Holy Spirit works:

1. The Holy Spirit is sent from God – John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name.”
2. Believe in His Sent One. To do the works of God we have to believe in the One He sends. John 6:28,29
3. The first thing the Helper does for us is help us keep God’s commandments: John 14:15,16
4. He does through conviction power: John 16: 8-10 He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. Once we receive His conviction, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire begins to cleanse our temple. 1 Cor. 3:16,17
5. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into all truth. John 14: 17 – the Spirit of Truth will dwell with you and be in you. John 16:14,15
6. The Holy Spirit will shew you things to come – rehearse it detail and give you understanding. G312 “anaggellō” is the word “shew” which means: to announce (in detail): – declare, rehearse, report, show, speak, tell.” To report reminds us of the effect of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8, where the disciples received power to be witnesses and preach the Gospel through the world.
7. The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus and not speak on his own authority; He will take from the Lord Jesus and declare it to you through His gifts and utterances. He will reveal mysteries in your spirit and give you wisdom and understanding. We refer to the 7 aspects of the Spirit of the Lord in Isa 11:2 “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”
8. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, divine gifts are activated in and through us for the benefit of all. 1 Cor. 12.
9. Confession of faith – no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:3
10. We can only develop the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit Jesus refers to in His disciples, the love of God in and amongst us, by the power and abiding in the Holy Spirit as Lord of your temple. Galatians 5:22,23

Applications:

Lord Jesus, I think you for sending the Holy Spirit to be my Helper, Comforter and to lead and guide me into all truth. Holy Spirit, I give you charge over this temple and invite you to guide me into all truth. Let Your gifts operate in and through me and cultivate the righteous fruit of holiness in my life, so people can see that I serve God and they can eat good fruit from my life and access eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.