40 Things the Holy Spirit Does

The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). The moment a person truly accepts Jesus as their personal Lord (Leader) and Savior (Forgiver) the Holy Spirit begins to live inside of them. However, I have found that many people do not understand very much about the person and work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

My personal opinion why so many people who consider themselves “saved” do not understand the Holy Spirit is that through our disobedient choices without repentance many have so “grieved” (#24) and “quenched” (#25) the Holy Spirit that He merely becomes inactive until we are willing to yield and surrender to Him. The purpose of this article is to list forty things the Bible clearly says about the Holy Spirit.

1. He is like Jesus. (John 14:16-19)
2. He teaches. (John 14:26)
3. He testifies (John 15:26)
4. He guides. (John 16:13)
5. He convicts. (John 16:8)
6. He intercedes. (Rom. 8:26-28)
7. He commands. (Acts 13:2,4, 8:29, 16:6)
8. He empowered Jesus. (Luke 3:22, 4:1, 14)
9. He produces fruit. (Gal 5:22-23)
10. He reveals. (Eph. 1:17-19)
11. He unifies. (1 Cor.12)
12. He is gift giving. (1 Cor.12, Rom. 12:3-8)
13. He is Christ-exalting. (John 16:14)
14.  He is jealous and envious. (James 4:5)
15.  He can be lied to. (Acts 5:3)
16.  He can be resisted. (Acts 7:51)
17. He can be blasphemed. (Matt.12:32, Mark 3:29-30)
18. He can be obeyed or disobeyed. (Acts 10)
19. He fills us. (Acts 2:4, Eph. 5:18, Luke 4:1)
20. He indwells us. (Rom. 8:11, Eph 3:16-20, John 14:16)
21. He clothes us. (Luke 24:49)
22. He empowers us. (Acts 1:8)
23. He is a gift to us. (John 7:37-39)
24. He can be grieved. (Eph. 4:30)
25. He can be quenched. (1 Thes. 5:19)
26. He has intellect. (Eph 1:17, Rom. 8:27, 1 Cor. 2:1)
27. He knows the thoughts of God. (1 Cor. 2:11)
28. He has emotions. (Eph. 4:30)
29.  He has a will. (Acts 16:6)
30. He was involved in creation. (Gen. 1:2, Ps. 104:24-30, Job 26:13)
31. He impregnated Mary. (Matt. 1:20, Luke 1:35)
32. He inspired Scripture. (2 Pet. 1:21, 2 Tim. 3:16, Heb. 5:12)
33.  He enables a believer’s rebirth and renewal (regeneration). (Titus 3:5)
34. He is God’s seal and deposit guaranteeing a believer’s salvation. (2 Cor. 1:21, Eph. 1:13, 4:30)
35. He enables a believer’s growth in Christ-likeness (sanctification). (2 Thes. 2:13, 1 Pet. 1:2)
36. He confirms the believer’s salvation. (Rom 8:16)
37. He empowers witnessing. (Acts 1:8)
38. He enables a believer to answer tough questions. (Luke 12:11-12)
39. He enables people to hear God’s voice. (2 Pet. 1:21, 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
40. He helps believers to pray. (Eph. 6:18, Jude 20)

The bottom line: It is the God-assigned task of the Holy Spirit to make a difference in you so He can make a difference through you so that you can be the person God intends you to be. Our job is simply to surrender to the process. There is a battle raging in each of us between our flesh and the Holy Spirit for control (Gal 5:16-23), and our choices determine who wins. Yielding to our flesh can forfeit the forty items listed previously. Do yourself and your family a favor; surrender your life to Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in and through you.