The Holy Spirit's Roles in Our Life
Here goes #5, the final blog in this series on the Holy Spirit. May these bless you as you continue to better understand the glorious Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit does so many things for us, in us, and through us. Sometimes it's hard to nail down and list out. When I taught this in 2011, I listed 13 roles the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. And I'm not arrogant enough to assume this is it. I am fully aware that He does so much more.
If you've read through the other four blogs in this series, much of what is listed here will not be new. Nonetheless, I pray these 13 will help you better understand the Holy Spirit and some of His roles in the life of the believer.
Roles of the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer
1. He regenerates us. (Tit. 3:5)
This means when we placed our faith in Christ and were born again through the Holy Spirit, He made us into a new creature with new desires and new cravings.
2. He teaches us the truth of God. (Jn. 14:17, 26; 16:13)
This means that whenever we come to the true interpretation of Scripture, it is by the Holy Spirit. Whenever we come to understand and accept truths within the Bible, it is by the Holy Spirit. Whenever we come to acknowledge and accept correct biblical doctrine, it is by the Holy Spirit. Whenever we come to discern between accurate biblical doctrine and false doctrine, it is by the Holy Spirit. Whenever we learn a truth about God apart from Scripture (e.g. creation, biology, science, etc) but it is in accordance with Scripture, it is by the Holy Spirit.
3. He testifies to us the character of God. (Jn. 15:26; 16:14-15)
This means the Holy Spirit reveals to us what Jesus is like, gives us the desire to want to be like Jesus, and then explains how we can be like Jesus.
4. He guides us along our walk with God. (Rom. 8:14)
This means the Holy Spirit is the one guiding us in our daily becoming like Jesus here on earth. The daily situations we’re put in which assist in conforming us into Christ-likeness, the Holy Spirit is guiding us along those paths.
5. He speaks to us to follow His leading. (Acts 8:29-39; 13:1-4ff)
This does not mean that the Holy Spirit will necessarily speak to us audibly, but rather He will lead us (urge us or sway us) according to His plan and to follow His desires—which will never contradict Scripture. Oftentimes, when we think we "hear" God speaking to us, it is really our voice narrating the thoughts the Spirit may have placed in our minds to urge/sway us where He is leading.
6. He intercedes for us according to God’s will. (Rom. 8:26-27)
This does not mean He simply prays for us or on our behalf. No, it means much more than that. According to the Greek term for intercedes used in Romans 8:26-27, this type of interceding “refers to the Holy Spirit interceding in every scene of our lives so we can “come in line with” the Lord’s eternal purpose.”[1]
7. He comforts us with His presence, His truth, and His peace. (Jn. 14:16, 26-27)
Between John chapters 14-16 when Jesus mentioned the Holy Spirit, it was primarily as “comforter”, as “truth”, and as “with us”. This means when, not if but when, the Holy Spirit comforts us in trying and difficult times, He does it
with His presence—i.e. the fact that He’s with us gives us strength to hold on
with His truth—i.e. we know that these things are going to happen, and yet regardless to how hard life is at times, we know that we are eternally secure and we win in the end
with His peace—i.e. a gentle peace which surpasses all understanding and brings us to a radically calm rest in God’s sovereign hands.
8. He convicts us of our sin and selfishness. (Gal. 5:16-17)
This means the Holy Spirit brings an internal spiritual conflict between our sinful and selfish desires and His desires. Thus, conviction comes whenever we follow our sinful and selfish desires, or lean toward it, or are tempted by it, because it conflicts with His desires.
9. He fills us with Himself. (Eph. 5:18)
When a person is drunk, the alcohol controls and influences their decisions, behaviors, and way of thinking. This means the same is true with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit fills us with Himself—i.e. as we give ourselves to Him (follow His desires) as if giving ourselves to drinking alcohol—and thus He controls and influences us in our decisions, behaviors, and way of thinking, as well as empower us for His use in our daily lives.
10. He produces fruit in our lives. (Gal. 5:16, 22-23)
This means as we follow the Holy Spirit’s desires (please God) He will produce His fruit in our lives.
11. He gives us gifts for service. (1Cor. 12:3-11, Rom. 12:3-8, Eph. 4:7-11)
This means the Holy Spirit has given every born-again believer a gift or gifts to serve the Body of Christ and assist in fulfilling God’s will in the earth.
12. He sanctifies us on earth. (2Cor. 3:18, cf. Phil. 1:6)
This means everything the Holy Spirit does or allows is for setting us apart and making us more Christ-like in our lives each day.
13. He seals our eternal redemption. (Eph. 1:13-14, Rom. 8:9, 16)
This means because we possess the Holy Spirit:
We are truly born-again.
He Himself is our guarantee of our eternal security.
Final Word
Enough cannot be said about how glorious the Holy Spirit is! He is truly with us in every way.
Thank You Holy Spirit!
4/2011
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1. http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/5241.htm