What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

The Holy Spirit guides us to become more like Jesus and adopt the characteristics of a holy life. But who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do? 

Read on to learn more about the Holy Spirit!

Who Is the Holy Spirit and What Does He Do?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Holy Trinity, alongside God the Father and Son of God. The main goal of the Holy Spirit is to help Christians be more like Jesus, as stated in the Bible: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

What Does the Holy Spirit Do in My Life?

The Holy Spirit influences our lives by providing guidance and counsel to become more like Jesus. Here are five ways the Holy Spirit helps us in our daily lives:

The Holy Spirit Sanctifies Us

The Holy Spirit points to Jesus as an example for all Christians and helps us be more like Him through sanctification. Sanctification is the process where the Holy Spirit strips away our sinful tendencies and replaces them with godly habits, so followers of Jesus can be more like Him. 

The Holy Spirit Unites Us With Other Christians

Acts 4:32 describes early church members being united in heart and mind after receiving the Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit in our hearts brings us closer to our Christian brothers and sisters, promoting unity.

The Holy Spirit Guides Us to the Truth

The Holy Spirit reveals the truth and guides us there, as mentioned in the Bible: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit Protects Us From Sin

The Holy Spirit will tap on our hearts every time temptation comes. It’s a sign that Christians should hold fast and not give in to temptation, preventing us from sinning.

The Holy Spirit Teaches God’s Word to Us

The Holy Spirit teaches you God’s Word through the Bible. The followers of Jesus are blinded by Satan and need the Holy Spirit’s help to understand and apply the lessons in the Bible.

How the Spirit Works in Us: Verse Examples

What does the Holy Spirit do according to the Bible? Here are some verses answering the question:

• “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:27) 
• “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11)

Why Do We Need the Holy Spirit?

Christians need the Holy Spirit because He changes us to become more like Jesus. Through the actions of the Holy Spirit, we are:

• Marked for salvation (Ephesians 4:30)
• United in Christ with other believers (Ephesians 4:4-6)
• Equipped with spiritual gifts for ministry (1 Corinthians 12:11)

In summary, the Holy Spirit is how God works in us until the Second Coming of Christ.

How Does the Holy Spirit Guide Us?

The acts of the Holy Spirit guide us by giving us the power to do God’s will. Here are three ways He does so:

Nudging Our Conscience

One of the main things the Holy Spirit does in the lives of Christians is nudge our conscience. If we listen to Him, the Holy Spirit will guide us to do good things, as stated in the Bible: “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8) 

If you have the Holy Spirit in your heart, you’ll be quick to do good and feel blessed afterward.

Inspiring Us to Preach the Gospel

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just empower us to do what God commands; He also inspires us to speak the truth. It’s through the Holy Spirit Christians can preach the Gospel, as stated in Scripture: 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1-2)

Helping Us Understand God’s Word

We can’t understand Scripture alone. Man can understand and apply the lessons taught in the Bible through the Holy Spirit, according to Scripture: 

“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)

Everyday Examples of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

According to 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, the Holy Spirit gives us nine kinds of gifts:

• The Word of Knowledge
• The Word of Wisdom
• The Gift of Prophecy
• The Gift of Faith
• The Gifts of Healings
• The Working of Miracles
• The Discerning of Spirits
• Different Kinds of Tongues
• The Interpretation of Tongues

While followers of Jesus can have all of these gifts, some people may have a particular gift more than others. For example, someone may be gifted with wisdom that allows them to counsel others through crisis or struggle. 

During Which Instances in the Life of Jesus Is the Holy Spirit Present?

The Holy Spirit was mentioned as present in three major instances in the life of Jesus. Here they are, as described in the New Testament:

The Conception of Jesus Christ

The first coming of the Holy Spirit was during the conception of Jesus, as written in the Bible: “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” (Luke 1:35)

The Baptism of Jesus Christ

John the Baptist witnessed the Holy Spirit descend during the baptism of Jesus, as recounted in the Gospel of John: “And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’” (John 1:33)

The Farewell Discourse

During the Farewell Discourse, Jesus told His eleven disciples that He will send the Holy Spirit to continue His work, as written in the Bible: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit provides us with counsel, guidance, and advice. Most importantly, operating in accordance with the Holy Spirit leads us to become more like Jesus Christ, which is why keeping the Holy Spirit in our lives is so important.