The Work of the Holy Spirit in the World & the Believer
William Randolph Hearst was one of the wealthiest men in the world. A passionate collector of fine art, one day he was pouring through a catalog of fine and rare paintings, and he came upon a piece he just had to have. So he instructed his purchasing agent to do whatever it took to find it. After a long and difficult search, the man found it�in Hearst's own collection! He already possessed the painting, but he had so much in his collection, he didn't even know it was there.
Spiritually speaking, many of us are like Mr. Hearst. We do not know all that the Holy Spirit has done for us now that we have committed our lives to Jesus Christ. As a result, we live as "spiritual paupers" in this life, never realizing how "rich" we are in Christ. It's much like living below the poverty level when you actually have $10 million in your checking account.
In this study, we will look at the work of the Holy Spirit in the world and in the life of the believer.
A. The Work of the Holy Spirit in the World
Read John 16:7-11;13-15.
1. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin (vv. 8-9).
The Holy Spirit convicts, or convinces, the world of sin by producing in people a sense of guilt and wrongdoing. He uses this conviction to cause nonbelievers to see their need for Jesus Christ. Some well-meaning but misguided believers turn to �pressure tactics� to lead someone to the Lord. Yet, we can actually hinder the process of conversion when we interfere with the Holy Spirit's work in this way. Only the Holy Spirit can prepare a person's heart for conversion.
What happens to those who resist the Holy Spirit's conviction?
We often hear that �good people� go to heaven while �bad people� go to hell. Yet, this passage dearly shows that "goodness" and "badness" is not the determining factor.
A person's eternal destiny is not so much a sin question as it is the Son question.
The worst possible sin is to ignore the Holy Spirit's conviction and to refuse to believe in Jesus (v. 9). Once we have heard the gospel, knowledge brings responsibility. Jesus said,
"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin" (John l 5:22).
The Holy Spirit will convict a person only so long. When a person no longer feels any guilt or remorse for his or her sin, it is an indication that this person is no longer under the Spirit's conviction. By refusing to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, this individual is calling the Holy Spirit a liar, and he stands condemned (John 3:36; 1 John 5:l0).
2. The Holy Spirit convinces the world of righteousness (v. 10).
Before a person can totally appreciate the incredible love of God, he must first see his utter depravity and desperate need for a Savior. To the proud, self-confident person who thinks that he does not need Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes with His convicting, convincing power and sets him straight. Our own "righteousness" will never meet up to God's requirements (Matthew 5:20). Without Christ, the Holy Spirit shows us that we are "unrighteous," and therefore unable to "inherit the Kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9).
3. The Holy Spirit convinces the world of judgment (v. 11).
Jesus is not speaking of some future judgment, but of a judgment that has already taken place. The "Prince of this world" (Satan) was judged when Jesus went to the cross of Calvary and died in our place. Satan essentially lost the power he had over us to force us to do what was against God. The Holy Spirit wants us to be aware of this great truth.
4. The Holy Spirit stops the wholesale spread of evil (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
You might say that the Holy Spirit "keeps a lid on things." His work through the Church is a restraining force in the world today. While we see an escalation in wanton, senseless violence and an increasing disregard for human life, it is nothing compared to what the world will see in the last days when Jesus takes His Church out of this world.
"For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the One who now holds it back will continue to do so till He is taken out of the way" (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
Once the Holy Spirit's unique work through the Church ceases (He will still work but not quite in the way we see it now), and no longer restrains evil, the powers of darkness will take over.
How does the Holy Spirit use believers to restrain evil?
Believers act as "salt."
Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men" (Matthew 5:13).
Salt was a preservative in ancient times. To be "salt" means to stand up for what is right and true and to stop the rampant spread of evil in our culture.
Believers act as "light."
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
To be light means to be a witness to others through the good works that we do, to glorify God. It is also to let others know of our faith in Jesus Christ. The proclamation of the gospel is the most effective defensive and offensive weapon in our spiritual arsenal.
B. The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Believer
1. The Holy Spirit brings about the work of conversion (John 3:5; 6:63).
As part of the wonderful process of conversion, the Holy Spirit personally gives us the assurance that Jesus Christ has come into our lives (Romans 8:16), and He indwells us, taking up residence in our hearts (l Corinthians 3:16).
2. The Holy Spirit seals us (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Scripture tells us that once we believed in Christ, we "were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians l:l3). This description alludes to the royal seal of a king used in ancient times. Anything stamped with the king's seal signified a unique mark of ownership. In the same way, God has put His "royal seal" upon us: the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives.
When the devil comes to make havoc of our lives, he is stopped cold by that seal of ownership.
The Holy Spirit is also called the "deposit guaranteeing our inheritance" (Ephesians 1:l4). Much like putting money down to "hold" a piece of merchandise until you can make full payment, God gives us the deposit�or down payment �of the Holy Spirit to show that He means business! He guarantees our future inheritance: eternal life in heaven with Him.
3. The Holy Spirit teaches us (John 14:26).
As we read and study Scripture, the Holy Spirit can give us incredible insights into what God's Word says and means to us today. While some passages can be difficult to grasp, the same Holy Spirit who inspired the Scripture can illuminate its words for our benefit (l Corinthians 2:13). He may also bring verses to mind when you are ministering to a fellow believer, giving that person a greater understanding of the Bible.
4. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray (Romans 8:26-27).
Many times we are disappointed when God does not answer our prayers the way that we want. Some will even abandon their relationship with Him and give up altogether. Perhaps we do not understand the true objective of prayer:
Prayer is not a means by which you change the mind or will of God�it is a means by which God changes you!
True prayer moves in a cycle:
It begins in the heart of God, with His purposes and desires;
God then places those desires in your heart;
Then you express those desires back to God in prayer.
As God's Word says, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Your prayer life will become more in tune with God's will the more that you abide in Him and allow His Holy Spirit to be at home in your heart (John 1 5:7). And for those times when you don't know how to pray-when all you can do is utter a simple groan-the Holy Spirit will intercede on your behalf (Romans 8:26).
Just think, the Holy Spirit has converted, assured and sealed you, all the while continuing to teach you and help you in your prayers. So rejoice! Your "spiritual checking account" is more full than you may have thought.
bahira you most certainly did say I was demon possesd because i said I speak in tounges and you wont hardly even say speak in tounges you call it barking and it is slander I saw your video on you tube that you keep talking about and I agreed with you that is demonic but that doesnt me that I bark becasue I dont and I dont know anyone who does. And what your are doing is trying to stir up strife so you are the one who needs to repent, no she is not talking about the casting out of demons she is talking about some churches that have been decieved and they think they are spirit filled but they are being controled by demons and barking like a dog is not a manifestation of the holy spirit but having a prayer languyage that only God can understand is and you keep on with the barking enough already we heard you and we dont bark so quit slandering people its offensive these people desperatly need us to pray for them not to just sit around and use there deception as evidence against true spirit filled believers, and everytime bahira you speak of someone who speaks in tounges you call is barking..you are talking so much about this you cant remember one acusation from another you most certainly did call me demon possesd when I have time il go back and find it, it is evil to intentionaly stir up strife and arguments and slandering your brothers and sisters, just because we sapeak in tounges does not mean we are demon possesd some of us are true belivers and have the real thing not the barking that your so intent on confusing with the true manefestation of the holy spirit
the reply that you copied is not the one you called me demon possed in, I am on my lunch break now but when I get off I will find the one I am talking about and copy it then I will have proved that I am not a liar
You should GET RID of your demons TURNING your heart to God, repenting and asking Him to forgive your sins and connections with demons. Then you will be FREE.
the above is a comment I pasted from a reply that bahira made to me in the thread "why I dont believe in speaking in tounges" if anyone thinks I am a liar go read it for yourself, this is just one sentence out of an entire page she wrote adressing me as oin the beging of her post it said "Lady" so again bahira you acused me of being demon possesd , I said I speak in tounges and I do, but you call it barking you make no distintion between true believers who are spirit filled and speak in tounges and the "barkers" in that 25 or 30 year old video you keep refering to, I am not a barker but I do speak in tounges... so I am going to ask you point blank, do you or do you not think that every one who claims to speak in tounges that is spoken of in corinthians 14:2 are demon possed or controled by demons, just answer that one question please
bahira I will say it again I coppied and pasted exactly what you said I didnt make that up you are the one who said it, now who is the liar you call me a liar when I posted the words you said direct from your reply then i told everyone where they could find it at and yet you call me a liar, this is getting kind of insane you dont make any sence
By the way bahira you didnt answer my point blank question, do you or do you not take the stand that every one who claims to speak in tounges today in todays churches are controled or possesd by demons, because that really seems to be what you are trying to say when every time the holy spirit or tounges is brought up you start in with the barkind, why dont you just answer me that one question instead of continuing to slander me by calling me a liar
Until you will do it, I say that you lie and it is sin and GOD WILL JUDGE YOU FOR ANY SIN.
Repent.
I love you my sister Donna.:hearts:
Our churches are full of thorns. Our God Jesus said that it will be until the Judgement day.
That's why our enemies are even christians in churches.
Amazing.
Donna, be ready to see it.
They are part of the local churches, but they have never belonged to the Church of God that's why they will be judged by God and cast out to the lake of fire.
What is the difference between thorns, goats, dogs and the sheep of God?
Jusus will judge us all. But dogs will be outside of the New Jerusalem. Because they were not born of God!!!!!
That's why Donna be FAITHFUL to our Lord Jesus obeying Him and loving people. Those who love people, are born of God.
