The document discusses the role and nature of the Holy Spirit. It argues that the Holy Spirit is God based on references in the Bible. It explains that before the Church, the Holy Spirit worked in creation, revelation through prophets, and God's providence. For the Church, the Holy Spirit served as a companion, helping reveal truth and Scripture. The Holy Spirit validated the early Church through miracles and indwells believers as a gift after baptism. Finally, the Holy Spirit continues to intercede for believers and never leaves their side.

1. InspirationalThe Work of the Holy Spirit

2. Question No. One
Who is the Holy Spirit?

3. He is God
Genesis 1:26 says, “...let Us make man in Our
image, according to Our likeness...”
Matthew 28: 19 says, “Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit...”

4. He is God
The Holy Spirit is a divine being just like God
the Father (who appeared with Adam & Eve)
and Jesus (who lived here with us).
While the Holy Spirit doesn’t occupy a form
that allows us to see Him like we did the other
two, He exists as they do. Consider the ways in
which He acts, how He is described, and how
He is mentioned in context to other beings.

5. He Acts
He can Speak
1 Tim 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says...”
He can Bear Witness
John 10:26,27, “...He will testify of Me.
And you will also bear witness...”
He can Love
Rom 15:30, “...through the love of the Spirit...”

6. Described by Others
He can be Grieved
Eph 4:30, “...do not grieve the Holy Spirit...”
He can be Lied To
Acts 5:3, “...why has Satan filled your heart to lie
to the Holy Spirit...”
He can be Resisted
Acts 7:51, “...you always resist the Holy Spirit...”

7. Mentioned with Others
In John 16:14 Jesus says, “He will glorify Me...”
when He mentions the work of the Holy Spirit
among the Apostles. If the “me” represents a
person (Jesus), why wouldn’t the “he?”
Early leaders in the Church also mention Him
as a living, functioning being in Acts 15:28, “...it
seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us...”
The Spirit is as alive as they are.

8. Question No. Two
How did the Holy Spirit work (what was
His role) before the Church began?

9. Creation
The Holy Spirit had a role in the initial
creation of the universe. Genesis 1:2 says, “...the
Spirit of God was hovering over the face of
the waters (deep).”
Job says in 26:13, “By His (God’s) Spirit He
adorned the Heavens” and Elihu in 33:4 says, “the
Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the
Almighty gives me life.”

10. Revelation
Second Peter 1:21 says, “...prophecy never came
by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Consider also the numerous times that a
prophet writes, “The Word of the Lord came
to ...” at the beginning of their very own
prophecies. See Hebrews 1:1 which says God
spoke through the prophets.

11. Providence
Providence is “God working behind the scenes
to get His message across without revelation.”
In the OT, the Holy Spirit seems to have been
instrumental in the rise and fall of various
nations. Isaiah 63:10 says, “...they rebelled and
grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned
Himself against them as an enemy, and He
fought against them.”

12. Question No. Three
How does/did the Holy Spirit work for
the Church?

13. Companion & Helper
Jesus told His Apostles that He was sending
them someone to “...guide you into all truth...
(who will) take of what is Mine and declare it
to you...” in John 16:13,14.
Earlier in John 14:26 He said, “...the Helper,
the Holy Spirit...He will teach you all things,
and bring to your remembrance all things that
I have said to you.”

14. Revelation
1 Cor 2:9-13 makes it abundantly clear that
the Word of God (New Testament) came
through the work of the Holy Spirit just like
the OT (see 2 Peter 1:21).
1 Thess 2:13, “...when you received the Word
of God which you heard from us, you
welcomed it...as it is in truth, the Word of
God, which also works in you who believe.”

15. Validation by Miracles
The miraculous gifts of the early Church were
designed to validate the message (revelation)
taught by the Apostles and other teachers.
Mark 16:20 says, “...they (Apostles) went out
and preached everywhere...confirming the
Word through the accompanying signs.”
When the process of revelation was done,
these miracles were no longer needed and
passed away (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-13).

16. The Gift (Acts 2:38)
Peter said to them, “Repent and let every one
of you be baptized (immersed) in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
This gift is promised after baptism and after a
person has already received the message (2:41)
and believed it and is ready to act upon it (2:37).
It is a consequence, not a prerequisite.

17. The Gift (Acts 2:38)
This gift is the Holy Spirit Himself, but it is
not a miraculous gift. There is no proof from
Acts 2-5 that anyone other than the Apostles
possessed miraculous gifts following Acts 2:38.
Acts 2:43 says, “...many wonders and signs
were done through the Apostles” and 5:12,
“...through the hands of the Apostles many
signs and wonders were done...”

18. The Gift (Acts 2:38)
An indwelling seems consistent considering:
Rom 8:9, “...if indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have
the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
I Cor 6:19, “...your body is the temple of the
Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have
from God...”

19. On Our Behalf
Rom 8:26, “...the Spirit also helps us in our
weaknesses...the Spirit Himself makes
intercession for us...” The Holy Spirit is our
companion, never leaving us, protecting us.
“Surely the Holy Spirit who has the ability to
completely reveal the mind of God to man
would have no difficulty in pleading man’s
case to God” (Hardeman Nichols)

20. Final Thoughts
God has been with His people from the
beginning through the rise of the Hebrew
nation and today with His Church. While He
has taken upon Himself different roles and
appearances, He is still with us. Today, God’s
presence with us is validated by the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit (our “gift”). The Jews didn’t
always understand what they had with God, but
they knew He was there. So can we.

21. Final Thoughts
Joshua 1:5, “...I will not leave you nor
forsake you.”
Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now
am old; yet I have not seen the righteous
forsaken...”
2 Cor 4:8,9, “We are...persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...”