The Work Of
The Holy Spirit

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN THE UNIVERSE

The Creation of the material universe and man is accomplished through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Genesis 1:2-3 [2] Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. [3] And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
 

The maintenance of living creatures is through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 104:29-30 [29] When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. [30] When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
 

The development of the present order of things from the early chaotic, undeveloped state, is accomplished through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:2-3 [2] Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. [3] And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Note 1—Seemingly, each new and higher impartation of the Spirit of God brings forth a higher order of being—inert matter, motion, light, vegetable life, animal life, man (the new man), Jesus Christ. This is Biblical development, as distinguished from the godless evolution so popular today. This, however, is only hinted at in the Bible. (Note: Even if macro-evolution is true (the theory that some molecules started making copies of themselves, which became increasingly more complex), it would require the direct, immediate, and continuing involvement of a supernatural being in order to overcome the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which says, in essence, "Left alone, complex things break down into simpler things."  This theory is known as "theistic evolution", i.e., God-driven and directed evolution.)

Note 2—The Word of God is even more plainly active in each stage of progress in creation. "God said" occurs ten times in Genesis 1.
 

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN MAN IN GENERAL

The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth regarding Jesus Christ.

John 15:26-27 [26] "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. [27] And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

Acts 5:30-32 [30] The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. [31] God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. [32] We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

Note 1—At first sight this testimony would seem to be confined to the believer, for John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me says "Whom I will send unto you" (i.e., of course, believers), but in the next chapter, verses 7 and 8 "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment", where the Holy Spirit's work in the world is distinctly described, it says, "I will send him unto you." The truth seems clearly to be that the Spirit works on the world through the believers to whom He is sent. If we as believers realized the utter dependence of the world upon us for the Spirit's gracious work, would we not be more careful to see that the Spirit found in us an unobstructed channel? How slowly the world comes to know Jesus because of the unfaithfulness of the church.

Note 2—John 14:16-17 [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—[17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

It is the Spirit's special work to bear witness to Him who is the truth - Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Note 3—It is only through the testimony of the Holy Spirit that men ever come to a true knowledge of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

If you wish men to get a true view of Jesus Christ—such a view of Him that they may believe and be saved—you must seek for them the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Neither your testimony, nor even that of the Word alone, will effect this—though it is your testimony or that of the word which the Holy Spirit uses. But unless your testimony and that of the word is taken up by the Holy Spirit and He Himself testifies, they will not believe. This explains why it is that one who has been long in darkness concern- ing Jesus Christ so quickly comes to see the truth when he surrenders his will to God and seek light from Him.

John 7:17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

It explains also why it is that when you have shown a man the truth about Christ over and over again and he has seen nothing, suddenly it all bursts upon him, and he sees and believes. The Spirit has borne His witness to Christ. It was not merely Peter's words about Christ that convinced the Jews of the truth concerning Christ on the Day of Pentecost. It was the Spirit Himself bearing witness. If you wish men to see the truth about Christ, do not depend upon your own posers of expression and persuasion, but cast yourself upon the Holy Spirit and seek for them His testimony and see to it that they put themselves in a place where the Spirit can testify. This is the cure for both ignorance and skepticism concerning Christ. Confer John 7:17.

Note 4—The testimony of the Holy Spirit to Christ is different from His testimony to our sonship. We will discuss that later.
 

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.

He convicts the world of its sin in not believing in Christ.

Acts 2:36-37 [36] "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." [37] When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

With a convincing that is self-condemning, the Holy Spirit convinces the world of Christ's righteousness attested by His going to the Father, the coming of the Spirit being in itself a proof that Christ has gone to the Father.

Acts 2:33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

He convicts the world of judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. He was judged at the cross.

Compare Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

John 12:31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil --

It is our commission to preach the Word and look to the Holy Spirit to produce conviction.

Acts 2:4, 37 [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. [37] When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Oftentimes the reason why we fail to produce conviction is because we are trying to do it ourselves. Let us not forget on the other hand that it is through us the Spirit produces conviction.

John 16:7-8 [7] But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. [8] When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: