MINISTRIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The purpose of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus Christ and to disclose the truths of the Father and Son (John 15:13-15).  The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts on believers at conversion (1 Cor. 12:11, 18).

1. Restraint. The inhibiting of the lawlessness in the world (Gen. 6:3; 2 Thes. 2:7).

2.  Reproof.  Convicting the world of sin (unbelief), righteousness (concerning Jesus Christ), and judgment (in the future of mankind) (John 16:7-11).

3.  Revelation.  The unveiling of previously concealed truth.  Making known of God's divine purpose and plan to people for the purpose of proclaiming His will through both the written and spoken Word of God (2 Pet. 1:21).

4.  Inspiration.  The empowering by the Holy Spirit to declare God's Word (2 Pet. 1:21).

5.  Anointing.  The temporary equipping of a person or thing for service in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 10:1, 9: Zech. 4:1-14).  In the New Testament, a permanent, non-selective giving of the Holy Spirit to every believer (i.e., indwelling of the Holy Spirit) (2 Cor. 1:21).

6.  Regeneration.  The bestowing of eternal life at salvation whereby one is born-again (Tit. 3:5).

7.  Baptizing.  A one-time act of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer is baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).

8.  Sealing.  The sealing of believers at conversion for the "day of redemption" (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).

9.  Indwelling.  The Holy Spirit's making His abode in the believer at the point of regeneration as a pledge on redemption (Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 2:12; 2 Cor. 5:5).

10.  Assurance.  The Holy Spirit's witness with the believer's spirit regarding salvation (Rom. 8:16).

11.  Filling.  The control of the believer's life by the Holy Spirit when that life is yielded to God (i.e., confession of sin, faith, and submission to God's will) (Eph. 5:18).  The four evidences of being Spirit-filled are: (1) praise, worship, thanksgiving, and submissiveness.  The result is the production of the fruit of the Spirit (i.e., the life of Christ) in the believer (Gal. 5:22-23).

12.  Guidance.  The leading of believers in the will of God as a result of being filled with the Spirit (Rom. 8:14). 

11.  Intercession.  The mediation of the Holy Spirit with the Father for believers when they pray (Rom. 8:26).

 13.  Teaching.  The guidance of  believers into "all the truth" of God as He empowers them to understand God's Word (1 John. 2:27; John 16:12).