LESSON

THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 7

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 To know who the Holy Spirit is
 To understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

6.1 INTRODUCTION
In order to really know who the Holy Spirit is let’s use the Bible to answer the following study
questions.

1. What are his names in the Bible? Isa.61:1; 1Cor.12:3; Lk.4:1,18; 11:13; Jn.14:16-17; Acts5:9;
Rom.8:9
2. Who is the Holy Spirit?
 The Holy Spirit is a personality and not a thing nor an animal (Eph.4:30; Jn.14:16-17);
it is his manifestations that is described in different forms in the Bible e.g. descending
like a dove (Mk.1:10), water (Jn.7:37-39), wind (Acts2:2-4) etc.
 He is the third person of the Godhead 2Cor.13:14; Mt.28:19; 3:16-17.
 Like the Father and the Son, He is God himself and the member of the Trinity present
with us today Jn.16:7; Lk.24:49; Acts2:1-4; 1Jn.5:7-8.
 He is God living in and among those in Christ Rom.8:9, 15; Jn.14:17; 1Cor.3:16-17;
6:19; 2Cor.6:16.
 He is the one who proceeds from the Father (Jn.15:26) and at work in believers and in
the world Phil.2:13; Zech.4:6-7; 1 Sam.10:6-10; 11:5-7, 11-13; Dan.6:1-3; Gen 41:37-
44.
 He enforces, accomplishes and brings to pass the words and will of the Father and
Son. Gen.1:2; Psa.104:30
 He is the conveyor of the power, presence and glory of God Isa.63:9-10; Lk.1:34-35;
2:9; 4:14; Mic.3:8; Rom.15:19; 1Cor.2:4; 1Pet.4:13-14; Exo.24:16-17; He makes God
and spiritual things, though intangible, real to us 1Cor.2:9-14.
 Jesus called Him his Father (Mt.16:17; 1:18; Jn.14:10; Acts10:38).
 He is both the Spirit of God as well as the Spirit of the Son Gal.4:6; Rom.8:9; and the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one Jn.10:30; 1Jn.5:7

What is the work or ministry of the Holy Spirit?

 The Holy Spirit gives salvation and new life (i.e. new birth) to those that accept Christ; in the
Bible this is referred to as being born again, being in Christ, new creation, regeneration or
baptism of the Spirit Jn.3:3,5; Tit.3:5-7; 2Cor.5:17; 1Cor.12:13; Gal.3:26-27; Rom.6:3-4; 8:9,
11; Acts11:15-16.
 The Holy Ghost empowers believer to accomplish special tasks and fulfill purpose Jdg.3:7-
11; Acts1:8; 10:38; Exo.31:1-11.
 Gen.41:38; Dan.6:3; Gideon - Jdg.6:34; Samson – Jdg.13:25; Jephthah – Jdg.11:29; Jesus -
Mt.3:16
 He is present to help believers even during troubles or times of hardship Jdg.14:5-6;
Mt.10:19-20; Acts4:1-14; 7:54-60; Psa.46:1-3
 He helps us worship God Rom.8:26
 He transforms believers into the likeness of Christ. Spiritual growth is impossible without
the influence of the Spirit of God. The Spirit with the Word is God’s agent of transformation
Jude1:20; 2Cor.3:18; Jn.6:63: 1:14.
 It takes both being born of the Spirit and being led by the Spirit to be a true child of God, this
is only when God is your Father and you his son Rom.8:14; Lk.1:35; 3:21-22; 4:1