The Role of the Spirit in Our Lives

Scripture Reading: John 15:26-16:15

The past couple weeks we have been looking at various aspects of the Holy Spirit.

In our verses today we are reminded of the words of Jesus in regard to the working of the Holy Spirit in both the world and our personal lives. The Spirit comes to convict of sin and righteousness, judgment of sin for those who do not believe, the righteousness of Jesus and that Satan is judged.

We also understand the Holy Spirit convicts us of when we sin but also guides us into all truth and points us back to center in walking with the Lord, assures us of forgiveness and the strengthening that the Lord brings into our lives to serve Him faithfully.

Today I want to take a few minutes to look at some various portions of Scripture that lay out for us some things that maybe we have not considered regarding the Spirit of God but yet are prevalent throughout the Old and New Testaments.

It is important to understand that there are principles we can learn from the stories of Scripture that can then be related to our own lives in one way or another. Not every story is because the person was holier than another or whatever but because God chose to use this person and to place the Spirit of God upon them at a specific time and purpose. Yet, we can gain wisdom, understanding, and principles in life from these various stories.

1.     Exodus 31:1-4  “Then the Lord said to Moses, ² “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³ and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftmanship.”

a.      In the chapters in Exodus preceding these verses God has been giving very specific instructions to Moses in regard to the building of the Tabernacle and everything that was to be within it for worship.  From the aspects of curtains to altars for incense etc. Such definite detail and here the people are wandering in the wilderness and on their way to entering into the Promised Land. It could be overwhelming if you go in and read all the precise details the Lord was giving. Yet, in this God had a plan and he had people chosen to do the work.

b.     Principle: The Holy Spirit can give ability and knowledge to be creative, to be artistic, and to be excellent in areas of craftmanship. That whatever the task  has led you to, He will provide the wisdom needed to complete it.

2.     1 Corinthians 2:9-12 “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen,    what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”^[a]—    the things God has prepared for those who love him— ¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

a.      It goes on to say in verse 16 that we have the mind of Christ.

b.     Principle: The Holy Spirit brings to us the wisdom and understanding of what we have received already from God. The Spirit of God enables our minds to understand God’s Word and His Ways. If we understand that God knows all things then this principle helps us to know that whatever is happening in your life, the Holy Spirit can provide to you the wisdom needed.

3.     Judges 15:13-15  “Agreed, they answered, “we will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you. So, they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.”

a.      The story of Samson is quite a story. It reads like soap opera! Prior to these verses Samson had taken revenge on the Philistines for giving his wife to another man and now the Philistines were coming after him.

b.     Two times before this verse we read how the Spirit of God came upon Samson to kill a lion and another time to strip 30 men of their clothes to give to others to whom he lost a riddle bet! But these men had tricked him by putting pressure on his then Philistine wife and she cried for a week until he gave her the answer to a riddle!

c.      Principle: The Spirit of God can give us strength to fight life’s biggest challenges. 

4.     Matthew 1:18 “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

a.      John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who had faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will even do greater things that these because I am going to the Father.”

b.     Principle: The Spirit of God can birth the supernatural in your life.

5.     1 Corinthians 2:10—But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.

a.     Revelation 1:10-11a “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet saying, ‘Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches…”

b.     Principle: the Spirit of God can give us divine revelation. But we also have to be reminded that when a revelation comes to you in whatever situation, it will never go against God’s Word. For us a better word may be discernment in situations.

6.     Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

a.     Principle: The Holy Spirit helps us to not be timid in our faith but to speak boldly when necessary and needed.

As we have seen in the Old Testament Scriptures, and the New, “during Jesus’ ministry, the Holy Spirit did not dwell in His followers, but selectively empowered them for specific acts of ministry. After Christ’s ascension, the Father would send the Holy Spirit to serve as a constant presence, comforter, and counselor for His people.” (David Jeremiah)

All of these various principles are onlya portion of how the Spirit of God works in our lives. The Holy Spirit is our moment by moment, 24/7, 365 helper and sustainer of our faith. We would do very well to recognize His work in and through us more and more. There is nothing that you will face in this life that the Spirit of God is not present with you and can provide for you the wisdom and strength needed to face each and every situation. It doesn’t mean that things will always be easy, but that in it all the Spirit will provide for you the gifting, wisdom, strength, and endurance you need with a constant assurance of the Lord’s presence with you and in you!