Recap: Jesus encouraged his disciples by promising to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples. The Spirit would be their Paraclete - "one called along side" - to help them, strengthen them and encourage them.

The Holy Spirit is fully God. He is eternal, omniscient and omnipresent. The Holy Spirit is a distinct person of our triune God.

The work of the Holy Spirit A. The Spirit inspired the Word of God. (1 Peter 1:11; 2 Timothy 3:16)

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬)

B. The Spirit empowers the Gospel message 1. He enabled disciples to "speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31, 4:8, 6:10, 7:51; 1 Peter 1:12).

1. He empowered miracles to accompany the teaching of the word of God a. After Jesus' baptism and temptation, he "returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee" (Lk 4:14), taught (v. 15), cast out demons (vv. 33-36), and healed the sick (v. 40).

2. Paul said his ministry of the gospel was carried out "by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. " (Rom 15:18b-19)

Application: The Holy Spirit's power is necessary for any effective ministry today.

C. The Spirit regenerates sinners. He imparts new spiritual life to those who were dead in sin (See Eph 2:5; John 6:63)

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭5-7‬)

D. The Spirit sanctifies (or purifies) believers. (See 1 Pet 1:2; 2 Thess 2:13) 1. He helps them grow in obedience to God. (See Rom 8:13) 2. He produces Christ-like character in the lives of believers. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22-23‬a)

Application: The fruit of the Spirit produces Christ-likeness in us; helping us grow in obedience to God and glorifying Christ by reflecting his character.

E. The Spirit guides believers 1. He leads them to follow God's moral standards. (Rom 8:4, 12-13; Gal 5:18)

1. He leads them in very specific ways. (Acts 8:29; 10:19-20;13:2; 15:28; 16:6-7)

2. He helps them pray and intercedes for them

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26-27‬)

F. The Spirit gives spiritual gifts for ministry in building up the church.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7, 11‬)

G. The Spirit unifies believers.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬)

Application: We need the Spirit for personal spiritual life and in the church for the body to minister and flourish. Let us ask the Father for the Spirit's help.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (‭Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬)