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The God Who Is
The Work of The Holy Spirit
He Quickens
Many people believe the purpose of the Holy Spirit is to make them happy, or to entertain them, but in John chapter 6, in verse 63, we read, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." It is the Spirit who quickens, or "makes alive." It is He who awakens the sinner, and it is He who makes the Christian "lively" convicting him, or "cutting him to the quick."
It is therefore the work of the Holy Spirit to quicken, or to make alive. The apostle says, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). God must quicken sinners, or they will remain in the sleep of spiritual death; and He does it by His Holy Spirit. If it is the work of the Holy Spirit to quicken, i.e. to bring conviction, why in the Church is there so little real conviction about sin? It is because they worship another spirit, and not the "Holy Spirit" (II Corinthians 11:4).
He Teaches
Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). It is the work of the Holy Spirit to teach us and to aid our memory. Therefore, such people who will not be taught are not spiritual individuals. They are not "led by the Spirit."
He Reveals
In Ephesians chapter 3, and in verse 1, the apostle wrote, "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ..." It was the Holy Spirit who taught Paul knowledge "in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known ..." God is sovereign over knowledge. He does not have to make His knowledge known. He does not have to make His knowledge knowable to all people. Neither does he have to make it known to every age, in every place, nor at all times.
The knowledge of Christ had been kept secret, and "in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it (was) now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit ..." It is the work of the Holy Spirit both to reveal and to teach knowledge.
He Testifies of Christ
In the Gospel of John chapter 15, the beloved disciple wrote, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me" (verse 26). According to the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is come to testify of Him.
Note it again: "When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." Why then, do people emphasize the Holy Spirit of God when their emphasis ought to be on the Son of God? In Philippians chapter 2, Paul declares that God has highly exalted the Lord Jesus, and has given Him a name which is above every name; that all things that are in heaven, and those that are in earth, and those that are under the earth, should bow and confess that "`Jesus Christ is Lord' to the glory of God the Father" (See verses 9-11).
The Father is not to be emphasized, although we are to preach concerning Him. And the Holy Spirit is to be preached, although He is not to be emphasized. This is a major problem with probably 90 percent of all religious broadcasting because it is a major problem with our churches. Jesus said, "When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify (i.e. "witness") of me." "He shall not speak of Himself" (John 16:13).
It is serious error to run after the Holy Spirit. People do so because they are not taught. Much of contemporary worship appeals to the curious because it is sensational. People are even encouraged to abandon control of themselves, yet this is the sin of incontinence. The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ, and not of Himself.
He Reproves
In John chapter 16, in verse 7, Jesus said, "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 ..." People who think the Holy Spirit is given us to enjoy, and to make us feel good, know little about His purpose. The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.
When we see deluded charismatics who have no real conviction concerning sin, we can say they are not following the "Holy Spirit," but a fiction. Jesus said, "When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." The reason homosexuals can join the Church and sing in the choir is because this generation lacks real conviction concerning sin. This generation would rather offend God than to offend wicked sinners. They are filled with a spirit, but it is not the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is come to "reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." It is the work of the Holy Spirit to "reprove," or "convict" us. Tertullian, speaking as a Christian man, said, "I was born for nothing but repentance." Jesus said, "Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh" (Luke 6:21b).