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CHAPTER 3
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT
•••

3.5  Other Functions of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit regenerates, renews, sanctifies, gives life, seals, brings joy, peace, true confession and distributes spiritual gifts. He is a gift and a conduit for gifts of God's love. 



The Holy Spirit regenerates:

  •  "...unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into God's Kingdom..." (John 3:5-6).


Prayerful Observations:
Just as Mary was pregnant with Jesus by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18), those who believe are reborn (regenerated) of the Spirit (John 3:5-6). Consider the birth of a child. Through much suffering by the mother, the child exits the darkness of the womb and enters into a new world of light. So, we, when born of the Spirit at conversion, are transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of the Son (Colossians 1:13). He is the light of the world (John 8:12).



The Holy Spirit renews:

  •  "not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit..." (Titus 3:5-6).


Prayerful Observations:
After regeneration at conversion, the process of unavoidable spiritual decay is broken by the numerous works of renewal by the Holy Spirit. We are no longer given up to lust, uncleanness, dishonor, vile passions and a reprobate mind (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). Instead, the Holy Spirit's works of communication operate within us (subchapter 3.3). His powers work in us and for us (subchaper 3.4).  We are blessed immeasurably by being transferred from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of the Son (Colossians 1:13).  


The Holy Spirit sanctifies: 

  • "...serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit..." (Romans 15:15-16).


Prayerful Observation:
We do not sanctify ourselves. The Holy Spirit does this.



The Holy Spirit gives life:

  •  "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11).



The Holy Spirit is a seal of ownership and identification:

  •  "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13).


Prayerful Observations:
I will focus on the words believed, sealed, inheritance, redemption and possession. The Holy Spirit is a seal, designating whose we are, whose family we belong. The Father gave the second person of the Trinity, the son, as the sacrifice for sin. We have been redeemed (purchased) with the blood of the Son (Revelation 5:9). Then the Father gave the third person of the Trinity into us who believe as the seal showing that we are His. This seal of the person of the Holy Spirit within is a pledge or guarantee that we will inherit the kingdom (Daniel 7:27, Matthew 5:5, 25:34, Revelation 3:21)).



God's Love flows into our hearts through the Holy Spirit:

  • " because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5).


Prayerful Observations:
This chapter is titled "Fellowship with God through the Holy Spirit". Forty workings of the Holy Spirit are revealed in this chapter. In subchapter 3.2 the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, dwells within us. In subchapter 3.3 we saw that the Holy Spirit prophesies, preaches, teaches, speaks through us, provides words for witnessing, testifies, convicts unbelievers, reminds us of scripture, leads, warns and intercedes for us. 

Subchapter 3.4 revealed that the Holy Spirit provides power to hope, comprehend, witness, guard the Gospel and do combat in the spiritual realm . From this subchapter 3.5 the Holy Spirit regenerates, renews, sanctifies, gives life, seals, brings joy and peace. So, in these workings of the Holy Spirit, we see intricate details of God's love being poured into us.



The Holy Spirit is the source of joy:

  •  " You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 1:6).



The Holy Spirit brings peace and joy:

  •  "for God's Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).



The Holy Spirit has sorrow when we don't yield to Him:

  •  "Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30).



The Holy Spirit gives us words of praise:

  •  "...no man speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3). 

Prayerful Observations:
The Holy Spirit has a monopoly on sincere confession of messiahship. See Matthew 8:21 & Luke 6:46 to reconcile to mere lip service. 

Every sincere confession presented by us is spoken through us by Him. Remember subchapter 3.3.  There we saw that the Holy Spirit prophesies, preaches, teaches, speaks through us, provides words for witnessing, testifies, reminds us of scripture, leads, warns and intercedes for us. With these truths in mind, it is easy to see that we say "Jesus is Lord" by the Holy Spirit.



The Holy Spirit is a gift:

  •  "...the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5).


Prayerful Observation:
We don't earn or barter for the Holy Spirit. He is a gift. 


The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts:

" Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires" (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). 

Prayerful Observations:
The Holy Spirit distributed spiritual gifts for the profit of the body of Christ, the church. So, the Holy Spirit was granted discretion regarding spiritual gifts. He distributed gifts "as he desires." These gifts work towards the sanctification of the members of Christ body, each individual Christian.

I have prepared a page to specifically explain spiritual gifts. Click spiritual gifts to open it.


The topics presented are:

  • How to develop spiritual gifts
  • Do spiritual gifts exist today?
  • Do we have to pray and meditate to receive spiritual gifts?
  • Do we get to pick our gifts?
  • Does possession of gifts mean that we are spiritual?
  • How do we recognize the spiritual gifts which the Holy Spirit has chosen for us?
  • Authority to do Kingdom Work
  • Miraculous Healing, Signs and Suffering



Summary

According to the scriptures above, the Holy Spirit regenerates, renews, sanctifies, gives life, seals, brings joy, peace and true confession. He is a gift and a conduit for gifts of God's love. 


So regeneration, life, renewal, sanctification, joy and peace come from the Holy Spirit. In other words, the abundant life is supernatural. The abundant life does not come from human origins. It comes from God. Joy and peace are supernatural.

"joy of the Holy Spirit" 
1 Thessalonians 1:6

Have a question or want to share how this book has impacted your life?