What is the work of the Holy Spirit?

We can speak by the Spirit of God or not.

1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.   

John 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.   He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.  This is ongoing, unfolding revelation.

 You don't need the baptism of the Holy Spirit to be saved, but you do need the Holy Spirit or you would not be able to believe to the saving of your soul.  God does it all the way. 

2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;   

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  [some have used this Scripture to say that you are not born again if you don't speak in tongues.  That is a lie and extra-biblical teaching.  No one has to speak in tongues to be born again, but everyone who is born again has also received of the Spirit that would allow him or her to be endued with power from on high and also to speak in the unknown tongue to build themselves up in the spirit.]

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.   

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [and of the] Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ["and of the" are not in the original, and water is used to typify the Holy Spirit.  There are interpretations of this verse that assume that the water is the water of baptism, but neither water baptism nor baptism in the Holy Spirit is not necessary for spiritual birth into God's family.  Only believing is necessary for birth.  Baptisms are given as part of the equipping for advancement into maturity.] 

John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.   (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)  Some theologians have gone over to the other side and have said that everyone who is born is also baptized [buried, whelmed, submerged] in the Holy Ghost. Other Scriptures show this to be false and experience confirms that there is much more for us even beyond being baptized in the Spirit. I don't know of any theologians who also claim that we receive water baptism by virtue of believing, that is without actually having water.

When a person is born of God by believing, God dwells in them and they dwell in God.  Note that this scripture does not say that they are filled with the Spirit or that they are baptized in the Spirit.  Other Scriptures tell us that that is a further experience in Christ, something else that is a free gift from Christ, something else He won for us on Calvary.

1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

The Holy Spirit is given so that we can be renewed and holy.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  

The works of God are works that God does in and through you.  The Galatians were born again by the Spirit through believing in Christ.  Then, they tried to generate their own works, making rules and laws rather than walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 4:29-31 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now.   Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.   So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Jesus had to leave or He would not be able to send the Holy Spirit.  The believing followers of Jesus had the Spirit of God with them, but later they had the Spirit of God in them.  When we have the Spirit dwelling in us, we have Jesus dwelling in us. 

John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;   [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.   I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

We never need to worry that we will get the wrong spirit when we go to God and ask for the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? 

Acts 1:4-8 And, being assembled together with [them], [Jesus] commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.   For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.   When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?   And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  

God's intention was that we be endued with Power from on high after the Holy Ghost comes upon us, after we are overwhelmed and submerged in a baptism of the Holy Spirit, and that He would be like a mighty rushing river of water gushing out from us with Power for holiness, love, peace, wisdom, light, understanding, knowledge, joy, patience, and the glory of God. 

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

It appears that these tongues were not the unknown tongue, though God didn't choose to tell us whether some of them spoke in the unknown tongue or not. We do know that the people heard them speaking in human languages that these disciples of Jesus could not have known. That is just like the gift of tongues that is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12 and parts of 14.  Actually, chapter 14 speaks of both the unknown tongue and the gift of tongues.  There is a difference.

Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

In Acts 10:44-47, we see that Peter was speaking and the Gentiles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit when they believed.  The Jews received it quite spontaneously the first time as did the Gentiles.  After this occurrence, the Holy Spirit seems to have been imparted by the laying on of hands.

Acts 10:44-47 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.   For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,   Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Here were some who believed.  They were born again.  Paul asked them a question: Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed?

Acts 19:2-6 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.   And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.   When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.   And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 

When Paul was knocked off of his horse by God, he believed. He was born again at that time. Some time later, he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and this was imparted by the laying on of hands.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

The born again believers in Samaria received the baptism of the Holy Ghost some time after they were born again.

Acts 8:14-19 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:   Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:   (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)   Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit, not to earn or salvation. The Spirit is a free gift that comes with our salvation. Our salvation would not be possible without the Spirit of God. We could not believe without the working of the Holy Spirit. We cannot progress toward fullness and the manifestation of the sons of God without the free gift of the Holy Spirit. Some people speak of being filled with the Holy Spirit as if being baptized in the Spirit is something they do and can be proud of, but the Holy Spirit is a gift that every believer may receive. As with all of God’s gifts, God does not force the Holy Spirit upon us. We only get the Holy Spirit in our lives to the extent that we are willing.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 

Here is the story of another wonderful man of God, fervent in the spirit, teaching the things of the Lord.  He had need of teaching so that he would be able to have a more complete understanding and teach the things of the Lord even better.

Acts 18:25-25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.   And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto [them], and expounded unto him the way of God more [completely]. 

If we can receive it, there is much more for us than we already have. It is not available without the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:10-11 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.   But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

Through the Spirit, we can mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body. We can walk in holiness. To what degree can we walk in holiness? To the degree that we have faith.

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

This is serious.  All Spirit-filled believers should pay close attention.  Paul is not trying to lay down the law.  We are to walk in the Spirit, yield to the Spirit, let the Spirit flow through us in great and mighty streams--and we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  It's as simple as that.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?   If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are. 

1 Corinthians 6:17-20 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

The letter is the same as a law--just a line in the sand.  The Spirit, though, speaks into our hearts.  The Spirit is absolute.  We either listen or we don't.  We either obey or we don't.  There is no in-between place.

2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  2 Corinthians 3:6 has been twisted by liberals.  It is saying that the Word must be made alive by the Spirit and revealed by the Spirit.  When the flesh tries to interpret it, the flesh cannot receive the things of the Spirit.  The liberals have twisted this and told this lie: they have said that they are following the spirit of the word when they add to it and take from it by the authority of the flesh.  This is just the opposite of what God had intended.

The Holy Spirit has a mighty role in our salvation.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The Spirit is the One with transfiguring power to bring us from glory to glory to fulfillment, fullness, perfection, completeness.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.   But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

There are other spirits by which people can speak and act.  There are human spirits and evil spirits, but we are to walk in the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. 

The law is like a line drawn in the sand.  Then, we try to stand as close as we can to that line without going over.  If we go over, we move the line.  The Spirit speaks.  Faithcomes by hearing, and hearing comes because the Spirit speaks.  When the Spirit speaks, there is no gray area.  We know that, if we yield to the Spirit and let Him overwhelm us, He will work through us.  If we yield to our flesh, to our natural mind, or to the pressure of those around us, then we will work the works of the flesh.

Galatians 3:5 He [Jesus] therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

We don’t always know how to pray, but the Spirit of God always knows.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.   And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. 

God revealed the hidden things to the apostles, and He did it by the Spirit of God.  The theologians try in vain to figure out the Bible by the power of their intellects.  No wonder no one can agree.  First, they must seek the mind of the Lord and not try to be double-minded, half depending on their own minds and half praying that God will help them.  Second, they need to wait until they are sent.  They ran, but God has not sent them.

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 But God hath revealed [them] unto us [the apostles] by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

Revelation is very powerful.  We live in a materialistic world where even many of the fundamentalists are denying that God can speak to us and reveal.  They try to mix the human mind with the Bible.  They would say something like, "the Bible plus reason," or "the Bible plus common sense."  That is why there is division in the church.

1 Corinthians 2:12-16 Now we [the apostles] have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.   Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.   For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we [the apostles] have the mind of Christ.

God has a way in which the Scripture is to be understood and interpreted, it is by the Spirit and to the apostles.

Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 

There are miraculous tongues of men as on Pentecost and miraculous tongues of angels.  All are for the purpose of building up in love.  We are to be built up to the point where the fruit of the Spirit comes forth.  1 Corinthians 13 and Galatians 5 are talking about the same thing.  1 Corinthians 13 calls in charity and Galatians calls it the fruit of the Spirit, but make a comparison between the substance of both Scriptures.

1 Corinthians  13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

The following passage makes perfect sense that when the complete comes, then the part will be done away.  It's not that it goes away.  It is now complete.  When every word that comes from our lips is a prophecy and we never speak a word out of our own mind, then we will not need prophecy.  Prophecy won't go away, but every word will come from God.  That is the power of God.  That is the purpose of God to bring us to that point where we only do His will and we only do it by His power and in His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.   For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.   But when that which is [complete (literal)] is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  Speaking in the unknown tongue is real.

1 Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 

Speaking of the church service, the emphasis is on blessing others.  In private, the unknown tongue, the tongues of angels, are very edifying to the individual.  Anyone else won't understand them, and they can't even understand themselves.  But something wonderful is happening in the spiritual realm.

1 Corinthians 14:5-6 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 

Paul notes that the spirit prays but the understanding is not helped in the process.  The spirit is greatly helped, though, so he says he will do both--and so will I.  He also mentions singing in the unknown tongue and also with the understanding.  Most Sundays, in our services, we will have spiritual songs, that is prophecy in song.  It's really beautiful to hear a song that is for that time only and will never be heard again.  Often, the whole church sings praise, sounding like a wonderful pipe organ.

1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Here the interpreter made a distinction between the unknown tongue and the tongues of men.  This is exactly how we have seen it.  Not understanding how tongues operate and the difference between types of tongues, these Scriptures could seem confusing and contradictory.  In fact, there is no confusion or contradiction once you understand that there are two types of tongues. 

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue. 

 In fact, in many churches, they think that they are operating tongues and interpretation when they are actually speaking in an unknown tongue, which cannot be interpreted, and then prophesying.

1 Corinthians 14:21-22 In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.  Some have wondered at why tongues would be a sign to those who don't believe.  Here is how we have experienced it (and we don't have enough of this).  This verse speaks of the tongues of men, not the tongues of angels.  It is referring to the gift of tongues and interpretation.  A man (or woman) with the gift of tongues is among people from another nation where he (or she) does not know their language.  He speaks in their language by the Holy Spirit.  He may know what he said or have no idea what he said.  Then, another person or the same person interprets the tongues back into the original speaker's language, but the interpreter doesn't know the language either.  It is a miracle.  It has been a sign to the unbelievers.  God seems to be very free in the way that He causes this gift to operate.

1 Corinthians 14 is the pattern for the church service.  This is how our church service is every week.  It's wonderful.  The Spirit moves in an orderly way.  The body of Christ is built up.  God is glorified.  We have no showmen.  We have no big shots.  The body of Christ is ruled, on the local level, by elders (plural) and deacons (plural).  The elders shepherd (pastor) the flock of God.  The elders are careful to teach only the apostle's doctrine and not to make up their own ideas.  The elders are in submission to the traveling ministries (apostle, both elders and deacons).  The local elders receive honor as their only pay--as the Scripture states.  They are local men who have jobs.  We don't squander our tithes and offerings on fancy buildings.  The traveling elders and deacons receive pay when they are unable to work an outside job because of the amount of traveling that they do.  However, they don't make exorbitant amounts of money.  Because of the way God has revealed the Scriptural order of the Church, we are able to use two-thirds of the tithes and offerings to support mission work and to help the poor throughout the world.  We never have to beg for money.  
   
1 Corinthians 14:26-28 How is it then, brethren, when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.   If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret.   But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

How many churches are there where dear, but confused, Christians not only do not want to prophecy, but they forbid it and they forbid speaking in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:39-40 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.  Let all things be done decently and in order. 

The foundational doctrines are spoken of in Hebrews.  Notice that baptisms is plural.  There is a baptism in water and a baptism on the Holy Spirit.  
   
Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

God has given us His Spirit.  There is more.

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 

You all may prophesy one by one.  A testimony is the spirit of prophecy.  There is a difference of authority between the Spirit of prophecy, the gift of prophecy and the ministry of the prophet, but the same Spirit of God.

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.  

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

Questions and Answers

more info: mouseover or click

There is so much more for you. This is what you have been missing. Don't let anyone deceptively keep you from fulfilling your destiny and God's purpose for your life.

God has established the pattern of Scripture, for life and for the Church.

You can feel free to use the Contact Form further down on this page to ask any question regarding this pattern of Scripture. The Church, the Body of Christ, and discernment of this Body, is the method that God is using to finish the work in His Body. The Body of Christ, God's Temple, is built up by that which every joint supplies, building each other up in love, and the Temple must be built according to the pattern of Scripture.

We believe the Holy Scriptures teach:

• The 5 apostolic ministries (Ephesians 4:11)
• The nine gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)
• Local congregations overseen by elders and deacons (Titus 1:5)
• Every member having and being a ministry in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:11)
• Being led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
• The gathering together of the Body of Christ (Genesis 49:10, John 17:21)