What is the role of the Holy Spirit? How is the Holy Spirit active in our lives today?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Holy Spirit has always been active in God’s work, empowering, guiding, and equipping His people. This is because the Holy Spirit is God. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit played key roles in creation (Genesis 1:2), inspiring prophets (Numbers 11:25-26), and enabling leaders like Joshua (Numbers 27:18), Gideon (Judges 6:34), and David (1 Samuel 16:13) for service and deliverance. He empowered elders to prophesy, gave wisdom and courage to those called to lead, and anointed kings for God’s purposes. The Holy Spirit also convicts people of sin (John 16:8). Today, the Spirit continues these roles in believers’ lives by teaching, comforting, guiding, and empowering them to live for God. Understanding the Spirit’s work helps us recognize that His presence is personal, active, and essential for fulfilling God’s purposes.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Spirit of God was active in creation, “hovering over the waters,” showing His role in bringing life and order (Genesis 1:2). Today, He sustains and empowers all things according to God’s will.
• The Spirit came on the elders to enable them to prophesy and lead God’s people Numbers 11:25-26. Similarly, the Holy Spirit equips believers today with wisdom, guidance, and spiritual gifts.
• Judges 6:34 says the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, empowering him to lead and deliver Israel.
• In 1 Samuel 16:13, Samuel anointed David, and the Spirit came upon him to empower him as king. Part of the Spirit’s role is enabling believers to fulfill God’s purposes in life.
• The Spirit inspired the words of God’s messengers. Today, the Spirit guides, convicts, and teaches believers in truth (2 Samuel 23:2; Ezekiel 2:2).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin. John 16:8 notes, "And when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment."
• For believers, the Holy Spirit serves as a Helper or Comforter. John 14:16-17 records Jesus saying, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him." The Greek word translated as "Helper" or "Comforter" (KJV) refers to one who is called alongside another, providing the idea of a guide or encourager during times of need. This takes place as God's Spirit indwells the believer from the point of salvation (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
• An additional role of the Holy Spirit is to guide the believer into truth. John 16:13 reads, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth." Rather than depending on our human reasoning, we have a supernatural guide in the form of God's indwelling Holy Spirit.
• Further, the Holy Spirit helps believers to glorify the Lord. John 16:14 reveals, "He [the Holy Spirit] will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you." We have a desire to worship the Lord because God's Spirit lives within us as believers.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Today, the Spirit empowers us to serve God effectively, overcome challenges, and act courageously for His kingdom. For example, for believers, the Holy Spirit also gives special gifts. First Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3-8, and 1 Peter 4:10-11 list many gifts God's Spirit provides to believers. Each believer has at least one (1 Corinthians 12:7), and each person is specifically gifted for the acts of service God has prepared for him or her (Ephesians 2:10). The gifts are given to allow the church to work together to meet needs, make disciples, and glorify God.

God's Spirit also enables believers to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 states, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Without God's Spirit, people are unable to produce fruitful lives that reflect the desires of God.

The Holy Spirit indwells us as believers. In addition to the many roles He plays in our lives, He seals us as belonging to God (see Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is the person of God who lives with us in our time on earth and teaches us to truly know and follow God.

UNDERSTAND

• The Holy Spirit empowers, equips, and guides believers to fulfill God’s purposes in both the Old and New Testaments.
• The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and provides continual guidance, conviction, and comfort.
• The Spirit enables believers to produce spiritual fruit, exercise spiritual gifts, and glorify God through their lives.

REFLECT

• How do you sense the Holy Spirit guiding or comforting you in your daily life?
• How are you allowing the Spirit to help you produce spiritual fruit like love, patience, or self-control?
• How are you using the gifts God has given you through the Holy Spirit to serve others and glorify Him?

ENGAGE

• How do we recognize the difference between our own efforts and the Spirit’s empowerment in our lives?
• In what ways can we be more intentional about listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as a group or community?
• How can we encourage one another to rely on the Spirit to produce spiritual fruit and use our gifts effectively?