The Purpose of the Gift of the Holy Spirit

‘A certain evil spirit came out of a man on its own, seeking rest, but finds none. Then it went back to its former abode to find it swept clean, but empty. Then it took along seven more evil spirits and started dwelling there.’ (Matt. 12:43–45) Our Lord Jesus Himself has narrated this anecdote. It gives us an idea about the way evil spirits act. At the same time, it contrasts the way the Holy Spirit ministers. The evil spirit sought a dwelling place for its own good. It was roaming about looking for a victim, seeking rest for itself. But the Holy Spirit comes into our lives to give us rest. He indwells us for our good and with specific purpose.

Ministry in the World

The way the Holy Spirit ministers in the New Testament era is different from His ministry in the former days. “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people.” Acts. 2:17.

Today, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is not limited to the chosen saints. He ministers in the world at large. The active presence of the Holy Spirit is a strong restraint on ‘the lawless one’. Though the whole world remains under the evil one, the sense of righteousness and the rule of law prevails in human society. The whole world enjoys this blessing effected by the active, restraining presence of the Holy Spirit.

Another aspect of the ministry of the Holy Spirit at large is that He convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement (John 16:8). Man has an innate nature to find excuses and justify himself. It is because of the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit that one could confess that he is a lost sinner. He convinces people of righteousness and judgement to come.

Consequent to the convicting ministry, the Holy Spirit bears witness about Jesus Christ and the way of salvation prepared for everyone, by the sacrifice on the cross at calvary. The Holy Spirt does these ministries in the world at large and their blessings are open for anyone and everyone to enjoy.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit          

The Holy Spirit won’t force Himself an anyone. He honors our personality and free will. Whoever yields to the convicting ministry and confesses their sinfulness and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be accepted into the family of God. Those who sincerely open their hearts to receive Jesus Christ with perfect faith will be privileged with the indwelling of the Triune God. The three personalities in the Holy God are independent in ministry and dependent in existence. So, when one receives Jesus Christ into his heart, the Triune God starts indwelling him. His body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit (Cor. 6:19).

1. To be the seal of ownership and the guarantee of redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30)

The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Rom. 8:16). He indwells us as the seal and guarantee of our perfect redemption. Our redemption gets consummated when our physical bodies get glorified. Now that the Holy Spirit has made our bodies His dwelling place, it becomes doubly sure that the redemption of even our weak bodies is guaranteed.

2. To Guide us into all the truth (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit is the ever-present guide to lead us into all the truth. He is the counselor, helper and guide. As God honors free will, no one would be dragged along the way of truth. The promptings and the guidance of the Holy Spirit should be heeded to and complied with. The Word of God is described as the truth (John 17:17). Guiding into all the truth is prompting and enabling one to obey the teachings of the Word of God.

3. To win over our sinful nature (Rom. 8:17)

An innate sinful nature lurks in everyone. With re-birth, a new spiritual nature germinates in a child of God. Yet the old sin-nature does not get eliminated. It would continue its endeavor to assert itself and pull the person back into the old practices. All the while, the new spiritual nature would encourage him to live the new life God expects from him. This causes an internal struggle in the believer. This actually is the chief battle field in spiritual warfare. In this struggle, the old sin-nature or 'the flesh’' is supported by the evil one through the world. By ‘the world’ we mean the corrupt worldly system prevailing in the human society. It is not easy to resist and overcome this antagonist. Here, the Holy Spirit enables one to win over the evil one.

The scriptures describe the sinful nature as ‘the old man’, and the spiritual nature as ‘the new man.’ We are exhorted to ‘put off our old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires and to put on the new self, created to be Christ-like in true righteousness and holiness’ (Eph. 4:22–24). It is hard to put aside the beaten tracks of life and the accustomed life-style. The Holy Spirit enlivens the new born spiritual man and he grows in strength nourished by the Word of God, prayer and fellowship of the caring saints. No one can resist and overcome the onslaught of the evil one without the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

4. To be the Resident Intercessor (Rom. 8:26–27)

Jesus Christ intercedes for us before the Father (Heb. 7:25) together with Him, we have an intercessor residing in us to help us in our weakness. Though everyone prays, the prayers of even a seasoned saint may not be always perfect and in accordance with the will of God. At times, we find ourselves at our wit’s and without knowing what to pray for. In such helpless predicaments, the Holy Spirt is present right in us to plead on our behalf.

5. To strengthens us in crises (Matt. 10:17–19; Acts 4:31; 7:88)

Christian life is not a bed of roses. It is the hard way of the cross. Our Lord has trodden it before us and we are called to tread it behind Him. One may be forced to choose believer his very life and Jesus Christ. In such dire predicaments, the Holy Spirit will enable one to embrace Jesus Christ and eternal life even at the cross of his life. Getting arrested, dragged to courts of law, and before men in authority is no new thing now. In such difficult situations, the Holy Spirit will illumine our understanding to witness to the gentiles.

6. To teach us and remind us of the Lord’s teachings (John 14:26)

Jesus Christ is the greatest teacher the world has ever seen. Now in the Holy Spirit we have an ever present teacher who reminds us of all that the Lord has taught. He is the omniscient cunselor to guide us in the path of righteousness.

7. To enable us to bear the fruit of the Spirit

In Galatians 5:22, we have a list of nine virtues presented as the fruit of the Spirit. Singular noun is used to refer to the nine virtues. It is like an orange with nine petals. There may be virtuous people in whom several of these virtues may be found. But all the nine virtues can be found only in one enabled by the Holy Spirit.

8. To endow the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4–11)

The above noted ministries of the Holy Spirit are those He does in a believer. But exercising the gifts of the Spirit is a ministry the Holy Spirit does through a believer. The ministry the Holy Spirit does in a believer in more important than those He does through a believer. Exercising the gifts of the Spirit may be very ostentatiousand applauded. But it does not qualify one as the bride of Jesus Christ.

9. To pour out God’s love into our hearts (Rom. 5:50)

The first and foremost thing God desires from us is that we love Him and radiate divine love to our brothers. But unfortunately, we are unable to even love our brother we see. Then how can we love the unseen God? The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love and He pours out love for the Lord in our hearts. When we love the Lord, it gets radiated to those around us.

God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to be our counselor, helper and guide. As a master craftsman cuts, chisels and polishes a crude stone into a shining jewel, the Holy Spirit refines and reforms us, the sinful, crude, cursed, worldly people into the glorious Bride of Jesus Christ.