The Holy Spirit (Part Three)

I am always happy when there are Bible Studies about the Holy Spirit because I sometimes feel as if He is not appreciated although His work is so critical in our salvation. Most of the focus is on the Father and Jesus.  This is why I'm so excited to be sharing what is said about Him in the Word of God.  He is very much involved in our lives. Today, we will take a look at what His functions are:

He speaks - So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, 'Go to this people and say "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;  For the heart of the people has grown dull, Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, let they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart and turn so that I should heal them'" (Acts 28:25-27). The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets, the disciples, Paul and others.

Teaches - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things I said to you" (John 14:26). This has happened to me personally.  

Strives with sinners - "And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years" (Genesis 6:3).

"For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again" (Psalm 78:39).

Comforts - Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified.  And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied" (Acts 9:31).

Helps our weaknesses - "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Acts 8:26). I got choked up just thinking about the Holy Spirit praying to God for us when we don't know how to pray. And, God who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He (the Holy Spirit) intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (verse 27).  This shows clearly that the Holy Spirit loves us.

Is grieved - "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? By disobeying the Word of God, by our words and actions which are contrary to Him and focusing on earthly possessions (the things of the world) instead of the Kingdom of God (the things of God). We must always seek to do what is pleasing and acceptable to the Holy Spirit.

Is resisted - "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in the heart and ears!  You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you" (Acts 7:51).