Many have their own inputs on the roles of the Holy Spirit. Usually that the Holy Spirit performs supernatural miracles. Though that may be true in some circumstances, my definition of ‘miracles” may differ from someone who is preaching that the only miracle performed is physical healing. However, for many, physical healing does not come.
I think of Paul. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul is describing a thorn in his flesh. He goes on to say that he has pleaded the Lord 3 times that it might depart from him. But the Lord did not remove the thorn, instead He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
I can share my mother’s testimony as well, over 12 years of battling metastasis cancer, still fighting today, the Lord did not take this sickness from her. Does this mean she did not have faith? Quite the contrary, the tribulation brought more faith that she is willing to say that the Lord will prolong her sickness and she gladly receives it.
I will not go into an exposition on the argument that Paul and my Mother did not have enough faith to be healed in this post. But I do want to say that when we pray according to God’s will–HIS WILL; He will grant us our desires. But if it is not God’s will, trust that He will carry you through that trial, tribulation, etc.
The sad truth is that many emphasize the Holy Spirit above the Father and Son. Though they are equally God, each has their own work in their Trinitarian work. We will look at 3 roles of The Holy Spirit from John 16. The roles of The Holy Spirit may surprise you, so stick with me and let’s let Scripture speak for itself.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He [a]will take of Mine and declare it to you.
John 16:7-15
Table of Contents
The Work of The Holy Spirit- John 16:1-11
Jesus is explaining the importance of valuing eternal gain over earthly gain to the disciples. This principle is constantly reinforced all over the New Testament. In this passage, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about His departure and that His disciples are to take His place in the ministry. Because we take His place, in the sense of working for the Kingdom, we will receive the Helper to allow us to perform the work of the ministry in His place.
Before, the Disciples were outside, watching Jesus work alone, now they can take part of the ministry by means of His Spirit while experiencing the joy of that work. Earlier, in Jesus’ ministry, He gave them a preview of what that looks like to serve Him with God’s power (Luke 9:1-20).
Now, Jesus is telling His disciples that He will be departing and the ministry will be daily on His behalf. But they will have The Helper, The Holy Spirit that gives opportunity for 3 types of spiritual work that He will accomplish through us.
Role #1 of The Spirit will convict the world of its sin of unbelief.
Jesus is explaining the role of bringing salvation to the world through our faithful ministry on His behalf. When the Spirit convicts a person of their unbelief, it leads to their repentance and salvation. We see an example of The Spirit working this out through Paul to bring conviction in Corinth (2 Corinthians 7:9).
Read more on how to share the Gospel Biblically here.
Role #2 of The Spirit will convict the world regarding righteousness.
The Spirit working in and through us will show the world what righteousness looks like. He accomplishes this work by sanctifying the Saints by His indwelling of us. By the conviction of sin and training in righteousness, the Spirit yields fruit of righteousness in each Christian. And that sanctified life by the Saint will be a source of conviction for the world.
Role #3 of The Spirit will convict the world and its ruler at the last judgment.
All Believers will participate in judging the world at the last judgment. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9, that we will even judge angels. Even now, we stand as witnesses to those who persecute us. In the sense that The Holy Spirit working through us convicting and sanctifying us brings an alarm to their conscience of the world’s coming judgment.
The Work of The Holy Spirit- John 16:12-15
The 2 roles of the Holy Spirit plays an important role in every Believer that is only possible because Christ has left us here to do this on His behalf. In the upcoming verses in chapter 16:12-15 Jess says the Spirit will be the One to fill the gaps of the Church after Jesus departs.
The Spirit repeats what He hears from Jesus. Then the Spirit guides us to the truth. He doesn’t override us by seeking to work with us (or we can quence or disobey the Spirit). He teaches, He guides, and He discloses.
Notice how Jesus emphasizes the roles of the Godhead working independently yet as One.
The Spirit’s mission is to bring glory to Jesus, while the Son desires to obey and glorify the Father. God, The Father sends the Son in the world and once Jesus returns from the world, the Son sends the Spirit in His place to the Church, and the Spirit works in the Church to glorify the Son.
But notice, The Spirit doesn’t speak of His own initiative, meaning He doesn’t conclude what the Church should do. The Spirit communicates to us only what He hears from the Son and the Son only does what the Father is doing. So all play a role toward a common purpose.
The Prosperity Gospel is a heresy.
Finally, notice how the roles of the Holy Spirit point to a spiritual work. The Word does not promise us that we will experience physical healing from pain and illnesses and physical blessings of wealth. Instead, the Word emphasizes on sin, righteousness, and sanctification.
The prosperity gospel has twisted this truth and base their doctrines on Apostleship– embracing the works of the 12 Apostles being the Gospel. Outside of the 12 Apostles, there aren’t any other apostles. I want to make sure this is clear, and I’ll go over this important distinction in a future post. Until then, I pray that you search out Christ and allow His Spirit to guide you in all truth and understanding of the Roles of the Godhead.
We can’t author or alter Scripture but I pray The Spirit explains this truth to you.
The True Gospel
I want to leave you with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul makes it clear to us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:1-4