Life in the Spirit: How the Holy Spirit Helps Us

The promise of God in the OT prophets was for the Holy Spirit to come and fill His people (Joel 2:28), producing tender hearts (Eze. 11:19) of obedience (Eze. 36:27) and the ability to know God (Jer. 31:34). As post-Pentecost Christians, this reality is ours (Acts 2:4, 16-17), but it is something we must choose to appropriate (Gal. 5:25).

I. Works of the Spirit in the Believer’s Life

1. He purifies us (Matt. 3:11-12; 1 Peter 1:2) and enables holiness (1 Thess. 4:7-8).
2. He gives us words to speak (Mark 13:11; Luke 1:67; 12:12)—words of wisdom and power (Acts 6:10).
3. He reveals truth to us (Luke 2:26; John 14:26; 16:13; 1 John 4:2, 6) as the Spirit of truth (John 14:17).
4. He empowers us to do God’s work (Luke 4:18; John 20:22-23; Acts 1:8; 4:31; 6:3; 9:17-20; 10:38; 13:9-11; 13:52-4:1; 16:8; 19:6; Rom. 15:19; 2 Tim. 1:14; 1 Peter 1:12).
5. He gives us spiritual life (John 3:5; 6:63; Rom. 8:10-11) to share with others (John 7:39).
6. He comforts us (John 14:16; Acts 9:31).
7. He demonstrates Jesus’ identity (1 Tim. 3:16), witnesses to His work (Acts 5:32; 15:8; 1 John 5:6-8), and confirms our faith (John 15:26).
8. He helps and encourages us in suffering (Acts 7:55; 1 Peter 4:14), providing deliverance (Phil. 1:19) and joy (1 Thess. 1:6).
9. He gives gifts for ministry (Acts 2:4, 17-18; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Heb. 2:4).
10. He provides us direction for serving Jesus (Acts 8:29; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 20:22 21:11).
11. He accomplishes the work of salvation (Acts 10:43-44; 1 Cor. 6:11), effecting initial sanctification (2 Thess. 2:13; Titus 3:5).
12. He appoints us to our duty in the Kingdom (Acts 20:28).
13. He circumcises our hearts, enabling undivided loyalty (Rom. 2:29).
14. He communicates God’s love to us (Rom. 5:5; Eph. 3:16-19).
15. He teaches us to live according to His Law of love (Rom. 7:6; 8:2) as the minister of the new covenant (2 Cor. 3:6).
16. He frees us from bondage to our own self-will (Rom. 8:9).
17. He secures and witnesses to our adoption as God’s children (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6) and confirms we are in Christ (1 John 3:24; 4:13).
18. He teaches us how to pray and intercedes for us (Rom 8:26-27).
19. He gives righteousness, peace, joy (Rom. 14:17), and hope (Rom. 15:13).
20. He communicates the mind of God to us (1Cor. 2:10-13).
21. He enables us to understand spiritual truth (1 Cor. 2:14, 12:3).
22. He lives within us (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19).
23. He unites believers into one body through baptism (1 Cor. 12:13) as a dwelling place for God (Eph. 2:22).
24. His presence is a guarantee and down payment on our future inheritance (2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:13; 4:30).
25. He transforms us into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 3:16, 19).
26. He frees from the bondage of keeping the Law (2 Cor. 3:17).
27. He gives eternal life to those who live in Him (Gal. 6:8).
28. He provides wisdom and knowledge of God (Eph. 1:17).
29. He provides access to the presence of the Father (Eph. 2:18).
30. He binds us together in unity (Eph. 4:3; Phil. 2:1-2) and love (Col. 1:8).
31. He enables true worship (Phil. 3:3) and prayer (Eph. 6:18; Jude 1:20).
32. He empowers the Gospel’s effect for us (1 Thess. 1:5).
33. He gives a spirit of power, love, and self-control (2 Tim. 1:7).
34. He participates in Jesus’ offering Himself to the Father (Heb. 9:14).
35. He witnesses to the New Covenant (Heb. 10:15; cf. 10:8-9).
36. He gives us grace (Heb. 10:29).
37. He preaches to the churches (Rev. 2-3).
38. He beckons the thirsty to drink the water of life (Rev. 22:17).

II. How We Walk in the Spirit

1. We receive and are indwelled by the Spirit by faith (Gal. 3:2) at salvation (Heb. 6:4; Rom. 8:9).
2. We choose the Spirit’s leading over our fallen tendency to choose what’s good for ourselves outside of God’s provision (Rom 8:4).
3. We set our desires on what God desires for us, rather than things that are contrary to God’s will (Rom. 8:5-8).
4. We view reality from God’s perspective by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10-14).
5. We worship by the Spirit of God (Phil. 3:3).
6. We put evil deeds to death by the power of the Spirit (Rom. 8:13).
7. We keep in step with the Spirit, bearing His fruit, as the alternative to living sinfully (Gal. 5:16-18, 22-25).
8. We make a volitional surrender of control to Him (Eph. 5:18).
9. We read, memorize, meditate on, and utilize the Bible which the Spirit inspired (Eph. 6:17).
10. We listen obediently to what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29)
11. We pray with His direction (Eph. 6:18).
12. We are careful not to override his working (1 Thess. 5:19).
13. We avoid grieving the Spirit through corrupt speech (Eph. 4:29-32).

“[Through the Holy Spirit’s guidance], we can walk like Jesus walks – [pursuing] the goals he pursues, with the attitudes and passions that Christ himself has” (Dennis Kinlaw, The Mind of Christ, p. 13).