The Seven-Fold Ministry of the Holy Spirit

There are seven operations of the Holy Spirit that are revealed in the New Testament. Some are unique only to the New Testament Believer, but others can be found both in the Old and New Testament.

1. He Teaches

The Holy Spirit is given as a teacher to the children of God. He shares with us the wisdom of God.

John 14:26 (NKJV) 

26 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 that I said to you.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (ESV) 

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The Holy Spirit teaches the word and wisdom of Christ. He doesn’t bring contradicting revelation.

2. He Convicts

This is the office of the Holy Spirit as Judge. To convict is to reprove, or to show someone’s error. This ministry of the spirit works on all who receive the gospel of Christ.

Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world in three areas, Sin, Righteousness and Judgment.

John 16:8-11 (NKJV) 

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.

When the Holy Spirit is present, he convicts unbelievers that they are sinners. He reveals to them that righteousness is only found in Christ who is with the Father,  and that they deserve God’s eternal judgment which is coming. This conviction is present at the preaching of the gospel, when evangelism is done.

When followers of Christ abandon the faith, and begin to live in sin, they are convicted again of these three things.

3. He Guides

The Holy Spirit does the work of Guiding the sons of God in order to lead them into their destiny and their promise.

John 16:13 (NKJV) 

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.

Romans 8:14 (ESV) 

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

4. He Empowers

The Holy Spirit gives power to believers through baptism of the Spirit. This power, is what brings about the gifts and operation of the spirit. He empowers human beings, to do the work of God.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) 

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Ephesians 3:16 (ESV) 

16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

1 Corinthians 12:11 (ESV) 

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Romans 15:19 (ESV) 

19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

5. He Intercedes

The Holy Spirit is an intercessor. He speaks to God on our behalf so we can receive the things that we need in order to bear fruit and enter into our destiny.

Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV) 

26 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. 

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

6. He Bears Witness

The Holy Spirit bears witness concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Acts 5:30-32 (ESV) 

30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

John 15:26 (ESV) 

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit also witnessed through the prophets concerning the death and resurrection of Christ.

1 Peter 1:11 (NKJV) 

11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

Through the death and resurrection of Christ, those who believe in Jesus were born agin and became children of God. The Holy Spirit witnesses in the spirits of these born again believers, that they are children of God.

Romans 8:16 (ESV) 

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

7. He Quickens (gives life)

The Holy Spirit gives life to those who believe in Christ.

John 6:63 (NKJV) 

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing…

2 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV)

6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

This life is given through the new birth, or the regeneration of the spirit.

Titus 3:5 (ESV) 

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

This life that he gives believers, is a righteous, holy life that causes us to love in victory over sin.

Romans 8:10-11 (ESV) 

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

This righteous holy life of Christ that the Holy Spirit gives, is what manifests as the fruit of the spirit. It is the fruit of life.

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.