Bible Basics

What is the work of the Holy Spirit?

By Pastor Ben Berger

"My friend invited me to his church and when I got there, people were shouting and crying out. Others were 'speaking in tongues.' Still others wanted to be healed. They were all looking for the Holy Spirit." Maybe you've heard a similar story.

It's time to clear up the confusion about the Holy Spirit. Just who is he and what does he do? Pentecost gives us the opportunity to answer these questions.

Fifty (pente) days after Jesus rose from the dead and ten days after he ascended into heaven, he sent a special gift to his disciples. The book of Acts describes the day in chapter two. Large crowds had gathered in Jerusalem for one of the major Jewish festivals; the disciples were also there, waiting for the special gift Jesus had promised them. The large crowd suddenly heard the sound of blowing wind. What looked like tongues of fire rested on the disciples' heads. And everyone heard the disciples speaking in their own language. Peter preached that day, telling everyone about Jesus the Savior, and about 3000 came to faith. The Holy Spirit was at work.

If you are anything like me, you have not heard the sound of blowing wind, or seen tongues of fire, or heard anyone speak a language they didn't know. However, you have seen the work of the Holy Spirit.

Many people seek the Holy Spirit in external signs, but he does most of his work behind the scenes. The Holy Spirit isn't trying to hide, but he isn't looking to redirect the spotlight either. The spotlight belongs on Jesus. Jesus is the one who gave his life to pay for the sins of the world. Jesus is the one who exchanges his holiness for our sins. Jesus is the one who earned eternal life for all. The Holy Spirit is the one who points to Jesus.

The main work of the Holy Spirit is to create or strengthen faith in Jesus. In all that the Spirit does his final purpose is to create faith. That's what he did on Pentecost. Sure, at that time the message of a Savior raised from the dead needed some support. The wind, the fire, the languages were all miracles that supported the message that Peter spoke that day. Still, the Spirit was present in the message and working through the Word.

The Holy Spirit still works through the Word today. Many witnesses over the years, beginning with the disciples themselves, have spread the good news of Jesus as Savior. The truth of the Word has changed many lives and no longer needs external support. God wants us to take him at his Word. While God could give us external signs, he doesn't need to. God does not need to validate his Word to us. The Holy Spirit works through the Word alone to create faith.

Sometimes, for our benefit, God connects a visible element to his Word. In baptism God connects water to his Word. He promises that in baptism the Holy Spirit will create faith. Even in baptism the power remains in the Word. God also connects his Word to bread and wine in the Lord's Supper. Through bread and wine along with Jesus' body and blood God offers us forgiveness. Again, the Spirit is working through the word to strengthen our faith. The tools or means of grace which the Spirit uses to create faith are the Gospel in Word and sacrament.
If I can't see the Spirit or signs of the Spirit, how do I know he is working in me? Good question. When the Spirit is at work, you will see the fruits of the Spirit. The first fruit the Spirit creates is faith. If you believe that Jesus died on the cross to take away your sins, the Spirit is at work in you. From such a faith other fruits will flow. The Spirit creates in believers a new person. That new person lives for God. He wants to thank God for all he has done. That new person in believers leads us to worship, listen to God in his Word, pray, serve others, and give our treasures for God's work. Finally, the Spirit creates inner fruits in believers. He gives us joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, love and self-control. Such fruits will not disappear into thin air as other emotional and external signs do.

Pentecost is the perfect time to remember the work of the Spirit. It is also the perfect time to thank God for the Holy Spirit and to ask for his continued presence in our lives…even if we can't see it!