📖 WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES IN THE BELIEVER
12 Works of the Holy Spirit in the Dispensation of Grace
Key Texts: Ephesians 1:13–14; Romans 8:9–16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 5:22–25
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise.” — Ephesians 1:13 KJV
🔥 INTRODUCTION — THE HOLY SPIRIT'S WORK UNDER GRACE
There is much confusion today concerning the ministry o... more📖 WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES IN THE BELIEVER
12 Works of the Holy Spirit in the Dispensation of Grace
Key Texts: Ephesians 1:13–14; Romans 8:9–16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 5:22–25
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise.” — Ephesians 1:13 KJV
🔥 INTRODUCTION — THE HOLY SPIRIT'S WORK UNDER GRACE
There is much confusion today concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Some measure spirituality by tongues, visions, physical sensations, emotional experiences, miraculous signs, or spectacular manifestations.
But in a Dispensational reading, our doctrine and practice for the Body of Christ must be established especially from the revelation given through Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles.
📖 Romans 11:13
“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles…”
During Israel's prophetic program, the Holy Spirit manifested Himself in ways connected with Israel's signs and kingdom expectations. But Paul reveals tremendous spiritual operations concerning the believer today: indwelling, sealing, baptizing into the Body, strengthening the inner man, producing fruit, and illuminating spiritual truth.
Therefore, we must distinguish between what the Spirit did in different dispensational settings and what Scripture teaches concerning His operation in the Body of Christ today.
The Spirit's ministry is not primarily about making us feel something spectacular.
It is about making God's truth work effectually in us.
📖 1 Thessalonians 2:13
1️⃣ CONVICTS — THE SPIRIT REVEALS MAN'S NEED FOR CHRIST
📖 John 16:8–11; Romans 3:19–23
John 16 belongs contextually to Christ's earthly ministry and His instruction to the disciples, so we should not simply transfer every detail without right division. Yet the passage clearly demonstrates the Spirit's relationship to truth concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.
A. CONFRONTS Sin
📖 Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
The Spirit never leads a sinner to confidence in himself. God's Word exposes man's guilt.
B. CRUSHES Self-Confidence
📖 Romans 3:19
Every mouth is stopped before God.
Religion says, “I am good enough.”
Scripture says, “There is none righteous.” — Romans 3:10.
C. CENTERS Attention on Christ
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
The answer to sin is not self-reformation but Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
THE SPIRIT DOES NOT MAGNIFY THE SINNER'S GOODNESS—HE DIRECTS US TO CHRIST'S SUFFICIENCY.
2️⃣ CONVERTS — THE SPIRIT GIVES SPIRITUAL LIFE
📖 Titus 3:5–7
Paul writes:
“…according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
A. REGENERATION Is Spiritual
📖 Titus 3:5
Salvation is not merely joining a denomination or reforming bad habits. God performs an inward spiritual work.
B. RENEWAL Is Supernatural
The verse says:
“…renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
The saved person has a new position and new spiritual life in Christ.
📖 2 Corinthians 5:17
C. RIGHTEOUSNESS Is by Grace
📖 Titus 3:7
“That being justified by his grace…”
Regeneration is not earned by religious works.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
THE GOSPEL DOES NOT MERELY MAKE BAD PEOPLE BETTER; GOD GIVES THE BELIEVER NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.
3️⃣ BAPTIZES — THE SPIRIT PLACES US INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3–4
This is one of the most important truths in a Dispensational understanding.
A. BAPTISM Is Spiritual
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…”
This baptism is performed by the Spirit, not by a human minister with water.
B. BODY Is the Destination
We are baptized:
“…into one body…”
The Spirit identifies the believer with the Body of Christ.
📖 Ephesians 1:22–23
C. BELIEVERS Are United
“…whether we be Jews or Gentiles…”
Our spiritual unity is not created by denominational membership or water ceremonies.
📖 Ephesians 4:3–5
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
THE ONE BAPTISM FOR THE BODY IS NOT SOMETHING MAN DOES TO YOU—IT IS SOMETHING THE SPIRIT DOES FOR YOU.
4️⃣ INDWELLS — THE SPIRIT PERMANENTLY RESIDES IN THE BELIEVER
📖 Romans 8:9–11; 1 Corinthians 3:16
A. PRESENCE of the Spirit
📖 Romans 8:9
“…if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
Every genuine member of Christ possesses the Spirit.
There is no elite class of Christians who alone possess Him.
B. POSSESSION by Grace
📖 1 Corinthians 6:19
“…your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you…”
The believer does not continually beg the Spirit to enter.
He already indwells the saved person.
C. PERMANENCE of His Residence
Paul connects the Spirit's presence with our identity in Christ.
📖 Romans 8:11
The Christian life therefore begins from possession, not pursuit, of the Spirit.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
WE DO NOT SERVE GOD TRYING TO GET THE HOLY SPIRIT; WE SERVE BECAUSE GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT.
5️⃣ SEALS — THE SPIRIT SECURES THE BELIEVER
📖 Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 4:30
This is one of the strongest assurance passages in Paul's epistles.
A. SALVATION Precedes the Seal
📖 Ephesians 1:13
They:
heard the Word of truth → believed the Gospel → were sealed.
The verse does not say:
“After ye performed enough good works.”
It says:
“…after that ye believed…”
B. SEAL Identifies God's Possession
The Holy Spirit is God's mark upon the believer.
📖 2 Corinthians 1:21–22
God has:
“…sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit…”
C. SECURITY Continues unto Redemption
📖 Ephesians 4:30
“…whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Not until your next failure.
Not until your next sin.
Not until your emotions change.
UNTIL THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
SALVATION IS NOT SECURED BY THE STRENGTH OF YOUR GRIP ON GOD, BUT BY GOD'S SEAL UPON YOU.
6️⃣ TEACHES — THE SPIRIT ILLUMINATES THE WORD OF GOD
📖 1 Corinthians 2:9–14; Ephesians 1:17–18
For doctrine concerning the Body today, 1 Corinthians 2 gives us a particularly important Pauline foundation.
A. REVEALS Spiritual Truth
📖 1 Corinthians 2:10
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit…”
Spiritual truth cannot be mastered merely through human intelligence.
B. REQUIRES Spiritual Discernment
📖 1 Corinthians 2:14
“…they are spiritually discerned.”
The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God.
C. RESPECTS Right Division
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
The Spirit who inspired Scripture does not teach us to ignore its distinctions.
We must distinguish:
Israel / Body of Christ
Prophecy / Mystery
Law / Grace
Kingdom / Heavenly calling
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILL NEVER LEAD YOU CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD HE INSPIRED.
7️⃣ GUIDES — THE SPIRIT DIRECTS OUR WALK THROUGH TRUTH
📖 Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16–18
A. GUIDANCE Is Spiritual
📖 Romans 8:14
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Spirit-leading is not merely following feelings or impressions.
B. GUIDANCE Agrees with Scripture
📖 Galatians 5:18
“But if ye be led of the Spirit…”
The Spirit leads according to God's revealed truth, not contrary to it.
C. GUIDANCE Produces Godliness
📖 Galatians 5:16
“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
If what we call “Spirit leading” produces carnality, selfishness, confusion, or doctrinal error, we should question our interpretation of that leading.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
DON'T ASK ONLY, “WHAT DO I FEEL LED TO DO?” ASK, “WHAT HAS GOD'S WORD INSTRUCTED ME TO DO?”
8️⃣ STRENGTHENS — THE SPIRIT STRENGTHENS THE INNER MAN
📖 Ephesians 3:14–19
Notice where Paul emphasizes spiritual strength.
Not primarily the outer man.
But:
📖 Ephesians 3:16
“…to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”
A. POWER for the Inner Man
God's primary work today is spiritual.
Our outward circumstances may remain difficult while the inner man becomes strong.
B. POWER through Spiritual Truth
📖 Ephesians 3:17–19
Paul connects spiritual strengthening with understanding Christ's love and being rooted and grounded.
C. POWER in Weakness
📖 2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is sufficient for thee…”
God did not remove Paul's thorn simply because Paul prayed.
Instead, grace sustained him through it.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
GOD MAY NOT REMOVE EVERY BURDEN AROUND YOU, BUT HIS GRACE CAN STRENGTHEN THE BELIEVER WITHIN YOU.
9️⃣ INTERCEDES — THE SPIRIT HELPS OUR INFIRMITIES
📖 Romans 8:26–27
What happens when we do not even know what to pray?
A. HELPS Our Weakness
📖 Romans 8:26
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities…”
God knows our limitations.
B. HEARS What We Cannot Express
Paul says:
“…we know not what we should pray for as we ought…”
Prayer is not powerful because we use perfect vocabulary.
C. HARMONIZES with God's Will
📖 Romans 8:27
“…he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
The Spirit's intercession is perfectly consistent with God's will.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
WHEN YOUR WORDS FAIL, THE SPIRIT'S MINISTRY DOES NOT.
🔟 PRODUCES — THE SPIRIT PRODUCES FRUIT IN OUR WALK
📖 Galatians 5:22–25
Notice Paul says:
“the fruit of the Spirit…”
not merely human personality improvement.
A. FRUIT in Character
📖 Galatians 5:22
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith…
B. FRUIT in Conduct
📖 Galatians 5:23
Meekness and temperance affect how believers actually live.
Grace does not teach lawlessness.
📖 Titus 2:11–12
Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness.
C. FRUIT through Crucified Living
📖 Galatians 5:24–25
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Our standing is graciously given; our walk should increasingly correspond to that standing.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
THE EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS NOT HOW LOUDLY YOU DISPLAY A GIFT, BUT HOW CLEARLY CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER APPEARS IN YOUR WALK.
1️⃣1️⃣ COMFORTS — THE SPIRIT PRODUCES HOPE AND PEACE THROUGH TRUTH
📖 Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:6–9
While John 14 calls the Spirit the Comforter in its immediate apostolic setting, Paul's epistles give the Body of Christ abundant doctrine concerning Spirit-produced hope.
A. PEACE through Believing
📖 Romans 15:13
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…”
Our peace is grounded in truth believed.
B. PERSPECTIVE through Prayer
📖 Philippians 4:6–7
Paul does not promise every problem will immediately disappear.
He teaches that God's peace can guard our hearts and minds.
C. PROMISE of Hope
📖 Romans 15:13
“…that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
The believer can possess hope even in suffering because our ultimate destiny is secure in Christ.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
BIBLICAL COMFORT IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF TROUBLE—IT IS GOD'S TRUTH GIVING PEACE IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE.
1️⃣2️⃣ ASSURES — THE SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS TO OUR POSITION IN CHRIST
📖 Romans 8:15–17; Ephesians 1:13–14
A. RELATIONSHIP Is Confirmed
📖 Romans 8:16
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
Our assurance is not based on today's emotions.
B. REDEMPTION Is Guaranteed
📖 Ephesians 1:14
The Spirit is:
“…the earnest of our inheritance…”
“Earnest” carries the idea of a guarantee or pledge.
C. RETURN Is Anticipated
📖 Romans 8:23
We wait for:
“…the redemption of our body.”
Compare Philippians 3:20–21 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17.
The indwelling Spirit points us toward our completed redemption.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
WE ARE NOT WAITING TO FIND OUT WHETHER CHRIST WILL KEEP US—WE ARE SEALED WHILE WAITING FOR THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY.
📣 CALL TO ACTION — THREE R's
1️⃣ RECEIVE THE GOSPEL BY FAITH
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.
📖 Ephesians 2:8–9
Salvation is:
BY GRACE
THROUGH FAITH
WITHOUT WORKS.
Do not trust water baptism, church membership, law-keeping, sacraments, or personal goodness to save you.
Trust Christ's finished work.
2️⃣ RECKON YOUR POSITION IN CHRIST
📖 Romans 6:11
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Stop living as though you must earn what God has already freely given you in Christ.
Know your identity.
Know your standing.
Know your spiritual blessings.
📖 Ephesians 1:3
3️⃣ RESPOND BY WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
📖 Galatians 5:25
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Grace is not permission to live carelessly.
Grace gives us the foundation for godly living.
📖 Romans 12:1–2
Present yourself to God because of His mercies—not to earn salvation, but because you already belong to Christ.
🏁 CONCLUSION — THE SPIRIT'S WORK IS GREATER THAN AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Holy Spirit's ministry cannot be reduced to shouting, falling, trembling, speaking in tongues, or chasing supernatural experiences.
According to Paul's doctrine, look at what the Spirit actually does:
He gives spiritual life.
He places us into Christ's Body.
He indwells us.
He seals us.
He illuminates truth.
He leads our walk.
He strengthens our inner man.
He helps our infirmities.
He produces spiritual fruit.
He fills us with hope.
He bears witness concerning our relationship with God.
The question is therefore not merely:
“DID I FEEL THE SPIRIT?”
A better question is:
“AM I BELIEVING THE WORD THE SPIRIT INSPIRED AND ALLOWING SOUND DOCTRINE TO WORK IN MY LIFE?”
📖 1 Thessalonians 2:13
💡 FINAL THOUGHTS — 12 WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1️⃣ CONVICTS — directs the sinner toward the truth of Christ.
📖 John 16:8–11
2️⃣ CONVERTS — gives regeneration and renewal.
📖 Titus 3:5
3️⃣ BAPTIZES — places the believer into the Body.
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13
4️⃣ INDWELLS — resides within every saved believer.
📖 Romans 8:9
5️⃣ SEALS — secures us unto the day of redemption.
📖 Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:30
6️⃣ TEACHES — gives spiritual understanding through His Word.
📖 1 Corinthians 2:10–14
7️⃣ GUIDES — leads us in a Spirit-controlled walk.
📖 Romans 8:14
8️⃣ STRENGTHENS — empowers the inner man.
📖 Ephesians 3:16
9️⃣ INTERCEDES — helps our infirmities in prayer.
📖 Romans 8:26
🔟 PRODUCES — develops spiritual fruit.
📖 Galatians 5:22–23
1️⃣1️⃣ COMFORTS — fills believers with hope and peace through truth.
📖 Romans 15:13
1️⃣2️⃣ ASSURES — bears witness and guarantees our inheritance.
📖 Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:14
🔥 THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT COME AND GO ACCORDING TO YOUR FEELINGS.
**HE INDWELLS YOU.
HE BAPTIZES YOU INTO THE BODY.
HE SEALS YOU.
HE STRENGTHENS YOU.
HE WORKS THROUGH THE WORD IN YOU.**
And the foundation is:
NOT HUMAN WORKS—BUT CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK.
NOT RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCE—BUT GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
NOT CHASING SIGNS—BUT WALKING BY FAITH IN SOUND DOCTRINE.
📖 Ephesians 1:13 KJV
“…after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
⚔️✝️✠ Lady Dinah Scivoletti ✠✝️📖⚔️
⚔️✝️✠ Turco, Joan of Arc Priory ✠✝️📖⚔️
⚔️✝️✠✠Act and God will Act (Actus et Deus Act)✠✠✝️📖⚔️
