WHAT DOES THE SPIRIT DO?

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is guiding the church and each of its members. He makes His will known through checking our movement, giving visions and dreams, interpretations, words of revelation or instruction or prophecy or tongues. Sometimes, the leaders sense what seems good to the Holy Spirit and to them, and they make a decision accordingly.

He also works wonders in our midst, at least on occasion. Jesus left the wilderness in the “power” of the Spirit. The Spirit interprets our prayers according to the Father’s will. The power of the Lord Jesus is (or at least can be, depending on how you read it) among us when we gather.

Jesus said that his disciples need not worry in advance about what to say when they are brought before the authorities, for it would be given to them at the right time just what to say. That advice may or may not be for us today (God is not necessarily dishonored by planning in advance!), but we can see His words fulfilled when Stephen stood before the council in Acts 6:15.

What does the Spirit say? When we are discerning spirits, we can know from Scripture that the Holy Spirit says certain things: Jesus is Lord. Jesus has come in the flesh. Baptized followers of Jesus are God’s children.

There are many spirits. All but one of them is a false spirit, and many of them can disguise themselves as angels of light. So we must always be discerning.

You must have Jesus to have the Spirit. Got Jesus?