The Wonderful Holy Spirit

Lately I've been getting to know the Holy Spirit better through His work in my life.  I have always known something about Him since becoming a Christian and experiencing a big life change when I first accepted Christ.  But I am learning so many new things about this sometimes ignored third Person of the Trinity.  The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Grace and the New Covenant of grace is called the Ministry of the Spirit (2 Co. 3:7-9).  There are so many ways He ministers the love and grace of God to us in this New Covenant.  Here are a few He has shown me:

He enters us at salvation, regenerates us (Tit. 3:5) and makes us new creations; we are washed, sanctified, and justified by the Spirit in Christ's name (1 Co.6:11).

The Spirit is Life within us!  He now sustains us in spiritual life, since He has joined Himself to our spirit forever; we now "live by the Spirit"  (Gal. 5:25).

He pours out the love of God in our hearts, ministers the love of God to us and He IS that love in us and through us (Rom. 5:5).

He is God's Life in us He and keeps us by the law of the Spirit, for because He is in us we're set free from the law of sin and death and are fully and eternally alive in Christ, kept forever by Him (Rom 8:2).  

He assures us of our salvation and encourages us that we are God's own, sealing us for the day of our bodily redemption; He is God's guarantee that we'll receive that promised inheritance (Eph. 1:13-4)!

He convinces us of our righteousness before God and assures us that we are His children by crying "Abba, Father" from within us (Rom. 8:15-6).

He shows us the things freely given us by God through the finished work of Christ, such as acceptance, righteousness, sanctification, fellowship, spiritual gifts, union, and Life (1 Co. 2:12).

He testifies of Christ and guides us into all truth (John 14:26), whether about salvation, grace, God's character, Christ's work, the truth about our identity in Christ, or a refutation of any lie Satan tries to feed us.

He has joined Himself to our spirit and in that secret place we are in perfect union and fellowship with God Himself by His Spirit being one with ours (1 Co. 6:17)!

He indwells us (1 Co. 3:16), fills us (Eph. 5:18) and manifests His presence in us, staying with us always and living in us as our constant companion and Friend (John 14:16-7).

He comforts and consoles us, always there to aid and encourage us and spur us on, alleviating our grief and giving us hope to face tomorrow (Acts 9:13)!

He leads us and gives us godly desires and motivations, even teaching us what to say in various situations (Rom. 8:14).

He fights evil thoughts and fears that may come, rising up within us to remind us of truth and bring us back to peacefulness, for He is love, power and a sound mind within us (2 Tim. 1:7)!

He intercedes for us, which is so comforting because so often we don't know what or how to pray (Rom. 8:26).

He animates our actions, flowing through and bearing fruit in our lives (Gal. 5:22-3); we are victorious over sin by His power (Rom. 8:2).

He empowers us, for He is the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, and He lives in us with that same resurrection power (Rom. 8:10-11)!

He gives us gifts to encourage other believers and minister to people, and He flows out of us as a river of living water for others to drink (1 Co. 12:7, John 7:37-9).

Wow, there are so many wonderful things the Holy Spirit has done and is doing!  He is the minister of the New Covenant, where Christ actually lives in and through us by the Holy Spirit - He lives His life in us and that Life rises up and overflows in and through us.  I'm really enjoying learning about the beautiful Holy Spirit who has ministered God's grace and love to us in so many ways!

                 With love to all,
May the amazing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, and the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. 2 Co. 13:14