The Ministry Of The Holy Ghost

In the passages below, John describes in detail the ministry of the Holy Ghost in this world.

John 16:7-15

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

As we can see from the scripture, the Holy Ghost will reprove the world. This word reprove is best defined as; to convict (to be declared guilty of sin) expose or tell one’s faults, admonish, to correct by word, to rebuke, or to confute, (to prove a person, thing or way, to be wrong); or convince.

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Herein is the power of the Holy Ghost revealed on earth. He came to bear witness of the truth that He has both seen and heard of the Father. It is the anointing or unction that speaks directly to the conscience of the saved or unsaved. You must understand that when truth is spoken, the Holy Spirit is moving to bear witness of that truth in the conscience of the hearer.

Therefore, the hearer is not left in a vacuum of ambiguity, not knowing whether what he or she is hearing is indeed the word of God. It is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to make known the voice of God. When he or she rejects that truth, they make themselves unbelievers. They also, in turn, reject Christ. Thus, they are also left without excuse.

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

In this verse the word reprove renders the meaning ‘to convince.’ We are convinced of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, because he left that righteousness in our hearts. Furthermore, he testified of being the son of God, having come to the earth from the heavens. John and the other disciples were convinced of this truth when they witnessed his ascension back to the Father.

The Spirit of the Word first convinced us of the guilt of sin, and then through redemption, convinced us of the righteousness that can only be found in Christ Jesus.

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Satan is judged. His power over all flesh is broken, and his dominion over all men is destroyed. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Redemption. Those who believe in Jesus, and accept him as Lord, are set free from the power of satan.

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The Holy Ghost will guide us into all truth; which simply means he will teach and lead us into the heart and mind of the Father.

To teach…is to define the nature of our salvation to us.

The teachings of the Holy Ghost:

1. To renew the mind.

Romans 7:25.I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; …

1. To make us perfect.

Matthew 5:48

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1. To confirm Christ in us.

1 John 4:17

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1. To manifest the new creature.

Galatians 5:24

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

These are just some of the things the Holy Ghost teaches, or guides us into. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Finally, the purpose for these teachings:

2 Peter 1:3-4

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

andhe will shew you things to come.

At first sight we think in terms of the Holy Ghost showing us things to come as it relates to Bible Prophecy. This is true. However, it is not the only truth in this matter.

We must remember these are the words of our Christ, while here on earth with his apostles. The Holy Spirit had not been given. Thus the church had not yet been established. It was during this time, Jesus made mention of the fact that he would build his church upon the revelation God gave to Peter; “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

But what would this church look like? What would be its government, its character and purpose? These questions would be answered after Jesus’ departure.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Everything that defines God and Christ is in the Holy Ghost. He is the Spirit of God. At salvation, the believer’s being is placed in the Holy Ghost. It is then that we have access to all that Christ is. Access is really not a good word to use here. After receiving the Holy Ghost, we become all that Christ is.

To actually walk in this state of oneness with Christ, is to be all that he is in the sight of men. This brings glory to his name.

These were also the things to come:

• The Holy Ghost would lead the apostles into establishing the early church, setting the order and defining its purpose, gifts, and character.

• They would travel throughout the world setting up churches and establishing the kingdom of God, its government, and its functions on the earth.

• The power of the preaching of the gospel.
• The sons of God were to come to know its power to change the lives of all who believed.

This is the power of following the lead of the Spirit. The gospel will be preached and the lost will be saved. The sons of God will mature and the kingdom of God will flourish in the earth. If we are careful not to let any of these things slip, we will always do the will of God.