Before returning to the Father in heaven, Jesus said He would ask the Father to give the Holy Spirit to those who keep His commandments, (John 14:16).
The Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father to comfort, encourage, counsel and strengthen believers. Throughout Biblical history, the Holy Spirit gave life, power, and help.
When God formed man from the dust of the ground, the breath of life was the generative action of the Holy Spirit. Without the breath of life, Adam would have remained a lifeless form in the dust. When the breath of life was breathed into his nostrils, man became a living soul. As a result, man arose from the dust of the ground and enjoyed fellowship with the Father.
The Holy Spirit has always had a transformative impact on individuals throughout Biblical history.
It was the Spirit of God that gave authority, power and words of prophesy to God’s servants the prophets.
2 Peter 1:21 NKJV For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Miraculous works of power were historically given by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that every mighty person of God was influenced by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus had specific plans for all believers to bring them into the presence, power and function of the Holy Spirit.
Listen to what Jesus said about this.
John 14:12-14 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
When we read this, we immediately see that believers should have a higher expectation for greater works in their lives. Jesus was speaking to every believer about our being like Him in every way.
Have you considered what it means to do “greater works” than what Jesus did?
What exactly does that look like?
Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience, complete holiness and righteousness before God the Father. In John 9:4 Jesus said: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me…” He was always doing the will of the Father in all things. His every thought and action was pleasing to the Father.
Think for a moment about Jesus’ life and works.
Jesus did all kinds of miracles and healings. He healed the blind, lame, deaf, and terminally ill. Jesus was perfectly led by the Holy Spirit into a full and fulfilled ministry and life. The Biblical text tells us that Jesus did all of these miracles, healings, and great works in the power of the Holy Spirit. God the Father gave the Holy Spirit to Jesus without limit or measure, (John 3:34). As a result of the Father’s gift, all things were given into Jesus’ hands and He perfectly represented the Father.
Did Jesus really mean that we would do “Greater works than these… because I go to My Father?”
The significance of this is huge. Jesus has great expectations for believers.
Throughout John 14, Jesus spoke about a specific kind of DOING.
- Jesus said, “DO what I did.”
- Then He said, “DO greater things than I did.”
- Then He said, “DO My commandments.”
The Lord expects believers to be DOING these things.
Here is the problem.
How can we do these things?
It is humanly impossible for us to accomplish this monumental task without supernatural power and ability. So, the Lord promised to not leave us without the ability to do what He was commanding.
Where can we get the ability to do what He is commanding us to do?
John 14:16 NKJV And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
The fulfillment of this is found in Acts 1.
Acts 1:8 (AMP) But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
The Holy Spirit is given to believers to make us more like Jesus.
This word “power” is the ability to perform a function. When the text says, “You shall be My witnesses…” it is saying the Holy Spirit will comfort, advise, equip and strengthen believers to be more like Jesus. This power from the Holy Spirit equips us to do what Jesus said we would do. As a result, the fruit and gifts of the Spirit are given to conform us into the image of Christ and build us up in this holy faith. The Holy Spirit is not an end or goal but a means to bring believers to Christ.
This is the answer for believers “DOING” what Jesus said they should do.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we are being given the ability, efficiency, and might to do what Jesus did. When the Holy Spirit works in believers, we are brought into a new quality of doing that has the attributes of the Spirit of life. So when we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive power, enabling and equipping to be Christ’s witnesses. We are not left alone to our own strength, ability and efficiency to work the works of God. The Holy Spirit gives this ability to “be Christ’s witnesses,” regardless of our previous position, education, skill or resources. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, He gives the virtue, skill, resources, and authorization to “be witnesses of Christ.” This new kind of being brings a new quality of life.
2 Corinthians 3:7-8 NKJV But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
Do you remember the glory that was on the face of Moses? Moses was transformed in the presence of God.
We should consider and note the personal changes that occur when the Holy Spirit dwells and works within us.
When the Holy Spirit is within us, His presence and activity produces evidences that are glorious. The word glorious means remarkable results that bring praise, honor, and glory to God. The entrance, presence, and function of the Holy Spirit in believers produces dramatic changes in us.
The Spirit gives life.
Holy Spirit filled believer’s nature, character and actions take on the nature, character and action of the Holy Spirit. When believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and walk by the Holy Spirit, their lives become a living testimony of Christ. The impact of the Holy Spirit in believers is so dramatic that He overwhelms and overcomes personal deficits.
The Spirit of life produces the attributes of life.
As a result, the entrance of the Holy Spirit into believers gives birth to everything that is necessary for the continuation of Christ’s ministry on earth. Believers are empowered and equipped under the influence of the Holy Spirit to do the same kinds of work and ministry that Jesus did. The result is a witness of Christ Jesus to the whole world.
Romans 8:12-13 NLT Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
The word “obligation” means a course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound. It is the condition of being so bound that it is the only course of action that is possible.
We have been released from the obligation to do what our sinful nature urges us to do. We have been given victory over the obligation to live according to our old history and actions.
Now we have an obligation to do what the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do. God has given us the Holy Spirit to facilitate God’s will on earth.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Consider again what Jesus demonstrated through His words, authority, and works.
- His words, miracles, healings, and works revealed the Father.
- He offered real help to sinners and to the sick and diseased.
- He boldly and fearlessly faced storms and tempests.
- He confronted and vanquished demons and wickedness.
- Jesus was never intimidated or unable to face and conquer anything that He came against.
With that in mind consider these words again.
John 14:12-14NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus’ promise prepared the way for the Holy Spirit to work in every believer.
- The same Spirit that anointed and equipped Christ is being sent to every believer.
- The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead gives life to believers.
- The same Holy Spirit equips and gives such power that believers are enabled to do the same kinds of works that Jesus did.
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God is able to transform believers into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:11 NKJV But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The living Holy Spirit produces a certain quality and quantity of life in you.
He causes us to do works of righteousness.
- He produces works of power.
- He builds us up and establishes us in Christ.
- He activates and presents real new life in us.
- He does the same work through us that He did through Christ.
- He produces the same fruit out of us.
- He causes the same character to be evidenced in us.
- The Holy Spirit quickens and make us alive.
We should anticipate this help in every area of our life as a believer.
Even when we are weak and do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us and makes intercession for us, (Romans 8:26). Since the Holy Spirit is intimately involved in our lives, we are assured “All things work together for good to those who love God,” (Romans 8:27-28).
Why does this happen?
Why has God given us the Holy Spirit?
Romans 8:29-30 NKJV For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
The purpose behind this work of the Holy Spirit is to both bring us to Jesus Christ and to conform us into His image.
Consider God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is actively working to bring us to Jesus Christ and to conform us into His glorified image.
- Consider that in eternity past, God planned to bring us into the body of Christ as a holy people.
- Consider that during our lifetime, God’s only purpose for us is to do us good and to justify, sanctify, and make us like Christ.
- Consider that throughout the distant future, God plans to glorify us and give us a resurrected body that is like Christ’s resurrected and glorified body.
If God’s purposes have been for good and to cause us to be like Christ, then even when difficulties and tribulations come, God is working for our good.
- God has the power to turn everything around for our good.
- Do you recognize the Holy Spirit’s influence in your life to draw you near to Christ?
- Do you recognize His influence to purify and cleanse you by the precious blood of Christ?
- Do you sense and know the influence of the Holy Spirit to bring you into the most holy place where you may delight yourself in God’s holy presence?
- Do you recognize the urge, impulse, and influence of the Holy Spirit within for you to spend time with God?
The Holy Spirit is active right now in your life influencing, shaping, molding and making.
It is God’s plan to give you the Holy Spirit.
In power, the influence of the Holy Spirit is drawing us to God.
Carefully listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying and deliberately watch what He is doing. God is working in you right now to form you into the image of Christ. He is preparing you for the eternal joys that are to come. He is shaping you for His glory.
Will you surrender, yield and submit to the Holy Spirit?
He has been given to everyone who will believe and receive. Right now God is prepared to activate the Holy Spirit’s power and ministry in your life.
