But what about…??

Review The Holy Spirit is the power and presence of God The Holy Spirit gives us new hearts and new life by uniting us to Christ The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and leads us to repent The Holy Spirit strengthens our inner being and points us toward Christ The Holy Spirit assures us of our salvation

The purpose of the spirit The Spirit will unite believes to Christ so that Christ is with them forever: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, ever the Spirit of truth…you know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:16-18

The purpose of the spirit The Spirit will convict the world of sin: “I will send [the Helper] to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:7-8 And the Spirit will point people toward Christ and the glory of Christ: “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth…he will bear witness about me.” John 15:26

But what about…?? The miracles and speaking in tongues that the apostles and others do in the New Testament? Some things that the Holy Spirit did in the early church to demonstrate the truth of the gospel and to bring God’s word to His people when they didn’t have the Bible that the Holy Spirit no longer does, because it is not necessary.

But what about…?? “The household of God [is] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” Ephesians 2:20

So, what is happening then? Note that much of the speaking in tongues and healings that happen today are not at all what the New Testament describes, and often contradict the Bible’s teaching on tongues, etc. The power of expectation and learned habit And of course, sometimes God does work…but we shouldn’t expect it, and it is often not what is happening.

The main point Sometimes God shows up as fire and thunder, but most often, the Holy Spirit works, not in dramatic miracles, but in the quiet, slow, steady watering and growth of His people day after day, year after year, as they hear His word, are convicted of sin, stand firm through doubts and difficulties, and are made slowly but surely more and more into his likeness.