Step Eight: The Work of the Holy Spirit

            An important person in your spiritual rebirth and future maturity is the Holy Spirit. This person, work and ministry of the Holy Spirit are very significant.

            Now, it is the Holy Spirit that prompted your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal savior (John 3:5-6). The Holy Spirit begins the salvation process by convicting the unbeliever of their sin and separation from a holy God. Upon receiving Christ as savior, the Holy Spirit places the believer into the Body of Christ and seals them there in the certain hope of eternal life (Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13). With this sealing of the believer there comes the filling and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17).

            With the filling of the believer by the Spirit, the believer now has the privilege of being guided by the Spirit. With this guidance by the Holy Spirit will come His teaching of every believer (John 14:26; 16:13). And, with His presence will come His progressive sanctifying work (Romans 8:13; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 5:16-17).

            As a sanctified believer the Holy Spirit provides gifts to the believer that will equip other believers for effective service (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

            And, very importantly, the Holy Spirit assists in the success of the believer’s prayer life. As our prayer life remains strong, our reading of the Holy Bible remains active, as we consistently fellowship with other believers, as we keep our sins confessed to God,  and as we seek to be obedient believers, then the Holy Spirit will add His enabling power to our efforts in overcoming evil. Thus, we are empowered to do the kind of good works that will glorify God (Romans 8:26-28).