Another aspect of his work is testifying for Christ (John 15:26) and convincing and convicting unbelievers and believers (John 16:8–11). The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin because they refuse to believe in Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 2:27). The Holy Spirit also convinces the world of righteousness (of Jesus Christ) because Jesus Christ goes to his Father. The Holy Spirit convinces the world of judgment. Each one of us will have to stand before God in judgment. His work is also to convince the world that the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged. The reason for this is that the coming of Jesus ushered in the kingdom of God.^[1] The resurrection and ascension of Jesus confirmed his righteousness.

In the Gospel of John, we come to a greater understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’” (John 20:22–23).

The Holy Spirit is called Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). He is also called “teacher” (14:26). This has important implications. We can’t know the truth part from the Spirit. Hence, in evangelism and preaching we should always pray to the Holy Spirit. Apart from the Holy Spirit, the unaided mind can only know partial truth. We may guess and grope what truth is but with the Holy Spirit we get the complete truth and not partial truth. Hence, we must not only limit to theological truths in the Bible because all truth is God’s truth. He speaks to us what he hears from God (John 16:13–14). He brings to remembrance the teaching of Christ (14:26).

Living water is equated with the Holy Spirit (John 7:37–38). The Holy Spirit is a gift from God (14:15). Jesus had to leave his disciples in order for the Holy Spirit to come. Jesus had to go away in order to be ever present with us in the Sprit. The coming of the Holy Spirit is not to supply the absence of the Son but to complete his presence.^[2] He is the abiding presence of Jesus Christ (16:7). He is to abide in us forever (14:16). Jesus is not a memory but a presence. The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ (John 15:26).

 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” (Luke 24:49).

In the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit comes alive and plays a major and prominent role in the life of the life of the disciples. Here is where we see his presence, prominence, and power come into effect.^[3] That is why the book of Acts traditionally known as the “The Acts of the Apostles” is retitled by scholars as “The Acts of the Holy Spirit” because “the chief actor in the historic narrative of the Christian church is the Holy Spirit. He is the director of the whole enterprise.”^[4] The Holy Spirit gave birth to the church.

The first two chapters of Acts inform us of the preparation and the actual coming of the Holy Spirit. In the first chapter of Acts, Jesus promised the disciples would be baptised with the Spirit (Acts 1:5) and receive power (Gk. dunamis, explosive and dynamic; Acts 1:8). They waited with prayer and supplication and with one accord (Acts 1:14) in the upper room (Acts 1:13), and after ten days, on the day of Pentecost (cf. Lev. 23:15–16) (or Feast of Weeks cf. Exod. 24:22; Deut. 16:9–10; most probably in the month of June) the Holy Spirit came (Acts 2) accompanied by “tongues of fire” and they were “filled with the Holy Spirit” and “spoke in other languages.”

On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability (Acts 1:1–4). That day became the turning point in the lives of the disciples.

Peter the coward who denied Jesus three times (Matt. 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22: 54–62; John 18:15, 18, 25–27) became Peter the courageous. He began to preach with boldness and power that led to the repentance of three thousand people (Acts 2:41). It is safe to assume that the other disciples who had fled and forsook Jesus before his crucifixion (Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:50) were also transformed as a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

They gained a new message (Gk. kerygma) (see Acts 2:16–21, 25–28; 34) as a result of new insights, new meaning, and new significance given by the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:26) which they had never seen before. Certain Old Testament verses were given a Christolelic focus (cf. Luke 24; Acts 8:32–35). Moreover, they found new power to communicate the message. In a nutshell,

The Spirit gave them a courage which wiped out the last remains of fear; the Spirit gave them a message which had the quintessential truth in it; the Spirit illuminated Scripture for them, until all Scripture spoke of Jesus Christ. The Spirit opened for them a door of utterance, and gave them power to communicate that which they had received.^[5]

The life of the early Church was guided and directed by the Holy Spirit. One important criterion for being “waiters” is being full of the Spirit and wisdom (6:3). Just as Philip (8:29), Peter (10:19; 11:12).

The Holy Spirit played a great role in the life and activity of Paul. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit (9:17). The Holy Spirit redirected Paul to Europe instead of Asia and Bithynia (16:6–7). It was the Spirit who told him in advance that he would suffer and be imprisoned in Jerusalem (20:23; 21:24). Hence, it is not surprising that Paul exhorts us to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led.

The Holy Spirit was connected to prayer (4:31; 8:15), preaching (10:44; 11:15, 21), fasting (13:2), laying on of hands (8:15–18; 9:17; 19:6). In the early church, the work of the Holy Spirit resulted in a “sense of awe” (2:43a; 5:11a; 19:17) signs and wonders (2:43b; 5:12), community giving and sharing (4:32–37), and spreading of God’s Word (5:42; 6:7).

One thing is clear about the early church as a result of our investigation. The early church was very conscious of the person, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. All issues debated or discussed and decisions needed to be made were finally submitted to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and subject to his approval.

Paul uses the full term Holy Spirit about 17 times. He calls the Holy Spirit “the Spirit of God,” “his Spirit” (16 times), and “the Spirit of Christ” (3 times). To possess the Spirit is to possess Jesus Christ: “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17).

The question arises, how can we have or who can give us an inner assurance that what we believe is true? Again, we are told that it will be the work of the Holy Spirit as shown in the epistles.

Paul had some great things to say about the Holy Spirit. It is not surprising because earlier on I mentioned the pivotal role the Holy Spirit played in the life and ministry of Paul. His epistles further elaborate about the role and work of the Holy Spirit.

He recognised his need for the help of the Holy Spirit (Phil. 1:19).

When a person becomes a believer, he is sealed by God (Gk. sphragizein). The Christian is sealed until the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). The Holy Spirit is given as the arrabon (down payment of a promise price or fee, first instalment to be followed by final instalment, 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13–14). Sealing was a common ancient practice used to guarantee safety and security, and was a sign of ownership. “The Holy Spirit is God’s protection on a man. The possession of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the reality of a man’s faith.”^[6]

Paul explains the relationship between humans with God through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells believers (Rom. 8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 3:16–17), gives assurance of salvation (Rom. 8:16; Gal. 4:6), righteousness, peace, and joy (Rom. 14:7), hope (Rom. 15:13; Gal. 5:5), liberty (2 Cor. 3:17), strength (Eph. 3:16), power (Rom. 15:13, 19; 1 Cor. 2:4; 1 Thess. 1:5).

Through the Holy Spirit we experience God’s love (Rom. 5:5), have access (Gk. prosagoge [verb]; prosagogeus [noun], introducer) to God (Eph. 2:18), are adopted in the family of God (Rom. 8:14–16), sanctified (1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Thess. 2:13; cf. 1 Pet. 1:2), and have our conscience sensitized (Rom. 9:1).

With the Holy Spirit we experience the fellowship of the Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14), unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3–4), worship of God (Phil. 3:3),^[7] regeneration and renewal (Titus 3:5).