The Holy Spirit and His Works part 2

**Fenny West** Sun 01 Jun 2008, 12:02 am

See Part 1
We are looking at the work of the Holy Spirit a CONTINUATION FROM PART1

He raises the dead

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that the dead can be raised. Jesus raised Lazarus by the power of the Spirit (John 11:39-43), even as He too was later raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit. Dorcas was raised – not by Peter’s power but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. (Acts9:40-42)

This was what happened when Ezekiel prophesied to the valley of dry bones. It was the Holy Spirit that brought the dry bones together- one bone to its own bone, then flesh then the spirit and before we know it there was a mighty army to the glory of God.

In the same way God will breathe a new life into your dead bones, dead ministry or hopeless situation. Just call upon Him today, believing that all things are possible to the Almighty God.. He can do exceeding abundantly far beyond your wildest dreams.

Sets us apart

The Holy Spirit sets us apart as vessels to fit to be used by God. He cleanses us, motivates us, cause us to deny ourselves, go into fasting and live holy for Him. This is the sanctifying work of the Spirit. As we allow Him He will take us from one degree of holiness to another such that even our presence can convict people of sin.

He enables us to witness or preach with power and conviction

The disciples who hid behind closed doors after Jesus was crucified, afraid that it would be their turn next, became fired up after the Day of Pentecost after they had received the Holy Spirit. Could you imagine the transformation in Peter as he preached a powerful sermon on that day? This was a man who denied the Lord three times?

Without a doubt we see the confirmation of :
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."Acts 1:8

We can see the power in this preaching as about 3000 people gave their lives to Christ.

41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.(Acts2:41, 47)

He Brings Boldness

Consider their boldness –unashamedly coming out in the open after receiving the Holy Spirit and Peter boldly declaring the Gospel with out any reservation, accusing them of killing Jesus, yet by the wisdom of God admitting that it was a predetermined plan of God that Jesus should die to bring new life to all who believed.

Later we see the disciples arrested, imprisoned and through the intervention of an angel, released and told to go and preach again and they obeyed. Also on another occasion after being released and warned not to preach in the name of Jesus they boldly refused and prayed a powerful prayer and the house they were in was shaken to its core. Those who were persecuting them saw their boldness testified that although they were unschooled they had been with Jesus.

This is what the Holy Spirit brings – boldness, supernatural confidence – not in ourselves, but in Him.

And what shall we say about the faith, fortitude and boldness of Stephen, the first disciple to be martyred? He preached ferociously and fearlessly until he was stoned to death. I wonder how many of us will maintain our testimony in the face of such onslaught of the powers of darkness. It was through the power of the Spirit that he was able to pray for those who were stoning him; ‘Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.’

Paul and Silas sang in prison even though their hands and feet were in stock and other prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:28-32)

That is boldness and the power of the Spirit at work. And when their tormentors wanted to release them secretly they refused to leave.
37But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

Paul also later testified boldly powerfully when he was taken to King Agrippa (Acts 25) by the power of the Spirit.

He helps us in our praying and Prays through us

It is good to pray, but it is a different matter when the Holy Spirit inspires and engineers our prayers. And when we are full of the Holy Spirit and let Him guide our paying and prayer through us, we will enter a new realm and pray according to the perfect will of God. We will be carried as it were on an eagle’s wings and ride on the crest of the wind. He will take us to places we hardly imagined, show us things as they are in the spirit realm and fill our mouths as we open it to pray the mind of the Father. He will pray through us.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Rom8:26-27)

As you acknowledge Him today, He will pray through and with you. Your prayer life will never be the same again.