The True Purpose of the Holy Spirit

If I asked you what you thought the purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit was, what would you say? To give gifts to believers, to grant power to the Christian, to speak in tongues? All are true - but are consequences of the Holy Spirit, not the purpose.

A careful literal reading of Acts 2:8 gives us insight:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..."

The purpose of the Spirit coming in power upon the believer is very simple: to be a witness for Jesus Christ. It is to reach the unsaved with the knowledge of the gospel.

We see it acted out immediately. Yes, the disciples had tongues of fire resting on them and spoke in other tongues - but what did they speak? Acts 2:3 "And divided tongues of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak on other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance ... we hear them telling in our own languages the mighty works of God."

Follow that with Peter when he began speaking - formerly an uneducated and somewhat clumsy fisherman to a powerful orator for the gospel. The result? :41 "So those who received his word ... were added that day about three thousand souls."

The Spirit comes to the believer to aid the believer in sharing the gospel. The gifts come to the Christian in order to help the Christian bring others into the kingdom. Period.

The Spirit is not for us. He didn't come for us to have a "Spirit Pool Party" where we all jump in the pool excited about showing off the gifts to each other ("Hey guys, watch this cannonball!"). He didn't come to show off in any way, nor to benefit the believer (though that happens).

We don't own the Spirit, He owns us, and His purpose is to use us and the power in us to bring others to Christ.

It's time we refocused.

Pastor Tom