The Role of the Holy Spirit Within
We saw how the Holy Spirit came to dwell in us. Let's look now at what He is going to do in us.
The Holy Spirit Within Results in the Fruit of the Recreated Spirit
It is significant to notice in the Scriptures that there are two groups of nine in connection with
the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer:
1. The nine fruit of the Spirit, which are a result of the Holy Spirit's indwelling Presence.
2. The nine gifts of the Spirit, which are a result of the Holy Spirit's infilling power.
We will discuss the nine gifts of the Spirit in the baptism or the infilling of the Holy Spirit in
Chapter 5. But let's look first of all at the nine-fold manifestation of the fruit of the born-again
human spirit that is a result of the Holy Spirit's indwelling Presence. Paul lists them in
Galatians 5.
GALATIANS 5:22,23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG-SUFFERING, GENTLENESS,
GOODNESS, FAITH,
23 MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: against such there is no law.
In John 15:5, Jesus told the disciples, "I am the vine, ye are the branches. ..." Now where does
the fruit grow? It grows out on the branches!
This fruit, then, that Paul is talking about in Galatians 5 is the fruit of the recreated, born-again
human spirit, growing within the believer's life as a result of the life of the Holy Spirit within.
We see a biblical example of the fruit of the born-again human spirit in Luke 24:51-53 before
the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit.
LUKE 24:51-53
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up
into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem WITH GREAT JOY:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
According to Galatians 5:22, joy is a fruit of the born-again, recreated human spirit. We see in
this passage in Luke 24 that the disciples had great joy, but they were not yet filled with the
Holy Spirit. Therefore, the fruit of the spirit could not be a result of the baptism in the Holy
Spirit, for the Day of Pentecost had not yet come.
This scripture shows that the disciples already had one of the fruit of the spirit, joy, before they
were endued with power from on High. In fact, they had great fruit because the Bible says they
had great joy (v. 52)!
As we yield to God and obey His Word, the life of the Holy Spirit within us causes us to grow
continually in love, joy, and peace, as well as the other fruit of the spirit. So we can see that
one of the main purposes of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer
is for fruit-bearing.
The Holy Spirit Within: Our Helper and Comforter
We notice in The Amplified version of John 14:16-18 that the Holy Spirit is a Comforter, a
Counselor, a Helper, an Intercessor, an Advocate, a Strengthener, and a Standby.
JOHN 14:16-18 (Amplified)
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another COMFORTER (COUNSELOR,
HELPER, INTERCESSOR, ADVOCATE, STRENGTHENER and STANDBY) that He may
remain with you forever,
17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart),
because it does not see Him, nor know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize
Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans — comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless — I
will come [back] to you.
Notice Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be a Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor,
Advocate, Strengthener, and a Standby.
We don't need anything more than that. Many
believers have missed the reality of what the Holy Spirit came to do in us on a continual basis.
Too often when some people need help, they just run around frantically — almost in a frenzy
— just trying to find someone to pray for them. They cry first on one person's shoulder and
then on another's, shed a few "crocodile" tears, and quote a few scriptures.
But when they are
alone, they are in just about the same mess they were in, to begin with. They forget that on the
inside of them, they have a Helper. They don't have to pray for a Helper: they already have the
Helper in them.
Jesus said in John 16:7 that the Holy Spirit would be our Comforter. Jesus also said, ". . . It is
expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but
if I depart, I will send him to you" (John 16:7).
FFT: The Holy Spirit is your COMFORTER (COUNSELOR, HELPER, INTERCESSOR, ADVOCATE, STRENGTHENER and STANDBY)
ACTION POINT: Live with the consciousness of his ever-present presence.
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