KNOW THE SPIRIT—NO SPIRIT, NO MISSIONS (PART 1)

At Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and gave birth to the Early Church. God the Father had conceived and planned our salvation. The Son came to purchase our redemption. And the Holy Spirit empowers the church for kingdom mission into all the world.

The Apostle Paul said, “No one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says, ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor. 12:3) This highlights the importance of the Spirit in salvation. The natural man is rebellious, unable to recognize or submit to the lordship of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:4) Only through the work of the Holy Spirit can hearts turn from rejection to devotion.

Without the Spirit, there would be no believers, no missionaries, and no missions. No one would move from the dominion of darkness to the kingdom of Christ apart from the Spirit’s work. Missions depends entirely on the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, without whom there could be no world evangelization.

This is both humbling and empowering. It is humbling because we cannot save ourselves, nor can we save others. But it is empowering because no matter how weak we are before the powers of darkness, the supernatural principalities, and the authorities of the world, the Holy Spirit is sovereign and will bring whomever He pleases to salvation. He has been at work for 2,000 years and will continue until the mission is complete.

The important question for us is: Do we know the Holy Spirit and His mission in the world? Have we experienced Him? And how do we do that?

The Person of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not a force. He is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, distinct and co-equal with the Father and the Son. They worked together in creation and revelation. The Holy Spirit was in Christ’s incarnation and earthly ministry. He is intimately involved with our salvation, empowerment, intercession, and resurrection. And He will be there for Christ’s glorification and the final restoration of all things.

Theologians see redemptive history in three eras. First, from Creation to Incarnation, God was preeminent with hits of the Trinity. When Christ came, for thirty-three years the focus was on the Incarnate Son—the second Person of the Trinity on full display. When Christ ascended to the Father, the Spirit came and is at work advancing the kingdom until Jesus returns. We are living in this third era of the Holy Spirit. 

The Mission of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes…He will glorify Me.” (Jn. 16:14) The Holy Spirit is sent for the one great purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ. 

The Spirit opens our eyes to our hopelessness without Christ. He unveils the beauty and greatness of Christ so that the spiritually blind will not only see but worship Him. (Phil. 2:9-11) The Spirit then fills us with power to bear witness for Christ and take the good news to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 41)

His Mission Begins with Us

Here are the ways He is at work in us:

He gives us life. The Spirit makes us spiritually alive, enabling us to recognize and delight in God. (Jn. 6:63)

He assures us of our identity. He confirms that we are God’s children, stirring in us a hatred for sin and a trust and affection for the Father. (Rom. 8:13–16)

He sanctifies us. The Spirit transforms us into Christ’s likeness, preparing us for God's purposes. (2 Th. 2:13)

He sustains us in trials. He is at our side, supplying all our needs, never abandoning us in our afflictions. (Lk. 21:16; 1 Th. 1:6; 1 Pet. 4:14)

He empowers our witness. He fills us with joy and strength, sometimes overwhelming us with a deep sense of God’s love and anointing us with power from above. (Eph. 5:18–19; Acts 4:32; Lk. 24:49)

He guides our mission. The Spirit directs, sends, constrains and restrains us according to God’s will. (Acts 13:2,4; 16:6; 19:21; 20:22)

He raises us to life.  One day, He will give life to our mortal bodies, raising us from the dead. (Rom. 8:11)

Part 2 will address how we can deepen our personal knowledge of the Spirit to live in the fullness of God and His missions.