"As we think about the many reasons we need to rely on the Holy Spirit, we realize that virtually every aspect of the Christian life would be impossible without His presence and power working in and through our lives. He indwells us, enabling our personal fellowship with God and with other Christians; He produces the fruit of Christ-like love and character in us; He empowers us to witness for Christ and anoints us through spiritual gifts for effective ministry to others; He inspires us to worship; He uses us and our unique abilities to build up the church, and enables us to navigate effectively in the spiritual realm through intercessory prayer. He does miracles all around us, every day, all the time. How we need to honor, welcome, and invite Him into our lives, our ministries, and our churches." - Pastor Clayton Ford

What Holy Spirit Is And Does

What The Holy Spirit Is (Antioch)

What Holy Spirit Does (by K. Erik Thoennes)

Ten Compelling Reasons Why We Need Holy Spirit

by Clayton Ford (in Facebook post)

1. Awakens and Enables Us in Relationship with God

The Holy Spirit gives birth to our human spirits and enables us to personally know and experience a loving and fulfilling relationship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.' 'What do you mean?' exclaimed Nicodemus. 'How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?' Jesus replied, 'I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.'" - John 3:3-5 NLT

"Jesus replied, 'Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.'” - John 4:21-24 NLT

2. Brings Us Into Family and into Divine Purpose

He brings us together in bonds of love (family) and spiritual purpose (mission), creating and sustaining the Church of Jesus Christ (4:31-32).

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." - Acts 2:42-47 NLT 

"After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had." - 4:31-32 NLT

3. Empowers and Equips Us as His Witnesses

 He empowers and equips us to be effective witnesses in our world for Jesus Christ.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 NLT

4. Enables Us to Minister 

He enables us to be God’s instruments to meet the needs of people and mandates of ministry for which Jesus calls and commissions us.

Again he said, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.' Then he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"  - John 20:21-22 NLT 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours." - Isaiah 61:1-7 NIV

5. Anoints Us To Proclaim

He anoints us to boldly proclaim the Good News of God’s Word. 

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.' After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. - Acts 4:29-31 NIV

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn..." - Isaiah 61:1-2 NIV

6. Fills Us with Love

He fills our hearts with God’s love for people and for God.

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." - Romans 5:5 NIV

7. Transforms Us to Be Like Jesus

He transforms our lives into the likeness and character of Christ.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

8. Gives Us Spiritual Abilities

He gives us spiritual abilities which we use to minister in power to other people and to build up the body of Christ  Rom 12:6-8).

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." - Romans 12:6-8 NIV

9. Inspires Us to Worship and Prayer

He inspires worship and prayer and gifts us to be worshipers and intercessors (Rom 8:26-27)

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV

"In 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 through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." - Romans 8:26-27 NIV

10. Leads & Guides Us into His Will

He leads and guides us as we seek to know and to do God’s will.

"In the church at Antioch there were a number of prophets and teachers of the Word, including Barnabas, Simeon from Niger, Lucius the Libyan, Manean (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping as priests before the Lord in prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “I have called Barnabas and Saul to do an important work for me. Now, release them to go and fulfill it.” - Acts 13:1-2 TPT

"The Holy Spirit had forbidden Paul and his partners to preach the word in the southwestern provinces of Turkey, so they ministered throughout the region of central and west-central Turkey. When they got as far west as the borders of Mysia, they repeatedly attempted to go north into the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to enter. So instead they went right on through the province of Mysia to the seaport of Troas. While staying there Paul experienced a supernatural, ecstatic vision during the night. A man from Macedonia appeared before him, pleading with him, “You must come across the sea to Macedonia and help us!” After Paul had this vision, we immediately prepared to cross over to Macedonia, convinced that God himself was calling us to go and preach the wonderful news of the gospel to them." - Acts 16:6-10 TPT

Holy Spirit Videos

VIDEO: Holy Spirit (Eyewitness Bible Series) - creative monologue retelling  of who Holy Spirit is and does from the perspective of Holy Spirit