The Role of the Holy Spirit

by Judith MacNutt
2024 Vol. 02

[Jesus said]: Very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you (John 16:7).[Jesus said]: Very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you (John 16:7).

In Acts, written by Luke the physician, the Word of God records the coming of the Holy Spirit. Luke documents that Jesus appeared for 40 days after the resurrection. Before He ascended to heaven, He gave his disciples this command:

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5).

And the disciples obediently stood by—120 of them. And as they waited in the Upper Room, they were terrified because they had witnessed the crucifixion of their Lord and Master. If they went out into the city, they knew that they too could be arrested, imprisoned, and even killed. 

Suddenly, a rushing wind and flames of fire came into the room and the Holy Spirit fell upon them. Their fear was instantly gone and they rushed into the street. The disciples had been filled with the Holy Spirit of the Living God. They prayed in other languages, they preached with boldness, and thousands were brought to faith. This day became what we now celebrate as Pentecost, the birth of the Church.

I have heard many churches describe this scene from Acts and then act in ways as if they think, Oh, yes! We have the Holy Spirit, but we have a seatbelt on Him! We are not going to let Him do too much. We don’t know what would happen. This attitude comes from fear, the need to control and faulty teaching. Underneath is a lack of trust. We are not meant to be in control. The Holy Spirit needs to control you, not the other way around. You can trust Him.

In His last discourse in John 14, Jesus begins to introduce the Holy Spirit to the disciples. 

If you love Me, keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be  in you (John 14:15-17).

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26).

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come (John 16:13).

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). 

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the words of Jesus. When we need wisdom or guidance, He tells us what we need to remember. When we need truth, He exposes lies. When we need peace, He encourages our hearts.

On that Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), Peter, standing with the other eleven disciples, addresses the crowd.He quotes from the Prophet Joel: In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.

Take note of what that says: all people! This is for us, right now! His presence and power is for the children of God. You can’t hide from the Holy Spirit; believe me, I have tried. 

Peter continues: 

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke  (Acts 2:17-19).

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 (Acts 4:29-30).

The courage and boldness of Peter and John can be ours. Through His Holy Spirit, we are given the ability to heal and to perform signs and wonders. I long for the Church of Jesus Christ to know this. I pray constantly:  Lord, let Your people know their identity! Remind them who they are! Remind them what You’ve done for us! You not only sacrificed Your life on the cross, but You poured out Your Holy Spirit for us! 

The Holy Spirit can bring us into unity with one another. Satan is the father of discord and conflict, so when we see division in our churches, we know that is not from the Holy Spirit.

The baptism, or release of the Holy Spirit is an event in a person’s life in which he or she becomes more continually aware of the Presence, the Person and the Power of the risen Christ. If we are to move with His passion and His power in this world, we need to live in the abiding Presence of Christ. If we desire the gifts of the Spirit to be released in us, we need to be fully surrendered to Him.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

We follow God by a new living law—a law written on our hearts. When we give Him permission, He moves within us to change us on a personal level, and then on a societal level. We step out in the power of the Holy Spirit to impact the culture (arts, politics, medicine, music—everything). Incredible worship songs are being written today with depth of wisdom from the Holy Spirit. There are physicians and therapists who pray with their patients and healings occur. There are celebrities, public figures and athletes who freely acknowledge His Lordship. 

Jesus is willing to use each of us if we are willing. He has plans for our life based on our personality and gifting. When we step out in faith, the gifts of the Spirit are activated. Every morning, I ask, Jesus, what do You want me to do today? Each day I want to discover what the Holy Spirit is doing and join Him.

As the Holy Spirit works in us, He begins to release the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As we grow in the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control), we become more like Jesus. I often heard Francis say, The fruits come later in life. We don’t become like Jesus overnight. The fruits develop with maturity, like a tree that produces fruit in autumn. For that reason, it is important to be involved in a fellowship that will encourage you in both the gifts and fruits of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit enables us to cry, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6); He brings us into an intimate relationship with God; He establishes our identity. The Holy Spirit shows us our value, He reveals our purpose in the body of Christ and our path in life. He transforms us and helps us grow in trust and maturity. He answers Jesus’ prayers and ours. When we sin, He leads us into godly sorrow and repentance, and He heals the wounds of sin. He brings mercy and healing. He is the great Comforter.  

Make this your prayer today: 

Holy Spirit, invade my heart today. Fill every part of me with the love, power and authority of Jesus Christ until I become like Him. Give me the boldness and confidence of Jesus. Give me His courage to be a healing presence in this world. Amen.

Judith MacNutt is a licensed psychotherapist, author, teacher, conference speaker, co–founder and president of CHM.