Depending on the version/translation you use, The description of the Holy Spirit will vary. The Amplified Bible (AMP) lists most of them in the same verse. It is a reminder of the many ways the Holy Spirit Works in our lives IF we allow Him.
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever” – Jn 14:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
I have listed below 33 Ways the Holy Spirit Works. I’m sure there are many more. It also depends on a person’s style of cataloging. Either way, I pray that this list will encourage you and remind you that we are never alone in our day to day activities. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us and will direct and guide our paths.
It is also a sobering reminder that He is a witness to EVERYTHING we do, watch and listen to. EVERYTHING!
The Holy Spirit Works By:
Anointing us for Ministry
- “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.” – Lk 4:18
- “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” – Acts 10:38
Appointing People for Various Tasks
- “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” – Acts 13:2
- “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.” – Acts 20:28
Convicting the World of its Sin
- “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.” – Jn 16:8-9
Directing our Lives (to go)
- “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.” – Mat 4:1; Mar 1:12; Lk 4:1
- “That day the Spirit led him to the Temple…” – Lk 2:27
- “ The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” – Acts 8:29
- “ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. ” – Acts 8:39
- “ The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles.” – Acts 11:12
- “ So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit…” – Acts 13:4
- “ Afterward, Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia” – Acts 19:21
- “ And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem.” – Acts 20:22
- “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” – Gal 5:25
Directing our Lives (to not go)
- “Next, Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.” – Acts 16:6
- “Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.” – Act 16:7
Empowering Believers for Ministry
- “But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.”- Mat 12:28
- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…” – Acts 1:8
- “…this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” – 1 Pe 1:12
- “But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,” – Jude 1:20
Encouraging Believers
- “The church … became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.” – Acts 9:31
The Holy Spirit Works by Guiding our Lives
- “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth…” – Jn 16:13
- “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” – Rom 8:6
- “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” – Gal 5:16
Inspiring Others to Speak His Words
- “For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”- Mat 10:20
- “For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit…”- Mar 12:36
- “But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”- Mar 13:11
- “And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,” – Acts 28:25
Living in Us
- “… But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.” – Jn 14:17 Amplified Bible (AMP)
- “Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” – Jn 20:22
- “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,” – 1 Co 6:19
- “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, …” – 1 Jn 2:27
The Holy Spirit Works by Making us Holy
- “As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.”- 2 Thes 2:13
Making us More Like Jesus
- “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” – 2 Co 3:18
Praying for Us
- “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” – Rom 8:26
- “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” – Rom 8:27
Renewing our Thoughts and Attitudes
- “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” – Eph 4:2
Reminding Us
- “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” – Jn 14:26
Revealing Future Events
- “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” – Jn 16:13
- “One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world.” – Acts 11:28
- “He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” – Acts 21:11
- “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.” – 1 Tim 4:1
The Holy Spirit Works by Speaking to Us
- “Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you.” – Acts 10:19
- “Except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.” – Acts 20:23
- “That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice,” – Heb 3:7
Teaching us All Things
- “But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.” – Jn 14:26
- “All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.” – Jn 16:15
- “ The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”-
- “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: ” – Acts 15:28
Testifying/Bearing Witness
- “But I will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify [bear witness] all about me.” – Jn 15:26
- “Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith, Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit.” – 1 Tim 3:16
The Comfort of the Holy Spirit
In this section of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives, we see the Comfort of the Holy Spirit and loving nurture of a parent. Moreover, it’s a place where we know that we know, how great is the Father’s love toward us. Like a parent, he enjoyes giving us gifts such as:
Everlasting Life
- “… But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” – Gal 6:8
- “…The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. ” – 2 Co 3:6
- “Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? ” – 2 Co 3:8
- “And Christ lives within you … the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.” – Rom 8:10
- “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” – Rom 8:11
Gifts of the Spirit
“Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.” – 1 Co 14:1
“And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.” – 1 Co 14:12
The Special Ability Gifts Are:
- “wise advice” – 1Co 12:8
- “a message of special knowledge.” – 1Co 12:8
- “great faith to another,” – 1Co 12:9
- “the gift of healing.” – 1Co 12:9
- “power to perform miracles,” – 1Co 12:10
- “ability to prophesy.” – 1Co 12:10
- “the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.” – 1Co 12:10
- “ability to speak in unknown languages” – 1Co 12:10
- “ability to interpret what is being said.” – 1Co 12:10
- “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” – 1Co 12:11
The Holy Spirit also Comforts by Giving Us:
- Appropriate Desires
- “…The Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.” – Gal 5:17
- Assurance
- “…for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.” – 1 Thes 1:5
- Confident Hope
- “… Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Rom 15:13
- Freedom
- “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Co 3:17
- Fruit
- “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” – Gal 5:22-23
- Love for Others
- “He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.” – Col 1:8
- “… Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.” – Rom 15:30
- Messages
- “So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.” – 1 Thes 1:6
Power from Heaven
- “… Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.” – 1 Co 2:4
- “… The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” – 1 Jo 4:4
- “Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.” – 2 Tim 1:14
- “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” – Lk 24:49
Wisdom
- “None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.” – Act 6:10
- “And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom.” – Act 6:3
- “…we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.” – 1 Co 2:13
