What exactly does the Holy Spirit do? Whisper sage advice to us? Rearrange circumstances to our benefit? How??

Question

Apparently the "Holy Spirit" is God's guiding force on Earth, but darn it all if I don't know what the heck that entails.

Please be specific. Don't just say "the spirit guides us" or "just look it up on Wikipedia". I actually do want to know. It's always puzzled me.

Explain WHAT the Holy Spirit does and HOW the Holy Spirit does whatever it does.

What's with the insults?

Answer 1

There used to be a Holy Spirit.

Then Chuck Norris got thirsty.

Answer 2

Hope this satisfy you.

The correct identification of the holy spirit must fit all the scriptures that refer to that spirit. With this viewpoint, it is logical to conclude that the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will.

Men noted for their wisdom and counsel were anciently prized by kings and others, even as in modern times. Egypt, Persia, Chaldea, Edom, and other nations had their bodies of “wise men.”
All such wisdom may be had even though the possessors lack the spiritual wisdom the Scriptures particularly advocate. Nevertheless, God’s spirit may enhance some of these types of wisdom where they are useful in accomplishing his purpose. His spirit activated those constructing the tabernacle and its equipment as well as those weaving the priestly garments, men and women, filling them with both ‘wisdom and understanding.’ Thereby they not only understood what was desired and the means for accomplishing the work but also displayed the talent, artistry, vision, and judgment necessary to design and produce superb work.—Ex 28:3; 31:3-6; 35:10, 25, 26, 31, 35; 36:1, 2, 4, 8. (Please check all these Scriptures!)

Consider first the power of holy spirit. Think back to the year 1954. That was when a hydrogen bomb was detonated over Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. An instant after the bomb exploded, that beautiful island was engulfed in an immense fireball and battered by an explosion equal in force to the detonation of 15 million tons of TNT. Where did all that destructive power come from? It was the result of changing into energy just a small fraction of the uranium and hydrogen that made up the core of the bomb. What, though, if scientists could do the opposite of what they had accomplished at Bikini? Suppose they could capture all that fiery energy and convert it into a few pounds of uranium and hydrogen. What an achievement that would be! Yet, Jehovah did something similar to that but on a vastly greater scale when “in the beginning [he] created the heavens and the earth.”—Genesis 1:1.

Jehovah has vast reserves of dynamic energy. (Isaiah 40:26) In the creation, he must have harnessed some of this energy when he formed all the matter that makes up the universe. What did he use in this creative activity? Holy spirit. We read: “By the word of Jehovah the heavens themselves were made, and by the spirit of his mouth all their army.” (Psalm 33:6) And the Genesis account of creation reads: “God’s active force [holy spirit] was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) What a mighty force the holy spirit is!

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Answer 3

The dynamics of the human condition is one of a tripartite nature. This consists of a composite of spirit, soul and body. Each component of this tripartite nature has its own purpose and group of faculties through which they facilitate the intentions of the individual as a whole.
The faculties of the body are the five senses of touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. It is here that the being has direct contact and awareness of ones environment and interplay with outward reality. Also the intent and actions of the soul can be seen by others through this interplay of the bodies actions.
The faculties of the soul are the intellect, emotions (also called the sensibilities) and the will or volition. The soul is the seat of the personality and is that place where self awareness originates. The soul is actually the residual effect of the Spirit of God interacting with the body as it says in Genesis, God breathed into the form of man and he became a living soul. It is also who you claim as self when talking to others about who you are identifying as such.
The faculties of the spirit are less obvious and are deeper into the core of who you really are. Some call this the inner person or subconscious. The faculties of the spirit are the conscience, intuition and the heart. The heart is hard to describe but it is the place where the Spirit of God was intended to reside in the individual. This is also the place where the intentions spring from. With the soul life in charge of the person it dictates to the heart what the intentions will be and it can be seen in this regard how a sense of self righteousness rules the actions. This is not always a bad thing, however the fault lies in the fact that the spirit is dead to God and encapable of executing His will so long as the self rules the throneroom of the heart.
When the Holy Spirit regenerates the person through a rebirth the Spirit communicates in several ways to direct the soul that which He (Holy Spirit) wills. This is never through a usurping of ones own will but in agreement by the volitional choice to desire God's will in our life.
Sometimes the voice of the Spirit communes directly with us through the spirits faculty of intuitivity but shouild not be mistaken for what the soul knows as a thought or imagination. A communication in the intuiting of the spirit looks more like an unction or "gut-feeling."
Its also important to read and know the Word of God and to meditate on it for sometimes the Spirit will recall to the mind the words of scripture to communicate what it wants to say to you,
Also it helps sometimes to see an outside confirmation in the world around you about what the Spirit wishes to solidify.

Answer 4

The Holy Spirit guides us. No one can understand the Holy Spirit. One can only receive and obey. Trust Christ today and recieve the Comforter as He promised.

1 Corinthians 2:14
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Answer 5

"Holy Spirit: The third divine Person of the Blessed Trinity, the personal love of Father and Son for each other. Also called the Paraclete (Advocate) and Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the divine plan for our salvation." (Glossary of Catechism)

Gifts of the Spirit:
"1830 The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

1831 The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.

"Let your good spirit lead me on a level path."

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God . . . If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. "

1832 The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."

Answer 6

Base down like this. The Holy Spirit is God's energy. ENERGY. Not a real person like the Catholics would have you believe. When God blew into Adams nostrils and he became alive, he became so because the energy passed through him. That is why no human can make life from nothing, for the energy required is missing. That is why I don't believe in the immortal soul either. When you die, the energy just returns to God. If your T.V. breaks down, does the electricity that was 'making it alive' go back to PG&E in the spiritual shape of your Sony? I think not.

Answer 7

The Bible says the Holy Spirit is a Comforter. I say Amen to that!

Answer 8

Well, there you have it. The Holy Spirit is there to comfort you, kinda like a teddy bear.

A swooping teddy bear... that sometimes looks like a dove.

Answer 9

Luke 3:16

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the HOLY GHOST and with fire:

John 14

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 7:39
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the HOLY GHOST was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Acts 1:18
But ye shall receive power, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

1 Corinthians 2:13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the HOLY GHOST teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Corinthians 12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the HOLY GHOST.

1 Peter 1:12
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the HOLY GHOST sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the HOLY GHOST: and these three are one.

Acts 19:2
He said unto them, Have ye received the HOLY GHOST since ye believed?......

Answer 10

the holy spirit is there to guide you towards humility, moderation, and compassion, and it is also a warning device to let you know when chuck norris is whithin striking distance.

remember, if you can see chuck norris, he can see you, if you can't see chuck norris, you may be only seconds away from death

Answer 11

If you ever.... no I am gonna say WHEN you realize that God is real and fall on your knees and repent the holy ghost will be given to you and then you will understand He comforts us when we need comforting and does all kinds of marveous things...