A previous post established our critical need of the Spirit in ministry. Here we’ll use an acrostic with the word SPIRIT as a means of remembering ways the Holy Spirit helps us in ministry.
An Acrostic of Ways the Holy Spirit Helps Us in Ministry
While much more could be written about the ways the Spirit helps us, the following acrostic provides six roles the Holy Spirit takes showing how He works in and through us. He truly is our Paraclete, the One who lives within us and comes alongside of us with the help we need (Jn. 14:16-17).
S – Spiritual-Gifter: empowers and equips us for ministry
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, … All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Cor. 12:7-11)
P – Peace-Maker: develops peace within us so we can be at peace with one another
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom 8:6)
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 14:17)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace … (Gal. 5:22)
I – Interceder: prays for us when we are weak
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. (Rom. 8:26-27)
R – Revealer: makes known to us the heart and mind of God
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. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you. (Jn. 16:13-16)
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 2:10-11)
I – Illuminator: enlightens our hearts so we can understand what God has for us
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Eph. 1:17-19)
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1 Cor. 2:12)
T – Teacher: teaches us so we can teach others
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. (Jn. 14:26)
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. (1 Cor. 2:13)
With this kind of Helper, why would we even attempt to do ministry without the power of the Spirit at work within and through us? Let’s turn the reigns over to the Holy Spirit to fill us so we effectively do God’s will with joy and thanksgiving in our hearts (Eph. 5:15-20).
Learn More: Resources About the Holy Spirit