The Holy Spirit at Work

By H. A. Ironside

The Mission of the Holy Spirit ............................ 1
The Witness of the Holy Spirit .......................... 12
The Holy Spirit and the Believer ...................... 21
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit ............................... 31
Our Responsibility ............................................ 37

Revised and Edited, 1999
Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures from the New King James Version, ©1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

The Mission of the Holy Spirit

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you...”
— John 16:7–11

Jesus explains that the Holy Spirit’s presence on earth is more advantageous than His own physical presence. Why? Because Christ’s mission was to die as a ransom for many, but the Spirit’s mission is to dwell with and work in all believers, everywhere, at once. The Spirit convicts the world of sin—not merely immoral acts—but specifically the sin of unbelief in Christ.

The Spirit doesn’t simply provoke emotional sorrow; He brings legal, convincing evidence to the conscience. Conviction varies by personality—some weep, others reflect silently. But it is the Spirit who reasons with mankind, not to manipulate emotions, but to appeal to the intellect and will through God’s Word.

Emotional responses may accompany conviction, but true conviction is about understanding our offense before a holy God—chief among them, refusing the Savior. Despite humanity’s sin, Christ bore it all. Eternal separation results not from sin alone, but from rejecting the remedy: Jesus Himself.