When Jesus was telling the disciples about the Holy Spirit coming, He said a lot of things about what the Holy Spirit would do. These are not the same as the gifts the Holy Spirit gives people when they receive it. Rather, the Holy Spirit does certain things for every believer in Jesus that help them in life. We are going to look at what those things are today. 

In John 14, Jesus tells the disciples about the Holy Spirit coming and him departing. In John 14:26, Jesus says, “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.” In this statement, Jesus says the Spirit does two things. He will teach and remind. The words of Jesus and the Scriptures come to our mind in certain situations because the Spirit is reminding us of those words. The Spirit gives us knowledge and gives us understanding of the teachings of Jesus and Scripture (1 John 2:27). Because we are anointed with the Spirit, we receive the teaching spiritually from that Spirit. 

In John 15:26, Jesus says “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.” Jesus says that the Spirit will testify about Jesus. The Spirit always points back to Jesus and never to anything or anyone else. The Spirit will help spread the gospel of Jesus and not hinder it. The work of the Spirit advances God’s kingdom to testify of Jesus. 

In John 16:13 Jesus speaks again saying, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” Jesus says the Spirit will help us by guiding us into truth. He will help us make the right and just decisions aligning with God’s words. The Spirit will not make a way that does not lead to light. Of course, the Spirit will guide us to Jesus who is the way, truth, and life (John 14:6).   

The last two go together and complement each other. The Spirit will speak to us and glorify Jesus. John 16:13-14 says, “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.” If we are hearing a voice or words that are not in line with Jesus’ words then the Spirit is not speaking to us. The Spirit will speak the truth to us because he is speaking what is from God. He will also glorify Jesus in everything he says and does. We must remember this when listening to what the Spirit says to us. 

Jesus calls the Spirit the Advocate or the Helper. The Spirit helps us by teaching, reminding, testifying, guiding, speaking, and glorifying. In all things, the Spirit will point to Jesus and guide us into truth, no matter the situation.