"Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit Himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. God can see what is in people's hearts. And He knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit speaks to God for His people in the way God wants”  (Romans 8: 26, 27).    

The Holy Spirit has the practical task of making us take the necessary steps in our lives. We are saved, blessed and healed, so that we may go out and save, bless and heal others. ''Father, thank You for having Your Holy Spirit living amongst us. Please set your Spirit free in our midst, and inspire us all!'' 

The Holy Spirit has a really incredible function. Where would we Christians be without the Holy Spirit? He is our Comforter, Teacher, Professor, and the best ever Evangelist. He's convincing! At times I simply come short with my own words, but when I ask the Holy Spirit to help, I realize that He's the most powerful Evangelist on the face of the earth! 

What is the Holy Spirit's function? 
His function is, (hang on to your hat), mothering. He comforts and leads us into all truth. He is a Mother Who brings us to God. He is that which binds us and reconciles us to Heaven. It is impossible to find reconciliation with your neighbour without Him. He makes everything real. He unites Christians. We wouldn't be able to get along, if the Holy Spirit didn't unite us. 

The Holy Spirit causes explosive decisions in us. He starts avalanches in our lives. He builds bridges between people, opens doors and makes us one. He's Heaven's Manager. The Holy Spirit turns ordinary people into extraordinary ones. People filled with the Holy Spirit no longer fit any pattern - they are extravagant! They become personalities - the light of the world. He overshadows you, and turns you into something special, something exclusive. He turns the untalented into ''natural talents,'' and turns simple workmen into artisans, (i.e., The artists of the tabernacle). 
In Him the weak say, ''I am strong!'' Hallelujah! You don't need degrees, you need your heart in the right place. And if the Holy Spirit is sitting on the throne of your heart, that's quite enough. 

God uses untalented, incapable people to do mighty works. For example, David against Goliath. He had the anointing, and he said, ''I come in the name of the Lord.'' He was son number eight, not the firstborn, but the Holy Spirit used Him. Holy Spirit-filled people are capable of much more than we give them credit for. Holy Spirit-filled people can jump over shadows or walls, with our God! Holy Spirit-filled people can go through doors that are still closed today. The Holy Spirit is like air, or water, which gets in anywhere and everywhere. He fits into any situation, and has a wonderful solution for every problem. HE is our Helper. If you're in difficulties at times, and don't know which way to turn, the Holy Spirit will show you the way out. With Him I can be sure that I'll get out of troubled waters, no matter how deep.   

We need the Holy Spirit! Trying to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit won't get you very far. Take a look at the blackout that recently took place in the U.S. What is a subway system without electricity? Today, we simply can't live without electricity! And without the Holy Spirit everything remains standing still. 

How does the Holy Spirit work in us? 
He is able to love people through us, that we normally wouldn't dream of loving. That's what's lovely about Him. We're such a mixed group here in church, but we have one Lord, and the Holy Spirit binds us together in love. Love simply pours out of our hearts, due to the Holy Spirit’s working within us. Love that comes from God is able to overcome any boundaries, walls or hurts. He (the Holy Spirit) stands by us in our weakness, and is our heart's translator. It is He that moves our hearts. All you need to do is to receive, let Him get hold of you and fill you with His Holy Spirit. 

Nothing can separate us from God's love. You are in love with God and His helping strength. The Holy Spirit doesn't do anything without us. He wants us to work with him, that we love those that appear unloveable. Love makes us equals. God loves you without make-up! And He loves you without a mask! You can afford to be yourself! In a church that is filled with the Holy Spirit in a Scriptural manner, you can be yourself! Whether you're able to do certain things or not, everyone is accepted as they are, because God accepts us as we are. 
(For Homework read 1 Corinthians 13): This chapter is so powerful, that we're putting it right here for you:1 Corinthians 13: 

And I show you a still more excellent way. 
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, 
I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 
And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; 
and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 
Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; 
love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; 
if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 
When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; 
when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; 
Now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. 
But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

 
Love is what binds us to one another in God. I praise God when I'm filled with the Holy Spirit - and I should also praise people at the appropriate times. The Holy Spirit is a living Spirit! He glorifies Jesus Christ! When you lift others up, you will be lifted up also. Start lifting others up, praise them for the things they do, and forget your old critical spirit. 
  
The Holy Spirit is a ''professor of psychology.'' Paul was also one, because he was Spirit-filled. The Spirit of God doesn't come along with a sledge-hammer. Those that are filled with the Holy Spirit are also diplomatic and well mannered, because He is. 
  
God conceals sin. Since the Holy Spirit is a Gentleman, first He reveals sin and, in the same blinking of an eye, He conceals it. He convicts us of our sin and, the moment we've repented, He throws it out of our lives, and doesn't bring it up again. 
  
The Holy Spirit compliments those that deserve it. Let us do it too. Let us be loving and merciful. 
  
He is an understanding Spirit. He enables you to be able to understand your neighbour. 
  
He encourages people. He never discourages people, not even the worst sinner imaginable. 
  
The Holy Spirit never offends anyone. On the contrary, He heals and closes wounds. He builds our character and returns our lost virtue. It is God's desire that we possess Christ's virtue. Saints are not only virtuous, but calm. 
  
Another effect of the Holy Spirit's working in our lives, is that He revives our talents and inclinations. He knows the depths of your heart and, whatever you're capable of, the Holy Spirit will awaken it in you. You've received talents, and He makes sure you use them. And we encourage each other. 
  
Trees grow so high, because they all want to be where the light is! 
  
"Where do I belong in the body of Christ?" Ask God! 
  
The Holy Spirit Gives A Heart For The Needy
  
When you walk with the Holy Spirit, nobody can hold you back. The Holy Spirit gives us the burden, but also awakens the desire to do God's will. When He gives us a responsibility, He also gives us the necessary knowledge to do the job. When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, he feels love for the lost, has an inviting personality, and a heart for the poor and needy. Let us do good. The Holy Spirit will show us what we have to do. 
Let us not just go about shouting, ''Hallelujah.'' Let your hands find something to do, someone to help. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you a heart for the needy. The Lord Jesus is in Heaven; He can't do it, but the Holy Spirit came to continue His work. Whoever is full of the Holy Spirit is also full of Jesus! The more your cup is full of the Holy Spirit, the more anointed you are when you speak about Jesus! The Holy Spirit causes your heart to jump for joy. He leads you in all things, i.e., “Is this really a wise purchase? How should I invest my money? You would have saved yourself quite a number of 'unfortunate experiences' had you asked the Holy Spirit.”   
Walk in the Spirit of the Lord. See how He guides you; listen to what He has to say. See with your spiritual eyes, naturally. Hear with your spiritual ears. Walk in faith, not according to what you see! You can sing in the Spirit too. A pastor I knew was hampered in his ministry by being less than musical. Nothing he did could make him sing. But the Holy Spirit took over and, in the Spirit, he sang like a nightingale. 
  
The Holy Spirit can also cause you to lose your negative way of looking at things. You'll pray differently; not just your own prayers (for yourself and yours), but prayers that include the Kingdom of God as well. Should you be feeling miserable today, make it a point to pray for your boss, bless the company you work for! Do it now! Remember that an employer who is responsible for 1,000 people has problems that you'd never imagine. Pray for the mayor of your city; don't just complain about him. Start blessing people. 
  
Through the Holy Spirit, you'll begin to make godly decisions. You'll begin to meet people that God wants you to meet. Your life will take a completely different direction. That's why the classical churches don't understand us. We go in new directions, have new ideas, become creative. 
  
The Holy Spirit is like the wind, and He's driving us forth. Where does the wind blow us? Forward in new directions! The first Christians, by the way, were known as people ''of the new way.'' 
II Corinthians 4:13 - 
But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ''I BELIEVED; THEREFORE I SPOKE;'' we also believe, therefore also we speak. 
  
God gave us the Spirit of faith, joy and power! We simply don't believe in failure, because He gave us a Spirit of faith! No matter what direction we take, we're inspired. The Holy Spirit is neither an optimist, nor a pessimist. 
What is a pessimist? It's an optimist with experience. We are like a pregnant woman, always expecting, and always fruitful. The Holy Spirit has set us free from our barrenness and made us productive people. This church should be open 24 hours a day! Non-stop. That is my prayer. Imagine, we've even got a streetcar that drives near Leopoldplatz here in Berlin. You can get on a train anywhere in Berlin and land here. 
Remain expectant! 
Romans 14:17 - 
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 
  
The Holy Spirit gives us joy and peace . . . Martin Luther said, ''If there's no laughter in heaven, I don't want to go there.'' I want to laugh! When the redeemed go home, their mouths will be full of laughter! 
  
The Holy Spirit resolves generational problems, clears guilty consciences and life's crises. He is the Spirit of Truth. He allows us to say things that we'd otherwise never dare to say. The Holy Spirit enables us to be creative, gives us wisdom and the Spirit of discernment. He gives us revelations. He gives us the answers to problems and a ready response. 
Matthew 10: 19-20 
But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you are to speak. ''For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 
  
The Holy Spirit takes the responsibility! He makes you undefeatable. Our lives should be a riverbed for the Holy Spirit. We are Jesus Christ's outstretched arms, and as such, it is up to us how much room we leave in our lives for the Holy Spirit. He is extremely practical, and gives us strength to see us through, not only in life but in death as well. You realize that you can make it! That's the Holy Spirit. 
  
The Holy Spirit Is A Prophetic Spirit!
  
The Holy Spirit is a prophetic Spirit. You'll begin to prophesy. He'll teach you when to speak and when to hold your tongue. He'll teach you how to see through and tackle your problems. You will begin to be you! 
Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 
  
The effect of the Holy Spirit's working in our lives should be such, that He is the deciding factor in all of life's decisions. When He lives in you, then you want what He wants. When the Holy Spirit lives in you, you lie down quietly and go to sleep. The Holy Spirit gives us a new self- confidence, and a new sub-conscience. Our sub-conscience makes all the decisions that deal with the functioning of our bodies. The Holy Spirit can lower your blood pressure! With Him in your life, nothing can catch you off balance. 
We need the Holy Spirit! 
“Holy Spirit, inject us with new life in You”!

- Used by permission of Spread The Fire Inc., 272 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6M3, Canada. Materials from Spread The Fire, copyright 2004