What the Holy Spirit does
Here are three ways the Spirit transforms us from the inside out.
This sermon was given by the Rev. David Libbon at Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Cornelius, North Carolina, on June 1, 2025.
You can view the sermon here, starting 23 minutes into the service.
The text for today was Acts 1:1-11.
Last week, as we began a three-week sermon series on the Holy Spirit leading up to Pentecost, Pastor David introduced us to the Holy Spirit as our Helper — God’s personal presence with us.
This week, he unpacked what the Holy Spirit does, focusing on three roles: He comforts, confers and compels.
He comforts us by assuring us of our adoption into God’s family.
He confers power so we can minister to one another within the church.
He compels us to bear witness to the world beyond our walls.
From the heart to the church to the world — that’s the Spirit’s movement.
Let’s look at those three bullet points more closely.
The Holy Spirit comforts us
This comfort isn’t mere emotional soothing — it’s deep assurance. Romans 8:15–16 says the Spirit testifies with our spirit that Christians are adopted children of God. This comfort includes:
Security in our salvation
Peace amid suffering
Confidence of God’s presence
The Spirit applies the truths of the gospel to our hearts, reminding us we’re not alone or abandoned — we’re adopted.
David said as adopted members of God’s family, it’s natural that we become more and more like his son, Jesus. David likened this transformation to the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that we develop throughout our Christian life.
David said:
“It’s the Spirit that grows these things in you. Are you more loving than you used to be? Are you more peaceful than you used to be? Are you growing in kindness and goodness and faithfulness and self-control more this year than last year?
“Don’t chalk that up to just maturity. That is the Holy Spirit producing fruit in your life.”
The Holy Spirit confers power
The Spirit equips believers with power to live in God’s kingdom — for ministry, both individually and corporately. This includes:
Spiritual gifts for building up the church
Wisdom and boldness in service
Fruit of the Spirit shaping our character
This power isn’t for personal status but for God’s glory and mutual strengthening of God’s people.
Pastor David said that the Holy Spirit often highlights things in our lives, prodding us to reach out to other believers in need.
David said:
“You may have an urge from the Spirit that someone needs a word of encouragement. Someone needs a text. Someone needs a phone call. Someone needs a handwritten letter.”
When the Holy Spirit prods us like that, our duty is to act.
The Holy Spirit compels us
Acts 1:8 says the Spirit gives power to be Christ’s witnesses. He stirs a holy urgency:
A burden for the lost
Courage to speak truth with love
Sensitivity to divine appointments
David said:
“What does the Spirit empower us to do? He empowers you to be his witness. ‘This is how I was lost but now I’m found.’ ‘This is how I was blind but now I can see.’
“And sometimes this happens in the most natural and beautiful and seemingly calming ways — in driveways around fire pits. Over dinners. Around coffee shops. Simple opportunities the Lord places in our path so we can be witnesses to the goodness of God and the beauty of his church.”
Together, these three actions show the Spirit working inwardly (comfort), among the church (conferring power), and outwardly (compelling mission).