What Exactly Does the Holy Spirit Do?

[ronedee]

No.... to all of that! Its purely, and simply the Power of God! Its at our disposal. But, who knows how, and when to use it? Only those who know God. And that is an illusive quest of spiritual proportions. How does one open a safe without the combination? You need to go to the builder of that safe! How do you explain the unexplainable? You don't! Without seeking for yourself, you won't know anythng.

People can say, and do whatever they want. Truth is found on our own.... Not by people telling us anything.

What does the Holy Spirit do for me? Nothing that would benefit your mind. What does the Holy Spirit do for others? Haven't a clue!

You used a lot of words to not answer my questions.

I gave you a 3 word answer but it wasn't good enough: "Power of God".... what you do with it depends on your level of spirituality. Because that is the realm where it exists. All else is conjecture and speculation. Do you want my opinion? That is useless to the facts.

[Minimalist]

[JesusHChrist]

That is useless to the facts.

What facts? All I see are bare assertions of unmitigated bullshit.

[robvalue]

Having listened to Carrier talk about Paul, my bet is that the Holy Spirit is the celestial Jesus Paul was talking about. Carrier, if I understand correctly, maintains that all references from Paul to Jesus the man are within forgeries. So to accommodate this celestial force, we ended up with a spirit. That last bit is my own estimate.

What does it do? It's trying to get back to its own mythology. It hopes each time that the next leap will be the leap home.

[vorlon13]

Vay not?

As with so much Mormon crappola (only WAY worse on this topic) the Mormon take on the trinity was done by committee over decades and decades, and no one paid any attention to what anyone else coughed up in regards to what their trinity is and how it works. So, the Mormon teachings on the Trinity are extremely difficult to study and understand.  No Mormon understands it, and no Mormon understands they don't understand their take on the trinity, so asking them leads to a very confusing mess which they will insist is not confusing and is perfectly clear and understandable despite it being bleedingly obvious it is not clear and understandable.

Asking a Mormon about it should make their head explode (hopefully before yours does) but for some reason it doesn't.  Mormon theology on the trinity is ESPECIALLY fucked up, even by Mormon standards.  Replete with contradictions, inconsistencies, incompatibility with other Mormon scripture (which isn't self consistent either) and it even touches on the whackadoodle Mormon racial bullshit obliquely as being disembodied is otherwise a punishment from God, but for the Holy Ghost it isn't, and in 'heaven' before they are born, negroes are disembodied as a pre-punishment (somehow) for Cain and Ham's fuckups against God.

I don't think you want me to continue. Curiously, I won't get it right entirely, but it will be impossible to tell where I am wrong about explaining it.

[Angrboda]

How do you explain the unexplainable? You don't! Without seeking for yourself, you won't know anythng.

This sounds like Lil Rik the Hindu's scam. Gotta seek his God before you get the evidence. Gotta believe first, and then you'll believe later.

[Drich]

What does the Holy Spirit do?

In short it is a measure of God that you personally get to interact with. When you 'good people' want proof of God you are asking for an interaction with the Holy Spirit (Because as I have said here many times before what better 'proof' of God is their than of God Himself?)

When I was a Christian, I had a vague idea that H.S was the method that god and Jesus used to interact with living Christians but I have heard the term used in a variety of ways that are confusing.

The Holy Spirit is not a 'feeling' although interaction with Him will produce Joy, love, patience, ect/Fruit of the Spirit stuff Eg, Gal 5 which can be experienced emotionally. But the Spirit and our mature dealing with Him (For me and those I know) often times go Like: Situation arises, Prayers/petitions sent, Resolutions present, I pick the one that is consistant with my belief/faith even if I am facing a tough or hardship blow back for making said choice. and often times things turn out far better than I could ever expect when I make the right choice.

Or for direct communication, say for instance I have a question, I pray over the question. Then I'll get fragments of verses that come to mind. I will google or do a concordance search for key words, and I find my answer in the bible.

Or better yet sometimes if I can't come up with anything I'll hear a sermon on the radio that will directly address my issue, or even stronger still. (As per my understanding of Hell) I get to take a day trip and experience things for myself. then then after years of research and study I find biblical support for what I experienced. Granted I can count the times this has happened on one hand/ one or two fingers, but in the end it has happened. However normally on a day to day. The Holy Spirit simply provides everything that is needed; money, materials, opportunities to serve God. These things almost instantly dry up when I stray from the path, but are in abundance when I am doing what it is I am meant to do. In addition to this I get to be apart of 'mini miricals' a few times a year. Just money, or happen stance, or just unexplained/no reason for a life changing event to happen. These things/experiences with the Holy Spirit are what maintains my faith.

For instance..."I am filled with the Holy Spirit" typically means that someone is in a very good mood. Some people use the word Holy Spirit as a synonym for their ability to determine right or wrong. They might claim that they are less inclined to do wrong because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

I find the closer I am to God the likelihood of me doing wrong greatly increases. It's like being on a diet. The longer you go with out fresh from the oven bread sticks from olive garden, the more tempted one is to go for a buttery bread stick when the waiter drops a big hot basket of bread at your table. Christianity isn't about having 2% body fat.. It's about working the program the best you can and seeking grace when we fall short.

Because Christians are no worse or better than non Christians,

Actually, 'real' Christians' know they are worse than the rest of you. Otherwise we would not need to have sought atonement in the first place.

what proof do those of you who are religious  have that something like the H.S really exists?

The proof comes in the way of the rains/Trials God sends. As per the parable of the wise and foolish builders Jesus told. If you have built your 'faith/house' on Who Jesus Really is and not some religious tradition or empty form of self worship calling itself Christianity, when God sends the trials of life, your faith/belief/House will stand. If you did not build of who Christ really is. your faith will be lost to the storm, giving you the opportunity to rebuild, or as with most of you assume there is no God because your first effort proved to be wrong.
I know the Holy Spirit exists because He has Carried me through more than one BIG trial. It took the end of my world, the end of all my hope for getting out of a situation by my own doing, to be humble/broken enough to see God working for me. Once I knew what to look for, I saw it all over. I once was blind to God, and Now I can see Him. That is the Only 'proof' we are ever given... The OPPERTUNITY To See God the Holy Spirit. If we turn from God in those trials we will remain blind.

What is the H.S and how do you believe it interacts with humans? Do you think that H.S makes Christians less inclined to do wrong than non Christians?

Christianity is not a merit/Morality based faith. We are not better people. Christianity is a atonement based faith. Meaning our 'moral' efforts will never amount to anything. We must seek the atonement offered, because no amount of 'good deeds' will ever be good enough.. Unless your a jew, muslim, J/W or Mormon or of any other religion appearently.

[Minimalist]

[Cyberman]

I think it goes something like this:

"I am filled with the Holy Spirit!" - I am drunk.

"The Holy Spirit is speaking through me!" - I am drunk and raving.

"The Holy Spirit is moving me!" - I am drunk and driving.

"The Holy Spirit is empowering me!" - I am drunk and horny.

"I am persecuted for spreading the word of the Holy Spirit to all who will listen!" - I am Kent Hovind.

[The Grand Nudger]

Must suck to be such a pathetic and miserable creature, Drich.  Glad I'm not you, I guess?