In the first four chapters of the Gospel of Luke, we see repeated references to the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of John the Baptist and his family and Jesus Christ and his family.  When you read these chapters you understand that the Holy Spirit orchestrated everything.  He filled John the Baptist from his mother’s womb, 1:15.  He conceived Jesus Christ in Mary’s womb, 1:35, Matt 1:20.  He filled Elisabeth, who blessed Mary, 1:41.  He filled Zacharias, who prophesied, 1:67.   In Lk 2:25-27, he was upon Simeon, revealed to him that he would see the Lord’s Christ, and led him into the temple when Mary presented Jesus to the Lord.  In Lk 3:16, John testified that Jesus would baptize his converts with the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus in the bodily shape of a dove, 3:22.  In Lk 4:1, Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit, 4:14.  In Lk 4:18, Jesus read from Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”

All of these great works are the work of the Holy Spirit.  And the Holy Spirit is here now working.  We must not grieve him, Eph 4:30.  We must not quench him, 1 Thes 5:19.  We must let the Holy Spirit do his work.  

Let the Spirit regenerate you – Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.”  According to Jesus Christ in Jn 3:3-8, ye must be born again; ye must be born of the Spirit.  If you aren’t born again, you aren’t saved.  

When you are saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit baptizes you into the body of Christ, 1 Cor 12:13; seals you for eternity, Eph 1:13; and bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God, Rom 8:16.  If you aren’t saved, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and let the Holy Spirit regenerate you.

Let the Spirit fill you – Eph 5:18 – when we’re saved, the Spirit indwells us, Jn 14:17.  Each day, however, we must be filled with the Spirit.  It is through him that we have the power to do God’s will.  Jesus didn’t want the disciples to start witnessing until they had received power from the Holy Ghost, Acts 1:4-8.  When Peter answered the elders, rulers, scribes, and priests in Acts 4:8, he was filled with the Spirit.  The disciples were able to speak the word of God with boldness because they were filled with the Spirit, Acts 4:31.  In Acts 9:17 and 13:9, Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost.  In Acts 13:52, the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.  Let’s do what Paul said, “Be filled with the Spirit.”

Let the Spirit teach you – Jn 14:26, Jn 16:13 – Jesus said the the Holy Ghost “shall teach you all things… and guide you into all truth.”  So, when you read your Bible, when you study your Bible, when you listen to teaching and preaching, when you read what other men have written about God’s words, you must let the Holy Spirit teach you the truth.  The reason that so many people get fouled up in the Bible is that they are not being taught by the Spirit; they are being taught by men only, Is 29:10-14.  Let the Spirit teach you God’s words.

Let the Spirit lead you – Rom 8:14 – “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”  Gal 5:18 says, “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”  The difficulty we have with being led by the Spirit is that we are typically led by our own spirit.  For many of us, this means that we are led by our emotions.  We must rule our spirits instead of being ruled by them, Prov 25:28.  The most common emotion that controls you is fear.  But “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,” 2 Tim 1:7.  We must recognize when we are being led by our flesh, our lusts, our pride, our fear, our anger, or whatever else might lead us.  Let the Holy Spirit lead you, instead.

Let the Spirit comfort you – Jn 14:16-18 – Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”  Let the Spirit comfort you. For some reason, many of us feel more comfortable being uncomfortable. The Lord doesn’t want us to be without his constant comfort.  When you are not being comforted by the Holy Spirit, who continually dwells within you, something is wrong and you need to search out the cause with the Lord.  He will show you the true source of your discomfort.  Acknowledge it, repent of it, if need be, and let the Holy Spirit comfort you.  We are sheep and sheep must be comforted at all times.

Conclusion: As you saw the great work of the Holy Spirit in the beginning of the gospel, so you will see the great work of the Holy Spirit in your life when you let the Holy Spirit work.  If you’re not saved, he will regenerate you today if you will trust Jesus Christ.  If you are saved, let the Holy Spirit fill you, teach you, lead you, and comfort you.  His work in you, when he has complete control, will be pleasing to God and very powerful in your life.