There is a false teaching that the Holy Spirit isn’t for today, or that He doesn’t work or move with us as He did with the Apostles. This is a lie, and this isn’t found any where in scripture.  A lot of churches have this belief, and this has created damaging effects. The Holy Spirit helps and benefits our lives in many ways.
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher:

John 14:26 “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.”

Most importantly you have to be in the Bible for this to work. I am one for reading whole chapters, sections, chunks or books of the Bible at once. I like to read a chapter twice then go to the next chapter, once I am done with the whole book, I do it again. Why? This helps me to get the understanding of the context, and there is no possible way to absorb it all at once. You have to be in the Word a lot for the Holy Spirit to be able to remind you of it. The Holy Spirit recently had me read Acts 8 times, until I got everything He wanted me to see for this time.  I am sure I didn’t get it all, and will have new understandings when I read it again! Did you know the Spirit is mentioned 57 times in Acts? The Apostles couldn’t do any of their works without Him! Reading the Bible a lot also helps protect you from someone coming along and perverting the Truth or leading you astray. The Holy Spirit will give you a funny feeling in your stomach telling you “nope that isn’t right” when this happens.

The Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers, especially when we don’t know how to pray for a person or a situation in our lives. Sometimes it is hard to find the words. If you want to pray the perfect will of God then you should pray in the Spirit/speak in tongues when praying. As we yield to the Spirit, we allow Him to express our heart’s deepest yearnings.

Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The Holy Spirit gives us gifts to use for His glory and to help others.

1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

1. Word of Wisdom: Supernatural perspective to ascertain the divine means for accomplishing God’s will in given situations. A sense of divine direction. Divinely given power to appropriate spiritual intuition in problem solving.

2 .Word of Knowledge: supernatural knowledge relevant to understanding a situation. Supernatural insight or understanding of circumstances or a body of facts by revelation: that is without assistance of any human resource but solely by divine aid. IE, a pastor expelling demons from a woman was told by the Spirit that the demons were connected with “smell of mother”; it seems unlikely that hours of questioning the person would have revealed that in times of stress she would smell the pillows of her deceased mother.

3. Faith: beyond what believers normally have, this is Mountain moving faith that produces miracles and martyrs. Supernatural ability to believe God without a doubt and to combat unbelief.

4 .Gifts of Healings: nearly everyone is acquainted with inexplicable healings, some are from God, some are from “ordinary” prayers, and others result from the ministry of those who have one or more of the “gifts” (plural) of healing. Sometimes involving God’s creative gifts, IE restoring sight, restoration of mutilated or missing limb. Healing was one of the chief ministries of Jesus/Yeshua when He walked the earth, and He promised that we who believe in Him would do “even greater works than these”.

5. Miracles: Supernatural power to intervene and counteract earthly and evil forces. A display of power that goes beyond the natural, IE turning water into wine, resurrection of the dead, or walking on water.

6. Prophecy: Speaking on behalf of God to a person, congregation, or nation. Sometimes predicting events in the future. Intended to inspire fear and awe of God. It’s exercise is not based on the intellect of the user, it is calling forth words from the Spirit of God.

7. Discernment of Spirits: ability to tell if a phenomenon is from the Spirit of God, from a person’s own spirit, or demonic spirits. Supernatural revelation of plans and purposes of the Enemy and his forces. Indispensible part of the spiritual equipment of anyone undertaking to expel demons.

8. Different Kinds of Tongues: Supernatural utterance in languages not known to the speaker; these languages may exist in other parts of the world, or revived from past cultures, or a tongue of angels. This is a miracle from God.
Paul talks about this being separate from the speaking in tongues that one does in private prayer and praise (Cor 14). Private tongues serves as evidence and a sign of the indwelling of Holy Spirit.  Public tongues is a form of prophecy.

9 .Interpretation of Tongues: to give the meaning in ordinary language of what is spoken by the “gift of tongues” in public worship service.
Tongues + Interpretation = Prophecy

Allowing the gifts that the Spirit gives you to work through you is exciting, and can be challenging. They are used to help out the congregation of believers. They are also used to bring new people to belief in God. I think this is one area where the Church has been sorely lacking. If the Church isn’t out in the world exhibiting the gifts of the Holy Spirit , how will people see and believe in Jesus? Let’s face it, when someone is miraculously healed, they most likely are going to believe AND want to learn to go out and do the same things. When someone is delivered from the oppression of demons, they will believe in the Bible and what it has to say about the Spiritual realm. Unfortunately these things just aren’t taught as much as they should be.

Mark 16:15 Then Jesus said to them, “As you go throughout the world, proclaim the Good News to all creation. 16 Whoever trusts and is immersed will be saved; whoever does not trust will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who do trust: in my name they will drive out demons, speak with new tongues, 18 not be injured if they handle snakes or drink poison, and heal the sick by laying hands on them.”

It saddens me that the Holy Spirit isn’t even allowed in most churches. It grieves the Holy Spirit that this is happening too. So many believers are missing out on a fuller relationship than they could never even imagine. Walking in The Spirit is challenging, but it is also fantastic to learn from Him. To hear His voice clearly, to see miracles performed, it strengthens your faith. It inspires you to walk even closer and work even harder to walk in the Spirit. It develops your personal relationship with Him to a level you could never imagine. He wants to have a relationship with you like a husband and wife should have, where you discuss every little thing. Do you want to hear from God clearly? Do you want to have full conversations with Him? Do you want to pray in tongues so that you are praying the Will of God in your life? Do you want to see dreams and visions? Do you want Him to use you to prophesy, to warn people what is to come? Do you have compassion for sick people and want Him to use you to heal them? Do you want to witness miracles? Do you want the Holy Spirit to use you to perform these miracles? Do you want to learn how to battle Satan and the Spiritual Warfare that happens in your life? We can’t do these things on our own, only He can do them, but we have to learn how to walk in the Spirit to do these things. You have to be willing to submit to Holy Spirit and allow Him into your life for these things to happen.

John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure. Trust in Jesus as your savior, be water baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit and begin walking in a full life!

References: Jewish New Testament, & Commentary (Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications) 1996
Spirit Filled Life Bible; New King James version  Copyright 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc