Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Works Of The Holy Spirit Before And After Pentecost?

The Holy Spirit, the third person in the godhead, was from the beginning, with God the Father and God the Son. All the Patriarchs, Prophets and writers of the Old Covenant were directed in their revelations and prophecies by Him. Jesus spoke often concerning the Holy Spirit and made a promise to the apostles that they would be guided by Him, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you…It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you" (John 14:26; 16:7).

Jesus knew the frailty of man, that His apostles would not, or could not remember all the things that He had taught them, therefore, after His ascension, the Holy Spirit would be sent to guide them in all the teachings of the Lord. It was "expedient," that is, it was best for the apostles that Jesus go away, otherwise, the Holy Spirit would not come to them. The kingdom could not be established until the Lord returned to heaven and took His seat on David's throne at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:29-36).

The gospel, in its perfection, could not be preached until after His death, burial and resurrection (I Cor. 15:1-4). The mission of the apostles would not begin until after that event (Matt. 28:18-20). After Christ's death and resurrection the Holy Spirit's work would be to continue the work of Christ through the apostles, thus, the work of the Holy Spirit, in bringing in the Christian Dispensation, would not begin until the Lord left the earth. All the events preceding and including the Lord's death were conditions precedent to the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The church, as had been directed by Christ, was set up by the apostles on the day of Pentecost, and through the Holy Spirit, the gospel plan of salvation was revealed unto men. This revelation of truth is now ours in the writings of men who were infallibly guided by the Holy Spirit. This revelation is full, complete, all-sufficient, and infallible (II Tim. 3:16-17). The Holy Spirit does not guide men into uncharted paths today as were the apostles and writers of the New Testament. Although His work still continues today, He leads, guides and directs us through the revelations made by Jesus, his apostles and writers of the New Testament (I Cor. 2:8-13).

The Holy Spirit directed the apostles in the establishment of the Church of Christ on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of the Lord, and now, through the inspired Word of God to the end of the world when Christ shall return delivering up the kingdom of His Father, then cometh the end (I Cor. 15:24).