Does the same thing happen today? You bet! As the Holy Scripture is read, and studied, and preached, and the seed is planted (Jesus used the word “seed” to represent the Word), as that seed is scattered and as it falls into good and honest hearts, then it will take root and people will be convicted of their sins, will repent of their sins, will confess the Name of Jesus and they’ll be baptized.

Yes, the Holy Spirit of God is at work even today. This is work that the Holy Spirit continues to do. He had revealed the Word of God, the written Word, on the pages of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, but specifically on the pages of the New Testament He had revealed God’s Will, God’s commands, what one must do to be saved. And so it is His working through that written Word, that Word that was previously revealed, working through that Word to convert men and to instruct Christians in all things that pertain to life and Godliness—all things that pertain to the church, to Christian living, and so on. Thus, we have the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the product of the Holy Spirit, to guide us today. We have the way of salvation; we have the pattern that God set up for the Church. And so in that way, the Holy Spirit is still operating—He is still functioning.

Now some would say, “Well, how is that? This document was written. It’s there. How is it that the Spirit continues to be active and working through that?” Well, in the same way, and this is a rather weak analogy when we’re talking about what the Holy Spirit was responsible for writing, but say, for example, our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, those documents not nearly as old as the Bible, but well over 200 years old, continue to guide, continue to govern us as a free people. And the words that were written by those men, well over 200 years ago, are still there and in a sense, in effect, those men are still speaking to us through those documents. We see references all the time to those who had a part in writing our Constitution—men like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Monroe, and so on. It is as if they are speaking to us over that space of 200—plus years. Their words come back to us. Those words are still just as alive today as they were when they were penned.

The same is true with the Word of God. It is active, it is functioning, it is sharper than any two-edged sword, the Hebrew writer says. [Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”] So, in effect, the writer of that is still involved with it.

A second area of the PRESENT WORKS that the Spirit is active in today is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Let’s first do a little background work. Let’s go to John 4, beginning with verse 13. I want us to see that this was a promise that was made by Jesus. The context here is Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman there at Jacob’s well. Verse 13, “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’” Now you’re thinking, where’s the promise of the Holy Spirit there?

Let’s turn over to John, chapter 7, and begin looking in verse 37. Remember, Jesus was talking about that water—that water that would become an everlasting fountain. John 7, beginning with verse 37, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, Whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Well Jesus in this text promises the Holy Spirit.

Then over in Acts, chapter 2, verse 38, a passage we’re all familiar with, is the response that Peter gave when those who were convicted by the Words of the Holy Spirit asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” [verse 37]. His responses was, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission,” (or “forgiveness”) “of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

This promise is also stated in Acts, chapter 5, verse 32. “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit Whom God has given those who obey Him.”

Also, let’s go to Acts 19, and begin looking at verse 1. Paul at Ephesus: “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him Who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.”