Don Stewart :: How Does the Holy Spirit Help Run the Universe?

How Does the Holy Spirit Help Run the Universe?

The Holy Spirit: How He Works – Question 2

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is directly involved with the functioning of the universe. The Scripture teaches that the development of the universe, from its beginning until the present time, has been a work of God the Holy Spirit. We can make the following observations about what the Scripture teaches on this issue.

1. The Holy Spirit Was Involved in the Original Creation

The Spirit of God appears on the first page of Scripture. Indeed, the Holy Spirit helped in the original creation by bringing order out of disorder. The Bible says the following happened in the very beginning.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2 NIV).

The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters at the beginning. As we read and study the Scripture, we find that the present order of the world today was brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit. He brooded or hovered over the original creation and brought it to life.

The exception to this, of course, is the sin which is now in the world. This was not part of God’s original creation but was brought about by the fall of humanity as recorded in Genesis 3.

The Heavens Were Made by the Breath of His Mouth

We are told that it was the breath of the mouth of the Lord which made the visible heavens. The psalmist wrote.

The heavens were made by the word of the LORD and all the stars by the breath of his mouth (Psalm 33:6 CSB).

This speaks symbolically of the work of the Spirit of God. The word “breath” can also be translated as “spirit.” Thus, this verse seems to be testifying to the work of the Holy Spirit in creation.

2. The Holy Spirit Keeps Universe Running

The orderly running of the material universe is another ministry of God the Holy Spirit. Isaiah the prophet wrote.

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand or marked off the heavens with the span [of his hand]? Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure or weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in scales? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or who gave Him His counsel? (Isaiah 40:12, 13 HCSB).

The Holy Spirit not only got the entire universe going, He is also keeping it going.

3. The Holy Spirit Adorns the Universe

The Holy Spirit adorns the physical universe with its beauty. The Bible speaks of this in the Book of Job. It says the following.

By His Spirit He adorned the heavens (Job 26:13 NKJV).

The Spirit of God is the One who gives the heavens its beauty.

4. The Holy Spirit Sustains the Present Order, Animal Life and Plant Life

The Holy Spirit sustains the present physical order and supports animal and vegetable life. The psalmist wrote.

You provide streams of water in the hills and valleys, so that the donkeys and other wild animals can satisfy their thirst (Psalm 104:10-11 CEV).

His works sustains that which He created.

On the other hand, if God stopped sustaining animal life everything on earth would perish. We read in Job.

If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust (Job 34:14, 15 NLT).

This is something worth thinking long and hard about. The Lord Himself is the sustainer of all life. Without His continual care everything would perish.

5. The Holy Spirit Renews the Universe

The preservation and renewal of God’s creation is another ministry of God the Holy Spirit. We read the following in the Book of Psalms.

When you send your Spirit, new life is born to replenish all the living of the earth (Psalm 104:30 NLT).

The Spirit of God preserves His creation. He is the One who keep everything running efficiently.

Thus, from Scripture, it is clear that the Spirit of God is intimately involved in smooth functioning of creation.

Summary – Question 2
How Does the Holy Spirit Help Run the Universe?

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit, the Second Person of the Trinity, is involved in running the universe. From Scripture we learn a number of things about His dealings with our world.

The Holy Spirit, as God, took part in the original creation of the physical universe. He was in the beginning hovering or brooding over the earth before anything was made. The initial perfect creation was His work along with God the Father and God the Son. Therefore, the entire Trinity was involved in the creation process.

However, He did not stop with that. The Bible says that the Spirit of God is involved in the orderly running of the present universe. While our universe has been infected by sin, it is still running smoothly because of the work of the Holy Spirit.

We are also told that He helped adorn the universe. He is the One who has made it beautiful.

The Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit renews and preserves His creation. He is the One who preserves that which He help create. Specifically, we are told that the Spirit of God also sustains the physical universe and all animal and plant life. Without His work, everything would perish.

Since these are all works of God, they are further indications that the Holy Spirit is the eternal God.