Convicted By The Spirit
Sermon #8 By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher
Conviction can be a powerful thing in the life of a Christian. As followers of Jesus we are indwelt by the living
God who is holy and righteous. The Lord himself purchased us with His blood (Acts 20:28) “Keep watch over
yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,
which he bought with his own blood”, and we are no longer our own. We belong to the Holy One of Israel. Since
we are no longer our own and since we belong to God, He has taken up residence in us. As Jesus said in (John 14:
23) "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make
Our abode with him." God lives in us.
Sometimes in our Christian lives we sin. Such acts of rebellion against God brings us to the place of conviction in
our hearts were the Holy Spirit sometimes gently, sometimes with strength, prods our hearts, pricks at our
innermost being, nudges at our soul, and brings us to the place of confession and repentance. This persistent and
sometimes gnawing conviction of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing, no matter how unpleasant it is at the time.
But that is the nature of many good things; they sometimes are best gained through discomfort. God loves us
enough not to leave us alone. He has our best interest at heart. He does not want to us to participate in that
which grieves Him and harms us. This is why Jesus said that He would not leave us alone but that He would send
the Comforter who would help us and guide us (John 14:26; Acts 9:31) “Then the church throughout Judea,
Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in
numbers, living in the fear of the Lord”. This Comforter is the one who grants us the assurance of our salvation
so that we might know we possess eternal life (1 John 5:13) "I write these things to you who believe in the name
of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life". He also anoints us and teaches us (1 John 2:
19) “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have
remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” And, He also consistently and
lovingly convicts us of our sins. Why does he do this? Out of His love for us.
How are you with God? Do your sins result in conviction in your soul? Is your relationship with the Lord such
that even your minor sins brings an uncomfortable awareness of conviction? If you do not experience this, then
you are either not saved, hardened of heart, or are in need of repentance. If you do not experience a conviction
that is due, which I know you must as a true Christian, perhaps you are so sanctified in your walk with the Lord
that you rarely sin. Perhaps, it is possible. But in my life, I have yet to arrive at such a place. In my life the Holy
Spirit is active in a wide variety of ways. Conviction is simply one of them by which He ministers holiness to me,
and I'm thankful. Are you thankful? Does your conviction bring you to repentance and confession? Let us pray
for that now brothers and sisters:
Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins. Thank you my Lord for continuing to work in my heart to make me more
like you. Please convict me of my sins so that I might know from what I need to turn so that I might not grieve
you, and so that I might bring glory to your name. Do with me as you wish Lord, I am Yours forever. Amen
Sermon #8 By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher
Conviction can be a powerful thing in the life of a Christian. As followers of Jesus we are indwelt by the living
God who is holy and righteous. The Lord himself purchased us with His blood (Acts 20:28) “Keep watch over
yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,
which he bought with his own blood”, and we are no longer our own. We belong to the Holy One of Israel. Since
we are no longer our own and since we belong to God, He has taken up residence in us. As Jesus said in (John 14:
23) "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make
Our abode with him." God lives in us.
Sometimes in our Christian lives we sin. Such acts of rebellion against God brings us to the place of conviction in
our hearts were the Holy Spirit sometimes gently, sometimes with strength, prods our hearts, pricks at our
innermost being, nudges at our soul, and brings us to the place of confession and repentance. This persistent and
sometimes gnawing conviction of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing, no matter how unpleasant it is at the time.
But that is the nature of many good things; they sometimes are best gained through discomfort. God loves us
enough not to leave us alone. He has our best interest at heart. He does not want to us to participate in that
which grieves Him and harms us. This is why Jesus said that He would not leave us alone but that He would send
the Comforter who would help us and guide us (John 14:26; Acts 9:31) “Then the church throughout Judea,
Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in
numbers, living in the fear of the Lord”. This Comforter is the one who grants us the assurance of our salvation
so that we might know we possess eternal life (1 John 5:13) "I write these things to you who believe in the name
of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life". He also anoints us and teaches us (1 John 2:
19) “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have
remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” And, He also consistently and
lovingly convicts us of our sins. Why does he do this? Out of His love for us.
How are you with God? Do your sins result in conviction in your soul? Is your relationship with the Lord such
that even your minor sins brings an uncomfortable awareness of conviction? If you do not experience this, then
you are either not saved, hardened of heart, or are in need of repentance. If you do not experience a conviction
that is due, which I know you must as a true Christian, perhaps you are so sanctified in your walk with the Lord
that you rarely sin. Perhaps, it is possible. But in my life, I have yet to arrive at such a place. In my life the Holy
Spirit is active in a wide variety of ways. Conviction is simply one of them by which He ministers holiness to me,
and I'm thankful. Are you thankful? Does your conviction bring you to repentance and confession? Let us pray
for that now brothers and sisters:
Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins. Thank you my Lord for continuing to work in my heart to make me more
like you. Please convict me of my sins so that I might know from what I need to turn so that I might not grieve
you, and so that I might bring glory to your name. Do with me as you wish Lord, I am Yours forever. Amen
