Convicted by the Holy Spirit

Convicted
By The Spirit
By Rev. Mark 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