Ministering: Deacon Bisi Ajala, Youths & Young Adults Sunday.
Text: John 16:7-11.
” 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; 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 depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” KJV
Conviction is technically a legal term that means a firm belief, opinion and declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense (Sin) made by a jury or judge (the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is God living in His children. Conviction is designed to bring about repentance and renewal of our relationship with God.
Every time we err, we really don’t need an external party to tell us, the Holy Spirit within us as believers brings it to light. He brings it to light so we could repent. We cannot come to the place of conviction without the power of the Holy Spirit. When anyone is not truly convicted of sin, it is a sure sign that such a person is not truly repentant. The concept of conviction is really not to bring to shame but to repentance. Conviction is simply a pronouncement that you should check yourself out or have a rethink about your ways. The Holy Spirit makes our wrongdoing known to us so we could come to a place of conviction, confession and repentance.
The prodigal Son in Luke 15:17 came to a place of conviction when he came to himself. He realized his wrongdoing and thus, took an action by returning to his Father and repenting. You cannot go far in life covering your sin and refusing to repent of them. The Holy Spirit is a trigger Who can either convict us directly or through a person (preacher, parent, etc.).
What Brings About Conviction
- Our Conscience – this is a divinely implanted faculty after Adam sinned. It spots the light on what is morally right or wrong. The conscience is an assistant but not always a safeguard. Gen. 3:7
- The Word of God – Ps. 119:11. The word is a Mirror that all things are naked before. Nothing can be hidden from it as it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- The Holy Spirit – Gal. 5:16. He is the catalyst and only power that can conquer sin. Our human strength or flesh is too weak to combat sin, hence God has come as the Holy Spirit to dwell within us to overcome every temptation of sin. It was God that helped Joseph to resist the temptation to commit fornication with Potiphar’s wife.
In closing, God will never allow any situation to come your way that He has not given you the power to overcome. We all at one point or the other have to keep repenting of our shortfalls before the Lord. He has given us the Holy Spirit to help us in our journey in life. Psalm 118:8 – It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man.
God bless you!
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