HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED
HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. —John 16:8-14
The Lord has empowered His followers by His Holy Spirit— “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). So we who have called on Jesus have the power to be the witnesses of Jesus. And that is what we are to be. We cannot change the heart of anyone, but He can. The responsibility He has given us is to bear witness of Him.
It is the Word of God used by the Holy Spirit of God which encourages people to call on the Son of God as our Father draws them to Jesus and reveals Him to them. It is the Holy Spirit that will convict people of their sin. It is sin not to believe in Jesus who took the penalty and judgment for our sin.
The Holy Spirit will also convict people concerning righteousness. We have no righteousness of our own, but when we call on Jesus, God gives us His righteousness (II Corinthians 5:21). This is a marvel and is so amazingly wonderful! Jesus, as the Son of God, is wholly righteous and ascended to His Father to where He was before coming to earth as a child. The only way we can come to the Father is through the righteousness of Jesus (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). There is no other way to the Father except through Jesus.
The Holy Spirit will also convict the world, people in it, of judgment. Jesus has already judged Satan and his end is getting nearer— “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Yes, Jesus broke Satan’s power over us and soon Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire… forever— “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). Let us warn people of the coming judgment that they too will face if they do not call on Jesus (John 3:16, 18, 36; Romans 10:13).
Let us be thankful brothers and sisters, fellow followers of Jesus, that Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18) and that He would guide us through His Holy Spirit, given to us when we believed— “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14). And so, Dear Father, may I be faithful out of loving gratitude for all You have done for me. May it be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoZd7ZXh9yY