HOLY SPIRIT: CONVICTS

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 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.” (John 16:7-11 ESV)

            The Holy Spirit, as revealed in John 14-16, enables you to do greater things, helps you live a victorious life; teaches you to reflect Jesus, and testifies about the Lord. 

            When enlightened by the Spirit, led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit, you see, hear and touch Jesus. You are better able to genuinely and completely testify of Him to others.

            Another blessing of the Holy Spirit is conviction, which is critical today. To convict means to prove a person guilty, to bring a convincing realization of guilt. Heartfelt conviction includes an element of shame. In a court of law criminals are often proven guilty, yet does this always translate into conviction and shame?

            The Holy Spirit has come to convict the world, yet shameful conviction is hardly witnessed anymore. Society is growing increasingly calloused. Are those following Jesus supposed to take the same shameless posture?

            While living in Chicago I was waiting at O’Hare Airport to pick up a passenger. Back then a person could momentarily wait just outside the baggage claim area but was never allowed to leave a vehicle unattended, under any circumstances. I watched as someone decided to leave their car and go into the terminal. A few moments later a tow truck came by, stopped, and the worker did his job. A young mother was sitting with her baby in another car nearby. As the truck pulled away with the vacated vehicle she laid on the horn and gave the finger, a disgusting action. Only women without shame behave this way.

            On another occasion I was on a city street that was about to revert from four lanes to two. Sitting at a stoplight, the vehicle in the left lane was driven by a woman. The car in the right lane, about to end, was driven by a man. Both anxiously waited for the light to change. When the signal turned green they quickly accelerated but the car driven by the man took the lead. She angrily honked and the man responded with the same crude hand gesture. Only men without shame behave this way.

            Years ago Hurricane Katrina hit the southern coastal area. A sad aspect of the devastation was the area-wide looting that followed. Hurricanes are external catastrophes, looting is inward corruption. One newspaper commentator wrote, “…some people rationalize that it is perfectly acceptable to steal, especially if others are doing it. A corollary of this view is that the thieves have somehow even earned the right to someone else’s property.” 

            Looting comes from a culture without shame. Actions are decided by the crowd. Standards of behavior are no longer established but floating or fluctuating.

            The Holy Spirit has come to awaken those following Jesus when the mindset of a shameless world creeps into the soul. The One who convicts arouses the conscience to sense remorse when godly behavior is forsaken.

            Conviction addresses rebellion and defiance, and those following Jesus are not exempt of slipping into this way of life. Shame should be sensed when the ways and will of God are violated. Sadly, errant attitudes and conduct do not always stop at church doors.

            Jude while writing to believers addresses poor actions: “Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’ These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.” (Jude 1:11-16 ESV)

            The Living Bible paraphrases these verses:  “When these men join you at the love feasts of the church, they are evil smears among you, laughing and carrying on, gorging and stuffing themselves without a thought for others. They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much but producing nothing. They are like fruit trees without any fruit at picking time…. All they leave behind them is shame and disgrace like the dirty form left along the beach by the wild waves. They wander around looking as bright as stars, but ahead of them is the everlasting gloom and darkness….”

            Convincing believers of shameful actions is an important blessing of the Holy Spirit. He convicts concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. Jude demonstrates these behaviors by exemplifying the conduct of three Older Testament people.

Concerning sin – the way of Cain (Genesis 4:3-12)

            Cain and Abel are brothers, the children of Adam and Eve. Abel becomes a keeper of flocks and Cain a tiller of ground. Both decide to bring an offering to God.

            Abel brought the firstlings of the flock. Cain brought some fruit of the ground. Abel brought a life-ending sacrifice, seeking an end to a rebellious nature. Cain brought a life-nourishing donation, wishing to maintain an unruly nature. The Lord recognized Abel’s sacrifice but took little regard for Cain’s donation. Out of a sense of rejection Cain kills his brother.

            The way of Cain defies God and destroys man, the highway of murderous envy and hypocrisy. This roadway becomes easily offended by sacrifice and surrender.

            Cain’s behavior involved selfishness and hatred. His actions opposed a feeling of brotherhood. His leanings were toward violence and cruelty, lashing out with destruction.

            Cain was ruled by a grumbling attitude. He chose to take measures into his own hands. He impulsively craved control, master of his own fate. How many today feel their circumstances are out of their control and allow the situation to haunt them with angry and evil thoughts?

            The issue of control is frequently seen on major expressways in metropolitan cities everywhere, drivers racing to get in front of others. A vehicle signals to change lanes and the car next to them accelerates, refusing to let the other driver take the lead. They must be first, they must dominate. Everything in their life is utter chaos. Having little control over homes and job, they attempt to control the road.

            The issue sometimes raises its ugly head at church. Part of my responsibilities in ministry involved helping congregations and church leaders wrestle through various types of conflict.

            A very likeable man started attending a church and quickly got involved. In minimal time he was selected to become a church leader. He considered the position a place of control more than service.

            An agenda item was being addressed by the Leadership Council. He had little background information and other leaders attempted to give him a clearer picture. It soon became apparent he did not care. He just wanted his own way. He tried to control the discussion in the board room and attempted to achieve his preferred outcome. With lots of distortion he blew the matter way out of proportion. The other members lovingly corrected him and also addressed his shameful behavior.

            Unwilling to accept the board decision he grew increasingly bitter and angry, and sought another avenue of manipulation. The annual church business meeting occurred shortly afterwards and he attempted to sway the members. The congregation accurately saw his argumentative attitude and refused to join him.

            He lost what little self-control was left and grew even bitterer. For the next several weeks he came to church, sat in the last pew sulking.

            Like Cain he demonstrated envy, hypocrisy, selfishness, hatred and cruelty. With a heart raging with scorn he attempted to kill the life out of the church, the body of Christ. If he could not have his way he preferred that brothers and sisters in the Lord not abide in one accord.

            The Holy Spirit convicts followers of Jesus about the way of Cain and exposes inappropriate addictions of control. The right posture is to submit all things to God.

Concerning righteousness – Balaam’s error (Numbers 22-24)

            After forty years of wandering the Israelites were in the final stage of their wilderness journey to the promise land. The king of Moab, after seeing what happened to the Amorites, sought help from a less than honorable cleric. He wanted Balaam to curse the people of God. The spiritualist was warned by the Lord not to be hired by the Moabites. King Balak was unwilling to take no for an answer and upped the ante, increased the benefits. The curse-maker accepted!

            The error of Balaam is a life diverted from righteousness and truth, rushing headlong into wrongful behavior for the sake of reward, motivated by revenue instead of right. Void of godly character he was driven by covetousness. Spirituality became perverted, changing prophet to profit.

            Balaam lived by the impulse of gain. His actions reveal he looked at situations with a mindset of “What’s in it for me!” The issue is connected to power, possessing influence and seeking favoritism.

            How many times has actions been determined by believing might is right? Tragically many carelessly think someone is correct because they have an element of notoriety. The take-charge person often gains a reputation of fame and ends up assuming their ways are always right.

            The Holy Spirit has come to convict followers of Jesus about the error of Balaam and exposes the pride of power. The right posture is humility to the Lord and one another.

Concerning judgment – Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 16:1-35)

            After leaving Egypt an influential leader in the tribe of Levi, along with 250 additional members, questioned the organizational structure God had established for the people. He claimed Moses had no basis for being the only person rendering leadership. Where did he get the exclusive right to establish rules of behavior for everyone? As a Levite, in the same tribe as Moses, he wanted equal standings. He grew discontented.

            The rebellion of Korah is a life having contempt for divine order and appointment, resenting the idea of someone being over them. They are ungrateful with their existing blessings and demand more. They sometimes resort to a self-invented holiness and adopt a form of worship foreign to God. Yet they expect the Lord to still be pleased.

            Korah lived by the impulse of greed. His actions revealed what he had would never be enough. The issue involved authority. He wanted greater influence, maybe even over God.

            Isaiah states God’s ways are normally different then your ways. If God is Lord of your life, He does not have to give an answer to you. He does not have to explain Himself.

            Thinking you are ever worthy of more then what you already have is arrogant. Find contentment in the things He has entrusted to your stewardship. Let God be God of who you are and what you have.

            The Holy Spirit has come to convict followers of Jesus about the rebellion of Korah, to expose a degenerate lust for authority. The right position is serving the Lord in every circumstance.

Remorse

            The Holy Spirit convicts whenever there is a misplaced emphasis on control, power and authority, whenever motivated by grumbling, gain or greed. He brings a sense of shame that restores submission, humility and servitude.

            People manipulate for control, politic for power and demand for authority. The Holy Spirit has come to convict followers of Jesus about such unsavory behavior.
           While abiding in a world without shame the One who Convicts reminds the church whenever rebellion surfaces. He extends a beckoning call to sense remorse and experience renewal.