THE EVIDENCE of the Holy Spirit

How often do you get caught up in the details and over complicate matters? It happens to me regularly. I get bogged down in the details of my life and sometimes miss the big lessons that God has clearly set forth in His Word. I spend much time analyzing the details of certain passages and neglect the main point. This has happened with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, Pneumatology.

Some approach the Holy Spirit with a cessationist perspective, denying contemporary special gifting of believers. They deny modern day miraculous signs and wonders, such as healing or speaking in tongues. Others herald speaking in tongues as the evidence of the Holy Spirit. Neither of these positions deals with the main point.

The evidence of the Holy Spirit is very basic. It is fundamental to the Christian faith. It is an obvious fruit that is overlooked in many senses, and associated with legalism in some circles. I am speaking of conviction, specifically the conviction of sin, righteousness, and the judgement to come.

This is not rocket science. When a person comes to faith in Christ, the sign of the Holy Spirit is manifest in these three matters. Man is sinful, The Lord is our Righteousness, and all men will face judgment. These workings of the Holy Spirit are central to true belief.

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)

What about you? Are you convicted or just cruising along? Are you waiting in expectation of judgment on all evil deeds? Is sin your enemy or just an unpleasant thought? Is the righteousness of God your longing and desire?

Know the Blessing

Eradicating My Enemies

The Old Testament boggles the mind of many unbelievers, atheists, and liberal Christians. The plagues, wars, blood, death and destruction are too much for them to digest. Massive death and destruction cause them to doubt that character and nature of God, as well as the credentials of the Old Testament. Liberal Christians reject and dismiss the value of Old Testament to their own detriment.

The matter is really quite simple. God has made a promise that He keeps. We have seen this promise at work through the course of history. We will see its grand conclusion, and we will stand, and cheer, and shout for joy, while we raise our voices praising His Holy Name for all eternity.

You share in God’s passion for this cause. It is the destruction of the enemies of man and the enemies of God. Let me ask you a question. Will heaven be heaven if it contains liars? Will heaven be heaven if it contains the sexual immorality? Will heaven be heaven if it contains material idolatry? Of course not! Heaven will only be heaven if all of the enemies of God and man are absent.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

In the Old Testament, God was eradicating wickedness. He was making a Holy People for Himself and for humanity. We often forget how beguiling evil can be. We are surrounded in this world with evil, and sometimes it lures us into it fold. God is in the process of destroying evil. If we desire to join in His cause, we must embrace the ways of God. His ways are above our ways. His ways are the best ways to love others. His ways are the only ways that endure the test of eternity.

Even death itself is an enemy of man that God will destroy. He has already proven himself powerful over death, and it is the final enemy to be destroyed.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:26

He has given you a promise, and you can begin embracing it today. He will destroy all of your enemies, and you can enjoy a bit of heaven today by embracing his commands through faith in His perfect son, the Lord Jesus Christ.


Know the Blessing

Photo: Dr. Squintum Exaltation or the Reformation - Great Awakening Revivalist George Whitefield

Note: Read Psalm 37 for futher encouragment