Sweet Conviction

Scripture

And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

~John 16:8, LSB

Quote

No Christian should live in perpetual doubt about his or her salvation.

~Martyn Lloyd Jones

Bro. Inman told me repeatedly, “Leading a sinner to Christ is easy: the hard part is to get them to see that they are a sinner.” Martyn Lloyd Jones encountered a man who told him, “I do not feel like a sinner.” I am reminded of a story I heard Jack Taylor tell, or at least I think it was Jack. A very wealthy influential woman decided it would help her standing in the community to join the church. She went forward during the invitation and told preacher that she had decided to join the church. He said, “That is good but I must ask you a question, ‘have you been saved?'” “What do you mean saved? She responded. He said, “Have you repented of your sin and committed your life to Christ?” This offended her and she protested, “What do you mean repent, I have not done anything to repent of.” This pastor was a better man than yours truly, he told her to return to her seat because only a sinner could become a part of the body of Christ. She went to her seat very agitated and upset. A few seconds later, she returned to the altar. The pastor said, “have you repented?” “Of what,” she said, “I told you I have not done anything to repent of and I demand that you present me to the church for membership.” He said, “I am sorry but I cannot do such a thing in good conscience. To be a member, you must come to Christ, to come to Christ, you must be humble and repent of your sins.” She turned in a huff and returns to her pew in anger but then something happened, the Holy Spirit descended on her like a dove, and she came under heavy conviction. Suddenly, she saw her pride and with it a host of hideous other sins. She began to weep, and then she started to the alter for the third time but this time she is broken. She confessed her sinfulness and gave her heart to Jesus.

So, my question is: what is the difference between the proud sinless woman who refuses to bow the knee, and weeping woman who begs for forgiveness? The work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit had not convicted her, she would have never seen her sin. It is the work of the blessed Holy Spirit to convict and to convince us that we are sinners. The NT word for spirit is pneuma which means breath. We get the word pneumonia from this Greek word. The OT word for spirit is rûwach which means wind. In so many ways the Holy Spirit is like the wind: you cannot see Him, you do not know when He is going to move in some mysterious way, you cannot predict His movement. What parted the Red Sea? What brought the quail to the Israelites? What brought dynamic power to the early church? It was the Rûwach ha-Ko’desh, Spirit of Holiness. Wind and fire are the symbols of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Wind cannot be controlled by man and fire is all consuming. I am praying for the Rûwach ha-Ko’desh to hit the override button and take over. If it comes down to me being in control or the Holy Spirit moving freely to convict of sin: I gladly surrender control.

The same Spirit that convicts of sin gives us assurance of our salvation. Romans 8:16, The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. I keep coming back to John Newton and his statement: “I know two things; I am a great sinner and Christ is a great savior.” John wrote “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” For forty years I wrestled with that word wretch. It was not so much that I denied my own wretchedness, it was that I didn’t understand what wretchedness really was and I didn’t really feel wretched. I guess it takes time for those of us who are slow but I feel wretched {extremely needy} now and more so each day. Only the Holy Spirit can make such a thing happen in a believers life. Thank YOU Father for the blessed Rûwach ha-Ko’desh.

Extra

Bill Southern is better and may get to come home. Colleen’s sister is in the hospital in Birmingham. Keep praying for all our Cancer Warriors.

Extra Extra

Reading Calvin Miller’s INTO THE DEPTHS, wonderful book and I highly recommend it. Also reading TWO CITIES by Augustine; very difficult read and I don’t recommend it unless you have a background in Philosophy or a seminary degree. On page 172 of Miller’s book, he quotes George MacDonald who was probably the greatest influence on C.S. Lewis…

THREE ESSENTIALS FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE

George MacDonald

  1. Someone to love {Jesus}

  2. Something to do {serve Jesus and others}

  3. Something to hope for {heaven}

Quotes From Yesterday’s Reading

  • Prayer is our longing for Christ, our incurable God sickness…Karl Barth
  • Where the knee bends, character is born…Calvin Miller
  • The heart can be made haughty by a single compliment…Calvin Miller
  • Man is born hungry; starved for heaven and thirsty for infinity…E. Stanley Jones
  • Love others for the sake of God. Love God for His own sake {and yours}…Augustine
  • Most people had rather run the show than to be in someone else’s…John Milton
  • Serving Christ brings joy–serving self brings peacelessness. Self is the god of unhappiness… Lorenzo Scupoli

All { } are editorial notes.

 

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