“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. And when he is come, he will reprove the world
of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not
on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John
16:7-11).
Introduction
Many Christians
love to hear sermons about the love of God, but shy away from anything that
speaks of chastisement. The fact is that love and judgement are tied together,
and it is impossible to understand one without the other. “For whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews
12:6) … “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Revelation
3:19). It is exactly the same when it comes to the Holy Spirit. Everyone wants
the power and comfort of the Spirit of God, but reject any idea of judgement.
The Holy Spirit comforts us in all our sorrows, but also convicts us of our sin
and disobedience.
The
work of conviction
Maybe we have
come under the convicting work of the Holy Spirit as we have listen to the
preaching of God’s word. We feel guilty over the sin in our lives and
determine to obey God instead of the flesh. The unsaved may call this their
conscience, but for us who are saved, we recognise the influence of the Holy
Spirit. He causes us to feel the burden of guilt and condemnation over the
unconfessed sin we cling to. This work of conviction draws us to repentance. “For
godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of” (2
Corinthians 7:10).
This part of the
work of God was clearly seen in Jesus as He dealt with the Scribes and Pharisees
who dragged the adulterous woman before Him for judgement. He first dealt with
the pious religious leaders who looked down their noses at her by saying to
them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone
at her” (John 8:7). Her accusers left one
by one, as their consciences made them feel more impure than the woman. “And
they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by
one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and
the woman standing in the midst” (John
8:9). Without the intervention of God man will never feel conviction over sin.
It needs the direct work of the Holy Spirit to break through the hardened heart
and mind that is darkened by Satan.
This is not a matter of just telling people that they are sinners, but also pointing them to the only one who can deal with their sin. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). This part of the work of God is now within the ongoing ministry of the Spirit. “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” (John 16:7). The drawing work of the Spirit begins the moment a person is reproved (rebuked) for sin.
The
work of comfort
The Holy Spirit
convicts sinners of sin, but only repentant sinners can receive His comfort.
Therefore, He cannot be our Comforter unless He has first been the Convicter. “If
ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of
truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth
him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not
leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John
14:15-18). We see then that only those who are obedient to God’s word can
receive the Holy Spirit and the comfort He brings. Those who refuse to obey God
can only experience the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. He must continue to
rebuke and draw us to repentance if we are going to be blessed and used of God.
The comforting and abiding presence of the Holy
Spirit is only for those who aim to obey the Scriptures. He does not constantly
abide with those who have no desire to serve God. “My spirit shall not
always strive with man” (Genesis 6:3) … “For as many as are led by
the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Those who
delight in the Lord will know the comfort of the Holy Spirit no matter what
trials, affliction or persecutions come their way. “I, even I, am he that
comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall
die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the LORD
thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of
the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the
oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the
oppressor?” (Isaiah 51:12-13) … “Blessed be God, even the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who
comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which
are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth
by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and
salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we
also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and
salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of
the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation” (2
Corinthians 1:3-7).
Conclusion
© 1/1/2010