Tag: conviction of sin
Resisting the Holy Spirit
Scripture reading for May 14: Acts 7
“”You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”” Acts 7:51-56
From this account in Scripture, we see Stephen, one of the appointed deacons in the early church, confronting the Jews who had condemned and crucified Jesus Christ. He spoke plainly to them concerning their ‘stiff necks’ and ‘uncircumcised’ hearts. He told them plainly how they were doing the same things that their fathers had done when they persecuted the prophets who announced Christ’s coming. He told them how they were breaking the law that Moses had received from God through angels for them. Truth can have one of two results. Humble repentance and a change of mind is the best and the life-giving choice. But these men became enraged and ground their teeth in anger at the truth.
It is the Holy Spirit that confronts each person with sin, righteousness, and the coming judgment. (John 16:8-11) When we are filled with the Holy Spirt, we become vessels that God uses to share truth and the Good News of grace and forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus and gives redemptive vision. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, preached truth. He also shared a vision of Jesus Christ, exalted to God’s right hand. Those resisting the Holy Spirit became angry and killed God’s messenger! (Acts 7:58)
Have you ever been guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit when He was speaking through a witness to you? Are you asking Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit so you can effectively witness to the lost? How do you now understand and process Stephen’s stoning at the hands of those he preached to?
Prayer: Father God, have mercy on those who have and are currently resisting the Holy Spirit. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and bring truth into my life first of all. Drive out any stiff-necked attitudes or actions in me. Empower me with boldness to speak the truth in love to others in need of repentance. Amen.
Sunday Rest and Reflection:Pentecost Power!
Dearly beloved friends,
Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ! Another week is beginning and God’s people gather in buildings, homes, and small groups to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord! We are so blessed to know Him and love Him! From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, Jesus is being praised around the earth in every country and culture.
However, many still do not know Him. Over half the earth’s 6.3 billion people still have not heard of Jesus Christ. Many are lost in false religions and are entering eternity under God’s wrath. His Church is charged with going and telling every one! To do this Jesus sent the church the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person who lives in each one who is saved and has repented of sin. He wants to fill us with “living water” and power to share that “living water” with the lost of the world.
Many Pentecostals seem caught up with emotional experience of God and speaking in tongues and even the gifts of the Spirit. They go from meeting to meeting craving more of God’s presence and desiring to see miracles. This is all well and good, but misses the mark! God gave the Holy Spirit to equip us to be His witnesses to the lost world. He sent us to go. He promises us that the signs and miracles will follow us as we are out doing the work of ministry and reaching the lost! We must leave the meeting empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit to reach our lost friends and family.
Listening to God’s directing voice helps us know when to talk and when to be quiet and pray. We must pray in the power of the Holy Spirit for then we pray according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-28) We build ourselves up in our faith as we pray in the Spirit. (Jude 20) No one can come to Christ unless drawn by the Father so we desperately need the Spirit for evangelism. (John 8:44, 16:8-11) The Holy Spirit give us direction and boldness to speak and act in the face of persecution. God has empowered His Church!
As you attend church this Lord’s day, pray that the place where you meet will be shaken by the power of the Holy Spirit! Ask the Lord to fill you again with the Holy Spirit! Go into the week to fulfill God’s command to reach the lost! Have a great week in Jesus!
In His Love, Pastor John