To convict means to admonish, to rebuke, to reprove, to expose, and to convince with solid, compelling evidence. This is the same word used in a court of law when someone is convicted. All the evidence is gathered together; it’s all laid out for everyone to see, and the truth is revealed. The truth and evidence is so convincing and obvious there is no doubt. A final agreement or judgement has been rendered.

 

The Holy Spirit brings these truths and evidences to us to help us grow closer to the Father.

John 16:8-11 lays out three ways the Spirit convicts us to walk with Him.

 

  1. To believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Lord, and the Christ.

  2. To call followers of Jesus to live in His transforming life, and to follow in His righteousness.

  3. To receive God’s forgiveness and ignore the accusations of the already condemned enemy.

 

The enemy wants to condemn us and remind us of our past sin. He is The Accuser. But The Holy Spirit convicts us to remember that we belong to God, and the enemy has been judged. He can no longer condemn us because the Father has accepted us through the blood of Jesus. We are free in deed!

 

I pray that you will walk in God’s righteousness, grace, and freedom this week. And I pray that you will seek Him more closely and allow Him to transform you more and more into the child that He has called you to be. All glory and honor be unto His name, now and forever, amen!