Conviction

Introduction:

“Grab Bag” - There is not “theme” to the series. Overlap purely coincidental!

‘inspired’ series… partially true. Not locking into any one topic; leave room for changes to be made!

TODAY: Holy Spirit conviction

The Purpose of Conviction

John 16:8 “When [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin & righteousness and judgment:”

GK: ελεγξει [elengxei]- to convict, point out faults (for the purpose of changing)

Conviction is NOT condemnation; it reveals our blind spots & invites us to change.

Condemnation: “you ARE a bad person” | Conviction “done bad thing”

One ties sin to your identity; other detatches & leaves room for change, improvement.

Buzz’d head >> Som1 pointed out to me where I missed a spot! Thank GOD. It was a blind spot; didn’t know was wrong. Once I knew, I could fix! (or let BJS)

See, as selfish mortals, all have blind spots (tend to judge every1 else more harshly than self).

Also, as people who have been hurt in past, we have blind spots! (sore spots break open & we hurt others)

Perhaps the offense, undealt with, has build up callous: also a blind spot (never going to let XYZ hurt me again… )!

Psalmist says:

___________________________________________________

Problem: we HATE being told/shown we’re insufficient, can’t do s’thing, aren’t measuring up

Took BOLDness for Psalmist to pray that prayer!

Bad perf. review; comment made about attitude/life choices… immed. defensive!!

caveat: we shouldn’t let random person ruin our day either: give that right out sparingly!

In fact, if you’re sitting here today thinking “I pretty mvuch have it all together”, there may be an area overlooking—blind spot!

If you hear a sermon or a Christian reel and you think, “Gee, So-and-so should hear THIS…” Stop right there and ask: “Reveal my blindspot. How do I need this first?”

Jesus’ S.o.M winds down w/ similar point:

Matthew 7:3–5 ““Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Enter: HS role in our lives. Good at pointing out sin-logs.

Holy Spirit is one who has the right to challenge our life; rearrange furniture; let opinion shake you

Hope you’ll let HS use me a bit in that way also!

Pull up main pssg once more…

John 16:8 “When [Holy Spirit] comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:”

sin - what’s ‘off’/wrong/harmfully | right’ess - acting right | judg’t - telling diff.

Israel Experienced Conviction (Nehemiah 8-9)

Israel rebel’d against YH so He sent armies of Babyl. to capture Isr., purify land, exile them for their sins

Exile came to end under Persian rule, some ppl started returning.

But Torah was forgotten by many Israelites back in land. so as they were re-settling holy land…

Nehemiah 8:2,9 “So… Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand… 9 “Then Nehemiah [& Ezra] said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.”

Much of Israel in that Day was ignorant to what was right and wrong—they had forgotten the words of God’s Law.

70 years of exile and, before that, years of syncretism had diluted the Word in their hearing.

As Ezra read God’s priorities & commands again, they wept and mourned bc of how much they had let go.

The Result: A public confession, a fast, and a formal covenant to walk in God's ways again.

The people were CONVICTED when they were reminded of their faults.

The Torah was read and the people were shown important tenets of the ‘good life’.

God’s Spirit reminded the people of what they didn’t even really remember was missing; and they committed to change!

Conviction is meant to lead to a "Covenant"—a renewed commitment to follow God.

Today, want to examine the heart-posture of Israel here… >>

A Heart Open to Change…

I hope that, through times of worship & prayer, God has revealed blind spots to you.

Areas where you think you’re okay or everything’s ‘good’, however God shows you otherwise.

However,

The Spirit can show us blind-spots or short-comings all day. We need to respond to that in a healthy way!

The main trait of a heart that is open to change is >> [humility]

…is Humble.

Jesus creates a most poignant parable—shows the heart-change required to receive correction; act on conviction:

Luke 15:11–12 “Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.”

After living a wild life of debauchery, young prodigal has a ‘lightbulb’ moment

Falling on hard times, he realizes he was wrong (conviction)

Luke 15:16–17 “He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!”

You see, here is a picture of conviction! The youngest son is shown, here at ‘rock bottom’, what it looks like to be in the wrong.

Aside: Church, isn’t that what it takes sometimes? It takes finding ourselves at a bad place for us to actually respond to conviction?

Here described as lit. “coming to oneself”, the young man is convicted and shows humility by returning to his father to be reconciled. Luke 15:19

Watch what he does though: doesn’t burst thru the doors saying, “alright I’m back! Everything’s good right?” Likewise, doesn’t just wait it out in fear until “things simmer down back home”.

No! He gets up immediately, leaves the pigs behind, has a plan

Luke 15:19 “[I will say: ‘Father] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’”

The son admits to himself (and to His Father), "I am no longer worthy" and makes the decision to approach his Father.

There are times in our lives, as leaders, as Christians, where we (even if we don’t feel like we deserve it or should) must humble ourselves to preserve a relationship.

Our constantly playing the I’M RIGHT card will cost us countless close friendships.

The ONLY path by which a relationship grow healthy is where one person lays down self-righteousness & comes humbly to the other. James 4:10

Sometimes we ARE right. But God still calls us to act humbly.

Common phrase in counseling, “do you want to be right… or be married.”

In fact, humility it’s the only path to right-relat. with Him.

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Need conviction to show us our faults first; we need to make choice to respond humbly.

This works with God & others… righteousness.

The heart open to change is humble & one that >>

…Walks with the Spirit.

This is actually just the same thing. One who responds humbly to offense or to being right

(instead of putting up walls & being self-righteous) is one who walks by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

What is “flesh” [σαρξ]?

Paul doesn’t mean your skin, bones, organs & hair. Though perhaps related…

It’s that part of us that makes us ‘mortal’; tendency to sin and pursue selfish gain, wanton pleasure, stubborn pride

AP says:

Galatians 5:17a “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh…”

A stubborn attitude, an inability to be transparent/let others in, self-seeking pride that keeps us from even SEEING our own faults…

It’s contrary to the desire of Christ’s Spirit in us.

Paul’s Command is actually simple

—Listen to the Spirit. [Galatians 5:25]

Galatians 5:25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

AP doesn’t directly say, ‘Listen to the HS’. Put in a 1st c. Jewish way:

He uses common Jewish metaphorical scheme—life is a path

In this inst., HS is leading the way.

We are called to ‘keep in step with’ Him.

IOW, the HS goes left, we need to see when He turns and go that way.

AP closes by commenting on how living out of sync w/ HS can have catastrophic results for our relationships:

Galatians 5:26 “Let us not become conceited, provoking & envying each other.”

There’s a command given elsewhere that can only help us to live walking in step w/ the Spirit’s moves.

—Be Filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:17–18 “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”

The selfish Way of the flesh is foolish!

A powerful way to ensure we’re walking with the Spirit is to be filled to overflowing with the Spirit.

We don't obey out of grit; we obey out of relationship.

Humility is the "empty bowl" that allows the Spirit to fill us with the power to love.

Today, my challenge is for you to

Live Open-Handed

Lesson: Un-Clench your Fist

Clench your fists as tight as they can.

This represents pride, self-reliance, and the "plank" in our eye. It is the posture of someone trying to be their own god or hiding their sin.

Hold for a second or two more…

Slowly release your grip & turn your palms upward.

This is the posture of humility.

It’s risky—don’t know what may fall into your hand—good, bad, ‘just fine’…

No better way to live.

Just like you open your hand, you release your "right-ness" and "effort" in order to receive the Spirit’s guidance.

An open hand can be corrected, but more importantly, it can be filled.

Close in prayer

For Spirit filling

For heart softening; to remove planks

For God’s moving in life.

For help ‘keeping in step with the Spirit.’

Hebrews 13:20–21 “Now may the God of peace,… that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”