Happiness is Being Convicted

Good Evening Everyone!

The Answers to the Bible Challenge "Riches" are as follows:

1. d) all of the above (Genesis 41:42)
2. c) silver, gold, and cloth (Exodus 12:35-36)
3. b) ivory (Amos 6:4)
4. c) 666 (I Kings 10:14)
5. rubies (Proverbs 8:11)
6. "a good name" (Proverbs 22:1)
7. c) thieves (Matthew 6:19)
8. hearts (Matthew 6:21)
9. d) pearls (Matthew7:6)
10. they were used to buy a graveyard for strangers (Matthew 27:3-7)

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And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) of sin , because they do not believe in Me; (10) of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; (11) of judgment , because the ruler of this world is judged.
(John 16:8-11)

Reference: Holy Bible- New King James Version (8) Convict means to convince or reprove. The Holy Spirit would demonstrate the truth of Christ beyond the fear of contradiction. Hie convicts unbelievers through the believers who witness about Christ (15:26,27). Believers are the mouthpiece for God's voice. (9) of sin; Note the singular sin, not sins. Our witness should not focus on many sins but on the one FULL action and payment that Christ made for All of our sins. (10) righteousness: After Christ's departure, the Holy Spirit would convict the world of the nature and need for righteousness. (11) of judgment: Satan, the ruler of this world, rules in the hearts of unregenerate people and blinds their minds (see 1 Cor. 2:6-8) Satan was judged at the Cross, and the Holy Spirit would convince people of the judgment to come. Satan has been judged, so all who side with him will be judged with him. There is no room for neutrality. A person is either a child of God or a child of the devil.

The Holy Spirit's whole purpose is to guide us into all truths and teach us how to live for God.

He uses conviction to do this. To convict is to convince or reprove. He convicts us of sin which is intended to convince us to repent or turn away from sin and go in the right direction toward God rather than away from Him.

Many people don't know the difference between conviction and condemnation. Conviction is meant to help us move up higher in God's will and plan for our lives, by helping us through our trials and tribulations or delivering us from whatever is hindering our walk with God.
Condemnation on the other hand brings us down and puts us on a guilt trip which is hard to return from without God's help.

It's normal to feel a "little" ashamed when we are initially convicted, after all, God is bringing to light our short-comings. We all have them so we mustn't hang on to the shame. We should use that to lift ourselves up and get on the right track with God. Conviction is a good thing. It shows us what we need to work on so that God can use us in His kingdom, not to mention getting us ready for our eternal home. In my mind, conviction from the Holy Spirit is right up there with being "chastised from God". God says He chastises those He loves, much as a human parent would discipline their child for doing something wrong. He does it to teach us. The same with conviction. This is how the Holy Spirit teaches us. What we must be careful NOT to do is to hold on to the shame once we have repented. It is not healthy to do so, nor is it God's will. The Bible tells us that when we ask forgiveness and repent, that God tosses our sin into the "sea of forgetfulness" to be remembered no more. Well, that's all well and good unless we hold on to the shame and continue to dwell and bring it up to God. How can He forget it if we continue to dredge it up by feeling guilty? Don't forget he knows what's in our hearts and minds. Here is my train of thought on this point. According to His Word, God cannot forgive those who cannot forgive others. It says this in black and white (or red and white). I personally think He includes forgiving ourselves in this point also. I say this because if He being God of the Universe is willing to be merciful enough to forgive us, what gives us the right to "wallow" in self-pity and shame and not forgive ourselves?

Since God does not condemn us, we can fearlessly pray: "Lord, show me my sin. Convict me of anything I am doing that breaks your law of loving others or that keeps me from doing Your will. Keep my conscience tender to Your voice. Give me power to be free from sin. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen. Living this way will increase our sensitivity to the voice of God in our lives. We will become more and more in-tune with listening for His still, small, voice.

JUST REMEMBER: Satan condemns (and will use other people to do it as well); the Holy Spirit convicts.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!