The Person of The Holy Spirit (II)

One of the greatest evangelists of our time, the late Billy Graham, explained the responsibility of the Holy Spirit in convicting a man’s heart and he said : ‘It is the spirit’s work to convict, God’s work to judge and my work to love’. Conviction can mean several things depending on the context in which it is being used. In a court of law, conviction is a declaration of guilt while in religious matters, it is an unshakable belief without need for proof or evidence. In the context of a romantic relationship, it is a certainty in one’s heart based on their belief, feelings and ideas. In our life as hosts of the Spirit of the Lord, conviction is produced by the counsel of our Helper, who knows the mind and heart of God and seeks to establish the same in the heart of the submitted seeker (Psalm 37:4).Psalm 37:44 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.Romans 8:2Romans 8:22 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.MSG

The grace message fundamentally consists of awakening men to the realization that separated from their Maker in whom all things are reconciled (Colossians 1:20),Colossians 1:2020 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. nothing in heaven or on earth is in its correct order and nothing can be done well apart from Him. Alas many people, including believers, are merely content with just going by, doing their ‘level best’, being ‘good people’, attending a church, giving ‘the best they can’, and serving ‘as time allows’. The Holy Spirit is primarily referred to as a Helper (John 14:26)John 14:2626 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. which is a characteristic that implies His ability to alleviate any form of struggle and strife when welcomed and enables you as a believer not to settle but to receive God’s best in all circumstances.

In our theme scripture, Paul tells us that in welcoming the person of the Holy Spirit to guide, help, instruct and enable us, a new power is in position. Most people will tell you things supposedly became hard when they became believers but the underlying cause of this assumption is because the spirit and the flesh are never in agreement and one has to yield to the other in order to function. The will of man comes in to decide which will have the final say in their life hence the sentiment that things become harder when they choose to put to death the deeds of their flesh to follow the Spirit for man’s instinct is to respond to the (fallen) flesh.

What then does perfection look like ?

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Romans 8:5-7Romans 8:5-75 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. NKJV

Perfection therefore does not sound like a foreign concept or an unrealistic expectation placed on a poor believer who is unable to walk in it. It is important to understand that it is not up to you to achieve or figure out, as the law itself has tested us and found us unable to abide by it (Romans 8:3). It is in acknowledging the finished work of Christ by grace through faith that salvation will benefit us. This consciousness enables a believer to walk in the Spirit, live by the Spirit, function in the spirit and be fully governed by the Spirit.

As it is written, to be spiritually minded is life and peace, and for most it is repugnant because they assume their ‘doing’ part is taken away from them. Hitherto, man had to perform a myriad of rituals and initiations to be cleansed and for their sin to be atoned; for the New Testament believer, you did this once and for all through baptism, submerging your flesh under water and rising up from the dead with Christ(Colossians 2:11-15).Colossians 2:11-15Not Legalism but Christ 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

That was final and your perfection is made complete when your first reflex is to yield to the spirit, respond to situations through the lens of the spirit, wait for the full counsel of the spirit in all that concerns you and all you steward.

Submission to the person of the Holy Spirit makes one fully furnished in the works that please God(John 14:21, 26).John 14:21, 2621 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Hallelujah!

If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, and you feel that this is the perfect time, pray this prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I thank you because you died for my sins and you were raised for my glory. Today, I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I am born again. Amen.”