Glen Bond
Jan. 14, 2007
Picayune MS

Subject: Holy Spirit Conviction

Bro. Freddy talking this morning about the sacrifice being good for only 3 days.
The time of salvation is available to us for a short time only.
They had the two days to eat, and after that, it was too late.


Pastor: are you almost persuaded? almost, but not quite.


Agrippa was almost persuaded, but he would not, and died and went to hell.
Is this what you will do?
Will this be said of you? He was almost persuaded?

Look at Noah. What if he was almost persuaded?
Look at all of those people in Noah's time.
I am sure that there were many who were almost persuaded.
They had heard Noah speak, they wanted to believe him, but because of their pride they would not obey.
They said, "I believe him, but what will everyone think when they see me go into that ark?"
"They will laugh at me, and make fun of me for the rest of my life."
Yes, they probably will, but it is better to be laughed at, than to burn in Hell.
Their laughter will soon be over, but Hell will be forever.


Holy Spirit Conviction
The Holy Spirit is God. Just the same as Jesus Christ is God.
It is by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that we see our need of Christ.
The Holy Spirit opens our blinded eyes to see just what wicked people we are.
The Holy Spirit must do this by his power.
When you are saved, you will KNOW that there is a God because you will have experianced the power of God.

When the Holy Spirit opens your mind and understanding to see a little of yourself, you will know that God himself has touched your life. You may not immediately know it, but you will know it soon enough.
This is a great miracle in the life of ALL of Gods people.

Bro. Shelton has often said that Holy Spirit Conviction is missing from the average church.
And I also believe that it is.
If the Holy Spirit is missing from a church, then that church is spiritually dead.
The people there are all lost and blind, and having a blind leader they will all fall into that ditch called Hell. (Luke 6:39)

You here are a most blessed people because you hear the truth.
I know that almost all churches claim to preach the truth, but most churches don't know what the truth is even though they claim to preach it.

   John 8:32   And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
This was said to those who beleived in Christ.
It is the Holy Spirit that will make you to know the truth.
It is the Holy Spirit that makes you to know that you are free from the power of sin which is death.

John 16:7   Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8   And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

When Christ went away, back to heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to us.
The Spirit came to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

You may know that you have committed a crime against God, but except the Holy Spirit "reprove" you, you will always try to justify yourself in what you did. You will say, "well he deserved it", or "Well it is not as bad a thing as most people do".

It is the working of the Holy Spirit that shows us what we are.
In Luke 18:18 the rich young ruler came to Christ wanting eternal life.
Maybe his heart had been pricked by the Holy Spirit, maybe it was only his pride and selfishness, but he didn't want to die.
If his heart was pricked by the Holy Spirit, then he was like Saul who was kicking against the pricks.
He kicked and turned away. Will you also turn away.

The Pastor was talking about the rich young ruler this morning.
Our Lord knew what was rotten in that mans life.
The Holy Spirit knows what is rotten in your life.

What is the rotten spot in your life?
Is it greed? the love of money? Pride? A stubborn will?
One big rotten spot in my life was my stubborn will.
But, no matter what it is, it all boils down to this, you won't have this man to rule over you.
That is the main thing that the average person stumbles at.
You don't want to do what God has commanded you to do.
The rich young ruler would not obey Christ, even to obtain eternal life. (Luke 18:18)
What a shame!
What will be said of you when you are gone from this Earth?

Look at Saul of Tarsus.
He was blinded by Satan, going about killing Gods people.
Then the Lord stopped him dead in his tracks.
Blinded him physically so that he could do nothing else.
And then the Holy Spirit went to do his work in the heart of Saul.

(read Matt. Henry Acts 9:7 big gray box)

We know that Saul was troubled, because it says in vs. 9, he didn't eat or drink for 3 days.
For three days Saul was shut up,  with just himself and the Holy Spirit.
For 3 days, Saul saw his great sinfull condition before a mighty God.
For 3 days Saul morned his sin.
Then the Lord sent Ananias to preach to Saul, and pray for him.
The Lord used that little sermon from Ananias to reveal Christ unto Saul as Lord and God. (John 20:28    And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.)

The grace of God.
When Saul was converted, there were many with him, but none of them were affected.