Agents of the King

"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer, and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."
John 16:7-11 


I believe that in these last day, the Holy Spirit is releasing great power in the church. It is not that this is new. The same power was released to the early church when he came on the day of Pentecost. Although the disciples were sad because Jesus was going away, the bigger picture told us that it was for the good of all mankind that Jesus return to the Father. The reason is simple: The Holy Spirit was coming to indwell all who would receive him. What Jesus accomplished in his human body would be multiplied by billions as God's people were and are empowered by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. 
    We know that the Holy Spirit is within us and that he guides us, reminds us of the scriptures, counsels us, and gives us direction. But we often forget that the Holy Spirit does much more than that. First, he convicts the world of sin. People feel guilty about their sinful lives because the Holy Spirit is continually convicting them. This can only happen as believers live righteous lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are the agents being used by Him to bring conviction to the world. We sometimes forget that the great thing that marked the early church and many revivals that followed was a strong conviction of sin. When unbelievers came to a meeting, they felt the weight of their sin as the Holy Spirit convicted them. This is so necessary in the church today. We have gone out of our way to make the church comfortable for unbelievers, and this is good. They should feel welcomed. But we can never waiver in our message of righteousness and holiness. This is the plan of God and this is how the non-believing world will know that Jesus is the only way to God. 
    The Holy Spirit reveals the fact that the enemy has already been condemned. There is no longer any stronghold, any excuse for those who don't believe. The hands of the enemy have been bound. His mouth has been shut through the power of the cross. He is under our feet because we sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus himself. We are the righteous, we are the body of Christ, and we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to display the glory of God. Sin is exposed, righteousness made known, and judgement revealed. 
    Let us take the free gift of the Holy Spirit and partner with him in the great ministry of the day. When we truly walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, when we truly keep in step with him, great things will happen. Our churches will change, we will change, communities will change, and the world will change. The world will not accept the Holy Spirit, but we are his agents, called to go into the world and make disciples. As much as we may try on our own, we will never be effective unless we are filled with the Spirit of God. Then conviction of sin and the release of righteousness will surely fill the earth. We are his agents!