Belfast OutReach

BEING CONVICTED OF SIN, CONVINCED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRANSFORMED The ministry of God by his Word and Holy Spirit in a persons life will lead to a deep, impactful and transformative conviction (an awareness or a realization) of their sin and to a totally God changed life. In our world today such thought...the thought of being so convicted of sin and being dramatically transformed by God are foreign...and sadly to say...this belief is even held and evidenced in many of our churches in America today. When a person is truly convicted of their sin and wickedness by God and the Holy Spirit their thoughts or concerns are not about themselves or their comforts or happiness...that they think or feel sadness for...nor it is not about their getting right with God so that they might feel happy and blessed only... No when the true, deep and lasting convicting work of God comes into a person's life their thoughts are about how their sin has affected a Holy God and others. That person is made

"And when He [the Comforter] is come, He will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (John 16:8) When friends are about to part from one another, they are far kinder than ever they have been before. It was so with Jesus. He was going to part from His disciples, and never till now did His heart flow out toward them in so many streams of heavenly tenderness. Sorrow had filled their heart, and therefore divinest compassion filled His heart. "I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away." Surely it was expedient for Himself that He should go away. He had lived a life of weariness and painfulness, not having where to lay His head, and surely it was pleasant in His eyes that He was about to enter into His rest. He had lived in obscurity and poverty—He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; and now, surely, He might well look forward with joy to His return to that glory which He had wi