Connect 21- Prayer + Fasting - Holy Spirit, Our HelperSample

Day 7 | What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

In the gospel of John, John the Apostle spends much effort detailing the divine nature of Jesus and His mission. In his farewell discourse, Jesus reiterates His pending departure while also assuring the disciples of the help they will receive from the Paraclete or Holy Spirit.

In this passage, Jesus outlines the role of the Holy Spirit to “convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.” The Greek word translated “convict” here is elegchó, which means “to expose, convict, or reprove.”1 It implies that exposure is done to shed light on a fault so that correction can be made.

The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers of their sinful nature that separates them from God. This starts with a sense of guilt that goes beyond acknowledging wrongdoing to realizing the need for repentance. The Holy Spirit exposes those who do not believe in Jesus as the Savior who alone can take away the sins of the world.

Although the Holy Spirit convicts, He never condemns. The whole point of making people aware of their sins is to point them to the saving grace of Christ. Only through Jesus can we receive forgiveness for our sins. We cannot make ourselves righteous. Paul writes in Galatians 2:26 that only through faith in Jesus Christ is a sinner considered righteous in the sight of God.

The Holy Spirit also convicts individuals of the sin of self-righteousness when people base their worth on their good deeds. And when believers feel worthless because of the wrongs we’ve done, wondering how God could love us after all the bad things we’ve done, the Holy Spirit reminds us of our right standing with God and assures us that all our sins have been forgiven through the finished work of the cross.

The Holy Spirit also convicts the world of judgment, warning unbelievers of the consequences of rejecting Jesus. Those who align themselves with Satan and his works of darkness will spend eternity separated from God. This part of God’s redemptive plan should lead believers to spread the good news and share the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Reflection: Are you struggling to pray because you haven’t forgiven yourself for something you’ve done wrong? Have you lost confidence that God will hear and answer your prayers? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who you are in Christ and His great plan for your life.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be fully convinced that I am only made righteous through my faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, please work within me to reveal and firmly plant the truth of God’s Word so I can live a life filled with joy and victory. In Jesus’s name, I pray.