Conviction

If you have ever felt convicted by the Holy Spirit then you know how powerful it can be. The last couple sessions of my BE 101 class (Bible Study Methods) have been some of the most convicting moments in my life. My professor is about 80 years old and one of the wisest, loving men I have ever met. He has a huge heart for the Lord and for the word (and for his students). I look forward to attending his class because I know he is going to share not only practical and proven methods of bible study, but also his heart and his life experience.

The last couple of weeks he has had us focus on Acts 1:8 so we can practice the principles of Bible study we are learning class. I think he also chose this particular verse because of the message. If you were to try and summarize the book of Acts, you could easily say that it is primarily about 3 things. 1. Christ going up - ascension. 2. The Holy Spirit coming down - gift from God. 3. The church going out - Christ calling the apostles (and us) to go out as witnesses. Acts 1:8 says that we will receive something, the Holy Spirit, and we will be something, witnesses. We will be Christ's personal representatives to all the inhabited parts of the earth.

After Christ tells the apostles to go be his witnesses, he tells them where to start. He tells them to start in Jerusalem. That is exactly where the apostles were when Jesus was speaking to them. Begin where you are. This was so convicting for me because I thought who have I shared the gospel with that is in my everyday life. Have I had that difficult conversation about who Jesus is with the people I love the most? What about the people I interact with daily? Will they know the love of the Father, the freedom of a life in Christ, will they know grace? Why is it so scary to do this? Jesus said the Holy Spirit will come and inhabit us and give us the power. So as Prof said today and as I have written in my notes: Why be scared to share your faith. The Holy Spirit will do it through you. Trust Him!