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The Holy Spirit: Our Help for Harvest  

The Holy Spirit Confirms, Convinces, Convicts, and Converts

Theme for the Month of September

Primary Verse for the Month

Zechariah 4:6 (KJV) Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Introduction

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (KJV)
^{2Co 6:1 (KJV)}  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
^{2Co 6:2 (KJV)}  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

How the Holy Spirit helps us in Harvest.

The Holy Spirit Confirms.

1)    The Holy Spirit confirms the word with signs and wonders.

a.    Jesus promised that signs would follow the preaching of the gospel.  

Mark 16:15-20 (KJV)
^{Mk 16:15 (KJV)}  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
^{Mk 16:16 (KJV)}  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
^{Mk 16:17 (KJV)}  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
^{Mk 16:18 (KJV)}  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
^{Mk 16:19 (KJV)}  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
^{Mk 16:20 (KJV)}  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

b.    The promise of signs following was fulfilled.

Hebrews 2:1-4 (NLT2)
^{Heb 2:1 (NLT2)}  So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
^{Heb 2:2 (NLT2)}  For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.
^{Heb 2:3 (NLT2)}  So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?
^{Heb 2:4 (NLT2)}  And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Romans 15:18-19 (NLT2)
Romans 15:18 (NLT2)  Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.
Romans 15:19 (NLT2)  They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

2)    The early church understood the necessity of claiming by prayer promise of confirming signs and wonders.

Acts 4:29-31 (KJV)
Acts 4:29 (KJV)  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Acts 4:30 (KJV)  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts 4:31 (KJV)  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Acts 5:12-16 (KJV)
^{Ac 5:12 (KJV)}  And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
^{Ac 5:13 (KJV)}  And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
^{Ac 5:14 (KJV)}  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
^{Ac 5:15 (KJV)}  Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
^{Ac 5:16 (KJV)}   There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

3)    As much as the Lord was with them, He promised to be with us as we evangelize the world.

Mark 16:20 (KJV)  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)
^{Mt 28:18 (KJV)}  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
^{Mt 28:19 (KJV)}  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
^{Mt 28:20 (KJV)}  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

John 14:12-14 (ESV)
^{Jn 14:12 (ESV)}  “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
^{Jn 14:13 (ESV)}  Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
^{Jn 14:14 (ESV)}  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

The Holy Spirit Convinces.

Luke 21:15 (KJV) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Titus 1:9 (KJV)  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (KJV)
^{1Co 14:24 (KJV)}  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
^{1Co 14:25 (KJV)}  And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

Petition: Father, we ask You to confirm Your Word with convincing signs, wonders and gifts of the Holy Ghost to draw the unbeliever to Christ.

The Holy Spirit Convicts.

4)    Jesus promises that it would be the Holy Spirit who brings conviction to the world.

John 16:7-8 (ESV)
John 16:7 (ESV)  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:8 (ESV)  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

5)    This promise was fulfilled.

a.    It was fulfilled in the preaching of Peter.

Acts 2:36-38 (ESV)
Acts 2:36 (ESV)  Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Acts 2:37 (ESV)  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:38 (ESV)  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

b.    It was fulfilled in the preaching of Paul.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 (ESV)  because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

Petition: Father, As we share the Gospel, whether in public or in private, let it come forth in power, in the Holy Spirit and in full conviction.

The Holy Spirit Converts.

&   CONVERSION (Gk. epistrophe, Acts 15:3, rendered “conversion,” lit., “turning toward”). A term denoting, in its theological use, the “turning ” of a soul from sin to God. The verb (epistrepho) is sometimes rendered in the NT “to convert,” sometimes simply “to turn.” The New Unger's Bible Dictionary.

1 Samuel 10:6 (KJV)  And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

1 Samuel 10:9 (KJV)  And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 (NLT2)
Ezekiel 11:19 (NLT2)  And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,
Ezekiel 11:20 (NLT2)  so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

James 5:19-20 (KJV)
^{Jas 5:19 (KJV)}  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
^{Jas 5:20 (KJV)}  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NLT2)
^{2Co 5:17 (NLT2)}  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
^{2Co 5:18 (NLT2)}  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT2)  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

The Invitation

John 3:16 (KJV)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 1:14-15 (KJV)
^{Ro 1:14 (KJV)}  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
^{Ro 1:15 (KJV)}  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

John 3:17-18 (KJV)
^{Jn 3:17 (KJV)}  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
^{Jn 3:18 (KJV)}  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Isaiah 53:5-6 (KJV)
^{Isa 53:5 (KJV)}  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
^{Isa 53:6 (KJV)}  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Matthew 18:3 (KJV) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Acts 3:19 (KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;