The Holy Spirit plays many roles in our lives. Today we will explore how the Holy Spirit aids us in the process of sanctification. Some teach that we are not convicted of sin after we are saved. That is pure ignorance of the scriptures and not even logical. If the Holy Spirit convicts us to bring us to salvation, and he dwells within us, why would he not continue to refine us as we grow in grace?
We are viewed as sinless positionally in Christ, under the blood but we still have no inherent righteousness. Paul spoke of his struggles in Romans 7:18-20.
Romans 7:18-20 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
We live in the flesh with the old nature and new nature in a battle. We will not reach sinless perfection until we reach heaven. When we sin as Christians we have the Holy Spirit living within to convict, meaning he will convince us of our sin. Through the process of seeking forgiveness of sins, we stay in a right relationship with God. A good illustration would be the relationship between a parent and child. When a child does wrong the bible tells us as parents we are to correct or chastise them. Discipline does not mean the child is not ours any longer, but the opposite is true, it shows real love. The Holy Spirit does the same for God’s children.
Hebrews 12:6-7 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”
All of us still sin. The goal is to sin less and less as we grow in Christ. If we no longer sinned after we become a follower of Jesus Christ we would be perfect, and we all know that will never be true as long as we are flesh and blood. We still retain our sinful nature after salvation. That is why I John 1:8-10 was written to Christians, we are still sinful people.
I John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives we will become more sensitive to his voice. Seeking God’s approval in all of our lives will cause us to seek before we act. It will allow us to hear that small voice saying, “don’t do that,” or “that’s not best,” before we do it.
As God seeks to conform us to the image of His dear Son we need to listen and yield to the Holy Spirit. I think He speaks many times when we don’t hear. Maybe because of all the noise we allow into our lives, or the desire for the things of this world greater, than the things of God.
Galatians 5:16-17 “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
We are to live under the influences of the Holy Spirit. We need to allow his influence to guide us and we need to yield completely. If we do, He will refine us like gold. When gold is refined tremendous heat must be applied for the gold to melt so the dross can be separated out, leaving only the pure gold. Refining us will be painful at times, as we yield to the Holy Spirit in our lives, but just like the gold that is separated from the dross, we will become more valuable when the sin of our lives is melted away.
Personally, I want to shine like new money. I want to be a reflection of all that is like Christ. Though the process is painful, the outcome will be glorious when we stand before Him one day. I used to sing the song by Steve Greene called “Refiners Fire.” I think it expresses what our sincere desire should be.
There burns a fire with sacred heat
White hot with holy flame
And all who dare pass through its blaze
Will not emerge the same
Some as bronze, and some as silver
Some as gold, then with great skill
All are hammered by their sufferings
On the anvil of His will
Chorus:
The Refiner’s fire
Has now become my soul’s desire
Purged and cleansed and purified
That the Lord be glorified
He is consuming my soul
Refining me, making me whole
No matter what I may lose
I choose the Refiner’s fire
I’m learning now to trust His touch
To crave the fire’s embrace
For though my past with sin was etched
His mercies did erase
Each time His purging cleanses deeper
I’m not sure that I’ll survive
Yet the strength in growing weaker
Keeps my hungry soul alive
