Convinced Of Judgment

Convinced of Judgment

Read: John 16:5-11

“The prince of this world now stands condemned.”

John 16:11

“God reigns in the hearts of His servants; there is His kingdom.”

—Jeremy Taylor

IN WORD Jesus does not pull any punches. All throughout His ministry He has called a spade a spade. So when He calls Satan the prince of this world, we know He is precise in what He says.

Did you really wonder who was governing the world systems? Surely we have seen enough headlines to know. There is a malicious, personal evil unleashed in this world through the foolishness of our fall in the Garden. He has ravaged this planet with vengeance and hate. He has distorted all that is good and corrupted all that is God’s. He’s in this mess up to his ears: the economic systems, the political systems, the religious idolatries, and in the very heart of man. Yes, at both a macro and a micro level, the adversary has exerted his illegitimate authority.

The Holy Spirit of whom Jesus speaks comes into this world for a threefold purpose: to convince of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He can do so because judgment has been rendered. The prince has been passed over in favor of the Son. The usurper has been usurped. The regent gives way to the heir. The mutineer has been stripped of his power.

IN DEED There is a very practical side to the advent of the Holy Spirit in your heart. He is there to convince you that the authority that Jesus has regained—remember that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18)—means that as His co-laborer and joint heir, you are no longer under Satan’s thumb; he is under yours. You represent the One with all authority; you must learn how to represent Him to the enemy.

Do you feel defeated? Then the Holy Spirit wants more of your heart. You must fellowship more deeply with Him. There is no defeat there. God has rendered judgment, and the Spirit will convince you of it. He will also help you enforce the victory. The malicious prince is forever condemned.