CONVICTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

RUTH

For some reason in the opening sessions of the three days lecturing on the Holy Spirit at a School for Missions in Bandung, I focused quite a bit on the purpose of the Holy Spirit to make a New Creation, and one important characteristic of the New Creation is discipline.

In the third session, in the late afternoon, I asked for testimonies, because it was obvious that people were being touched by the Holy Spirit. Ruth's testimony surprised everyone! She came forward and related that during the worship time we had in the second session (about 45 minutes of seeking God in worship), the Holy Spirit had spoken to her heart and convicted her that she must be obedient to her husband.She had quite a bit of explanation and story telling, most of which I couldn't understand, but it was clear that she was explaining how her husband was a very organized, methodical man (you can see it in him - very reserved, intellectual type) and she did not like doing things his way.

She confessed she had often been rebellious and apologized and asked forgiveness to his face in front of the whole class. He, like the man he is, stood and listened and accepted without any apparent emotion (obviously needs some work, too).

I encourage testimonies because others are encouraged by them and the Word says in Revelation that the enemy is overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the testimonies of the saints. It is my desire to inflict as much damage as possible to the enemy! We have had lots of testimonies of how the Lord touched people, convicted people, set people free.

I write this at the end of the second day. One more day to go, will have to miss the evening session to catch the overnight train back to Surabaya to fulfill duties at school on Thursday.

This morning I was greeted by the school coordinator with the comment that the students are much more lively today than ever before: more enthusiastic about doing their chores, more eager to help each other, more loving toward each other.

Ahh, this is the work of the Holy Spirit!