Ministry of the Holy Spirit Towards Unbelievers in the Church Age

Ministry of the Holy Spirit of Convicting Unsaved of Sin in the Church Age in the Gospel of John 16

God ordered the ministry of the different persons of the Godhead in such a way that there was not to be both the persons and ministry of Jesus the Son of God or God the Son and the Holy Spirit of God or God the Holy Spirit on earth at the same time in the Church Age. Therefore Jesus said he had to go away (to Heaven) before he could send the Holy Spirit (from Heaven to Earth). Jesus went away at His Ascension to Heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead or the 43rd day after His death on the cross for our sins. Then ten days later on Pentecost which is 50 days after the resurrection which was on the Feast of First Fruits Jesus and God the Father sent the Holy Spirit from Heaven to Earth starting with His indwelling the initial believers of the Church gathered in and praying in the upper room. At the same time the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit with respect to people's spirits and that we sometimes call the conscience began. Although Jesus sent the Holy Spirit especially to His disciples and other believers to indwell them, he also sent the Holy Spirit at that time to begin his convicting work towards unbelievers. This convicting work of the Holy Spirit is partly through the Christian life and faithful preaching of the Word of God - the Holy Bible towards unbelievers or those of the world and partly by the direct work of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of people of the world to convict them of their sin either of breaking God's law or unbelief in Jesus, in God's righteousness because of the undeniable testimony of Jesus going to the Father in Heaven and partly of judgment. This conviction of judgment is because the prince of this world - Satan or the devil is judged by Jesus paying for all the sins of all people that held us in the devil's bondage and Jesus rising from the dead to give us new life and further free people who respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction to trust in Jesus to get full freedom from death, sin of our old or fallen nature or of the ungodly world system or from the devil - Satan or other demons or fallen angels. This convicting work of the Holy Spirit will continue in full measure until the Rapture when the Holy Spirit especially His ministry through born again Christians will be taken out of the way in preparation for the tribulation or 70th week of Daniel. The scripture reference in the Gospel of John 16 of the convicting work of the Holy Spirit towards people still of this sinful world system is as follows:

Scripture Reference from Gospel of John 16 of the Convicting Work of the Holy Spirit Towards People of the World Since Pentecost

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world (the devil) is judged. Gospel of John 16:8-10

Prophecy (Preaching and Telling the Future) Is a Main Way God Uses His Holy Spirit to Convict the Unsaved to Salvation from 1 Corinthians 12, 14

In 1 Corinthians 12 God says through the apostle Paul that there are different spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit to believers. One of these gifts is prophecy. Prophecy originally meant telling the future as well as expositing or enlarging on the word of God or preaching. Now I think we have to be careful in saying God gives the gift of telling the future beyond better understanding the already given written word of God in case we go on tangents contrary to the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 14 God says through the apostle Paul that if Christians are prophesying including preaching God's word, God can use this prophesying by His Holy Spirit to convict of sin or otherwise the reality of God and that the Bible is His inspired word and that Christians are God's people for this age. This can also lead the unsaved to worship the true God the God of the Bible. The scripture passage from 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 that God by His Holy Spirit use prophesying including the preaching of His word to convict the unsaved including of their sins is as follows:

Scripture Reference from 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 that God Uses Preachers and the Gift of Prophecy by His Holy Spirit to Convict Unbelievers

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. ... to another prophecy ... But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Corinthians 12:4-8, 10, 11

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: And thus 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. ... Let the prophets speak two or three, and the others judge. 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, 29

Work of the Holy Spirit in This Age to Prod Unsaved People to Come in Faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation from Revelation 22

verse 16 says that Jesus claims to be the root and offspring of David which means that even though he came to earth about 1000 years after David that he was before David in other words Jesus is claiming to be eternally self-existant and God. Jesus also says he is the offspring of David meaning he is the king promised in the line of David who would establish and everlasting kingdom of God for Israel and the world. Jesus has started to do this in the church but will more fully do this visibly on earth in the Millennial Kingdom or Messianic Kingdom after his second coming to earth for and through Israel and for the whole world. Jesus also states here that he is the bright and morning star which is a reference to his coming at the rapture of the church before his much more open and glorious appearing at the end of the tribulation when he comes from heaven with the church to earth to set up his and God's earthly kingdom through Israel reigning from the Messianic Kingdom Temple in Jerusalem. Then the Bible says the Spirit and the bride say come which means for the unsaved person to come to Jesus who was mentioned in the previous verse. The bride is the bride of the Lord JEsus Christ or the Church. The Spirit as part of his work especially towards the unbeliever encourages him or her to trust in or come in faith to Jesus for salvation. The Spirit as well as the Church say to the unbeliever also to come to Jesus to get God's indwelling Holy Spirit in our heart to satisfy our spiritual thirst with the spiritual water of life. The person who hears or who is a believer and who has responded to the Gospel and hears God's voice by the indwelling Holy Spirit also encourages the unbeliever in this age to come to God through the Lord Jesus Christ and get His indwelling Holy Spirit to satisfy their spiritual thirst. The invitation is then given directly to those who are spiritually thirst to come to Jesus and receive His Holy Spirit. The scripture reference of the work of the Holy Spirit to encourage the unbeliever to come to the Lord JEsus Christ for salvation and get the Holy Spirit to then indwell their heart to satisfy their spiritual thirst is as follows:

Scripture Reference from Revelation 22 of the Invitation of the Holy Spirit to Unbelievers to Come to the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation and Receive the Holy Spirit for Our Spiritual Thirst

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:16-17

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