田心

聖靈如何幫助

我們信主，往往是經過一連串事件或接觸之後的結果。我們的家人或朋友可能已多次向我們傳講福音；也許我們已出席多次佈道聚會聽到福音，最終我們才決志相信基督，並得著救恩。

原來，聖靈一直在背後工作，尋找我們歸向基督。聖靈所做的叫人知罪的工作，就是基督在本章第8至9節指出的。這叫人知罪的工作是甚麼呢？聖靈從兩方面對我們的心說話，一方面，祂提醒我們的罪，我們在神面前屬肉體的光景；另一方面，祂幫助我們看見，我們如何遠離基督，我們怎樣與神隔絕。

我們作為信徒，會經常為未信的親人、朋友禱告；一有機會，也會向他們傳講基督。然而，只有聖靈才能叫人心中知罪。有些時候，我們只能將這項工作交給聖靈，而不要干擾祂的工作，祂會在祂的時間並以祂的方式行事；但我們必須繼續為他們代禱。

聖靈不單指出我們的罪，祂沒有僅此而已，而是清楚指明那唯一能滿足我們需要的──耶穌基督，我們的救主。祂可能會說：「你知道你是個罪人，你對自己的罪無能為力。但耶穌基督能。何不讓祂進入你的生命，滿足你的需要呢？」

當我們接受聖靈的建議，向耶穌基督敞開我們的心扉，聖靈便會在那一刻進入我們心內，從此住在我們心中。祂使我們成為基督身體的一份子；然後便開始工作，使我們?面長成基督的品格。祂想要世界看見我們身上的變化。此刻，對你來說，聖靈在哪?呢？祂是在你的心中、在你生命?，還是在你的心門外向你說出你的需要呢？

HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS

The moment of our conversion is usually the end of a chain of circumstances or contacts. We may have been spoken to by various friends or loved ones. Perhaps we had attended several services where we heard the Gospel preached. Then we came to the place where we turned to Christ and found salvation in Him.

Behind those contacts is the Holy Spirit seeking to win us for Christ. He does this through His work of conviction which Christ spoke about in verses 8-9 of our reading today. What is this work of conviction? The Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts along two lines. First He emphasises our own sin, our standing before God because of our human nature. He helps us to see how God looks at us outside of Christ, how we are separated from Him.

As believers we often pray for unbelievers, loved ones, and friends. If we have the opportunity we may speak to them about Christ, but the only one who can bring conviction to their hearts is the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we have to simply leave this with Him and not interfere. He can do it, in His own time and way, but our prayer for these people must continue.

The Holy Spirit does not only speak of sin. He does not leave it there but points clearly to the One who can meet our need, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. He may say, “You know you are a sinner and you yourself cannot do anything about it. But Jesus Christ can. Why don’t you let Him into your life to meet your need?”

When we accept what the Holy Spirit is saying and open our hearts to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes in at that moment and from then on lives within us. He makes us a member of the body of Christ and then commences His work of developing the character of Christ within us. He wants the world to know what has happened to us. Where is He for you today? Within your heart and life or outside still speaking to you about your need?