The Holy Spirit Is Exposing the Real You

The Holy Spirit is exposing the real you. The first sign that the Holy Spirit is exposing you, number one, is that you're experiencing grief over sin. This means he's exposing your sin, to cleanse you. To convict means to bring light. To expose, to rebuke. John 16 beginning at verse 5. But now I am going away to the one who sent me. And not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I've told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away because if I don't, the advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin and of God's righteousness and of the coming [music] judgment. The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. Now notice here that Jesus says the world's sin is that it doesn't believe. So there the Holy Spirit is convicting the world of its sin. Its sin in rejecting Christ. But the principle here is that the Holy Spirit will point out wrongdoing. Yes, the Holy Spirit is gentle and kind and patient, but he's also going to call you on your sin. So the Holy Spirit does call the believer on their sin. In Ephesians 4:30 we read, "And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live." Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Many believers feel like fakes when they sin. When they make a mistake, they don't want to go to church because they're afraid of how others might look at them. when they make a mistake, they don't want to pray and read the word because they feel shame in approaching God. And in that wrongdoing, they ask these kinds of questions. Am I even really saved? Do I belong to God? Is what I've been experiencing in him even real? Or am I just a hypocrite, a liar? Why do I keep going back and forth? Why do I keep going back to old habits? And what begins to happen is you begin to identify with your sin. Now, I have some good news for you. When you sin, you indeed are a fake. You're a fake sinner. You are not a wolf in sheep's clothing. You are sheep in wolves clothing. When you act in sin, you are acting outside of your nature. You're acting according to who you aren't anymore. So, while you might look at your struggle with sin as a sign that you don't belong to God, let me ask you this question. Who is it in you that is struggling against sin? You see, the very fact that you are struggling is proof that the Holy Spirit is within you, convicting you, bringing that sorrow, that brokenness over wrongdoing. You see, if the Holy Spirit didn't reside in you, you wouldn't be struggling with sin. You would just be sinning. You would give in. You would go all the way over to the darkness. But because the Holy Spirit dwells in you, there's this battle, this conflict, that sorrow that you feel, that brokenness that you feel is proof that the Holy Spirit dwells in you. And while it's not an excuse to continue in sin, the fact that you sense that sorrow is proof that the Holy Spirit dwells in you. You belong to him. You are his child. Even when you make a mistake, and he's there convicting you. 1 Corinthians 6:es 9-11 says this. Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin or who worship idols or who commit adultery or are male prostitutes or practice homosexuality or are thieves or greedy people or drunkards or are abusive or cheat people. None of these will inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that, but you were cleansed. You were made holy. You were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God. In other words, this is the past. Now, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you and you sense that conviction when you do wrong. The Holy Spirit is bringing the issue to light. He's confronting you because he's not just going to leave you to that sin. He's not just going to leave you in bondage and in darkness. It's because of his love that he convicts you. It's because of his love that he confronts you when you do wrong. So, you should be more concerned actually when you stop feeling bad for sin. When you stop sensing that conviction, when you stop sensing that sorrow and brokenness over sin, that is when you're in real danger. Now, this next sign that I'm going to bring to your attention is going to sound very out of place, especially after this first point. But first, if you're enjoying this teaching, it's blessing you, make sure to leave a like so that others can see it. And also, if you want to continue to receive teachings on the Holy Spirit from this channel, make sure to subscribe and click that notification bell when you do. The second sign that the Holy Spirit is exposing you, that is shining his light, bringing out the real you, is you're growing confident in your salvation. Now, again, this may sound a little out of place, but I want you to hear what I have to say here. He exposes who you are because of Christ's sacrifice. Take a look at the language here. When we go back to John chapter 16, Jesus tells us why the Holy Spirit convicts us of God's righteousness. Because remember, he'll convict the world of its sin and of God's righteousness and of the coming judgment. Now watch this. Righteousness is available because I go to the father. So the Holy Spirit is shining his light on that truth. He's convincing us of that truth. He's confronting us with that reality that righteousness is available because Christ goes to the father. Romans 4:5 declares, "But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners." Ephesians chapter 2:es 8 and 9 say, "God saved you by his grace when you believed." And you can't take credit for this. It's a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done. So none of us can boast about it. So clearly we see the reality of salvation. Clearly we see the reality of righteousness that righteousness is available to you and I because of our mediator Christ Jesus. And the Holy Spirit convicts us of this reality. I pray that the church would gain a revelation of the righteousness that we have in Christ. I pray that the church would get a revelation of what that sacrifice means for you and I today. You and I are made right with God because of our faith in Christ. And that righteousness is given to us as a gift. And the Holy Spirit convinces us of this. This is a part of his work. Yes, he will call you on your sin. Yes, he will expose that wrongdoing. And he exposes the sin to correct the sin, but he also exposes who you are according to Christ's sacrifice. And this begins to produce confidence in your salvation. Why? because the Holy Spirit is showing you the real you, who you are in Christ Jesus. Now, for example, we struggle to believe this because of misinterpretations of portions of scripture like this. Look at Matthew chapter 7. Maybe you've seen this portion of scripture and you yourself have become frightened by it. Matthew chapter 7:es 21-23. Not everyone who calls out to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my father in heaven will enter. On judgment day, many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and perform many miracles in your name." But I will reply, "I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws." Now, this is perhaps one of the most frightening portions of scripture. And the reason for that is a misinterpretation. Let's break this down here. So we see these individuals coming before the Lord. This is on judgment day. And they're practically struting. They're confident. And because of that confidence, they're shocked when they learn that they're not going to be allowed into the kingdom of heaven. Now, many Christians will read this and they'll say, "Oh my goodness, that could be me one day. Oh my goodness, what if what if I stand before the Lord and this is what happens to me?" But I want you to pay very close attention now. Look at what they put their faith in. They're trusting in their own works. They're not trusting in the finished work of the cross. They are trusting in their own ability or their their what they think is their own ability to save themselves. And next, I want you to see that they're judged according to the law. You who break God's laws. Well, wait a minute. If I am in Christ, then vicariously I've already fulfilled the law through Christ's perfection. So Christ fulfilled the law and in Christ I live in that perfection by faith. So then if they're being judged according to the law, it means they've never received that gift of salvation. It means their faith was not in Christ. So verses like this because of the misinterpretation of these verses, Christians begin to lose confidence in their salvation. Oh, but when you're convicted by the Holy Spirit, when the Holy Spirit begins to shine a light on who you really are, when the Holy Spirit begins to reveal by his word the truth about God's righteousness, you find that according to Jesus and according to truth, that righteousness is available because I go to the father. Those are the words of Christ. So in the case of the believer, he doesn't reject you. He corrects you. Watch this now. Hebrews 12:es 5 and onward say this. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the father of our spirits and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening. It's painful. But afterwards there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. God's punishment is never about rejection for the believer. God's punishment is always about restoration. So while correcting you, the Holy Spirit is still working to bring out your true nature. He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. So out of that new nature, we begin to live. If any man be in Christ, he's a new creation. All things have become new. The new you is the real you and he's convicting you of that righteousness. Number three, you begin to think like a victor. Now, what does Jesus say about being convicted about God's judgment? Remember, there are three different convictions. That's the world's sin. The world's sin is that it refuses to believe. Then we see that there's conviction about God's righteousness. And this, of course, is mentioned because righteousness is available because I go to the father and you will see me no more. And then we see the conviction regarding God's judgment. And this is there because judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. So the Holy Spirit convinces you in regards to your victory in Christ. Now, how many defeated Christians do you know who walk around with their head hanging low, talking about themselves in degrading terms? They think that the more they hate themselves, the more they criticize themselves, that the more spiritual they are somehow. They think that a badge of honor is the fact that they're always being attacked by the devil. And maybe you've said this, maybe you've heard others say this. Well, the only reason that the devil is attacking me is because he knows how much of a threat I am. Or the only reason that I'm under demonic attack is because I have a special calling in Christ. Now, wait a minute. What does the Bible tell us? The Bible tells us that the one who is submitted to God, they can resist the devil and the devil will flee, not fight. So, it's not that the devil is picking on believers because he sees how strong they are. It's because he sees how they allow him opportunities. It's because he sees that they don't really know who they are in Christ. So, the devil is more likely to pick on a believer who doesn't know their identity. Now, once that believer comes to know their identity and they come to understand the victory they have in Christ, then it's a lot more difficult for the enemy to deceive them, to pick on them, to harass them. Now, I know it sounds spiritual to say this, but we have to stop thinking like victims. We have to stop thinking according to the old nature. We have to stop acting as if God holds our past over our heads. He does not. In fact, we have a new and bright future in Christ, a victorious one. And the Holy Spirit wants to convince you in regards to this victory. Colossians 2:15, I love this. It says, "In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. And the Holy Spirit wants you to live in the awareness of that victory. He wants you to see yourself as strong in the spirit. He wants you to see yourself as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He wants you to see yourself as being sanctified. He wants you to see yourself as one who is filled with peace and joy and love and power and boldness. He wants you to see yourself the way he sees you. Now again, I know this will contradict a lot of the religious teachings of today because it can seem so spiritual, can't it? To just think so little of yourself. But that's the old you, the new you, the redeemed you. That's the one who's in Christ. So he convinces you that God is already one. He persuades you that you are victorious over the enemy in him. In Hebrews chapter 2:14, we read, "Because God's children are human beings made of flesh and blood, the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had, notice the past tense here, who had the power of death." So, Satan has been judged. And the Holy Spirit wants to remind you of that. He wants to expose the victorious you. He wants to shine a light in your defeated thinking and cause you to think according to the truth. He wants you to realize that there is no power more powerful than that of the Holy Spirit. He wants you to realize that there is no spirit stronger than the spirit who lives in you. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. Greater is the Holy Spirit in you than any demon that exists in this world. Greater is the Holy Spirit in you than any deception, any bondage, any conflict, any battle, any harassment that might come your way in this life. You are victorious in Christ. You are seated in heavenly places with him. Now, Satan has been judged. And in fact, those who go along with Satan's way of living or Satan's way of thinking, they will be judged along with him. Watch this in John chapter 3. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. Again, that's you. Now, there is chastisement, but that's about restoration, not rejection. Let's continue now. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged. Why? For not believing in God's one and only son. Verse 19. And the judgment is based on this fact. God's light came into the world, but people love the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. So judgment has already been rendered. The devil has already been defeated. And sadly, there are those who will experience this defeat along with Satan because of their rebellious ways. In their disobedience, they participate in and become a part of the kingdom of darkness and therefore will experience the same judgment. But the believer is victorious. The believer has conquered the evil one in Christ. Hear me now. Deliverance is not a substance. It's a position and an identity. You are in deliverance. You are delivered. That is your identity. So deliverance we treat as a substance in that we say, well, you know, I got a little deliverance there. I got to go back for a little bit more. Or, I had some deliverance last Sunday. I think I got most of it out. Let me go back the next few Sundays and maybe get a little bit more deliverance. Again, we treat it like a substance, but deliverance isn't a substance. It's a standing. It's a position. It's an identity. Now, you are being sanctified. The Holy Spirit is working on your nature. And that of course is the perfecting unto Christ. But but here we recognize that the enemy, the devil, his part in this rendered powerless. And as long as you're submitted to God, the devil can do no harm. And again, it's key as long as you're submitted to God. So you're free and you just need to start walking in that freedom. One of my favorite two verses right here, Colossians 1:es 13 and 14. who hath, notice the past tense, who hath delivered us from the powers of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. So, if you're experiencing grief over sin, that's because he's exposing your wrongdoing to correct and then restore you. If you're growing in your confidence in your salvation, that's because he's exposing who you are according to Christ's sacrifice. And now you're becoming confident in that work. And number three, you begin to think like a victor. Your mindset is changing regarding spiritual warfare. Your mindset is changing regarding trials and struggles. You recognize that even in trials, even in struggles, you are still victorious. That's because the Holy Spirit is exposing who you are in Christ's victory over the powers of darkness. Father, I [music] pray that you would help them to see the light. Help them to see according to how you see. Precious Holy Spirit, I pray that you would shine your light of truth in their [music] hearts and in their minds and in their lives and cause them to walk in that light. Cause them to be convicted, convinced, called out for not confronting that sin. Cause them to [music] be convinced of who they are in you, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. And help them to be convinced of their salvation and their victory because you have rendered the powers of darkness utterly helpless. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you are shining the light and exposing who they really are. We give you the praise and the glory and the honor. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. And I want you to type it real big because you believe [music] it. Type a big amen. It's time to say no to fear. I know that the systems of this world are propagating fear and they're trying to get you to be fearful about the economy, about currency, about the stock market, about retirement. And in seasons like this where the systems of the world are being shaken, it's a great opportunity to demonstrate faith. I want to encourage you, even if you're in a season of turmoil, to not be filled [music] with fear, to be filled with faith. And I want to give the people of God, that's you, an opportunity to be a part of what God is doing through this ministry. If you've been blessed by this ministry, maybe a message helped you, or maybe you've been listening to the teachings and the Holy Spirit has been revealed to you, or [music] you're learning truths that are bringing breakthrough in your prayer life or in spiritual warfare and so forth, then I want to encourage you to do your part [music] and pay it forward. Go to davidernnandmistries.com/partner. Take a look at the different options there. Just open the page, davidernnandezministries.com/partner. Go there now, open the page, and then say, "Holy Spirit, what would you like me to do?" If you're not yet ready to partner on a monthly basis, or you are partnered on a monthly basis, and you just want to give a single gift, you can go to davidhernandez ministries.com/donate. [music] Monthly or single, everything counts. Every amount counts because every soul matters.