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Rejection First, the Holy Spirit exposes the


world’s real problems. In John 16:8 Jesus said of the Holy Spirit that “8 when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righ- teousness and judgment:” (ESV). As you’ve watched 2020 unfold, and Western Civilization right along with it, can you think a verse more fitting for the world than John 16:8? Verses 9-11 go on to reveal that the ultimate problem the world faces is that it has rejected Jesus Christ. The injustices, strife, foolishness, and overall sinfulness that we can see unfolding on a daily basis are all symptomatic of this rejection. Thankfully, as Jesus said, the Holy Spirit came to convict the world. But you see, this is where we come in as the followers of Christ. While the power of conviction


belongs to the Holy Spirit, for tru- ly only God can change a person’s heart, the Holy Spirit uses the fol- lowers of Christ to bear witness to the truth. This points to the second feature of the Holy Spirit’s work in the world today. While we are not called to change people’s hearts, we


are, nonetheless, called to bear wit- ness and testify to God’s greatness and the power of Salvation that is only available through Jesus Christ. We are called to love people enough to tell them the truth. Thankfully, we are not alone in this endeavor. Verses 12-15 detail the fact that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and that the Spirit will guide God’s people in the truth. Being led by the Spirit, the followers of Christ are empowered not by a truth of their own, but instead, by the Spirit of Truth himself.


Embrace Chapter 16 ends with Jesus re-


vealing more about His coming de- parture and the assurance that His disciples’ grief would turn to joy. Even so, the encouragement Jesus offered was in the passage I’ve al- ready discussed. Of all the ways Je- sus could have encouraged His dis- ciples, and by extension, you and me, Jesus chose the promise of the Holy Spirit. So instead of embrac- ing the world’s solutions to its own problems, instead of chasing the next social justice cause, instead of


implementing tactics and programs, instead of following whatever the latest and greatest book happens to say about church administration and programming, and definitely instead of locking arms with orga- nizations and groups that despise our Savior, should we not embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in- stead? With the understanding that scripture is the means by which the Spirit illuminates, should we not cling to God’s Word? The fact of the matter is that


the Church needs to get serious about following the Spirit of Truth. The Church needs to get serious about the gospel. The Holy Spirit is enough. The gospel of Jesus Christ is enough. Turn away from the world’s distractions and focus on being led by the Holy Spirit. Reject the world’s solutions, which nev- er work anyway, and cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In doing so, we will prepare for the return of Christ Jesus.?


Reverend Patrick Malphrus is


Pastor at Old Providence ARP Church in Virginia and Stated Clerk of Virginia Presbytery.


Synod’s Postlude Special Music Former Moderator Leslie Holmes and Moderator Rob Roy McGregor III


joined together to present The Holy City as the postlude to Synod’s open- ing worship. The herald trumpet, played by Holmes, was manufactured by Boosey and Hawkes, a British brass instrument manufacturer in 1934. It was sold to Britain’s Grenadier Guards. It was played at the following British state events among many others:


1937 – Coronation of King George VI in Westminster Abbey 1947 – The marriage of Princes Elizabeth to Prince Philip in Westminster Abbey 1952 – King George VI funeral in Windsor Castle 1953 – Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey 1965 – Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in St. Paul’s Cathedral 1981 – Wedding of Prince Charles to Princess Diana in St. Paul’s Cathedral 2002 – Funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in Westminster Abbey


The Holy City is a sacred song composed by Stephen Adams in 1892. It was chosen for this Synod because its words tell the story of


transition from the old city of Jerusalem to the Jerusalem on the afternoon of Christ’s crucifixion to the new Jerusalem and the Second Coming of Jesus. “It was an appropriate way to meld together our two moderator themes of Building Healthy Churches and Birthing Healthy Christians and Preparing the Church for the Second Coming of Christ Jesus,” Holmes said.?


6 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian


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