Pastor Nicole Olinski

What does the Holy Spirit do? One of the very first things Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do is convict. In John 16:8, Jesus tells the disciples, “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”

Conviction is not a curse. It’s not something to run from. It's actually one of the most powerful and loving works the Holy Spirit does in our lives. He convicts us, not to condemn us, but to lead us to repentance, healing, and growth.

Yet many of us resist conviction. We’ve become desensitized. Some may not feel conviction at all anymore. That's a problem. That could mean your conscience has been dulled or even seared. It means you can sin or act unjustly and feel nothing.

That should be a major warning. If you can watch evil, violence, injustice, or cruelty and not be moved or disturbed, that might indicate that you've silenced the Holy Spirit in your life.

Our Culture Avoids Conviction

Culture tells us not to feel bad. We hear phrases like, “You don’t need to feel guilty,” or “Do what feels right for you.” But conviction is actually a gift. It is the Holy Spirit helping us separate right from wrong. Like a sharp knife, it cuts and divides.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

This is what conviction does. It exposes our sin and then leads us to deal with it.

And here’s the truth. No one else can bring true conviction. Not a pastor. Not a spouse. Not your friends. Only the Holy Spirit can do that deep work in your heart.

When AI Replaces the Spirit

I recently tested something. I went to ChatGPT and asked, “If I needed to leave my husband, how would I do that?” I was nervous even typing the question. I didn’t want to see ads for divorce lawyers or have that kind of content show up in my feed.

So I filtered the question through a sermon illustration just to be safe. The response I got was all logic. Make sure it’s what you want. Gather documents. Check your state’s requirements. Maybe consider counseling if you have kids.

One line at the bottom said something like, “Logic helps, but God gives truth.” That was something, at least. But still, it wasn’t conviction.

That AI didn’t ask me if I had prayed. It didn’t challenge me to offer forgiveness or look inward to see if past trauma was influencing my marriage. It didn’t ask if I’d gone to wise, godly counsel.

But the Holy Spirit would. The Holy Spirit would challenge me. He would say, “You need to check your heart. Are you walking in forgiveness? Have you owned your part?”

Conviction calls us to reflect, repent, and grow. It doesn’t tell us how to get what we want. It leads us into truth, even when it hurts.

Conviction vs. Condemnation

It’s important to know that conviction is not the same as condemnation. In fact, the enemy will often try to substitute one for the other.

Here’s how to tell the difference.

Conviction comes from God. Condemnation comes from the devil.

Conviction leads to repentance. Condemnation leads to guilt and shame.

Conviction draws you to God. Condemnation pushes you away.

Conviction leads to freedom. Condemnation keeps you in fear.

Conviction says, “What you did was wrong.” Condemnation says, “Who you are is wrong.”

Conviction shows us what needs to change. Condemnation says we never will.

That’s why we must not fall for the counterfeit. Conviction is the real thing. It’s the Holy Spirit helping us grow. Helping us become more like Jesus.

Conviction in Real Life

We need the conviction of the Holy Spirit in every part of our lives.

I need it in my marriage. I’ve had times where the Holy Spirit has told me, “You need to go to your husband. You need to apologize. You need to admit you were wrong, and that he was right.”

Excuse me, what? Did I hear that right? That is so hard. But it leads to repentance and humility, which are necessary for a healthy marriage.

I need the Holy Spirit’s conviction in my parenting. Sometimes I lose my patience. I might raise my voice or act out of frustration. And then the Holy Spirit whispers, “You need to go to your child. You need to say sorry. You need to model humility.”

So I do. I go to my kids and say, “Mom messed up. I lost my patience. That’s not right, and I’m working on it.” That’s how I show them what it means to walk in repentance.

We need conviction in our friendships, our work, our relationships. Everywhere.

Are You Avoiding Conviction?

Some of you avoid coming to church because you feel conviction when you’re here. That discomfort makes you want to stay home.

Some of you avoid people who are full of the Holy Spirit because their very presence makes you feel the weight of the things you know you need to change.

But that’s not something to run from. That’s something to lean into. Conviction is a gift. It’s God calling you out of sin and into freedom.

So ask yourself.

Where in your life do you need to embrace the conviction of the Holy Spirit?

Have you become desensitized? Are you ignoring His voice? Have you mistaken condemnation for conviction and allowed guilt and shame to keep you stuck?

It’s time to respond.

Turn back to God. Let the Holy Spirit convict you. Not to shame you, but to lead you into repentance and transformation.

We all need conviction. It’s the beginning of growth. It's how God makes us more like Him.