The Key to Walking in Holiness
Julian Adams • November 25, 2018
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:7-11
I remember it so well. Sitting in church that morning was so nerve-racking as the prophet called people out. The details were staggering. Every aspect was right! It was razor sharp. It would only be a few moments and then I knew, I’d be called up. I imagined how the Holy Spirit would paint a grand picture for all to see. It would be on public display, all my sin would be revealed. Thankfully the opposite happened. I got a prophecy that morning, it gloriously revealed the heart of God to me. That’s how the gifts of the Spirit are supposed to work, they help build us up and encourage us!
As a pastor, I would often have people in my office come in for counselling. Sins would be confessed, repentance would be seen, yet I kept encountering people who just could not shake off guilt and shame. It’s like they just seemed to pile on people again and again. I met Christians who seemingly embraced grace yet lived like they were no better off than a worm in the grass. It seems to me that a vast majority of the Church seems to live with an incorrect understanding of the Holy Spirit and His job regarding the believer.
Because of unhelpful teaching that emphasises our old nature and it’s sinfulness, many in the church have never read the scriptures through the lens of a forgiven soul. The result is teaching that is sin-focussed, and worship that glories in our old sinful past. One only needs to listen to the some of the songs that have come out of the contemporary Christian scene to see that very often it is focussed on our pre-resurrection state! This is understandable, in that I was a sinner, an evildoer and a God rebel.
But that all changed at salvation.
Gal 2:20
– I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Romans says 8:14-15 – For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!
My whole standing has changed.
In Christ I died to sin and was buried with Him, raised up with Him, ascended into heaven with Him and am now seated in Him in heavenly places. It all began with the Holy Spirit convicting me as a sinner of my desperate need for Jesus and his finished work on the cross. A little later the gospel writer, John, tells us the sin of which the Holy Spirit convicts us of, ‘concerning sin, because they do not believe in me’ (John 16:19).
Notice this here, it is not just the Holy Spirit coming to tell us what we have done wrong, but he convicts us of our unbelief and convinces us to trust Jesus. Most sermons I have heard on this text have had to do with general sin and how the Holy Spirit will make you feel really bad so you know you’re about to do something wrong, or worse still, after you have already done it. Yet this is not the role of the Holy Spirit in relation to this text. He is clearly calling the sinner to a place of faith in Jesus finished work. It goes onto say that he convicts us of our righteousness. This is a promise given to the disciples as a constant reminder of who and whose they are. ‘Concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer’ (John 16:20).
The Holy Spirit comes to remind us of who we are, not who we were! He tells us of our right standing with the Father, Jesus has gone ahead to make a way for us. This then is the reason for the outpouring of the Spirit, to remind us that we are now right with God, sin has been removed and we are now a display of the goodness of God to the world. This is a far cry from being afraid of the Spirit when he comes to meet with us. He is a family Spirit, he affirms our sonship and tells us we are righteousness.
Therein lies the key to walking in holiness!
Read part two of this blog series: Am I Still a Sinner?
If you want to grow in the prophetic, it doesn’t begin with what you say. It begins with what you see. The prophetic is rooted in perception. Not just natural insight, but spiritual awareness—what Scripture calls “the eyes of your heart.” Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus would have their hearts enlightened so they could truly see what God was doing. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you…” (Ephesians 1:18) God isn’t distant or withholding. But if we’re going to hear Him clearly, we have to see differently. We need Heaven’s perspective. And that means learning to quiet the noise, tune into His voice, and let Him train our inner vision. You don’t need to wait for a dramatic vision or audible voice. Often, God speaks through a nudge. A mental picture. A scripture that lingers. A sense of burden or joy that feels holy. These are the first signs that your spiritual eyesight is awakening. But it takes time. It takes attention. It takes trust. Just like physical muscles grow with use, your spiritual senses grow as you spend time with Him—not just talking, but listening. Not just asking for answers, but asking for His perspective. You were never meant to live according to what the world says is true. You were meant to live by every word that flows from the mouth of God. A Prayer for This Week: “Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Teach me to see what You see—not just in others, but in myself, in my circumstances, in the world around me. Give me clarity and confidence to trust Your perspective more than my own. Amen.” This week, pay attention to what you notice. The way you see is often the way He speaks.
In this live session, Sean Smith and Julian Adams share their prophetic perspectives on 2025, offering honest reflections on what they sense God is doing across the earth. With hope and expectancy, they discuss the spiritual landscape ahead and how we can prepare for what’s to come.
We are living in a world of dramatic change. The relentless pace of development often leaves us breathless and exhausted. The demand for innovative ways of communicating, inventing, and staying ahead of cultural trends can feel daunting and demoralizing. It can push us into a space where we find ourselves trying to copy rather than be authentic, to imitate rather than create. This pressure can lead us to believe that we need to be more creative, and that our individual stories do not matter. But nothing could be further from the truth. Your story, no matter how small, matters and is powerful. One of the remarkable aspects of ancient manuscripts, like the Bible, is that they tell the stories of individuals whose lives may seem small and insignificant. Yet, God chose to make their lives a memorial of what He could do with a life that the world deems insignificant. The incredible power of the gospel is that it changes lives one at a time. God is as interested in the individual story as He is in redeeming the cosmos. The aim of the gospel is not just dealing with personal sin; it is about restoring individuals to a relationship with a kind Father. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis beautifully said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." Justification addresses our standing before God, but our adoption invites us into a relationship with the Father. It allows us to partake of who He is and to live in a place of deep joy from who He is. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Many of us forget that the work of salvation has turned this verse around. Through Jesus, we have been restored to the glory of God. One description of the word "glory" refers to the divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, and splendor. It is the revelation of God's intrinsic worth and beauty. Do you see that? We have been restored to His divine quality, splendor, and beauty. In a world where it can be easy to feel like just another face in the crowd, remember that your story is significant. Your experiences, your journey, and your voice matter. Embrace the unique narrative God has given you and let it shine. You are not just a spectator; you are a vital participant in God's grand story. Your authenticity, creativity, and individuality are valuable. As you navigate the rapid changes of our world, hold on to the truth that your story has power and purpose. God sees you, knows you, and has a plan for your life that is uniquely yours. Let us celebrate the beauty and significance of each individual story, knowing that together, we contribute to a tapestry of divine splendor and glory.