God does not do everything from long distance, by simple decree. He uses means, very often other people and circumstances. The Holy Spirit is the active agent of redemption in the world today. He persuades us by His personal presence, but He uses a number of means to accomplish this. 

 He uses the preaching of the Word.

Through the preaching of God’s Word, we are persuaded to believe and turn to God. 

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (I Cor. 1:21). 

 He directly works within us to convince us of truth.

The Holy Spirit works within us to convince us that God is true and that His Word is truth. Just as He turns – us from sin in repentance, He turns us to God and His Word by giving us faith. 

“And when He [the Holy Spirit] comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness- uprightness of heart and right standing with God-and about judgment” (John 16:8 Ampl.). 

 He makes the Scriptures alive to us.

We are persuaded through the reading of the Scriptures, for they are the inspired or God-breathed Word of God. The Old Testament prepares us for receiving the gospel message. 

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:46, 47).

The Lord’s miracles are meant to help our faith.

The Lord’s miraculous works confirm the supernatural source of His Word, thereby persuading us to believe His claims. His claims to divine authority are more than authenticated through His signs. 

“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him “(John 10:37, 38).