No More Condemnation Pt.2
No More Condemnation Pt.2
For part Pt.1 click here No More Condemnation Pt. 1
Here is the the second half of the teaching on condemnation from the book How to Succeed at Being Yourself by Joyce Meyer
Conviction or Condemnation
John 16:8 And when He 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 AMP
“Jesus told the disciples that when the Holy Spirit came, He would have an intimate, personal ministry to them.
One of the things the Holy Spirit is responsible for is guiding believers into all truth, and He is the agent in the process of sanctification in believers’ lives. This is partially accomplished by His convicting powers.
In other words, every time we are getting off track or going in a wrong direction the Holy Spirit convicts us that our behavior or decision is wrong. This is accomplished by a ‘knowing’ in our spirit that what we are doing is not right.
When you and I feel convicted, we should repent and change our direction. No more and no less is required or acceptable. If we know how to and are willing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we can move on to spiritual maturity and release all the planned blessings of God in our lives. If, however, we ignore this conviction and go our own way, we will find the way very hard and difficult. Our lives will be unblessed and therefore unfruitful.
Satan does not want us to receive conviction, nor does he even want us to understand it. He always has a counterfeit for all the good things that God offers–something somewhat like what God offers, but which, if received, will bring destruction instead of blessing.
I believe Satan’s counterfeit for true godly conviction is condemnation. Condemnation always produces feelings of guilt. It makes us feel ‘down’ in every way. We feel ‘under’ something heavy, which is where Satan wants us. God, on the other hand, sent Jesus to set us free, to give us a righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17). Our spirits should be light and carefree, not oppressed and heavy with burdens that we are unable to bear. We cannot bear our sins, Jesus came to bear them. He alone is able to do so, and we must receive His ministry.
In John 8:31,32 (KJV) Jesus tells us, …If ye continue in my word…ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. I am so thankful for the truth that was made known to me by the indwelling Holy Spirit because it has truly set me free.
If you have problems in this area, you may be thinking, ‘Joyce, I don’t want to feel this way, but I don’t know how to stop the cycle and begin enjoying freedom.’ It is the anointing on the Word of God that will set you free: He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction (Psalm 107:20).
Here are some scriptures to meditate on that will build your faith for those times when you are attacked by feelings of guilt and condemnation. Use them as weapons against Satan by speaking them out your mouth. Tell him the same thing Jesus did when He was being attacked: ‘It is written! (Luke 4:4,8; Matthew 4:7)
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him,and by his wounds we are healed.
John 3:18 He who believes in Him[who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.] AMPRomans 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.Romans 8:33, 34 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died —more than that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.Revelation 12:10 For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
Stay in the word. Spend time with God regularly. Refuse to give up, and stop the excessive self-examination. Let God convict you, don’t do it yourself.Truly meek people do not spend excessive time thinking about what they did right or what they did wrong; they simply stay ‘in Christ’.That is what you should do. Stop feeling guilty and condemned and start feeling bold and free.”Hope you enjoyed this teaching from Joyce Meyer.Stay encouraged love you all!Brittany J
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