Conviction or Condemnation?

It is hard for me to write this month. I have been fighting disappointment and discouragement that seems to come especially at Easter time when all I am waiting for both personally and for the Body seems like a contradiction. It is easy to get down on myself at these times when suffering seems endless and even fruitless (although I know in my heart that it is not). Do you sometimes go through times when you feel like a total failure as a Christian like your life is just one big mess? I believe we are living in a special time of purifying by God's Spirit in which patience plays a key role. It is easy to find ourselves discouraged and cast down if we misunderstand God's work of conviction vs. the enemy's counterfeit condemnation. So I am writing this out of my own struggle which so many others also seem to be facing. Let me share what the Lord has been laying on my heart.

1. Learn to recognize the difference between conviction and condemnation by their fruit. Conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit which, although it causes sorrow, draws us to God in repentance and dependence on Him to cleanse and empower. It is usually specific and results in confidence before God with hope of deliverance not by our efforts but by yielding to the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:1 (Amp) tells us, "Therefore [there is] now no condemnation no adjudging guilty of wrong for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live not after the dictates of the flesh but after the dictates of the Spirit." So we see here that as we walk according to the Spirit we will be convicted but we will not suffer condemnation. What then is the nature and fruit of condemnation? It is usually an all encompassing sense of failure and will always tend to draw us away from God producing hopelessness about our condition. Because it is self and not God oriented, it gains access when we are self focused. And as we attempt to conquer self with self we lose heart because our only means of coming to God through the Blood is clouded.

2. Realize that if you are under conviction or condemnation this is no time to get discouraged. In either case, it is a fairly good sign you are trying to follow the Lord. A Christian whose heart is hardened to God will not recognize conviction and is therefore not a target for the enemy's condemnation. For I Cor. 2:14 15 tells us the natural man cannot accept or understand the things of God while the spiritual man can discern all things. Those who really are condemned are too spiritually blind to know it but those who are sensitive to the Holy Spirit are especially vulnerable to these attacks. So if you are wanting to grow in the Lord, be encouraged as you go on to deal with it.

3. Because condemnation is the counterfeit of conviction, DO NOT IGNORE IT. It very often accompanies true conviction to confuse us and drive us away from dealing with the real issues at question. It is therefore a mistake to close the door ourselves on condemnation. Rather we should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (I Pet. 5:6) and ask Him to search our hearts and point out anything that makes Him sad. (Ps. 39:23) I remember when the Lord first taught me about this. Some friends I rarely see were visiting and I was anxious to tell them all the Lord was doing in my life. I could hardly sleep the night before as I rehearsed the details. That morning I prayed the Lord would fill me with His Spirit and use me to bless them. When they left, I knew something was very wrong. The visit kept replaying in my mind. Everything I'd shared was true and good but I knew I had done what I call a "steam roller" on my friends. Why, I couldn't even remember anything they'd said (maybe because they never got the chance!) I was downcast I was a clanging cymbal who loved my revelations more than my friends. I had been proud and self seeking. I felt wretched and hopeless totally lacking in the most important virtue LOVE. I Cor. 13 totally condemned me I could never measure up. "I asked You to fill and use me Lord why didn't You answer me?", I cried wondering if He'd even listen. The answer came quickly "You'd already made up your mind what you were going to do last night before you even asked Me. You didn't really want Me to change your plans." As I repented of this specific sin that had brought me under such an attack of condemnation, the Lord gently led me to that marvelous progression in 2 Pet. 1:5 7 which culminates in Christian love. He showed me exactly where I was in the process exercising steadfast patience (vs. 6) All that wretchedness I'd seen hadn't even been the issue. I did ask my friends' forgiveness but God's Word broke condemnation and gave me direction and hope about my state. Since then, I always consider condemnation as a warning and have almost always found that somewhere beneath the onslaught, God is actually dealing with me.

4. After seeking Him, if God does not reveal a specific problem then leave the situation in His Hands and close the door completely on condemnation DROP IT like you would a serpent. When we have just been used or are about to be used by the Lord the enemy will sometimes use condemnation to stop us and make us feel unfit for service. Continued self examination apart from the Holy Spirit plays right into the hands of the accuser. Remember the Blood and that is it Jesus who has promised to present us blameless

(I Thess. 5:23 24) I have often come under tremendous attacks of condemnation just before or after a letter which I later find has been greatly used by the Lord. Sometimes, I've not even been able to write it until the Lord continually prods me (as with this one). So even though I may still feel very unsettled, I leave my case in the hands of God who always judges fairly, knowing if I have gone to the right or to the left I will hear a voice behind me saying, "No this is the way walk in it." (Is. 30:21) This is hard to do but as we take our stand and continue to serve the Lord, the evil one must flee.

We hope this helps you see more clearly areas where you may be struggling under a heavy load. For

the Lord is saying, "Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest".

(Matt. 10:28) Run to Him now and let Him sort it all out. And let the words of this greeting card comfort and help you as it did me.

"When the Good Shepherd speaks to His own, He never uses

words of despair, hopelessness, frustration, defeat,

discouragement, fear, confusion, or failure. Instead,

He gives His sheep words of hope, rest, victory, peace,

power, joy, triumph, and love."

Now, "May our Lord Jesus Christ... who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you..." (2 Thess. 2:16,17) We love you dearly and thank God for making you part of our lives.