Hosanna Restoration Church

Have you ever felt like you were being condemned when in fact you were simply feeling convicted? If we respond to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit with repentance, there truly is a release from heaven in our hearts. However, if we will not respond to conviction our natural mind will turn it into condemnation. When we feel condemned, we use that as an excuse to blame someone else for our plight.

Truly, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ. Unfortunately people sometimes turn this into an excuse to do whatever they want. Then when convicted, they learn to brush it off and if someone else questions them, they accuse that person of trying to condemn or judge them.

We really need to be careful that we do not let this wonderful promise from God be used as a tool to callous us to the nudges of the Holy Spirit. It is because God loves us so much that the Holy Spirit is always present to convict us so that we can quickly repair the breach between God and us. The devil will use any trick that he can in order to place a wedge where love belongs.

If we resist conviction, we will not repent. If we will not repent, God cannot forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I have known people that simply refused to respond to conviction for so long that they came to the point of making it sound like it was God’s fault they were that way. They say things like God will make me stop when He wants me too, or they will say that they prayed and God did not stop them so it must be okay.

People that do this are usually very miserable because they are really living under condemnation provided by devil. Oh yes, he loves to get people moving away from God and then convince them that it is God’s fault. Then when they are miserable he will accuse them and condemn them for being so stupid.

Fortunately, it is at this point that people often become so miserable they call out to God and at that moment, the enemy must flee! It would just be a lot better if we just said yes to the Holy Spirit when conviction first comes.

Remember, Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit and leads to repentance and freedom. Condemnation comes from the devil, and only has power when we fail to respond to conviction. The best way to defeat it is to be sensitive to the Spirit and be quick to ask for and receive forgiveness. Then there truly is no condemnation because we always run to the Lord and He always hears and forgives!