Hi all! So, I have always heard that the Holy Spirit convicts, and the devil condemns. My question is, how can you tell the difference? Thank you in advance for your answers
That was a great question. And I would love to answer it.
First - condemnation. Paul writes in Romans 8 that there is no condemnation for those in the Messiah. So it is the devil who condemns.
Condemnation is very discouraging. It leaves you feeling dirty and hopeless. “You dirty sinner, don’t you know you will never amount to anything? How can God love such a piece of junk?” The devil does that to keep you from growing and obeying God.
Conviction, OTOH which is from the Holy Spirit is clean. It says more like: “Yes you messed up, but you can do better with MY help. Confess your sin and try again. I am here to help you at every point. Together we WILL overcome.” It is always encouraging and uplifting.
You are welcome.But then, I get this feeling of, if you are saved, how could you do that in the first place when you knew better? Then I feel awful.
You are welcome.
That is one of the classic lines of the devil’s condemnation. Ignore it and move on.
That was a great question. And I would love to answer it.
First - condemnation. Paul writes in Romans 8 that there is no condemnation for those in the Messiah. So it is the devil who condemns.
Condemnation is very discouraging. It leaves you feeling dirty and hopeless. “You dirty sinner, don’t you know you will never amount to anything? How can God love such a piece of junk?” The devil does that to keep you from growing and obeying God.
Conviction, OTOH which is from the Holy Spirit is clean. It says more like: “Yes you messed up, but you can do better with MY help. Confess your sin and try again. I am here to help you at every point. Together we WILL overcome.” It is always encouraging and uplifting.
Amen and amen.Condemnation never comes with His peace.
Understood. All have to grow up in Him. And we keep growing our whole lives.Thank you both. I am still pretty new to everything, and I have so many feelings, it is sometimes hard to discern them all and what they mean
Courage is not the absence of fear. The principle is that we feel the fear and decide to believe the promises of God anyway. If we allow our fears to rule us, we will be paralyzed; but if we decide to move forward according to what God has promised us, then our fears will be pushed aside like the waters of the Red Sea when Moses and the children of Israel went through.I had an elder tell me that anytime I felt that, or felt fear, that I wasn't right with God. And to be honest, I have always feared God. Not in a run from Him kind of way, but I have always feared displeasing Him I guess you would say.