BETWEEN CONVICTION & CONDEMNATION
I Timothy 3:1-7 This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Paul was instructing Timothy about the requirements of Supt. ministry.
Notice that not one on these is "BEING ABLE TO PREACH!" >> Heart issues!
Paul warned of a condition (pit) we can fall into! (WE MUST BE ABOVE IT!)
========> CONDEMNATION! <======== (of the devil)
CONDEMNATION: = "The judicial act of declaring one guilty, then being sentenced to punishment."
<<< Newly planted converts were warned about this area... lest fall!
Pride is what leads you to this...
LOOK AT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THIS SUBJECT...
Proverbs 16:18-19 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [is] humility.
Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
SATAN IS CONDEMNED! ===> So is the general population w/o God.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 3:17-21 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
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Jesus is the light! W/O him your lost in sin! HE CAN TO SAVE, NOT CONDEMN
-----------> WHAT TROUBLES US IS OUR OWN THOUGHTS ABOUT JESUS...
He came, He died, Resurrected... BROUGHT SALVATION!
Hence: along with that came ---> CONVICTION
Conviction: "Act of proving, finding or determining the guilt of an offense... the state of being found guilty"
HE CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST!
His spirit hunts us down, tracks us with unrest. (foreboding, miserable)
sting of our conscience.....
WHAT IS IT? ===> (CONVICTION!) It's God's love calling us!
----> God's Spirit has moved on us... (we've been found guilty!)
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?
BUT IF WE REJECT THIS CALLING, LOVING CONVICTION... (We condemn ourself!)
||||| That's why God is justified in judging this world! |||||
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What should a person do that feels this... RUN? (that's an Option?)
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.
So we become born again... Now What?
H.G. will lead us into being like him! We will feel loving conviction!
Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
This brings a remorse for failing God... EX: Peter at the rooster!
Matthew 26:73-75 And after a while came unto [him] they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art [one] of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
DREAD, GUILT, SHAME, SORROW........ These are like minerals in a body...
(sodium, iron, Vit. D, arsenic ) => TO MUCH or TO LITTLE WILL KILL YOU!
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Yes God lovingly convicts us...===> Then Satan condemns us!
When they caught the woman caught in adultery... NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE!
SATAN IS AN ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN! ( He is also a profound LIAR! )
Comes with guilt and shame, says we can't make it... God doesn't love you!
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DILEMMA: HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M FEELING CONVICTION OR CONDEMNATION?
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Give your feeling a Lab Test:
I John 1:6-2:2 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
To the church he says: If you will confess (own up to) HE WILL FORGIVE!
Repentance = Genuine Remorse!
II Corinthians 7:3 I speak not [this] to condemn [you]: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with [you].
II Corinthians 7:8-11 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though [it were] but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea, [what] indignation, yea, [what] fear, yea, [what] vehement desire, yea, [what] zeal, yea, [what] revenge! In all [things] ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
SOMETIMES we feel the mixture of feeling in us... BUT AFTER GENUINE REP.
Any guilt, shame, dread, sorrow, = THE DEVIL
I John 3:7-10 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed
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remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
I John 3:19-22 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
SOMETIMES... we condemn ourselves - with doubt, fear, low esteem,
WE REFUSE TO FEEL FREE - EVEN AFTER A CLEANSING!
LISTEN: God is greater then your heart! No Matter How You Feel!
TRUST THE WORD ====> W/O FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM!
JESUS IS OUR HIGH PRIEST!
(context)
Hebrews 4:1-4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Hebrews 4:16-19 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
(quite dissecting everything to the enth degree)
II Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
( You must learn to fly on instruments! - TRUST THE WORD! )
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
AUPC - 12/7/88
AUPC - 6/27/93 Sun - am
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