In spiritual warfare, one of the enemy's most powerful weapons is condemnation. The enemy attacks us with our past and even our present mistakes, whispering that God has rejected us or that our prayers are falling on deaf ears. This tactic is so dangerous because it can cause us to stop talking to God about what's really on our hearts, or in some cases, to stop talking to Him entirely. The enemy wants us to believe that because we have sinned, a holy God will no longer listen to us.
The counter to this attack is to know what God says. We often "fake the funk" by pretending to have our lives in order, smiling and saying all the right things. We’re ashamed to admit our shortcomings to God, believing we have to be perfect to approach Him. But this is a lie. We don't have to be perfect because Jesus is perfect.
When we believe in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, God forgives us and sees us as righteous because of our faith in Him. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, and this is true for everyone who believes.
Romans 3:21-26 NLT [21] But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. [22] We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. [23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. [24] Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. [25] For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, [26] for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
When we "fake the funk," we are really doubting Jesus' work of salvation on the cross. We start to depend on ourselves and our own righteousness, which amounts to nothing more than "filthy rags".
Isaiah 64:6 NLT [6] We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. (emphasis mine)
Because of Jesus, there is no more condemnation.
Romans 8:1, 38-39 NLT [1] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
[38] And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. [39] No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
While it's true there is no condemnation for those saved by faith in Jesus, this doesn't mean we stop sinning. When we do miss the mark, the Holy Spirit convicts us of that sin. But there is a huge difference between the enemy's condemnation and the Holy Spirit's conviction, and understanding this difference is key to our relationship with God.
The counter to this attack is to know what God says. We often "fake the funk" by pretending to have our lives in order, smiling and saying all the right things. We’re ashamed to admit our shortcomings to God, believing we have to be perfect to approach Him. But this is a lie. We don't have to be perfect because Jesus is perfect.
When we believe in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, God forgives us and sees us as righteous because of our faith in Him. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, and this is true for everyone who believes.
Romans 3:21-26 NLT [21] But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. [22] We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. [23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. [24] Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. [25] For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, [26] for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
When we "fake the funk," we are really doubting Jesus' work of salvation on the cross. We start to depend on ourselves and our own righteousness, which amounts to nothing more than "filthy rags".
Isaiah 64:6 NLT [6] We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. (emphasis mine)
Because of Jesus, there is no more condemnation.
Romans 8:1, 38-39 NLT [1] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
[38] And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. [39] No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
While it's true there is no condemnation for those saved by faith in Jesus, this doesn't mean we stop sinning. When we do miss the mark, the Holy Spirit convicts us of that sin. But there is a huge difference between the enemy's condemnation and the Holy Spirit's conviction, and understanding this difference is key to our relationship with God.
The Difference Between Condemnation and Conviction
Condemnation from the enemy and conviction from the Holy Spirit may seem similar, but they couldn’t be more different.
When you are experiencing condemnation or confusion, literally STOP. Mentally or physically move away from the source of the feeling. Calm your mind, run into God’s presence, and listen for His voice. He will meet you there with peace that "exceeds anything we can understand" and will "guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus"
Philippians 4:6-8 NLT[6] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Don't let the enemy steal your peace. Run to God, not from Him. He is waiting for you.
Condemnation from the enemy and conviction from the Holy Spirit may seem similar, but they couldn’t be more different.
- Condemnation is dark, hopeless, and destructive. It holds you to your past and makes you feel like it's the end. It's the voice that says, "You've messed up too much, God is done with you."
- Conviction from the Holy Spirit is light, hopeful, and constructive. It points you toward your future and is a beginning. It's the gentle voice that says, "That wasn't right, but here is your next step to move forward with God."
When you are experiencing condemnation or confusion, literally STOP. Mentally or physically move away from the source of the feeling. Calm your mind, run into God’s presence, and listen for His voice. He will meet you there with peace that "exceeds anything we can understand" and will "guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus"
Philippians 4:6-8 NLT[6] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Don't let the enemy steal your peace. Run to God, not from Him. He is waiting for you.
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