Conviction ->->->Repentance->->->Freedom

Romans 8:1 - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  

Over the past year God has been reminding me and has even used a friend to confirm that He doesn't use guilt or condemnation in the lives of His children.  He doesn't manipulate their feelings or emotions. God is the God of ALL truth. Those who have been born again are not under condemnation.  

John 3:17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  

The Lord does use the promptings of the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us.  He does speak to us in His Word and in prayer. But condemnation and guilt come from the enemy of our souls or man imposes guilt on us.  Guilt is a tool of the enemy!  

I am convinced that guilting (my word) others into "serving" Christ does NOT work!  I have watched countless leaders, pastors, managers and might I add mothers (me included at times) use a form of guilt in order to move people to "do" what they deem is important or to move people to the rhythm of their drum beat (agenda).   Not so with Christ.  He never made anyone follow him.  He simply said, "Follow Me."  Did you see that period (.)?  Period, follow Me and I will do this or I will do this in and through you.  It's all about Jesus in us. His call to, "Follow Me" will also look different in the daily details of how that is lived out for each and every believer.   Different but yet, the same call to all who will follow Christ.  That our lives will glorify Him and we will be gospel bearers.  

If you feel guilty about something you have or haven't done ask the Lord to examine your heart.  Get down on your knees in your private prayer closet ask him to show you if this is genuine conviction or genuine guilt.  He will show you.  The Lord wants us to be free to serve Him from a heart of authentic love for Him and desire to serve Him out of devotion not duty.  Also, don't use guilt to beat and batter others into serving the Lord.  We are not to be beaten into submission.  Submission is the willing yielding of oneself to another either in authority over you like in marriage or as the word of God in Ephesians tells us to demonstrate love and unity in the body.  In Ephesians 5:21 tells us, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."  No one is to be Lord over their flock or those under their care.  Christ is the Lord. His blood was shed for the church.  He deserves our authentic worship.  He and He alone is worthy of our devotion and dedication.  If our hearts are made new in Christ we will desire to please Him above all else.  Others may benefit from our obedience and service to the Lord but our motivation should be pure love for our Savior.  

Guilt will only work for the short term but soon after resentment will kick in.  You will be one of those people that others avoid like the plague.  Why?  Because we all need encouragement, we need grace, mercy, love and kindness.  We need to know that we are being effective for the kingdom.  Guilt and condemnation are two of Satan's chief tools.  Guilt over our sin and disobedience is different, that my friend is called conviction from the Holy Spirit.  Which leads us to repentance and then to freedom!   

Think it over.  Are you being used as an instrument of encouragement and edification?  Or, are you being used as an instrument of condemnation and guilt which does the opposite of building up it tears down.  Are you being effective for the kingdom of God in the lives of those He has placed under your care?  Are you leading them to a life of repentance and freedom or to a life of being enslaved by guilt and condemnation? 

Guilt and condemnation lead to a defeated life.  Conviction and repentance lead to a life of freedom and victory!  

In the Shadow of the Almighty Ps. 91,