The Shame that We Deal with May not be Condemnation, but the Work of God’s Spirit!

There are times in a believers life especially a new Christian, that they are dealing with guilt or shame from their past sinful lifestyle.

When a person comes to Christ in a personal relationship or the phrase “Born Again” as Jesus admonished us in John’s gospel chapter 3:1-8. The person makes a decision to change their lifestyle to live for God. They ask for forgiveness through Jesus Christ who died on the cross for the world’s sins.” Jesus paid the penalty for sin as a substitute, sacrificial death. “God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son. Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have (experience) everlasting (eternal) life.” John 3:16 (parentheses mine).

There are times that the devil will try to condemn us and accuse us of past sins and throw it up in our face. He will throw arrows at you and tries to shame you with guilt and condemnation.

Paul wrestled with this in the book of Romans Chapters 6 through 8. The old man or nature verses the new nature. Paul concludes with
“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 7:21‭-‬25;8:1-2 NIV

A work of sanctification (to be set apart to God) begins for the believer and will continue until we go home to heaven.
Paul realized this walking in victory spiritually, mentally, emotionally.

This work happens by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

There are times the guilt and shame are not by blaming others, but looking into ourselves, because we messed up. We sinned against the Lord or others and we sense a feeling of guilt. Sometimes it is the enemy, but most times when we fall short and sin, we are grieving the Holy Spirit. We are not aware that God is prodding us to live for Him, but can tend to make excuses and justify our own sinful actions.

We are encourage to “put off” the old nature and “put on” the new nature which is Christ in us. If Jesus is your Lord then the Spirit of God lives in you. Rather than make excuses and continue to walk in defeat, the Lord longs to have fellowship and an intimate relationship with our loving heavenly Father and Christ. This comes by the work of the Spirit that lives in us, by faith in the Son of God.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption”.
Ephesians 4:30 NIV

How do you make it right, so that you can get back on track and live in God’s amazing live and forgiveness?

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 1:7‭-‬10;2:1-2 NIV

God promises you and I that when we come to Him in humility and a heart to make it right and ask for His forgiveness. He will forgive you. This is how we live and walk in true overcoming victory over sin and a sinful lifestyle.

“But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin]”
1 Corinthians 1:30 AMP

Be encouraged today as you move forward in faith and victory. Remember. There are times God’s Spirit is drawing you, and it is not condemnation or blame.
Have a victorious day and coming weekend my friend!