Is what I’m feeling from God or Satan?

Published in January 4th, 2008

Posted by Larry Potter in Larry Potter - Lead Pastor, Blogroll

As I was studying this morning from Chapter 10 V-19 of the Book Hebrews I came the word “guilt” . Guilt is a big deterrent when it comes to accepting Christ as Lord of our life. My life was so messed up that I had developed this distorted view of a Christian being so good that it just wasn‘t possible for me to get there. But does guilt come in play after we become followers of Christ?

Because Hebrews is written primarily to Disciples of Christ, in this verse we see that it is also major problem even after we begin our Christian walk.

Guilt is one of the most effective tools Satan has in his arsenal and one that we seem to insist on using on ourselves. “If I was really a follower of Christ I would have never did that”, or “If Jesus was really in my life I wouldn’t have those thoughts.” Here is a thought that really messes with Christians, “Why don’t any other Christians struggle with this sin in their life?”

One of the most difficult things to determine, especially for people that are new in their walk with the Lord, is the difference between guilt and conviction. Conviction is a tool used by God to protect us, set us free and keep us headed in the right direction. While guilt is a tool used by Satan to destroy, bind , condemn, and mislead us.

Which one do I want, protection, freedom, and life in the right direction, or destruction, slavery, and going down a dead end street?

How do you know the difference between Conviction from God and guilt from Satan?

Conviction is anything that draws you to God. “What I did Friday night was wrong and I need to talk with God”, “I need to go and worship God this Sunday”, “I need the support and encouragement of other disciples of Christ so as not to fall back into that trap again.”

Guilt is anything that draws you away from God. “I am so ashamed of what I did; I don’t even want to pray about it.” “I would feel like a hypocrite if I want to church after doing what I did.” “If they knew what i did they wouldn’t even talk with me”

Here is something you may not have thought about, but guilt in your life is always in proportion to your faith and Knowledge of Jesus Christ. The more understanding we have of God’s mercy (not getting what you deserve) and grace (getting something you don’t deserve) the less guilt we carry around.

How do I deal with guilt? Of course reading my Bible and prayer is important, but being around mature, upbeat, encouraging followers of Christ is a real guilt buster for me.

God Bless

Pastor Larry

Joshua 24:15

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Jeane Potter said, in January 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am

I have always heard that Conviction will draw you closer to God and guilt will take you away. I believe that. Satan puts this load of guilt upon us each day, something that we did not do right or somewhere we have let people down, especially our friends and family. It’s good to know that we all struggle with this each day of our life, and we are not alone.

Brian Justice said, in January 4th, 2008 at 9:39 am

Satan has many tools to build a wall between us and God. I see guilt as the cement that binds together the bricks that make up that wall. As Christians we can more easily remove the tools of Satan within our lives, than the guilt of having used those tools. The guilt remains, allowing that wall Satan built to stand between us and God. Conviction becomes the sledge we use to break apart that wall and allow the mercy and grace of God to help us grow and mature as Christians. Making us better able to recognize and cope with guilt that will arise in our daily journeys as Christians.

John Durr said, in January 4th, 2008 at 11:54 am

I’ll need some more time to think on this, but part of my problem is that I have a very good understanding of guilt (what it means, how it feels, which actions behaviors or thoughts bring it out) but I don’t really understand conviction. To try to get a better idea, I looked the meaning of the word up online:

1. an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
2. (criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed; “the conviction came as no surprise”

1. Law
1. The judgment of a jury or judge that a person is guilty of a crime as charged.
2. The state of being found or proved guilty: evidence that led to the suspect’s conviction.
3. The act or process of convincing.
4. The state of being convinced.
2. A fixed or strong belief.

It seems that I am familiar with the word more from the legal standpoint than any other. I think this speaks toward my misunderstanding since from a legal standpoint one is convicted due to being guilty.

I have some thinking and praying to do about exactly what conviction is and how it works in this context in relation to guilt. I sure would appreciate any follow up comments that could help point me in the right direction.

David Wilson said, in January 4th, 2008 at 5:26 pm

“I would feel like a hypocrite if I went to church after doing what I did.” “If they knew what I did they wouldn’t even talk with me” statement you made is very true.
I believe this one greatest very unnecessary attitude that we have as individuals and as a church family. I myself am very guilty of this one. We should hate the sin but love the person. None of us are perfect only Jesus was and is. These are the correct attitude we as Christians should have but many times are responses don’t match. This alone can trigger a guilt trip. It is very difficult in our human bodies to separate the sin from the person.

As early as Adam and Eve the bible says they were ashamed and hid from Jesus. The very man days prior they had such a close relationship with. I believe the word ashamed could be exchanged for the word Guilt don’t you think. Ashamed and Guilt are so closely related. It is our human nature to move away from God during these times as Adam and Eve did. It strange the more we need him the more push him away. It ok to be ashamed of what we have done or not done works both ways but it is the guilt that seems to be the defining moment that pushes the outcome one way or the other.

brother james said, in January 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

[David said, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”] 2 Sam.24:10
When I read testimonies like this one, I can feel the agony and stress in his voice.
[Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly.] Matt.26:75
Oh, the regret and shame that comes with guilt.
Satan’s favorite arrow to use is Guilt. It can stop the forward progress in all Christian ministry. As well as, Slow down and even Reverse the growth of a believer no matter how faithful and committed.
I have watched some mighty men of God; even preachers, leave the church and watched their lives spiral down to beyond reproach. Simply by guilt. A five letter word with a mighty destructive power.
I too have spent many tormented hour battling with guilt. We are not ammune to its poison. But there is a cure. An injection of the Gospel of Grace. Was the sacrafice on the cross worth you holding onto the guilt you have created. Yes, I said ‘you’. Satan can only use our guilt against us if we hold onto it. Give it to God, For where we are weak he is strong.
Be convicted. Feel guilty for what you have done. Then REPENT!!
For the time is now to move out of the shadows and into the light. Take hold of the Keys, open the door, and loosen the bonds. Matt. 16:19
Quote to resite when you feel guilty: My God is bigger than my guilt.
Big G over little g.

John Davis said, in January 10th, 2008 at 7:20 pm

Giult…been there done that! I do believe that many times our ability to feel ‘guilty’ is proportional to our faith in and knowledge of Jesus Christ, but sometimes, when there is still knowledge of Jesus, faith wains, thing happen, and guilt takes over.
For example, few people knew Jesus better than Peter. And there were were times when no one exhibited as much faith (only Peter got out of the boat). But, I think, his knowledge and previous displays of faith are exactly what caused him to feel guilty. I am sure he thought he should have known better.
But it is God’s grace that bring us back to Him through conviction. How awesome is that?!

John Durr said, in January 16th, 2008 at 1:32 am

God put this back in front of me this evening. I explained that I was having trouble with identifying conviction in both meaning and recognition. It was explained to me that conviction in the sense used here will always involve love. If it’s based in love and involves a feeling that you may have displeased the Lord, it’s conviction rather than guilt.

I was able to relate this immediately to something I had recently went through in the past few days:
I had an unkind communication with someone who used to be close to me. A few days afterward I realized that I was in fact sorry for behaving in the way that I did. I apologized to the person and then to God for behaving in such a manner. Normally I would have said that I felt guilty for behaving like that, but by my sorrow resulting in heart felt apologies to the affected person and to God, I realize now that it was in fact Conviction. The root of the feeling was not shame but was in fact love. Not at the time of the communication, but afterward when I admitted to myself that I did wrong. Love drove me to feel the way I felt and apologize to those I needed to apologize to.

Every day stronger in faith and understanding. I love my God!

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Is what I’m feeling from God or Satan?

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