Guilt Corrupts Faith Rest. Pastor Rick Bettez.
Physical or mental fatigue, anxiety or guilt, insecurity, anger or an unfinished agenda as well as pressing business or financial issues all can contribute to a lack of peace & rest in our life.
Spiritual growth has a calming effect, which is opposite of what most Unbels struggle with in their daily lives in the cosmic system; anxiety, uncertainty, bitterness, frustration, discontent, etc.
Prov 4:22 For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.
MARPE’ – meaning a medicine or cure.
Prov 4:21 Do not let them (doctrines) depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
The word of God needs to be a priority, keeping BD in your mind not allowing it to depart from your thoughts.
Psa 16:8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When a Bel struggles with understanding Holy Spirit conviction compared to Satanic accusation (condemnation) that Bel will eventually peel away from God. It is usually a result of a guilty conscience.
Rom 14:3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
Rom 14:1-10 speaks to the weak Bel & strong Bel, at this point weak Bels had gotten involved in legalistic behaviors revolving around food, drink and holy days. This is an open invitation for guilt to find a home!
Guilt can be introduced into a (weak or new) Bel’s life by others who judge & gossip or their own immature beliefs that revolve around asceticism and legalism.
Guilt is often brought into the PPOG by new Bels or weak Bels who have not fully accepted the grace of God. Guilt will always find a way into our soul if our spiritual strength is derived from the flesh and not the work of Christ on the Cross.
We all go through times of falling away from the PPOG, it’s what we do once we realize it that counts! Self-imposed humility and a serious relationship with the word of God is needed for the journey back.
Rom 14:12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
Guilt can lead to anger which can turn into bitterness.
Guilt can lead to shame or insecurity (withdrawal).
Guilt can lead to apathy toward PPOG.Luk 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”Luke 7-The Lord Jesus Christ would teach a lesson to the arrogant Pharisee while also building up this humble woman and neither one of them were condemned but there was a spiritual conviction in this lesson.The custom of the day was to honor respected men when they enter your house; greet them with a kiss, washing his feet, and the anointing with fragrant perfume or oil was a sign of reverence. The Pharisee did none of this!
Grace oriented Bels operate with grace toward other people, they know there is nothing good in their flesh. They have a long suffering attitude toward others, they are not easily offended & their gratitude runs deep!
APHIEMI – have been forgiven. Past tense of having a debt completely removed, leaving behind, moving on to a new place. She was a Believer.
Guilt can be used by others to manipulate or condemn the weak Bel. Guilty people will often live their lives in fear of others therefore never growing into the person God has designed them to become.
Guilt causes repression and this begins the downward spiral of rejecting BD (first subconsciously) & peeling away from truth. Eventually rejecting the authority of God, followed by anger, denial & transference arrogance after an extended period of guilt.
Guilt is an antagonist toward serenity therefore the Bel who struggles with guilt never has true comfort or extended periods of peace in their lives. Their relationships are marked with combative & insecure behaviors.
The Bel’s only hope for a guilt free lifestyle is dependent upon the only innocent man.
Acceptance is a grace gift God secured for us by the substitutionary work of the Cross of Christ. Acceptance is the only source of freedom that can wash the garbage of guilt from our soul.
Acceptance that all judgement lies with Christ and is out of the realm of popular trends, human IQ or personal opinions.
Acceptance that sin is sin, and no Bel is greater or lesser in the eyes of God. Failure or success in the PPOG does not alter the love of God.
Acceptance that God’s love flows to the Bel because we are in union with His uniquely born Son. Also the acceptance that Christ was willing to sacrifice Himself for us! Nothing to do with our flesh.
Acceptance that no sin, past, present or future can withhold the divine love that we wake up to everyday and we will only increase in this intimacy in eternity!
Acceptance of all this will lead the Bel to seek a closer walk with God. This in turn will drive them to place relationship with Christ over relationship with people.
This acceptance coupled with a growing, positive walk within the PPOG can be the only prescription for removing the stain of guilt in our soul structure.