Conviction Versus Accusation

Based on the responses I had on yesterday’s message on Building Godly Convictions, I decided to follow up with a message differentiating between the convictions of the Holy Spirit versus the accusations of the devil.

I think most of us would be shocked if we were truly aware of the attitude of condemnation that lies potentially active in each of us.

One of the favorite stratagems of the enemy is to accuse the brethren. An accusation is a legalistic assessment of the performance of another, pointing out his failures while offering him nothing but condemnation.

An accusation is a form of judgment. According to Paul, judgmentalism inevitably points two ways. It points an accusing finger not only to the one being judged but also back to the one who is judgmental. “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” (Romans 2:1). We are the most sensitive and critical about the things we see in others that remind us of the weaknesses we see in ourselves. Therefore, Paul asserts that when a person is judgmental, he more than likely is guilty of doing the very thing he judges others about.

To accuse is to condemn another without offering help or hope. In Romans 6:1, Paul strongly affirms that those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” To be condemned is for one to suffer from a state of censure in which there appears to be no hope of being reprieved. One of the favorite strategies of the devil is to make the believer believe that he is under condemnation by God for his behavior. Does God condemn His children? The scripture answers that question with a resounding, “NO,” “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:33-34).

On the other hand, conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit. Conviction must never be confused with accusation and condemnation. Conviction is always specific, pointing out specific failures and at the same time points to the mercy of God. Accusation is always generalized making one feel that he is a complete failure and that he will never have redemption from his failures. While the enemy offers no hope and no help, the Holy Spirit always leads one to Christ and the redemptive work of the cross.

I am greatly disturbed when I hear one person being critical of another. That criticism is inevitably couched in a spirit of judgmentalism and condemnation. When I was a pastor, I found it far more effective to assure a faltering one of the love of Jesus, sitting with him and praying with him thus setting him free from whatever bondage he suffered rather than to offer legalistic, harsh, and critical judgments and give no specific help. Accusation and judgmentalism inevitably strips one of his self-esteem filling him with a sense of rejection and dispair. All of which bear the marks of the enemy.

I often hear spouses making critical remarks about each other, parents regarding their children, and children regarding their parents. It is unwise, unspiritual, and disloyal for one spouse to discuss the failings of his/her spouse with others no matter who the other person may be. The same thing holds true in other relationships. We have been called to be redemptive, not to be condemnatory.

I have long found that the most powerful tool I can use to help others to be what I would like for them to be, is to consistently make positive and faith-filled confessions regarding him/her. Accusations and judgments bring one into basic agreement with the devil, thus giving the devil an opening to work in the other’s life. Conversely, when one confesses the love, acceptance, and victory that the Father has for the faltering one, he gives the Father a platform of faith to bring victory into that life.

To help others find victory, declare them, to every person and in every setting, to already be everything you would ever hope for them to be. That is the basis of true faith and Godly love. Jesus said, “Therefore I say unto you, what things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye [already have] them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).

Jeff

• Jefferson H. and Norma R. Floyd, CO-directors • Jubilee International • P. O. Box 572 • Noblesville, IN 46061