Since the start of 2019, I’ve been ministering in Johannesburg, South Africa teaching on what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit, and I can feel that something supernatural is getting ready to take place; not only in Africa, but in the United States as well…
[ Update ] I’ve returned home to the United States this week to see my wife, daughters, friends, and colleagues after being in Africa for nearly two months, and will be ministering in Louisiana and Texas over the next few weeks on one overarching subject: The Holy Spirit.
You can tell when someone is being led by the Holy Spirit by how they handle and treat other people. If they’re being harsh, judgmental and condemning, it’s likely they’re being led by their own (or another) spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to condemn you, but to convict you.
And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; - John 16:8
“Convict” meaning to convince you of your own error. Conviction is not condemnation, which means complete disapproval; to criticize someone strongly, or to guilt and shame them. The Holy Spirit CONVICTS us, and reveals or exposes error in our own personal lives. If you are feeling personal guilt and shame, it’s just a condemnation of your own heart and your own spirit.
...in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. - 1 John 3:20
Let’s not treat people in the same way we treat ourselves... If you want to be hard on yourself, that’s fine—I can be very hard on myself at times—but if you’re being led by the Spirit you won’t be equally condemning to others who need your compassion, mercy, and understanding. God did not send Jesus to condemn the world, but that through Jesus the world might be saved.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. - John 3: 16-17
What did Jesus do when dealing with the stone-casters and the accused adulterous woman we read about in John 8?
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”
I think it’s crucially important not to be guilty of stone-casting. Some of you may have a few stones in your pockets right now… I urge you to drop them to the ground and ask the Holy Spirit for direction on whatever issue is causing you to condemn and judge. That is not the ministry of Jesus.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. - Matthew 7: 3-5
Repeat after me:
If I’m being led by the Spirit, I’m not judging anyone.
If I’m being led by the Spirit, I’m not condemning people.
If I’m being led by the Spirit, I’m not looking down on others.
Yes, we may deal with ourselves harshly from time to time, but I strongly feel God saying not to transfer that behavior, habit, or process onto other people. Let the Holy Spirit work through you to deal with others; don’t let your own spirit get in the way of His.
Use compassion, mercy, and conviction. He is our comforter, not our condemner.
So hang in there, be faithful, be prayed up, be full of the word, and bring your capacity to the church—don’t just think the church is there to give you something—bring your best and watch God move.
God bless you all! We’ll talk soon!
- Pastor David
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Ps. I’ve been asked to remind you all that the 2019 Vertical Conference will be on the 1st of August this year, and run through to the 4th of August. Please “save the date” and contact Wendy at: admin@ddm.world if you have any questions or concerns. It’s going to be great!