The last few weeks, I  have felt so pushed by the Spirit that what I had to say felt like it was memorized on my brain so I didn’t write it down, but that makes it hard to capture it again to post so if you didn’t zoom in, it was said and probably/maybe forgotten.  This is an important time now as we start as we start ramping up to celebrate our dear Savior’s birth.  I know we are ramping up because I carried many, many boxes down from storage to start the Christmas setup.  Now is the beginning of his life that led to our being forgiven for all our sins.  It is a great beginning but don’t forget about Jesus’ final goal: Forgiveness of our sins.  One of the biggest things that we run into today is someone saying that I have done so much that I can never be forgiven.  We all have done bad things.  The only perfect person is the one who can stick his hand in the water , pull it out, and with no tricks, the water doesn’t move back.

So lets talk about something that we all know but often forget about forgiveness and guilt. Guilt is a feeling of deep regret caused by being responsible for something.  There is a difference between feeling guilty and being guilty that is legal versus moral.  Failing to follow God’s will is being guilty so true guilt is caused by committing sin.  False guilt is guilt that we place on ourselves for past acts or failing to live up to someone’s expectations.  AND they can be mixed up together.

Paul said it clearly in Romans 8:1-6 to Live in the Spirit 8 There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me^[a] free from the law of sin and death. ³ What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature, to do away with sin. ⁴ God did this so that the righteous demands of the Law might be fully satisfied in us who live according to the Spirit, and not according to human nature. ⁵ Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. ⁶ To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace.

True guilt is actually easier to deal with.  It starts with confessing your sin and asking for forgiveness, but you must confess with a contrite heart.  If you are Catholic, you believe that you can confess to your priest and ask for forgivenesss.  Most other Christian denominations believe that you can confess directly to God and ask for forgiveness.  The method is irrelevant.  It is the process that is important.  Atonement is the commonality.  Atoning for your sins is what can make the healing process work.  The problem is when you are not fully feeling forgiven or have provided enough atonement OR the most obvious problem when you forget that Jesus died for ALL of us for forgiveness of our sins.  You need to share your guilt with God and give up the burden to Him.

Ask yourself if you have truly given them up.  Are you allowing Satan to stick his dirty fingers in the process?  WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?  Atonement is often easy.  An apology, truly given, can often be enough.  The problem is like I hinted before: you can’t forgive yourself for what you may have done even though God has forgiven you.  Is it a sin to murder someone?  Of course it is.  Can you be forgiven?  Of course you can.  Is it a sin to kill someone defending your country or family? It can be, but usually it is not.  The Bible is filed with examples of people defending their country, family, or self.  That is why our laws of self defense are written the way that they are written.  Our country was formed and our constitution was written based on ideals derived from the Bible.  Seek God, confess your sin, ask forgiveness, and leave it with God.  Don’t let Satan stick his fingers in the process!  In Revelations 12:9-12, it says he will.  ⁹ The huge dragon was thrown out—that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. ¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now God’s salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. ¹¹ They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. ¹² And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left.”

Satan got kicked out for a reason. Satan is among us and he wants you to deny that Jesus can save you.  Don’t let him.  You need to keep those dirty fingers off you

As we pray, let us be thankful for this season that celebrates the journey that led to our forgiveness.  Dear Lord, thank you for giving up your son for us.  Protect us from Satan, help us to separate true guilt from false guilt, and forgive us our sins/trespasses.  Our Father who art in heaven….