HOW TO HAVE VICTORY OVER GUILT

 

“HOW TO HAVE VICTORY OVER GUILT”

 

INTRODUCTION: Man has developed many ways to pry into his inner self. Modern science has attempted to be able to determine the guilt or innocence of human behavior. The lie detector is used in legal proceedings. Third-degree interrogation with mental and physical brutality is used in police states and on prisoners of war.

However, man’s greatest detection of right and wrong is his/her own conscience. It is divinely built into his inner man. We say things like,  “the guilty look”.  The eyes have a story to tell. They listen for guilty words, a person’s speech reveals right and wrong.

What is the psychology of guilt?

Guilt is considered to be a self-conscious and moral emotion because it involves an evaluation of the self, and it plays a crucial role in guiding moral behavior.  Beyond feeling bad, guilt is also characterized by feelings of regret and tension.

Strongest matches

• culpability
• disgrace
• indiscretion
• liability
• regret
• remorse
• responsibility
• shame
• sin
• stigma

Strong matches

• answerability
• blameworthiness
• contrition
• crime
• dishonor
• error
• failing
• fault
• infamy
• iniquity
• lapse
• malpractice
• misbehavior
• misconduct
• misstep
• offense
• onus
• penitence
• self-condemnation
• self-reproach
• sinfulness
• transgression
• wickedness
• wrong

Romans 8:1  

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

1.    WHO FEELS GUILT?

Only human beings have guilt feelings. All of creation goes through this life without a guilt complex. Animals feel no personal guilt for their deeds.

2.    WHAT IS THE GUILT COMPLEX?

Guilt is a part of the human conscience. Guilt feelings are rebukes for the broken laws of God and nature. These feelings remove peace and tranquility from the human mind. They remove joy and happiness from human emotions.

3. THE ORIGIN OF THE GUILT COMPLEX

The guilt complex was first identified and recorded in Genesis. Adam and Eve deliberately transgressed against the revealed plan and purpose of God. When the regular meeting time with God came in the evening, Adam and Eve were hidden in the bushes and afraid to meet God (Genesis 3:10). In the human structure, sin produces the guilt complex. For a human to say, “I am guilty,” is a big thing. It can be either negative or positive.

 

II Corinthians 7:10

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

4. GUILT CAN BE A DECEIVING LIE

I have met war veterans who, after returning home, felt that they were murderers and could not forget it. I do not feel that a man in the armed forces, who acted by command and duty, is a murderer. His nation may stand rebuked for an unrighteous war, but he has not personally been involved in the decision-making process of the war. He should not permit this guilt complex to destroy him. I have met others who are still enduring a nagging misery because of sins committed—even though they are now forgiven because of their confession to Christ. A guilt complex is from the devil.

5. THE EFFECTS OF A GUILT COMPLEX (15 Minutes)

A. Loneliness: A feeling of guilt cuts one off from God and those whom they have hurt here on earth.

B. Despair: A feeling of guilt creates human despair. It is a feeling of failure and helplessness.

C. Fear: A feeling of guilt creates the fear that one may never be able to retract his offense and be pure as he was before.

D. Bitterness: A feeling of guilt often makes one angry at himself and many times at those he was involved with in a transgression.

E. Unworthiness: The guilt complex can develop a feeling of unworthiness of the forgiveness and mercy of God.

F. Resentment: The guilt complex can create a wall of resentment that separates close loved ones and friends.

G. Unforgiveness: A feeling of deep guilt can cause an unforgiving spirit which can change attitudes toward others.

H. Regret: A guilt complex always creates regret and remorse. The person feels that he should not have done what he did.

I. Nagging: Hidden sin produces a guilt complex. There are unjudged deeds hidden in our nagging consciences within us, reminding us that judgment day must come.

6. GUILT NOT ACCEPTED BY CHRIST

In Jesus story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, He said the prodigal son returned home laden with guilt. He told his father, “I am no more worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.” The father replied, “Bring a robe and a ring! My son who was dead is now alive!” There was no guilt!

7. THE HIDDEN PAST

A man or a woman can have things hidden in there past that are like ghost.  It haunts them.  They may have left it long ago, but in their concise is keeps rising up over and over again.  Sometimes the shame of the possibility of it surfacing is the agony of a guilt complex

8. A GRAIN OF RICE

In the state of Mississippi, a man named Rice disappeared and could not be found. Over 10 years later, one man carelessly told another, “See that pond of water? I planted a grain of rice there 10 years ago which has never grown.” This other man felt very strange about the statement, looked through old newspapers, and discovered that a man by the name of Rice had disappeared. He reported it to the police, who then searched the bottom of that pond. In the water, they found a human skeleton with a chain wrapped around it. The man confessed when confronted with the evidence. He was condemned and sent to prison. His guilt complex finally burst open and the act of murder was punished.

9. MENTAL DERANGEMENT

Guilt can produce insanity. A nagging emotion can become an obsession and produce mental instability. The older the person grows, the stronger his obsession becomes.

10. A GUILT COMPLEX CAN CAUSE SUICIDE

A. Judas Iscariot drowned in a whirlpool of guilt by taking his own life. Matthew 27:5, And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. King Saul did the same when he knew that God was no longer with him.

 

11. GUILT FEELINGS IN HELL

Jesus told the rich man in hell that awful remorse will follow the wicked for eternity. Luke 16:25, But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

 

12. HOW TO HAVE VICTORY WITH GUILT (15 Minutes Left)

The Bible gives several examples of men having victory over guilt.

A.    David

Psalm 32:5

“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

 

B.    Peter

Luke 22:60-62

“And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. v. 61, And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. v. 62, And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

 

 

C.    Thief on the cross

Luke 23:42-43

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. v. 43, And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

 

D.    Nehemiah

Nehemiah 9:2

“And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.”

 

E.     Paul in Rome

Romans 10:9

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

 

13. THE BIBLE CLEARLY STATES THAT GOD FORGIVES

A. Psalm 103:12

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

B. The apostle Paul admonishes us in Philippians 3:13,

“. . . forgetting those things which are behind . . .”

C. The great prophet Isaiah

Isaiah 43:25

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”

 

 

 

D. Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

CONCLUSION: It is one thing to be guilty, but we can go to the cross of Jesus Christ, confess our guilt, and be forgiven. It is another thing to be burdened with a guilt complex that is destructive and demonic. Get rid of it in Jesus’ name!