Sweeping Your Doorstep...(Power Within Series Part II)

September 4, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 2:1-2.

As Christians, who have the Holy Spirit living within us from the moment of our salvation, we often fail to see the power we have in us. Jesus told us all that we would do even greater things than He did. “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12.

When Jesus went to live with the Father, He sent to us the Holy Spirit. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles in your life is to work on your disobedience through conviction. Conviction is the point of action based on a Spirit’s message that you did something incorrectly. “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” John 16:8-11.

Unfortunately for many, a conviction is missed due to a feeling of condemnation. Someone feels so guilty about something they have done in their own lives that they start trying to cover it up. The way they cover it up is by judging others, acting self-righteous, and making moral judgments about everyone but themselves.

Those people frequently like to play victim and discuss how horrible the world has treated them or how wrong everyone else is. Given that we are all human, and sinners according to God, that is hypocritical at best. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Matthew 7:3-5. Simply put, the old saying is true, sweep your own doorstep first before telling other people how to sweep theirs.

Falling victim to self-condemnation is a huge missed opportunity because listening to and following convictions are the best way to bring about the most positive change in your own life. That is because they is coming from God.

In life, it is hard to deal with someone who refuses to follow their own convictions and judges everyone else. They have a tendency to bring you down and then you will stop listening to your own convictions because you will feel their condemnation. Simply put, their negativity can spread to you.

The best thing you can do when confronted with those people is to not judge them because then you will be judged as well. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2. Remember what they are doing is causing you pain, and they will be judged for it. Do not sign up for what they are going to get by doing it in return.

However, you are under no obligation to stick around and listen or answer to them. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6.

The way to avoid feeling condemned and continue following the Holy Spirit’s guidance on your own convictions is to recognize these people, and refuse to give in to their negativity. You can try with many people and succeed, but you will not succeed with everyone. In this instance, God gives you an out. “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” Titus 3:9-11.

Remember it is God’s approval that you are working for and not mans. The most you can do is recognize the power of following your own convictions, love others, and then when you see someone judging you because of their own faults do not judge them and tell them how dirty their own doorstep is, instead smile and tell them God loves them, and then,

Hand them a broom.