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I used to really feel convicted when I was doing wrong or avoiding God. But, lately, the conviction doesn’t seem strong these days or, sometimes, I don’t feel it at all when I usually would. I have a desire to change my life and get closer to Him again, but without that conviction, I have a harder time staying on track. I believe I have quenched the Holy Spirit, but I don’t know how to undo the damage I have done. I have prayed about it, but it feels like my prayers bounce off the ceiling. How can I get back to where I need to be and correct this relationship with Him? *Edit for a bit more context: I have been in church my entire life. I was saved when I was about 9, I believe. For years, I neglected my spiritual walk. In the summer of 2023, I went through something very hard that lasted about a year. The experience was painful, but it brought me so much closer to the Lord. After it ended, my life got a lot more hectic and I stopped reading the Bible every day and my prayers became shorter, and then fewer. I’ve been trying (not hard enough) to get back to where I need to be. This past week really opened my eyes as to what this world is coming to and how I need to commit myself back to the Lord. I am angry with myself for wasting so much time and not growing during this period.
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It is a time when we need the wisdom to measure and reflect everything against the Word of God. Since this world teaches and learns falsehoods, distortions, and assertions that deviate from the Word of God, it has reached the point where evidence and fruit grounded in the Scriptures can scarcely be found.
The Reality of the Holy Spirit
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.(1 Corinthians 2 : 4~14)
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.(1 John 2 : 27)
Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?(Isaiah 40 : 13~14)
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned…(Isaiah 50 : 4~6)
The Spirit which you claim to have received is the Spirit of Truth, who comprehends all things of God. The Spirit of Truth does not commit sin, does not waver, but works within the love of God by the power of God, leading one to obtain the divine power that puts to death the evil human habits which otherwise cause a person to repeat sin throughout their lifetime. A faith that, even while repenting, turns back again to commit sin and cannot escape the wicked path of sinners is a carnal faith.
A faith that seeks only one’s own happiness, success, ideals, and blessings is what is called carnal faith. In other words, is it not that you serve God for the sake of pursuing worldly lusts and desires, mingled with the world and material things, so that your faith is nothing more than following distorted teachings, heresies, and lies, seeking after human lessons and emotions that are not written in the Word of God?
From the beginning, you were falsely taught to think that the first love never having the Holy Spirit was as if the Holy Spirit had later departed. In truth, it was not that you received the Holy Spirit, but rather that you lost the first love which God had given. This first love is the pure and beautiful heart toward God, through which His profound love works, given so that all who desire to believe might be led to follow after His deep love. Therefore, the “Holy Spirit” you now speak of is, in fact, the first love; and that first love has vanished as you have followed the flesh belonging to the world, repeating sin.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.(Revelation 2 : 4)
The reality of the Holy Spirit is this: it is the bestowal of God’s mighty power working within, granting the divine power that transcends the limits of human weakness—which otherwise can only repeat sin—and delivering one from sin. The Holy Spirit, who follows after the love of God, is the very power of God Himself.
The condition for receiving the Holy Spirit is clear (the way to receive the Holy Spirit):
It is to deny all one’s ideals and even one’s very life, to take up the cross, and to follow. In other words, the Holy Spirit works only in those who live the life of Christ with the goal of Christ’s hope, which follows after the love of God. Therefore, to those who are not true Christians in whom the power of God works—the power that follows after the love of the cross, even to the point of laying down one’s life—such faith is merely carnal faith, bound to the flesh, endlessly repeating sin until death.
Only those who pursue Christ’s life with the goal of Christ’s hope, which follows after the love of God, have received the power that flows from the love of God. In other words, it is only for those who set their aim on Christ’s hope, which follows after Christ’s love, that God grants the divine power which destroys all sins arising from the evil nature, habits, and members of the flesh belonging to the world. This is the gift of God, the tongues, the power, the truth, and the Holy Spirit.
1. The power of those who follow the life of Christ with the goal of Christ’s hope, which follows after the love of God.
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.(Romans 5 : 3~10)
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:(Psalms 146 : 5)
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.(1 John 3 : 3~10)
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.(Romans 8 : 24~28)
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.(Titus 2 : 11~14)
….That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.(Titus 3 : 3~7)
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:(1 Peter 1 : 21~22)
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;(Titus 1 : 2~3)
Today there are many Christians, but not a single true Christian exists who shows the evidence, the fruit, and the power of even mustard-seed faith. This is because, no different from unbelievers, they cannot help but continually follow the instincts and desires of the flesh, becoming slaves to evil habits. Thus, even while repenting, they turn back again to commit sin, never escaping the yoke of sin or the path of the sinner.
In other words, there are no shepherds or believers who, within the love of God, have received the divine power that puts to death the sinful members of the flesh and its evil habits that repeat sin. This is proof that all their tongues, powers, prophecies, and spirits they claim to have are false and counterfeit.
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.(Mark 9 : 23)
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.(Matthew 17 : 20)
The faith of today’s Christians, who spend their entire lives only repeating sin within meaningless repentance, claims to believe in God, but in reality it is nothing more than fleshly faith—pursuing only the lust of this life and the lust of the eyes, desiring personal happiness, blessings, success, and prosperity. Therefore, always chasing after lust and greed, they cannot escape the path of sinners where sin is endlessly repeated.
For this reason, the power, evidence, and fruit of even mustard-seed faith can never appear among them. Thus, within today’s Christianity, there can never exist a true Christian who is without blame before God.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.(1 John 3 : 18~24)
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:(1 Timothy 6 : 14)
From the beginning of creation until now, the greatest adversaries and enemies before God and Christ on this earth have been the religious people who claim to believe in God while putting God forward as their banner. The greatest adversaries and enemies before God and Christ on this earth are the Catholics and the Christians. For over two thousand years, there has not been even a single person who has shown the power, the evidence, and the fruit of faith as small as a mustard seed. This is the proof that they stand as adversaries and enemies before God.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.(1 Corinthians 1 : 17~18)
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.(2 Corinthians 13 : 4)
…Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,…(Titus 3 : 3~7)
..Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…(1 Peter 1 : 5~6)
…For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God….(1 Corinthians 1 : 17~21)
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.(1 John 3 : 14)
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:(2 Thessalonians 2 : 11~12)
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;…(1 Peter 2 : 11~12)
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.(Romans 7 : 5~6)
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.(Romans 8 : 13~14)
Because they all serve God while mingling with the world and with material things, they pursue every kind of corruption, heresy, and falsehood, spending their entire lives offering vain prayers and seeking only detestable lusts for their own happiness, blessings, and success. As a result, they heap up nothing but sin, which leads to judgment and death, and their conscience (spirit) becomes increasingly desolate and dying. For this reason, most of them come to treat their sins lightly, or grow bolder, or increasingly become proud and shameless, until, with a disgraceful carnal faith, they turn into monsters.
From the beginning of creation, the greatest adversaries and enemies before God have been the religious people who claim to believe in Him. All religions of mankind were made by man, and therefore the limits of religion can never surpass the limits of man. Only the power of God, which follows after the love of God, can put to death the habits of repeating sin. Through human teachings and emotions—which merely stir up weak awakenings, determinations, and resolutions—one can never put to death the evil nature and habits that cause the repetition of sin. Therefore, all religious people and Christians alike remain slaves of sin, bound in the yoke of sin from which they cannot escape, repeating sin throughout their entire lives.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.(Romans 6 : 16~18)
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.(Romans 8 : 19~21)
Their titles and claims are all alike—love, mercy, and peace. Yet in reality, they exalt the common kindness, social service, and charity that even people of the world naturally do, presenting it as if it were the very love of the cross that lays down one’s life. By doing so, they disgrace the love of the cross, and the holy name of God has been turned into a tool for seeking their own worldly and fleshly lusts—personal happiness, blessings, and success. For this reason, Catholics and Christians are walking the same path as Judaism, where demons cannot help but work. Whether it is a fleshly faith that follows deified religion and churches, or the faith of Christ that follows the love of God—the proof is found in the evidence of one’s repeated sins. Whoever spends their whole life only repeating sin is nothing but a child of the devil.
What matters most is for what purpose you believe in God. Today, all religious people believe according to their own thoughts and claims about why they believe, and so they take their own standard for granted. In this way, without even realizing that their standard, their center, and their claims have strayed from the Word of God and have even become His adversary, they simply believe unconditionally in the sermons of pastors. For this reason, they spend their entire lives only repeating sin, having forsaken the God who is good and merciful.
Each one insists they are zealous before God, yet in truth they are not being faithful to Him. Rather, they pursue only the inspirations and lessons of words put forward by man—exalting deified religion and church instead of serving God Himself. Therefore, all believers alike remain slaves of sin and children of the devil, bound to repeat sin until the day they die.
I pray that this may become a turning point for you to carefully examine whether religion itself, which in fact opposes the Word of God, has been deified within your own heart.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.(1 John 3 : 3~10)
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.(John 8 : 44~45)
….But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.(James 3 : 8~18)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.(2 Timothy 3 : 16~17)
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.(1 Timothy 4 : 6)
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.(Titus 2 : 7~14)
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.(Romans 6 : 17~23)
The children of God do not commit sin. The people of Christ are set free from sin and do not repeat it. Whoever continues in sin, no matter who they are, is a child of the devil, of the devil himself, and only dishonors the God of love. Such people cannot become examples and guides like the light and the salt, but instead, with hypocrisy, pretense, and self-display, they make the love of the cross—which lays down even life itself—worth less than nothing. Christians are nothing more than religionists; they are not true Christians who live the life of Christ.
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.(Romans 6 : 17~18)
…Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.(Romans 8 : 19~21)
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.(1 Peter 4 : 1~2)
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.(Jeremiah 23 : 17~22)
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.(James 5 : 19~20)
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.(Daniel 12 : 3)
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.(Malachi 2 : 5~6)
Those who do not obtain the love of truth, in which the power of God works through the love of God, end up serving Him together with the world and material gain. As a result, they fall into every kind of lust, corruption, heresy, falsehood, deceit, and delusion, pursuing only the happiness, success, and ideals of their own worldly and fleshly desires. Such fleshly faiths can only spend a lifetime repeating sin and will inevitably face judgment.
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.(2 Thessalonians 2 : 9~12)