Your Conscience: Staying on your course.

[Brother Mike]

Your Conscience: Staying on your course.

By: Brother Mike

Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Praise the Lord!! Jesus is Lord to all the glory of the father. The Key to a victorious life is already inside you. God has taken out the old heart of stone, and put in you a new soft, flesh heart, one that is sensitive, and able to hear God when He speaks. The Bible refers to this as your CONSCIENCE.

The unsaved even have the laws of God written in their hearts, even if they have never heard the Word, their Conscience bear witness to the Laws that are inside them. (Rom 2:14-15) If this were not so, there would be nothing there to help them make right choices, and their evil would be exceedingly great, unable to know even what was slightly good, or evil.

In Jesus time, before Salvation of Man was available, Jesus having yet to go to the cross. He came across a women the scribes and Pharisees where about to stone for the act of adultery. If anyone could write a book on how to have a dull, seared and hard conscience, these guys where experts. You know what happened, Jesus said, He who has not sinned, cast the first stone.

Joh 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Even the hardest people in the World have a conscience, and the Word of God is able touch that conscience and prick it. Without that Conscience, nobody could be saved.

2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Commending means to Approve, Exhibit, Display.

To be an effective witness, we must be appealing to the unsaved conscience.
If we being the light of the World, we do foolish and questionable things, getting wrapped up in gossips, and judgements. The conscience of the unsaved, having God's laws already in them by their conscience, will not accept any truth we may have for them.

The Saved also have a Conscience

As believers we have a new Heart, and the Spirit of God. Our conscience has become soft, and not stoney. Your Conscience is one of your most valuable assets in serving God, and walking out his Plan for your life. What is also important, a clear Conscience can hear God much more clearly than a cluttered one.

Every one has different levels, of Conscience, and more developed levels of their Conscience. Your Conscience guides you into what is right, and what is not right for you.

If you learn to obey this, you will always make the right choice. Your Conscience is different than anyone else. What you might have freedom in, may cause someone else to stumble and be hurt.

The Idol: (1Cor 8:1-13)

The question came up to Paul which there seemed to be division over. "Is it OK to eat something sacrificed or being part of Idol Worship."

They wanted Paul to give them a straight answer, yes or no. One camp, what we will call the High and mighty faith camp, saw an Idol as something not even real, and a bunch of superstitious nonsense. A turkey leg was just a turkey leg, no matter what was prayed over it, or what sacrifice it was part of. It was all good to them, and no use letting a good Turkey leg go to waste.

The Other Camp, the Cautious serving God camp, saw things different. This Turkey leg was sacrificed to a god, and having grown up all their life with these gods, that Turkey leg had some type of power over it, and was defiled. No way where they going to put something unclean in their body.

Who was right?

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

The ones without full knowledge, just went along with those that did. They had a weak conscience (A weak conscience is one that can be easily over ridden.) They ate, but that Turkey Leg was somehow still connected to that Idol. They even may have had second helpings. However, when they got home, the weight of their conscience condemned them before God.

We know other gods are not real, and food is food. Eat it. However, what is right for us, may cause much hurt to someone else without that knowledge.

1Co 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1Co 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

This is why when you see Questions about this Music being OK, or that being OK. Is this movie OK to watch, or should I keep the sabbath day? You better take heed on how you answer that. If they Question something, you are Guaranteed they already don't have faith for it. Don't give their weak Conscience a loop hole where they can violate it.You tell them to obey their conscience, you don't spout off about our freedom in Christ, with tons of scriptures. Give them the passages and let them and God figure it out.

We also do not push our Conscience unto someone else.

1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

Your Conscience is your key to hearing God clearly and staying on the right course.


Violating your own Conscience is a path to confusion and destruction. Doing so will make God not so clear, and making right choices not so evident.

Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Act 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

A pure, good, clean, conscience is one that is not constantly violated. It takes work, or exercise to keep your conscience clear, and clean.

Did you just read what I said? IT TAKES WORK!!

If believers would practice and work at keeping a clear conscience, it would eliminate (Most) all these calls for help about sin, thoughts, and questions of right and wrong.

If we can't be faithful in a little matter, it is a fool that would think they could handle the big matter.

Keeping a clear Conscience means we go to sleep each night, leaving nothing resting on our conscience. A conscience with something bothering it, is a unclean conscience.

We all have gone to bed thinking we should have just did the rest of that homework, or clean the dishes up, or call Judy and tell her we are sorry for what we said, yet we procrastinate (A whole other lessen) and put things off, leaving them on our conscience. Even the little things chip, and destroy what God gave us to obey and follow him.

Even something simple like getting that guy a cup of coffee at work, knowing you should not be doing that can months down the road lead to adultery, and broken marriage, leaving us wondering how all this even came about. It is a dark place wondering why everything fell apart.

If we violate our conscience in one little thing, it won't be hard for the devil to convince us to violate it in another. Even a simple Vampire movie. Telling yourself that God knows it's just a movie, it's fake, and God knows I like Vampires, or Heavy Metal, but this is Christian Metal is YOU making an excuse to violate your conscience. Don't do it!! Once you have hardened your conscience as a believer where it no longer becomes a thought to watch those kinds of movies for example. Your in a whole lot of trouble, and don't even realize it.

I think I have seared my Conscience and dulled it to the things of God, can I get back that soft and tender conscience?

Of course you can, one reason writing this has been on my own conscience for a week, getting what the Lord wanted me to share. He told me to have us pray, so lets do that now.

Father in Heaven, I recognize that I have violated my conscience in the past, and now allow things I knew at the time, that did not feel right to me.

I have over ridden my conscience with reasoning and see that this was wrong. I desire to have a soft conscience and good conscience toward you.

Those things I have ignored and violated, those things I don't even recognize anymore, I ask that you put them back into my heart Strong, that the Holy spirit dealing with me about it once again. I won't ignore them this time.

I also endeavor to go to sleep each night with nothing on my conscience, even if it means a little more work before bed time. I will guard and protect my conscience (Heart) with all diligence from now on, and will be able to hear your voice like I never heard it before.

I thank you Lord for your mercy and grace toward me, and putting those things I ignored once again on my Conscience that I may not see them clearly.

I pray this in Jesus name, thank you father, I consider it done.

Jesus is Lord.

 

[gdemoss]

The conscience is a goad not a guide. The problem with going against conscience is that to do so one must do something that they perceive to be wrong through their conscience, whether it be wrong or not. Many, whose ideas about the Christian walk are heresy, would defile their conscience from doing the 'right' thing. The conscience is only as good as the programming it receives.

In Christ,

Gary

 

[Brother Mike]

Programming.

Sorry, I only made a ref to this scripture and did not print it all out.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another

Those that do not have the Law, by Nature and the way God made man have the Law in their heart, their conscience bearing witness to that Law God placed there. To violate what we know to be right, violates the law and the very nature of the way man was created. As it is written, every man being created in the similitude of God, the image of him.

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[gdemoss]

Sorry, I only made a ref to this scripture and did not print it all out.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another

Those that do not have the Law, by Nature and the way God made man have the Law in their heart, their conscience bearing witness to that Law God placed there. To violate what we know to be right, violates the law and the very nature of the way man was created. As it is written, every man being created in the similitude of God, the image of him.

Jesus Is Lord.

Yes, the original programming is great, but to many additions that are false alter the conscience. That is why it is a goad and not a guide. I have spoken to too many people who believe that stealing, lying and covetousness are not wrong.

Gary

 

[Brother Mike]

True......

Gary:

Yes, the original programming is great, but to many additions that are false alter the conscience. That is why it is a goad and not a guide. I have spoken to too many people who believe that stealing, lying and covetousness are not wrong.

I hope these are not Christians..... and when one steals, they look around to see if anyone is watching, why? Because they know someone thinks its wrong.

I also wonder (The unsaved) if they knew it was wrong the first time they stole something. I know I did, I even felt guilty about it. However, I was able to overcome that stupid conscience of mine and soon felt justified in it, forgetting what I felt the first time.

The Lord told me one time. The unsaved did know right from Wrong, the only difference is, they have no power but the flesh to do right, and that is a loosing battle.

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[Kit Carson]

We are born with Gods way in us. But once we accept God and listen to the Holy Spirit, we do become new.

I guess I was about nine years old and one day I stole a candy bar off the shelf of a store and stuck it in my pocket. I could not wait to eat it so there I was munching away on the way home and my father saw it and wanted to know where I got that candy bar. Uh oh......Lol! He turned around and took me back to the store and made me confess to the store owner. The store owner must have known God as he smiled and talked to me a bit and enforced the fact this was very wrong, but forgave me.

I can go to a store today , such as the plumbing supply house and get a thousand dollars worth of stuff, I know in my mind what I need and it can be several boxes of stuff, and pipe and the entire van is stuffed full on the way to a job. So that day the place is busy, it is mass confusion and yes other men work there and they do make mistakes, they may forget to put an item or the pipe on the invoice ticket. So if they do as a man before knowing God, I can justify this. I can say to myself .....oh they are a big company and can afford it, or hey it was not me that made the mistake, or their prices are too high anyway. See......I in mans way can justify it and yes that little voice will try to do that sometimes.

But in Gods way it is wrong, and instantly one is convicted that it is wrong and there is no way to justify it. None at all. Stop and tell the man at the counter the mistake and own up to in and smile. Now your mind is at rest, and you have pleased God. This is the new way, there is no justification of lies, theft, or things not right.

My way of explaining it.


Kit

 

[jari]

what is sin to some one isnt sin to some other.

- Romans 14:2 -
For one believes that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs.

we have the liberty in Christ to live as free. However we may find our self condemmed by the things we do, or we dont do them because we think its wrong. But this condemnation isnt from God...


Romans 14:
22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

its matter of faith do we judge our self or not.
and of course we think does God judge us? but i believe we are covered by grace and should not thefore judge our selves. Of course theres healthy limits to everything but God does not condemn us, as we have Grace.

 

[gdemoss]

Gary:


I hope these are not Christians..... and when one steals, they look around to see if anyone is watching, why? Because they know someone thinks its wrong.

I also wonder (The unsaved) if they knew it was wrong the first time they stole something. I know I did, I even felt guilty about it. However, I was able to overcome that stupid conscience of mine and soon felt justified in it, forgetting what I felt the first time.

The Lord told me one time. The unsaved did know right from Wrong, the only difference is, they have no power but the flesh to do right, and that is a loosing battle.

Jesus Is Lord.

The first time I took something that did not belong to me, which is defined as stealing, I did not know that it was wrong. As I raise my children, I have had the same experience with them. They, from a very young age, take things that do not belong to them without understanding that it is wrong. We teach them that it is wrong to do so and they learn that stealing is wrong, long before they ever have any memories that will be with them when they are adults.

As far as the unsaved only having power in the flesh to do right, this is not true. Each one of them was given a spirit by God. The problem is that their spirit doesn't lead the flesh. We teach our children to lead their flesh by their spirit through chastening. Their flesh desires to have what they ought not but having received the consequence for their actions, their spirit learns to keep the flesh from taking action that brings about consequences. Just as Cain had the power to rule over sin as well as the woman caught in the act of adultery that Jesus told to go and sin no more (he doesn't tell you to do what you cannot as that would be unrighteous) we too have the power to be without sin through the spirit.

In Jesus Name,

Gary

 

[Brother Mike]

gdemoss

As far as the unsaved only having power in the flesh to do right, this is not true. Each one of them was given a spirit by God

Rom 8:13 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.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

I always thought this was talking about the Holy Spirit that has the power to mortify the deeds of our body we are given when Born again, not the human spirit given at birth.

Jesus Is Lord.

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-glossary/?do=showentry&item=God

 

[gdemoss]

gdemoss


Rom 8:13 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.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

I always thought this was talking about the Holy Spirit that has the power to mortify the deeds of our body we are given when Born again, not the human spirit given at birth.

Jesus Is Lord.

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-glossary/?do=showentry&item=God

I understand what you mean Mike. Our spirit must be led by the Holy Spirit in order to understand what is right or wrong. According to 1 Corinthians we become one spirit with the Lord in the same manner as a husband and wife become one flesh. We are strengthened by the anointing for sure but it doesn't mean that we were completely helpless before, only weak. Every moral religion that is out there today that is a variation of the truth but not the truth is not powered by the Holy Spirit but is of the persons own spirit to do morality as they understand it to be right and wrong. Many mortify the deeds of the flesh through their spirit but with the wrong motive. We learn, when we become Christians, that we are to cleanse ourselves of the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit in 2 Cor 7.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. A humble spirit before God. One that admits that it can't know what is right or wrong outside of God telling it. One that knows and keeps its place within Gods creation, not thinking to highly of itself but waits to be exalted by God in due time. It is all about cleansing and purifying our spirits through His Spirits leading and strengthening. But it is about our spirit none the less. The soul choosing to live in the spirit rather than the flesh, just as a parent teaches their child to do before they even know God.

In Jesus Name,

Gary

 

[Fraction]

How does one tell the difference between their conscience and all other emotions and thoughts?

Whats the difference between your conscience and something like paranoia?

Serious question, btw.

 

[Accune]

How does one tell the difference between their conscience and all other emotions and thoughts?

Whats the difference between your conscience and something like paranoia?

Serious question, btw.

I was just about to post a question similar to this.

 

[Brother Mike]

Very excellent question.

Fraction:

How does one tell the difference between their conscience and all other emotions and thoughts?

Whats the difference between your conscience and something like paranoia?

Serious question, btw.

This is a very awesome question. Something Psychology has yet to explain what Conscience is, or what even causes mental illness.

Paul talked about having a clean, clear conscience, every human having the law of God, and man by nature having not even read the law, still has the law in them.

So to have a clear conscience would be a conscience that is empty, or not hindered. Nothing there so to speak.

It's also this way the Lord speaks to us, and why it's so important to practice having a clear conscience.

Thoughts of fear, thoughts of anger are just that, they are thoughts. We are told to cast those down, that is not your Conscience, but thoughts.

Something on your conscience just sits there until you respond to it, God dealing with you through the conscience to do things, or not do things. Something on your conscience can be changed by taking actions. That is why the conscience is there, and Paul said he exercised this. Meaning Paul took action when Something came on his conscience, leaving nothing there.

Examples may be:

Did I turn off the iron before we left. I know I should do those dishes, but man I am tired. I should really call Bob, and tell him I am sorry.

Well, I got until Thur until I have to turn this in, I can work on it later.

All these things stick on our conscience until we fix them. If we get in a habit to delay, or ignore these things, leaving them on our conscience, that is when we can get in trouble, and it will hinder our ability to hear God.

Something left on our conscience will bother you, you will have the feeling something is not right or settled.

We can damage our conscience by ignoring even the small things. Like sitting down to watch a movie thinking "I should not watch this, but I like scary movies."
This makes us hard inside where our conscience will stop bothering us about it. This is not a good place to be. The Spirit of God will no longer be able to deal with you on it, as you have seared your conscience in this area.

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[jari]

We can damage our conscience by ignoring even the small things. Like sitting down to watch a movie thinking "I should not watch this, but I like scary movies."
This makes us hard inside where our conscience will stop bothering us about it. This is not a good place to be. The Spirit of God will no longer be able to deal with you on it, as you have seared your conscience in this area.

this is called judging your self. it hasnt got anything to do with God judgin you. And thats why i think its important not to judge your self because if theres anything between you and God its only our own condemnation of our selves.
Nothing can truly give us clear conscience other than Grace.

thats why we should have clear conscience and not think God doesnt forgive us or something like that. I think Apostole Paul was talking of conscience in different perspective other than trying to justify your self to God.

we shouldnt let weakness rule over us .. it will lead to legalism. maybe learning of Grace is always better than backing off to legalism trying to justify self.

 

[gdemoss]

legalism

I wonder why this term isn't found in scripture?

 

[Accune]

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5:3)

 

[Brother Mike]

It would really be helpful.

Jari:

thats why we should have clear conscience and not think God doesnt forgive us or something like that. I think Apostole Paul was talking of conscience in different perspective other than trying to justify your self to God.

My Original post was about obeying your conscience, and not leaving things on your conscience.

I did not talk about a sin consciences. My post was to keep your heart soft, and your conscience clear, long before we got into a place we might need to repent. If you also read my Original post and studied the scriptures you would hopefully not come up with this Justify yourself before God stuff, as that was never mentioned.

In fact, did you post even in the right post, or have some tabbed and by mistake posted here?

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[jari]

Jari:


My Original post was about obeying your conscience, and not leaving things on your conscience.

I did not talk about a sin consciences. My post was to keep your heart soft, and your conscience clear, long before we got into a place we might need to repent. If you also read my Original post and studied the scriptures you would hopefully not come up with this Justify yourself before God stuff, as that was never mentioned.

In fact, did you post even in the right post, or have some tabbed and by mistake posted here?

Jesus Is Lord.

just saying my opinion dont worry about it

 

[jari]

I wonder why this term isn't found in scripture?

its called law in scripture. Jesus set us free from the law.

therefore we have no law and to think we do is legalism.

its Gods grace that covers us now, fully.

 

[gdemoss]

its called law in scripture. Jesus set us free from the law.

therefore we have no law and to think we do is legalism.

its Gods grace that covers us now, fully.

Your bible says that your without law? Mine says that we are under the law of Christ and not without law to God.

1 Cor 9:21 King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

The law (Old Testament scriptures) and the prophets were until John, but then the kingdom has been preached. Before John came calling men to the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, all men had was the Old Testament scriptures to understand righteousness and salvation. They were simply to believe what God had said and live accordingly as Abraham, Moses and David all did. But that all went by the way side when new information was revealed through John that the Kingdom was now and the King was here.

The righteousness of God had been revealed in Jesus Christ and he was calling all to follow him and do as he did, being as he was and having a righteousness that exceeded the law by leaps and bounds. Upon his death, the blood of the New Covenant had been shed and the promise made sure to all that would follow after Christ by picking up there cross and denying themselves. This is the law to Christ. Obeying his commands to love each other as he has loved us, laying down our lives for one another. God has sent us a King and if we choose to be under the law to that King we will live. The law is to become like Christ through sanctification of the spirit that leads our bodies.

You may believe that you are completely without law because Christ died for you but that is from the devil and is heresy. Those who hold that position will hear the words "depart from me you worker of lawlessness, I never knew you." I hope this isn't your end, Jari

In Jesus Name,

Gary