SLICES OF LIFE 16th June 2013 DEALING WITH NUMBNESS Part 2 1 Timothy 4:2, …whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. Our conscience can justify or condemn us depending on how we have trained it. There is a need to strike a balance between a guilt burdened conscience and a conscience that is convicted by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and draws us into restoration and reconciliation with God (like David or Peter) but the devil fills with guilt and drives us away from the presence of God (like Adam and Eve & Judas). As good as a conscience may be, it is not a replacement for being led by the Holy Spirit. Rom_8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (1) Our conscience is not a reliable judge of our actions, the Holy Spirit is. Especially, since our reaction and interaction with it (conscience) determines its effectiveness. 1 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV), “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me”. Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”. (2) Associating with people of bad conscience, can influence yours. When you consider Jonadab and Amnon 2 Samuel 13:3 (3) Eliminating from your circle, those who could warn you of the consequences of negative actions, accelerates the downward slide to a dead conscience.(4) Habitual repetition of a sin or addiction leads to a dead conscience. We can create an environment where a good conscience can flourish, wwhen we feed our conscience regularly with the word of God and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must also keep it clear, by making sure that there are no unresolved issues, especially in our relationships with God and man. This will demand a deliberate effort from us. Acts 24:16, “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man”. When our conscience condemn us, let us move to reconcile. Hebrews 9:14, How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! LET US PRAY Father Lord, we receive the cleansing that comes from your blood to purge our conscience. We receive the quickening of our conscience by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are alive to God and dead to sin. In Jesus Name.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:24:53 +0000
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