Month: February 2024

It has been referred to as the ‘still small voice” that Elijah heard (1 Kings 19:12). It has been mentioned in secular society as one’s moral compass telling them when something is right or wrong. It has been equated with the Holy Spirit speaking to us from within. It has also been referred to as the voice of the human spirit. From the Scriptures listed below, it seems that at various times and circumstances, it could be referred to as all of these things.

The word “conscience” is not mentioned in the Old Testament. The NT Greek word is suneidesis.

HERE IS A LISTING OF ALL 32 TIMES IT IS MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 

John 8:9  (when Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery) “being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one.”
Acts 23:1 (Paul speaking to the council) I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.”
Acts 24:16 (Paul speaking before Felix) “ I do exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God,”
Romans 2:15 (Paul writing to the Roman church)  “their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or excusing them.”
Romans 9:1  “I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 13:5 “not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake.”
1 Corinthians 8:7 (Paul writing to the church in Corinth) “that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour”
1 Corinthians 8:8  ” And their conscience being weak is defiled.”
1 Corinthians 8:10 “The idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened.”
1 Corinthians 8:12  “But when you sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”
1 Corinthians 10:25 “Eat whatever is sold in the meat market,  asking no question for conscience sake:”
1 Corinthians 10:27  “Eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake.”
1 Corinthians 10:28 “But if someone says to you, this was offered to idols, do not eat it for the sake of him who told you, and for conscience’s sake, for the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
1 Corinthians 10:29  “Conscience, I say, not your own, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?’
2 Corinthians 1:12 “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we conduct ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity..”
2 Corinthians 4:2 “but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”
2 Corinthians 5:11″ But we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”
1 Timothy 1:5  “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1:19  “having faith, and a good conscience; which some having rejected”
1 Timothy 3:9 “holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
1 Timothy 4:2  ” speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”
2 Timothy 1:3 “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did,”
Titus 1:15 “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but their mind and conscience are defiled.”
Hebrews 9:9  “Which cannot make him who performed  the service perfect, regarding the conscience;”
Hebrews 9:14  “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot, to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God!”
Hebrews 10:2 “For the worshipers, once purified, would have no more consciousness of sins.”
Hebrews 10:22: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 13:18 “Pray for us, for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”
1 Peter 2:19 “For this is commendable if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.”
1 Peter 3:16 “having a good conscience; that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
1 Peter 3:21  ” (..baptism…but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HAVE A GOOD CONSCIENCE?

-Be born again through trusting Jesus’ work on the Cross and Resurrection.

-Realize that Jesus has forgiven us of all sin, and we stand justified clothed in His righteousness.

-Fill our mind and spirit with the Word of God.

-Make every effort to obey the Word of God.

—–AI produced these statements about conscience that I thought were interesting—-

What is Conscience?

Conscience is a cognitive process that involves both emotion and rational associations. It is shaped by an individual’s moral philosophy or value system. Here are some key points about conscience:

1. Definition: Conscience elicits feelings and thoughts related to morality. It stands in contrast to immediate sensory perceptions and reflexive responses. When a person commits an act that conflicts with their moral values, conscience often leads to feelings of remorse.
2. Religious Views: Many religious traditions view conscience as linked to inherent human morality, a beneficent universe, or divinity.
3. Secular Views: Common secular perspectives suggest that the capacity for conscience is genetically determined, while its content is learned or imprinted through culture.
4. Metaphors: Metaphors used for conscience include the “voice within” or the “inner light.” Socrates relied on his “daimōnic sign,” an inner voice that guided him away from mistakes.

How Does Conscience Work?

1. Evaluation: Conscience arises when we evaluate our actions as “correct” or “wrong.” It serves as our moral compass, informing us of our values and principles.
2. Individual Development: Conscience develops at a personal level. It helps us understand moral principles and motivates us to act accordingly. Through conscience, we assess our character and behavior.
3. Ethical Judgment: Conscience becomes the standard by which we judge whether our actions are ethical. It guides us toward right conduct and encourages empathy and compassion.

In summary, conscience is more than mere “gut instinct.” It reflects our inner moral compass, shaping our choices and influencing our interactions with the world. Whether informed by religion, culture, or personal reflection, conscience plays a crucial role in ethical decision-making.

Remember, it’s the quiet voice within us that nudges us toward goodness and compassion. 🌟

Suffering may take many forms. It could be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, family, or financial. Usually, we want to be delivered from all of it, and sometimes, we are willing to pay almost any price to be free of it. 

SOME CAUSES OF SUFFERING

The causes of suffering may have one or more causes.  Sometimes, we suffer from the bad choices we have made. It may be that we are at the wrong place at the wrong time. Some are caused by the time and place where we live. Other times the cause may be disobedience to God and His Word. Or the attack of the evil one who is trying to kill and destroy us!!

HEBREWS 11

Let’s look at some great examples from God’s Word.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac, your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, and were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Having read all the things that happened to these people, we see mentioned over and over again that they had at least one thing in common, they all believed and trusted in God to bring them through what they suffered by FAITH! They believed His Word. And that is what we should do when we are suffering, believe God’s Word, and declare it’s promises that God has made. 

Keep believing and standing even when things are difficult. God is for you. He is with and IN you. He has promised to never leave nor forsake you!

John 19:30 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

INTRODUCTION: This indicated that redemption was accomplished, even though He had not gone through everything that would be done, in His mind and the mind of the Father redemption was accomplished.

All that redemption provided was available. He would never die for sin again! He would never take stripes on His back for our healing again! Etc.  (Romans 4:17 “As it is written ‘I have made you a father of many nations’ in the presence of Him whom he believed – God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”)

What I am about to say is NOT a formula but the result of a relationship.

KNOW IT

To enter what Jesus has provided for us we must first know about it. Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

This applies to being born again, healed, filled with the Spirit and everything God has provided for us. There may be exceptions when God just does something and we find out about it later, but usually, it follows this path.

BELIEVE IT

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

PROCLAIM IT

Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.”

Numerous passages in Scripture indicate the power of our words. For example: the book of Proverbs alone has 63 verses that indicate this. One well-known passage, Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

CHALLENGE

Find an area of your life that you would like to see changed.

What does the Bible say about this?

What do you need to do to meet the conditions?

Begin to declare the promises about this area.

I. WHAT TONGUES ARE

 A. Language of men or angels. I Cor.13:1

B. Language one has not studied and does not know.

C. Expression of divine presence and ability – Acts 10:44-46

II. HOW THEY OPERATE

A. Speaking is a learned ability.

B. With the infilling of the Holy Spirit we have His ability.

C. His knowledge and ability are not limited to ours.

D. This ability comes through the human spirit – 1 Cor.2:12-14

E. Working together – Spirit gives utterance – the person does the speaking.

III. REASONS TO SPEAK IN TONGUES

A. Initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Spirit – Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:6

B. Personal edification – 1 Cor.14:4

C. Keeps us aware of His presence.

D. Eliminates selfishness entering into our prayers – Rom. 8:26

E. Helps our trust in God – builds us up – Jude. 20

F. Keeps us free from filthy contamination.

G. Provides a way to pray for things otherwise not able to.

H. Doorway into the supernatural.

I Helps to tame the tongue – James 3:8

IV. REASONS FOR THE GIFT OF TONGUES

A. To get people’s attention – Acts 2.

B. Makes us aware of the supernatural presence of the Lord.

C. One of the avenues that God has chosen to use to allow His children to speak to Him – 1 Cor. 4:2.

D. Spiritual weapon – 2 Cor. 19L3-5

V. ITS ORDER IN THE CHURCH – 1 Cor. 14:27-28