THE INNER VOICE
TAKE CARE OF THE INNER VOICE:
Isaiah 50:4,5 reads"50:4 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.
50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back."
When Jesus speaks, Man's duty is defined. He made it very clear in John 15:5-7 "15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.
15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
In Him we get LIFE, as branches. In Him we get CORRECTIONS. In HIM we get SPIRITUAL CONVICTIONS. In Him we get GUIDANCE. In Him we dwell and HE DWELLS IN US.
The Apostle Paul, after Jesus had gone to heaven said in the book of Hebrews 1:1,2 "1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"
WHAT CONVICTION IS:
conviction is the awakening of the conscience to the guilt of sin, and the urging of the spirit to turn away from the old life of sin to the new life of righteousness. It is not repentance, but a condition or state of mind and heart which urges toward repentance and reformation.Conviction is a stir of feeling,while repentance has its setting in the will. The latter is an act of the will brought about by thr former, which is an emotion. We must not confuse the two. One who sincerely repents of his sins generally has had and is having deep conviction, but not all who come under conviction of sin repent.
Felix leaves a sad example after the Apostle Paul presented to him a vivid and convincing language about the Son of God, Jesus. The words of Paul brought a sense of conviction to Felix and his conscience but he did not repent.
In Acts 24:24,25 we read, "24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."
Then there is a spurious sort of conviction, misplaced conviction. This leads the possessor to dread the result of sin, the punishment for wrongdoing, rather than the awfulness of sin.
In Gen.27:38-41 we read, "27:38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, [even] me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
27:39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob."
Conviction is a gift of God through Christ, even as are repentance, salvation, forgiveness, and victory.
One writer, wrote these words, "We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ. Christ is the source of every right impulse. HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN IMPART IN THE HEART ENMITY AGAINST SIN. Every desire for truth and purity, every conviction of our sinfulness, is an evidence that his spirit is moving upon our heart" Steps/C p.26
Christ is the one who brings us unto Himself.
IN Phillipians 1:6 reads, "1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ" (The day when Jesus comes)
WHAT CONSCIENCE IS:
The conscience is "God's growing gift to men" it is a divinely implanted moral faculty. It is the voice (word) of God heard amid the conflict of human passions: when resisted, Jesus is grieved. It witnesses to the principle that right is right and wrong is wrong, and testifies that we should shun the wrong and do the right.
In Isaiah 30:21 we read, "30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."
The Apostle Paul was the worst for Christians. When he repented, and of his past said:
In Acts 26:9,10 "26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against [them]."
Sin is not the transgression of conscince, but of the law of God, which is to become the standard by which the conscience guides us. Time is not correct by merely looking at the clock; The clock itself should have been corrected, for the time to be correct. Our conscience must be regulated by Bible truths, or else we will have wrong conscience.
In John 14:6 Jesus speaks, "14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
In John 16:13,14 we read, "16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show [it] unto you."
GIVING CONSCIENCE CHANCE TO GROW:
Convictions come to sinners and saints as well. As one accepts Christ as personal savior, convictions for right and wrong are more pronounced.The more one thrives to live a Godly life, the more offensive, sin becomes. We many veneer ourselves, but the only way to get right outside is to get right inwardly: To do right we must be right. The conscience must be squared with the standard of right before it can prompt us in ways of righteousness.
Paul in Hebrews 9:14 said, " 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? "
In 1 Peter 3:16 we read, " 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
Conscience can be cultivated and developed. It requires a lot of effort to put oneself on the right path for correct conscience to take place.The following should be put in place:-
(1) Bible Study.
Regular study of the scriptures is absolutely neccessary if your conscience is to function in line with God's devine will, leading you on the path of right at every step of life's way.
Acts 24:14-16, Reads "24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and [toward] men. "
Acts 17:10,11 reads "17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews.
17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
2 Timothy 2:15 reads, "2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 3:16,17 reads " 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
(2) Prayer and meditation.
Bible truth sets the standard for the conscience. It is the divine inspiration that gives direction to the promptings of the enlightened conscience.
Psalms 5:1 reads "5:1 To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
5:2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray."
Psalms 19:14 reads, " Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
Psalms 49:3 reads "My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding."
Psalms 104:34 reads "My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD."
Psalms 119:97 reads, " MEM. O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day."
(3) Correct decisions.
You must go beyond an understanding of the Bible ideals for your life. You must go farther than daily communion with God for spiritualized and energized convictions. The time comes when one has to make out-and-out decisions. This calls for an action of the will. In making decisions , one must form the habit of following implicitly the dictates of his educated conscience. Never force it to lower its standard or change its direction for your whims and passions.Make decisions in line with right and your conscience will profit.
John 12:35,36 reads "12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them."
James 4:17 reads, " 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin."
2 Peter 2:21 "2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. "
(4) Prayer and fasting.
Matthew 4:1-4 reads," 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. "
Sin came because of uncontrolled appetite. Jesus started where we fell. The work for our salvation was to start where the ruin began. He had fasted for forty days and forty nights.By denial of appetite Christ had to overcome.
Difficult points of present truth have been reached by the earnest efforts of a few who were devoted to the work. Fasting and fervent prayer to God have moved the Lord to unlock His treasuries of truth to their understanding.
Mark 9:28,29 reads "9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."
Daniel 9:3,4 reads, "9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;"
Psalms 35:13 reads"35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom."
DO NOT TAMPER WITH CONSCIENCE:
An unused conviction does positive injury. It dulls the edge of the power of decision. Only by faithfulness in the little can the conscience can be trained to act with fidelity under large responsibilities. It takes courage and backbone to stand for the truth. A strong character is not afraid of ridicle or persecution.
It is a terrible mistake to deny an enlightened conscience to express itself. Not only are we to give conscience a chance to be heard, but we are to heed its warnings.
Pharaoh was one who literally destroyed himself by his continual resistance and impenitence. By turning his heart against each successive warning of God, he caused his conscience to become dull to the ways of God.
Paul discribes it in Ephesians 4:18,19 " 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."
Listen to Jesus:-
JOHN 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Now look at the sad example of Judas Iscariot:-
In John 13:26,27,30 "13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped [it]. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave [it] to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon.
13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night."
We have to constrain Jesus to abide with us.
Luke 24:15-37 reads, "24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed [together] and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications [are] these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
24:22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
24:23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24:24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found [it] even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to them.
24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
24:35 And they told what things [were done] in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you. 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit."
Paul says it causes a "spiritual" shipwreck and a deliverance to Satan.
1 Timothy 1:19,20 reads, "1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."
Romans 2:5 reads, " 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;"
AMEN.
This is the experience of Esau when he lost his birthright. He lamented the consequences of his bargain, not his wrongdoing.