This week we are researching five ways the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Yesterday we mentioned the most reliable way that God speaks, through his written Word. Many Christians believe that the Bible is filled with errors, and we must determine what God’s Word is, and what parts of the Bible are error. When we do that, we become the final authority for our faith search rather than allowing God to be the final authority.
The second way the Holy Spirit speaks is through our conscience. While the Bible is the written Word of God to us, our conscience is God’s word written on our hearts, or the inside of us. Romans 1:18-23 tells us that God’s qualities have been made known to man through creation. None of us have an excuse for our sins. Each human entity (individual) and the world we live in are created by God, to make God clear to each of us. Every person is created with a mind, body and soul. We are also created with a conscience that shows us God’s righteous and perfect nature.
Last week my four year old twins were playing with their two year old sister. When one of the boys took her toys she was enraged! She knows intuitively that the boys should respect her property (Exodus 20:15 and Leviticus 19:13). She knows that stealing is wrong. Because so many sins bring the result of pain, we know what is right and wrong. There is no culture I know of in the world where stealing, adultery, lying, and murder are acceptable.
So, if God wrote his moral law on our consciences, why do so many people seem to be differing in their views? In Romans one Paul tells us how people ignore their conscience. 1 Timothy 4:2 says that there are some who have their consciences “seared.” Rather than having a conscience that feels what it should feel, it is covered with a scar tissue that can not feel and can not judge correctly. The Devil is trying to sear our consciences all the time. If he can get us to accept, or not be bothered by sin, he has seared our conscience. The flood of immorality in our culture must not desensitize us to sin. We need a good conscience.
Finally, if you have a Bible software program or a good concordance, search the word conscience. You will find that it is possible to have a good conscience, but also an imperfect conscience. You will also find that God speaks to us about being sure in our faith through our conscience. Also, think about the ancient characters of the Bible. They lived before the Bible was written. How did they know right and wrong? They knew through the conscience that God gave them. As time went by, the human condition worsened (Genesis 6:5 and 19:13). The Word is necessary to remind us of how we allowed our consciences to change (Galatians 3:24).
I challenge you today to think about the things that you intuitively know are right and wrong, and then compare what you think with the Scriptures. Begin to train your mind to respond to your conscience. As you train remember, the Word of God is the standard for our conscience. With a good, forgiven, Holy Spirit led conscience, you will begin to hear God more and more!
Have a great day!
Paul
The second way the Holy Spirit speaks is through our conscience. While the Bible is the written Word of God to us, our conscience is God’s word written on our hearts, or the inside of us. Romans 1:18-23 tells us that God’s qualities have been made known to man through creation. None of us have an excuse for our sins. Each human entity (individual) and the world we live in are created by God, to make God clear to each of us. Every person is created with a mind, body and soul. We are also created with a conscience that shows us God’s righteous and perfect nature.
Last week my four year old twins were playing with their two year old sister. When one of the boys took her toys she was enraged! She knows intuitively that the boys should respect her property (Exodus 20:15 and Leviticus 19:13). She knows that stealing is wrong. Because so many sins bring the result of pain, we know what is right and wrong. There is no culture I know of in the world where stealing, adultery, lying, and murder are acceptable.
So, if God wrote his moral law on our consciences, why do so many people seem to be differing in their views? In Romans one Paul tells us how people ignore their conscience. 1 Timothy 4:2 says that there are some who have their consciences “seared.” Rather than having a conscience that feels what it should feel, it is covered with a scar tissue that can not feel and can not judge correctly. The Devil is trying to sear our consciences all the time. If he can get us to accept, or not be bothered by sin, he has seared our conscience. The flood of immorality in our culture must not desensitize us to sin. We need a good conscience.
Finally, if you have a Bible software program or a good concordance, search the word conscience. You will find that it is possible to have a good conscience, but also an imperfect conscience. You will also find that God speaks to us about being sure in our faith through our conscience. Also, think about the ancient characters of the Bible. They lived before the Bible was written. How did they know right and wrong? They knew through the conscience that God gave them. As time went by, the human condition worsened (Genesis 6:5 and 19:13). The Word is necessary to remind us of how we allowed our consciences to change (Galatians 3:24).
I challenge you today to think about the things that you intuitively know are right and wrong, and then compare what you think with the Scriptures. Begin to train your mind to respond to your conscience. As you train remember, the Word of God is the standard for our conscience. With a good, forgiven, Holy Spirit led conscience, you will begin to hear God more and more!
Have a great day!
Paul
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