CONSCIENCE ROSS SMITH

CONSCIENCE                                                                                                                                      ROSS SMITH

ALL REFERENCES FROM AMPLIFIED VERSION UNLESS NOTED

AWARENESS AND WAKEFULNESS ARE TWO PRIMARY COMPONENTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND CRITICAL  COMPONENTS OF A SENSITIVE CONSCIENCE.

AWARENESS is defined by the CONTENT of consciousness, or in spiritual terms, what we focus our mind on, and the goal of conscience is to cause us to reflect on “Things above”. (Colossians 3:2)

AROUSAL is defined by the LEVEL of consciousness or our WAKEFULNESS/AWARENESS”.  No wonder Paul had such a poignant expression to some Ephesians, for without an “alert” conscience we are as good as dead.

Ephesians 5:14                                  Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.

We are generally not “AWARE” when we are asleep, that is, consciously aware, but when we wake up, it is like returning from the dead, a graphic illustration, but so obvious. When we are “AWAKE or AWARE” then the light is essential for us to function, and so the analogy of Ephesians alerts us to our state. The “Shining of Christ” will not only direct us but will also warm us.

Science has attempted to plot the process of CONSCIENCE related to senses, but I suggest that in spiritual terms it is only the last item, the “Heart”, in the following description that is relevant, the first four are cerebral, but our conscience acts out of our heart or our motive.

                         THE FIVE SENSES ENABLE THE MIND TO RECEIVE INFORMATION.

The Bible includes these senses as part of our “faculties. See Romans 12:1, “presenting all your members and faculties.”

• The imagination and emotion process the information.

As Christians, we “bring every thought into captivity”. See 2 Corinthians 10:5, “we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ.”

• The reason then judges it.

But “sense and reason without the holy spirit is death.” See Romans 8:6  Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit is death”.

• The memory stores it.

When born of the spirit, it gets “written on our hearts” and at the appropriate time, will be brought to our remembrance. See John 14:26, “He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. “

• THE HEART DECIDES WHAT WE DO WITH IT

The heart is the seat of our “MOTIVES”, and that is the reason we consistently “Examine our motives” so that they are pleasing to the Lord

CONSCIENCE is a starting point for AWARENESS. One can wax lyrical or become philosophical when attempting to understand CONSCIENCE because it forms part of that “Little bit of eternity” referred to in Ecclesiastes 3:11, it is not subject to the ambivalence of preference. “He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy],”

The word CONSCIENCE is a combination of the Latin words scire (“to know”) and con (“together”). The Greek word for “conscience” is found more than thirty times in the New Testament—suneidesis, (G4983), which literally means “co-knowledge.”

So, CONSCIENCE is knowledge connected with oneself, or in terms that we have addressed “AWARENESS” of God in our day and our way, and in our case awareness as to if we are offending or pleasing God. CONSCIENCE CEASES IF CONTINUALLY UNHEEDED.

A good description of CONSCIENCE is found in,

Hosea 5:10                                          ‘The princes of Judah are like those who remove the landmark [the barrier between right and wrong.”         (In other words, they either respond to their conscience or sear it (remove it when the goalposts are moved.  Comments mine).

God has put a sense of right and wrong in our hearts. “The Message” version words Romans 2:14 – 15 precisely when it says “When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong.”

CONSCIENCE is a hard thing to describe, we know the Word says it can be seared with a hot iron, we know by experience that it is connected to our STOMACH, for when we go against our conscience, it sits heavily in the pit of our stomach.

It is also associated with our “HEARING” and our “VISION”, for the word says we have both eyes and ears, but we turn them off, another way of saying we ignore what we know to do. This constitutes sin. (James 4:17). And so, we see that there are at least three of our faculties involved as nominated in Romans 12:1 and Hebrews 5:14.

The root of the Greek word translated as “conscience,” means to be AWARE,  a condition we have been challenged to develop . The Greek-speaking people in the New Testament days used this word in their everyday conversation. It basically described the pain you feel when you do wrong, a sensation we are familiar with but maybe not acutely enough!!!

CONSCIENCE tells us that we ought to do right, but it does not tell us what right is— God’s word teaches us “WHAT RIGHT IS”, and that is why it is written in our hearts, to control our motives, and subsequently our behaviour or actions. 

Paul gives us a good description of our “CONSCIENCE” and ties it closely to our “MOTIVES”.

Romans 2:15                                      They (Gentiles) show that the essential requirements of the law are written in their HEARTS (MOTIVES) and are operating there, with which their CONSCIENCES (sense of right and wrong) also bear witness; and their [moral] decisions (their arguments of reason, their condemning or approving thoughts) will accuse or PERHAPS defend and excuse [them] (Double mindedness  ..  comments mine)

SOME PEOPLE  WON’T LISTEN TO THEIR CONSCIENCE; THEY DON’T WANT TO TAKE ADVICE FROM A TOTAL STRANGER.”

A person will easily be content and peaceful whose conscience is pure. If we consider what we are within, we won’t care what others say concerning us. The one who acts with a “clear conscience” has the advantage of feeling inner peace. “CONSCIENCE” is concerned with character, not with reputation, for the character is what we are, and reputation is only what people think.

PEOPLE CONSIDER THE DEEDS, BUT GOD WEIGHS THE INTENTIONS.

We can decide to act in accordance with or against our conscience at any given moment. Indeed, those are our only options. It is only within this framework that “freedom of choice” can exist; it is the choice to do what is right.

Our society is enslaved to sex, numb to violence, and terminally self-consumed. The rapid increase in the pervasiveness and openness of sin is paralleled by a decreasing sensitivity to conscience. People are trained to ignore their guilt—and yet they are drowning in it.

There is more to “CONSCIENCE” than those pricks and goads that tend to annoy us when we have our heart set on something but are checked from proceeding. The Apostle Paul prescribed the route to follow these “checks” and to establish a principle and path of conformity. It was not just to stop and respond to the prick of conscience but also included a regime of daily exercise that would most certainly include examining our motives and adjusting my attitudes.

EXAMINING OUR MOTIVES has to be done in light of our responsibilities, but sometimes our idiosyncrasies, whether it be procrastination, perfectionism, lack of concentration, or simply daydreaming all have to be examined SO THAT MY MOTIVATION AT ALL TIMES IS TO BE PLEASING TO THE LORD.

Acts 24:16                                           Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men. 

The Apostle had a considerable level of self-control, notice how he starts his example; he “ALWAYS” exercises and disciplines himself. If we were to adopt this procedure, we would then require less discipline by the Lord. I am sure he was not speaking so much of physical exercise, for he knew and advised Timothy of this fact.

1 Timothy 4:8                                    For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), BUT GODLINESS (SPIRITUAL TRAINING) IS USEFUL AND OF VALUE IN EVERYTHING AND IN EVERY WAY

What are the steps Paul took to make sure his “CONSCIENCE” was clear and active?

1. Mortified his body
2. Deadening his carnal affections
3. Ridding bodily appetites
4. Eliminating worldly desires
5. ENDEAVOURING in ALL respects

And the result   “A CLEAR, UNSHAKEN, BLAMELESS CONSCIENCE, both vertically and horizontally.  Paul has already addressed these matters in Romans where he talks about the man with misgivings, and calls it “an uneasy conscience”, but then nails it down by stating, “whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful”  (Romans 14:23)

Every person has their particular areas in which these five “disciplines” are to be applied, so to try and address the idiosyncrasies is a personal “EXERCISE AND DISCIPLINE”, but without the revision that Paul has enumerated we will risk the chance of “searing our conscience”.

The origin of our CONSCIENCE is bound up in our creation, and Solomon acknowledged this fact and called it “ETERNITY” when he wrote,

Ecclesiastes 3:11                               He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has PLANTED ETERNITY IN MEN’S HEARTS and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Whether we call it “eternity” or “sense of purpose” it is that undeniable evidence of God in every man’s heart, and although robustly denied and avoided through spurious arguments, none will hold up when all men stand before the Lord, and suffer the consequences as spelled out in,

Romans 1:19-20                               For that which is known about God is evident to them and MADE PLAIN IN THEIR INNER CONSCIOUSNESS, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. (V20)  For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are WITHOUT EXCUSE [altogether without any defense or justification],

Psalm 19:1                                          THE HEAVENS declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.

GOD’S PURPOSES

GOD’S PURPOSES                                                                                                                               ROSS SMITH

ALL REFERENCES FROM AMPLIFIED VERSION UNLESS NOTED

Psalm 57:2                                          I will cry to God Most High, Who performs (Means “COMPLETE”)  on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass HIS PURPOSES for me and surely completes them]! 

The ESV says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God Who Fulfills His PURPOSE For Me”, in contrast to AMP, “Who performs on my behalf”. Both translations are of greater assurance

Have you ever wondered what the Lord’s ultimate purpose is for your life? Have you ever questioned what is happening, and why are you in this situation? Have you ever wished that you were somewhere else or in a different job, or resented the lot in life you seem to have allocated?  Any of these aberrations in thought can lead to our being “PRESUMPTUOUS” and pursuing our own goals and preferences. More of that later, firstly we need to understand “GOD’S PURPOSES“.  

We can change jobs, location, bank manager, our supermarket but unless we have the “Conviction of God’s approval” (Romans 14:23) we risk missing God’s purpose. We become “PRESUMPTUOUS”, usurping God’s prerogative.

I know some folk will find occasion to excuse themselves because they find their situation particularly galling.          “DON’T “. If we do, we need to review the sentiments that the Psalmist delivered, for it is full of all manner of encouragement and direction.

Firstly,  notice to whom he makes his address, “GOD MOST HIGH”. There is nowhere higher up the scale that any request can be made. Although the words here were probably more meaningful to David than they are to us, that is, until we look into the “intent”. David is on the run from Saul, so he is not just sitting back in contemplative meditation or luxuriating in reverie.

We have already learned that we must “acknowledge Him in all our ways” as being the first requirement for any successful excursion we undertake. “OUR WAYS” include all our habits, programs, pursuits, and most of all, OUR IDIOSYNCRASIES.

The important observation here is David’s frank acknowledgment of “GOD’S INCONCEIVABLE GREATNESS”, the “GOD MOST HIGH”. Such a simple expression but a complete embrace of the fact that his God was over and above everything else, including his “dilemma”.

Romans 9:23-24                               And [WHAT IF] (This “WHAT IF” is actually God asserting His prerogative) HE THUS PURPOSES to make known and show the wealth of His glory in [dealing with] the vessels (objects) of His mercy which He has prepared beforehand FOR GLORY, (V 24)  EVEN INCLUDING OURSELVES whom He has CALLED, not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles (heathen)?  (Not one is left out)

The “objects of his mercy” in verse 23 is the same as “even including ourselves” of verse 24. 

Thankfully, when God calls a person, He knows where to look to see who the best fit for a particular “PURPOSE”  or place in the Body of Christ is. (See 1 Corinthians 12 for clarity)   He doesn’t look on the outside like we do, but rather, proves the vessel by the events and circumstances and evaluates the motives and the patient endurance and steadfastness, all those characteristics He has been addressing for quite some time now.

1 Samuel 16:7                                    But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 

On our part, the importance of “AWARENESS” of God cannot be overemphasised, for any flaw in our concentration, not just mental, but spiritual, will interfere with our “ACKNOWLEDGEMENT” with the consequence that the direction of our paths will be confused, often resulting in “PRESUMPTION“.

God can see the heart; but we cannot, EXCEPT as we analyse our motives, an excellent exercise to apply regularly. Therefore, He is infinitely more qualified to make that call than we are. God does not choose those who are impressive in the eyes of the world or in their own eyes. He looks for those who esteem others better than themselves (Philippians 2:3).

We shouldn’t be surprised if God chooses to call someone we think isn’t suitable, or someone we think’s not equipped, but surely we know by now that God will call for and on the humble, and God looks at the heart and not on the outside. To “make our calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10) requires humility.

More than that, His “PURPOSE” is well established, and despite what we see, think,  or feel, those plans are intended only for good. They are held in God’s mind as an ongoing development so that the “outcome” is God-glorifying, and if we are half smart, we will recognise it as totally satisfying, and as the Word says, “Wholly Joyful”.

Jeremiah 29:11                                 FOR I KNOW the thoughts and plans that I have for you says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.   (The result)

The Word says, (Job 34:19)  God is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of His hands. The “ACKNOWLEDGEMENT” of God’s absolute “SOVEREIGNTY IN SELECTION” will result in our being “WHOLLY JOYFUL”.

Philippians 4:11                                Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have LEARNED how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in WHATEVER STATE I AM. 

This is one of GOD’S PURPOSES for our life, that place in Him of peace and contentment regardless of our outward conditions. Matthew 5 spells it out, specifying the situation that we passed through as the “EXPERIENCE” and have been “especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace”.  

In other words, we have come to recognise God in our “events”, those “Sanctified experiences” and developed that awareness that banishes anxiety because our “LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND CONDITIONING” have secured our “ADHERENCE, TRUST AND RELIANCE“.

Matthew 5:8                                      Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous–possessing the happiness PRODUCED BY THE EXPERIENCE of God’s favor and ESPECIALLY CONDITIONED by the revelation of His grace, REGARDLESS OF THEIR OUTWARD CONDITIONS) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

The “Happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous” comes “AFTER” the “EXPERIENCE”.

John, however, when recording what Jesus said, interposes some uncertainty, because Jesus’ awareness was complete and entire, and understood that we suffer distraction from GODS PURPOSES and our “RECOGNITION” or our “AWARENESS“, the same thing,  suffers from the “IF“.

John 14:7                                             IF you had known Me [had LEARNED to recognise Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him. 

Until we come to the place of being able to see God in “EVERYTHING“, not just in the beauty of creation, or the preciousness of His Word, but in the PURPOSE of every event, hostile or hospitable, we will not be available to “fully perform and fully accomplish the will of God“ or “GODS PURPOSE“.

Hebrews 10:36                                  For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and FULLY ACCOMPLISH the will of God, (Or fulfil His purpose for our life …   comments mine)  and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. 

There are two examples of this “PURPOSE” that are significant when considering this principle, neither of which will satisfy the cerebral gyrations and gymnastics of what the unspiritual man may want to debate to try and prove his unverifiable state.

John 9:1-3                                           AS HE passed along, He noticed a man blind from his birth.  (V2) His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind? (V3)  Jesus answered, It was not that this man or his parents sinned, but HE WAS BORN BLIND IN ORDER (Or “FOR THE PURPOSE”  …  comments mine)  THAT THE WORKINGS OF GOD SHOULD BE MANIFESTED (DISPLAYED AND ILLUSTRATED) IN HIM. 

The “IN ORDER” of John 9 has two distinct aspects,

1. There is nothing Father does that is not “decent and IN ORDER”.(1 Cor 14:40)
2. Secondly, the “IN ORDER” clearly identifies the authenticity of God’s program and purpose established before time began.

Notice also that God’s purpose was to be “DISPLAYED AND ILLUSTRATED”, which is a continuing purpose for the people of God today that we might evidence the Majesty and Inconceivable Greatness of our God. An illustration is an example that explains or proves something, and in this case, GRAPHICALLY!!!

Firstly, this disposes of the doctrine perpetuated by some that all disease is caused by an individual’s sin. Now, all sickness is a result of the fall of man, but not, as John points out, necessarily the fault of the individual. I would ask you to reflect upon the “improper participation” in the Lord’s Table and recall that there are weak and sickly among us and some even die”. That is the result of “Improper participation, maybe theirs or ours.

To whom is the malpractice attributed that causes this condition?  Are you or I culpable? Either for their, or my illness. Regardless, it should be a “Sanctified Experience”, and it has a definite purpose. This is an area that we need to contemplate.

Secondly, this was a congenital condition, and this man could have been both naturally blind and spiritually blind, but GOD’S  PURPOSE was not just to heal his eyesight but to redeem his soul. The man said in John 9:38  “He called out, Lord, I believe! [I rely on, I trust, I cleave to You!] And he worshipped Him.” What a confrontation to those Pharisees, and what a challenge Jesus offered them. He demonstrated and declared His “PURPOSE.”

Proverbs 16:4                                    The Lord has made EVERYTHING [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end and HIS OWN PURPOSE–even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity and evil. 

The second example is equally as graphic; we all know the story of Lazarus; in fact, the world adopts the event as a precedent for their convenience and the use of a cliche. When something is impossible, but it occurs, the world equates it with Lazarus’ moment.

John 11:3-4                                         So the sisters sent to Him, saying, Lord, he whom You love [so well] is sick. When Jesus received the message, He said, This sickness is not to end in death; but [on the contrary] IT IS TO HONOUR GOD AND TO PROMOTE HIS GLORY, that the Son of God may be glorified through (by) it.

Can you imagine the elation of the families and individuals in these examples, to coin a phrase, “they would be over the moon”? And that is a state we are to aim for in every event we face. The Word says even of Pharaoh, “I have raised you for THIS PURPOSE” (Romans 9:17), and so, in hindsight, it is easy to see God’s hand in every event faced by the Israelites.

Isaiah 14:27                                        FOR THE LORD OF HOSTS HAS PURPOSED, AND WHO CAN ANNUL IT? AND HIS HAND IS STRETCHED OUT, AND WHO CAN TURN IT BACK? 

TO DO OTHERWISE IS TO BE PRESUMPTUOUS

(williamrosssmith.wordpress.com)