Restoring a National Conscience
It would appear that conscience has “gone out of style.” Most people exhibit no signs of ever having a conscience? They sin with ease, not even aware that they have transgressed. When confronted, they are surprised! Many who are conditioned by a good upbringing and who do the same stuff, go through a Hell of remorse, their conscience beating them like a club.
Adam was the father of con-science = with knowledge; (with the knowledge that I just blew it!) Prior to his acceptance of the devils word over God’s word, he was free as a bird. Suddenly he knew he could be master of his own destiny. (“You will be like God, free as a bird!”) It was all really just a notion of freedom; a fantasy sold to him by the Devils Ad’ Agency. So like so many of his descendants, he went ahead and bought the idea that he could do and be what he liked. He already could!
The Devils best trick is to sell you the simple lie that you are in control of your choices, like "Fast Food" He takes something good and turns it to rubbish and sells it back to us. He just wants you to be a regular customer.
Man was created innocent yet with a latent conscience not yet activated. Because of the law regarding the Tree of Knowledge, coveting arose in Adam, his response is described in Romans: Rom 7:8; “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. Rom 2:14‑15; “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.”
So our conscience condemns us. It knows The Law so when we are sideways with the Law our own conscience is the sometimes strident voice of condemnation we hear. This is the conscience at work! Some people try hard to stifle their conscience, Adam tried; “the woman you gave me made me do it.” People excuse themselves by quoting their inherited circumstances and other external situations. Like Saul who wanted to maintain appearances, (saving face,) guilt sets “works” in motion. Adam’s “works” were fig leaves to cover the sin. Many hide from their conscience by staying busy. The world says; “keep doing it until the guilty feeling goes.”
1 Tim 4:2 talks about the loss of sensitivity of conscience; “By means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron..” Titus 1:15; “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”
The goal is not just to have a “clear conscience,” plenty of people claim that, but real clarity is when there is no condemnation affecting our attitude. “The human voice can never reach the distance that is covered by the still small voice of conscience.” Ghandi.
Most of the world’s religions have developed techniques for silencing your conscience. (You have to pay a lot though!)
When we repent, our conscience has ceased condemning us we are free of the matter. I don’t mean we have suppressed the issue but it is dealt with. We don’t feel the need to raise the matter again though we could. Our eyes are clear and we are not seeking to justify ourselves in any way. We can fellowship with our peers and not feel inferior. Like Solomon Islanders who look you straight in the eyes; their simple life is free of the guilt our complex sophisticated society puts on us
Our faith works when we have a good conscience; 1 Timothy 1:5; “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.Vs.19; keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”
The two main causes of a violated conscience are;
1: Breaking the laws of God. (10 Commandments still stand!)
As a nation we do this when we permit Abortion, and offer our support to minorities who trash
Every good thing we stand for. It all starts with dishonor in the home.
2: Breaking the principles of God is a defilement of the Temple.
The sanctity of marriage and the need for moderation are principles we despise in our nation.
Personal indicators of a violated conscience that will stop the operation of faith;
1. Resisting Holy Spirit conviction (Passive refusal of the basic requirements of belief: won’t pray.)
2. Suppression/Repression of guilt feeling (resident darkness enters)
3. Lowering of pre-set personal standards. (Indulging self, “I deserve this”)
4. Rationalization (thoughts accusing and defending)
5. Depression. (Cynicism becomes a lifestyle.)
6. Fear and grief. (Burnout- Nervous Breakdown.)
7. Bad and destructive behavior. (Irrational or excessive.)
8. Rejection of authority. (Violent angry and defiant.)
9. Rejection of truth and absolutes (probably suicidal.)
10 Rejection of God (a seared conscience - deception).
At a National Level:
- Silencing the Holy Spirit in Public Gatherings by offering pseudo-Christian lip service.
- Psychologists promote the idea of guilt suppression in all areas of life.
- Allowing Television to do and say what they please with the inference “you deserve this..”
- Offering explanations for sin under the guise of “Science”.
- Media opinion poisons the thinking of the nation as they trash everything good.
- Offering pills and excuses for so-called psychiatric conditions that are mostly sin.
- Allowing generational and cultural excuses for anti-social behavior.
- Protesting, despising public figures, lashing out at police and school authorities etc.
- High Suicide rate demonstrates a sense of hopelessness and lack of self respect.
- Hard anti gospel attitude prevails across our nation and false religions multiply.
I think you will agree that NZ has a violated national conscience. We need help.
The personal cure and key to maintaining a good conscience:
A/ The Word of God pierces us like Jesus writing in the dust with his finger.
B/ The Blood of Jesus; Heb 9:14; “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” He covers us when we stand honestly before Him with no attempt at cover up.
C/ The Holy Spirit: Romans 9:1; “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit..” He works with us to develop a pure conscience.
D/ A Renewed Conscience: Hebrews 10:22; let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. When our conscience is activated by our relationship with God, we are alive and sensitive to the spiritual realm. We walk in sensitivity to God and man that enables us to minister His Grace.
You can exercise faith with a violated conscience. But you are merely proving that God is faithful to His Word. You are not fulfilling your God-given purpose and you are delaying correction while storing up consequences that will eventually catch up with you.
The National Cure:
Change lies with each and every believer taking up responsibility to minister in the Spirit of love and compassion in an outspoken and dedicated fashion. We need a move of the Holy Spirit to overwhelm the whole body of believers in our Nation; cleaning out the dusty corridors of stale religion and dead programs; forcing us into mass worship and supernatural ministry to unbelievers.
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