Psalms 31:1-4, 8:1, 16:2, and 139:23-24
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Romans 9. The entire chapter is intriguing, but verse one is where the Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind.
Romans 9:1 ¶ I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Romans 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
The word conscience translates συνείδησις (suneidesis, soon-i´-day-sis), which is a prolonged form of a word that means “to see completely.” It suggests the idea of understanding, of becoming aware, of becoming conscious, and is usually connected to moral awareness of right and wrong. Paul appealed to the “witness” of his conscience on the question of whether the testimony he offered is true or false. His conscience approved the sentiments he felt as genuine, authentic, and true.
The conscience works in conjunction with our mind (Titus 1:15; see Romans 2:15). We know that our mind and our spirit are closely connected (Romans 8:27; Ephesians 4:23; Philippians 1:27). We know that spirits can trouble and mislead the mind (2 Thessalonians 2:2; see 2 Timothy 1:7). Spirits can communicate with our minds through our spirit (1 Timothy 4:1-4; 1 John 4:1). It is through our spirit that the Holy Spirit connects with our mind (Romans 8:26). It is through the Holy Spirit that our spirit worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The Holy Spirit reproves the conscience through our spirit raising thoughts of condemnation or approval.
The natural conscience can be aligned with God’s law (Romans 2:15); however, our God-given intuition regarding right and wrong can be seared, making it unsensitive, ineffective as a moral guide (1 Timothy 4:2). It’s also possible for our conscience to be uninformed, and therefore weak (1 Corinthians 8:7). Acting contrary to a weak conscience defiles, stains, puts a black spot on it (IBID.). For this reason, we are exhorted to be careful not to provoke someone to act contrary to their conscience (1 Corinthians 8:12). Paul asked, “Why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?” (1 Corinthians 10:29). To resolve this issue, our conscience must be guided by our love for Christ: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The rule that says “let your conscience be your guide” is unsound because, alone, it is an uncertain guide. However, that does not mean we should ignore it.
Paul appealed to the witness of his conscience “in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 10:1b). The “Holy Ghost” guides us to all truth (John 16:13); He prays for us continually (Romans 8:26). He bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). He is a witness of the blood that was shed on Calvary and testifies, or witnesses, whether that blood has been sprinkled upon our hearts (Hebrews 10:22), purging our conscience of sins (Hebrews 10:2). He does this by the Scripture of Truth (Daniel 10:21), which is the word of GOD (John 17:17)
Because there are other “spirits” active in the world, seeking to deceive us, we must “try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). Because our own spirit can become filthy when we “mind the things of the flesh”(Romans 8:5), we must challenge our own spirit also, and bring every thoght into the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5). Trying the spirits involves challenging any thought by this test: is it in obedience to Christ? We test it by God’s Word. If it is not in conformity with God’s Word, we must use the Sword of the Spirit, the word of God (Ephesians 6:17), to arrest that thought and bring it to kneel at the Saviour’s feet.
God gave us our conscience, and we should protect it and use it. A conscience that is informed by God’s Truth will guide true. Paul set the example: he appealed to the witness of his conscience “in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 9:1).
In the valley, as I knelt to worship my Saviour in spirit and in truth, I asked Him to “search me,” and “know my heart,” to “try me, and know my thoughts,” to “see if there be any wicked way in me,” and to “lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). The everlasting way is an “old path” seldom used these days (Jeremiah 6:16). It leads away from darkness and wickedness, and from the power of Satan to the power of God (Acts 26:18).
My Shepherd spoke: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed as we went together into the harvest (1 Corinthians 3:9; Psalm 23:6).
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live during layover in Denver: between 3-6, and I think that’s Mountain Time.
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