A Healed Conscience — Phil Beach Jr.

A Healed Conscience Begins With Honest Repentance

You Get hard. Don't deny it. Say help me Jesus. When someone loves you enough to tell you that you've become irritable or proud or insensitive don't say I have not or Justify your actions and say well, it's because.

Say I know pray with me that Jesus will help me. One of the things that happens when the Lord draws near to us. And he only draws near to the brokenhearted remember. I Am the Lord high lofty and I dwell in eternity but with him also that is of a humble and a Contrite a broken spirit.

The Broken Spirit Exposed by God's Light

A broken spirit is a spirit that has been exposed by the light of God and Because of his grace doesn't say that's not true. Lord says yes Lord. It's true. Your light has shined and I've seen myself as a sinner even a Christian.

Remember we learned the difference between a Christian and a non-christian. Christian is a sinner that knows They're a sinner. But looks to Jesus for help and a non-christian is simply a sinner That hasn't been brought to that place yet.

So if we become a Christian and then think that we don't have need and get all self-righteous and all proud and all Confident and hide behind Theology and scriptures and and the and our heart is no longer broken.

Then we we get off the track him and the Lord lets us fall. He lets us fall So that we can get broken again because a saved sinner is just as much in need as an unsaved sinner and don't ever forget that a Saved sinner is probably more in need.

So the Lord is a he comes close to the brokenhearted. He comes close to the crushed in spirit. And and and that happens when we see Calvary. We see Calvary we see the Lamb of God and we realize that the horror of Calvary the horror of him being crucified.

The horror of them plucking his beard out with their hands the horror Was brought upon him because of who? Me that what that's what brings a broken heart when you see That you you your sins crucified the precious potless Lamb of God.

Once we become Christians, we don't forget that it becomes more evident to us and when the when the Lord can keep us brokenhearted that One of the great needs of our life. One of the great needs of my life is For the Lord to keep me brokenhearted and tender and soft before him because When we're no longer brokenhearted Pride has begun to take rule in our heart pride and self-sufficiency and arrogance and in a sense of I Can do it on my own and the Lord says what about the pride his face is what?

Turned away from the pride. That's it. His face is turned away from the pride. But grace comes to where the humble the humble in heart the broken in heart and so one of the things that happens When we are brought into the presence of the Lord and we're walking with him is that he begins to heal our conscience.

Jesus Heals the Conscience

A Healed conscience is a wonderful thing. I'm praying that for the next few minutes not long at all. Just a few moments. This is as far as we can go today, but I'm praying that something that only God can do will do right now for us.

He'll show us that Jesus wants to heal our conscience. He wants to give us a tender working conscience. Oh The conscience is so beautiful. I'd like to just share a little personal testimony then read a scripture and just make a few comments and then we'll look to the Lord as We gather together to begin to learn about this renewed conscience because the Lord's been teaching us hasn't he?

How horrible and how dreadful our pride is. How many over the past three months have seen a Dilation as our brother Doug Riggs would say a dilation from the Lord's own hand of the depths of the pride that lurks in your heart the past three months and Oh my it's a horrible thing that pride is such a horrible poison and The Lord has been showing us our need for him and he's been drawing near to us only After We're willing to accept what the light shines what the light shows.

We've learned if we walk in the light as he is in the light. We have fellowship one with another. Walking in the light as he is in the light requires a grace working in our life that will empower us to continuously agree with everything that the light shines everything the light exposes in our heart with this process of Relationship with the Lord and a renewed love and a renewed awakening to the beauty and preciousness of God's Word.

There is a healing that begins to occur. It's a delicate healing. It's a delicate and a precious healing. It's the healing of the conscience. We be suddenly the Lord Breathes into our conscience and it starts working in ways that we've never ever ever would have imagined and it's because When Jesus draws near to us, he heals that part of our spirit that God put in there.

That helps us Stay true to what's going on on the inside. We've got to we've got to learn to stay true to what's going on on the inside. What is it that that the Lord spoke to? To his his servant Samuel when Samuel was looking to find a prophet a king for Israel.

He went and he looked at the sons of Jesse and he looked at their outward appearance. And he said all this one here must be the Lord's anointed. He had a nice countenance nice hair. Lord said no and then he went to another and another and then finally the Word of the Lord came to Samuel and God said to Samuel Samuel Listen to me.

This is what the Lord's saying to us today. Listen to me. Man looks on the outward. Man is wholly preoccupied with the appearance That can be seen with the natural eye perceived with the ear. But God said to Samuel but I See the heart.

I go right into the depths of the heart and I see exactly what's going on even when. What's going on inside and what appears is totally different now the conscience is Something God put into us to help us stay true to what's going on on the inside.

We need a healed conscience. Because God doesn't work. Where people won't let God make the inside right? He won't work. It's not about outward stuff. It's the inward heart. God says I will come and dwell where?

In them and We live in a society. That's all outward all Outward and heart issues are no longer even dealt with. The Holy Spirit doesn't deal with outward things. He deals with heart issues. And so one of the evidence is that the Holy Spirit is working in your life and that Jesus is walking close to you.

Is that you have become aware of what's going on in your heart and You're tender toward that and you're aware of it and you're constantly looking to Jesus to keep the heart right before him and to keep the heart right before others.

A Personal Testimony of Confessing Wrongdoing

Earlier this week. I spoke unkindly to Colette and I went to work and the Lord seized the opportunity to give me a great blessing and With this lesson came such a blessing and this is where this living word was born.

I went to work and I wasn't yet ready to work. I went there a little early and I saw some friends and I've Befriended a lot of people at work and One of the ladies that I befriended works at customer service.

Her name is Bernice. She's probably 50 ish or so she's a sweet lady and she said how are you Phil and within Within one second. I heard a whole commentary from the Lord. And the Lord Gently nudged me and Made me to know that.

The knee-jerk reaction would have been this. Oh, I'm doing fine. How are you? Isn't that what we do? What does that really do? It teaches us to what? It teaches us to lie. It does most of the time when someone says, how are you?

I know it's courtesy and it's the custom but it teaches us not to be true to what? What's really going on and So we become accustomed at little children to just say things that aren't really true. How are you?

Fine? How are you? Good. Great. Have a nice day. Thanks you too. I Mean, it's so untrue. And this is what the Lord does when he draws near to what people he delivers them out of Unreality and so in a moment's time I Heard the voice of my father and I knew what he was saying and he said and and and she said how are you?

And I said not too well because you know Phil's usually jovial and It is the way I am in my personality, I'm not doing too well. She said Phil why I said my conscience is troubling me. She looked at me and she said what?

Conscience. What's that? She didn't say that but that was the reaction. Oh, he's such a great teacher. Isn't he Carrie? He's such a good teacher. I said my conscience is troubling me. She said what's wrong?

Said I was unkind to Colette before I left. And all the way to work. My conscience was bothering me. I Said I've got a car up When I take my lunch and just tell her I'm sorry and my conscience bothered me.

Her mouth opened up her eyes Were as wide as wide can be and this is what she said. Oh My god, I Never heard of such a thing. That's incredible. Would you talk to my husband? That's just what she said.

Would you talk to my husband now? Listen, listen, I told her that at about quarter to two by six o 'clock that night Several of the ladies in customer service came and said to me. I can't believe it. Will you talk to my husband?

Will you? And Through that listen through that little act of being vulnerable and honest. Something lasting was imparted. Something lasting was imparted. Unbelievable unbelievable another illustration of being true to your conscience and learning to Be Responsive to the Lord when he nudges you and helps you understand why your conscience is bothered by the way, I did call Colette we made it okay, and I was listening to some Some information that was being spoken about another security officer and what was being said was true but the spirit that it was being said in was wrong and I agreed with what the officer was saying, but in agreeing I put my approval on the wrong attitude and Afterwards my conscience troubled me.

And I'm walking around the mall Patrolling and this thing inside of me is sad and I'm troubled and I'm bothered and I said Lord What's wrong? And the Lord showed me my conscience is extra sensitive. Because Jesus is drawing very close to this sinner and When Jesus gets close he makes everything that God intended to work work real good really.

He's he really is the Restorer, isn't he? He makes everything work. You know, God made us wonderfully and I know sin is a mess, but you know When God deals with the sin, he also heals who we are we become whole as people.

You know, he makes his hole. He doesn't he's not against us. He's just against our sin. He loves us and So he's making me whole but he makes his hole by showing us how horribly sinful we are. It's a irony, but it's true so he's he showed me that my conscience is working so ever Tender now and so what I had to do is I had to go back to that officer.

And I had to say listen. My conscience is bothering me again mouth open. I Said you know what you said about so-and-so. Yeah, it is true He said but Your attitude isn't right and I don't want to give the impression that I agree with your attitude.

I don't he didn't say anything and I Had peace in my conscience. To turn your Bibles if you would to 2nd Corinthians. Do not fear we will not be going into a lengthy Discussion here, but you know why I'm excited because right now Jesus is confirming his word and He's healing the conscience.

He's healing that part in our spirit that he created. That helps us to stay in touch with what's going on on the inside. Listen, I Beg you brothers and sisters pray and ask Jesus as he draws near to you now.

Drawing Near Through Confession and Humility

Remember now, let's keep this the way it needs to be. He draws near to the broken-hearted. Draw near to God. He draws near to you confess your sins confess your faults. Stand before God and say Lord.

I'm all wrong and you're all right. Don't be so quick to deny Criticism when it comes into your life. It's most likely true. And if it's not overtly true, it's Potentially true. You seem to be a little proud these days.

No, I'm not that proves right there. You are Thank you, brother. What? Tell me what you see. Thank you, brother. I appreciate that and I pray God will help me not to because I know That without the grace of God, I am a proud man.

How are you quick to deny? When God is trying to help you see that you're a sinner so remember as we stay broken-hearted before God and stay close to him and pray God give me humility so that I can stay Transparent.

What are the three words remember? Vulnerable. Vulnerability accountability and transparency. Vulnerability. Accountability and transparency. They are three qualities that are a must that we can only find through the grace of God if We are to maintain a close walk with Jesus when we lose accountability to him when we lose Vulnerability to him and when we lose a sense of transparency before him.

We are no longer broken-hearted and we're setting ourself up for some kind of a fall. So that we can be wakened out of our pride and come back to Jesus in in humility. But when we when we're walking close with him.

One of the things he does among many things is he starts breathing on our conscience and makes it work. Let me tell you something if you know anything of what we're talking about this morning and you sense that you have a conscience.

Cherish it. Guard it. Don't ever ever ever ever Sin against your conscience don't ever sin against it. Say Jesus help me to be true to my conscience help me every time it bothers me to stop and wait and ask you for guidance so that you can give me an understanding of why my conscience is troubled it is the Destruction of the conscience in this country that is leading us down a road of destruction.

It's a destruction of our own conscience in our families that's bringing havoc in our families. That's why relationships are breaking down. My conscience was troubling me last night as I was praying for my children.

Because I realized that I don't have what it takes to be a good father. And I neglect them and I don't spend time with them and I'm not sensitive enough to their to their needs. I my conscience was troubling me.

So, what do I do? Well, how can I. I'm a busy man you do that and you're going to destroy the only thing in your life That can help you stay in touch with the reality. You don't do that. You don't justify your actions.

When your conscience smites you you go down before God and you say Lord. Have mercy on me. Help me then you go and you say I'm sorry. Forgive me forgive me and. Then you look to Jesus for help. You look to Jesus for help.

A Seared Conscience and the Need for Healing

Are you in touch with your conscience? Where do you no longer care about it? Has it become hardened and seared as with a hot iron like the scriptures say? That phrase means you know what happens when you when a hot iron touches you long enough, what does it do?

It burns you and kills the what the nerves and If you're and if you're Brent if your conscience is seared as with a hot iron. The Holy Spirit is saying it doesn't work anymore. Doesn't bother you anymore.

Jesus, please heal our conscience. I thank God for this lesson. He's been teaching me this week. 2nd Corinthians. 2nd Corinthians chapter 1 verse 12. 2nd Corinthians chapter 1 verse 12. For our Rejoicing is this?

Rejoicing in a Clear Conscience

The testimony of our conscience. Stop. Stop. We don't have to go any further. For our rejoicing is this the testimony of our conscience? That in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom.

But by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world and more abundantly to you. But I just wanted to stop there. Our Rejoicing is this the testimony of our conscience? 2nd Corinthians chapter 1 verse number 12.

Brothers and sisters, can you say this together with God's Word that you rejoice? Over a clear conscience or a conscience that you know is working that you know is functioning and that every time it functions you are looking to the Lord to help you understand what it's saying and What the Lord would want you to do in order to be true to your conscience a healed conscience is imperative if we are to know the abundant life that Jesus is offering us as we walk with him and as we walk with one another a A Healed conscience will mean that you become ever so aware and sensitive not so much to what you see with your eyes and what the mirror reveals to you and What others say about you and oh how we so govern our life.

Don't we how many? Allow the mirror to determine when to get a haircut or Someone saying boy you need a haircut. Most all of us probably. Rely on those two sources of information to move us to action.

Is there anything wrong with that? No, there's nothing wrong with that but brothers and sisters You can't look in the mirror and see what's going on on the inside and you can't rely on what others are saying.

God has given us his word He's given us the Holy Spirit and he's given us a conscience and that's the only reliable source and guide that we have that will help us stay true to what's going on in the inside and so if We are to have an abundant life with the Lord we have to have a healed conscience and when we do we will be ever so sensitive to its movement and We will we will not Push it aside.

Pride as the Enemy of a Healed Conscience

But now let me just say in closing The greatest enemy To a healed conscience is pride. Because pride will not listen to the tender call of conscience pride will tell Conscious conscience get away from me.

You trouble me but a broken-hearted sinner Finding grace at the feet of Jesus will come to conscious and say thank you For reminding me and then we go to the Word of God in the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the Holy Spirit.

Soar out for us why our conscience is troubling us and gives us understanding. So I want to challenge you as we close to begin to pray Lord Heal my conscience. Draw near to me help me to see Where I've not been tender in my conscience.

Help me to see where I've pushed the voice of my conscience away and heal me Lord. Heal me Lord. Heal me today the conscience is That part of us created by God to know and be aware of one's self What's going on in one's heart.

That part of the spirit which bears witness to the movements of our heart. A conscience that is empowered and enlightened by the Holy Spirit always prompts us to choose the right and reject the wrong.

The conscience that is being Exposed to the power of the Holy Spirit will always bear witness to the way of love and Testify against any action thought word or deed that is not according to love. That's what a healed conscience will do.

Prayer for Jesus the Great Physician

This bow our hearts for a moment. Father Jesus is so lovely. We thank you for him. We thank you Lord that he himself Claimed to be the great physician. What an appropriate name for we who are so sick and so needy and so desperate for help.

Lord draw near to the brokenhearted today and Begin to breathe upon our conscience. Heal it Restore it Make it work again. Help us to hear its troubling sounds. And teach us Lord to look to you when our conscience troubles us, please Lord Do this work that only you can do never ever disregard your conscience, it's always a Reliable information, it's always given you reliable information about something going on in your heart and You and and and when you go to God's Word and God's Spirit.

He interprets the meaning of why your conscience is troubled never Turn your ears to your conscience and father. We just thank you Pray you'll continue this great work in Our hearts for Jesus sake. Amen and amen.