Maintaining a Conscience Void of Offense – Acts 24:16
THE RIGHT CONSCIENCE
MAINTAINING A CONSCIENCE VOID OF OFFENSE
DATE: 3/14/2010 am
TEXT: Acts 24:16
INTRODUCTION
Image that today - you were on trial
Standing before a prosecuting attorney because you have been telling people about Jesus Christ
You might be thinking –
“That would only happen in a Muslim country”
And you might be right
Yet – this type of persecution has existed since the earliest days of Christianity
In Acts 24 – this very scene unfolds in the life of the Apostle Paul
The high Priest An-a-ni'-as – the Sadducees and the Pharisees are outraged
These men bring in an attorney by the name of Ter-tul'-us -
An eloquent orator – to plead their case against Paul before Felix – the governor of Caesarea
In Acts 24:5 – one of the accusations brought against Paul says –
“For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:”
Throughout the first several verses - these religious leaders of Paul’s day - try to discredit his ministry
It’s the same today
Many folks are highly suspicious of churches and the people that are trying to do the work of God
People will often question their actions and motives
Perhaps even bring unfounded accusations against a pastor or some other godly Christian
In the midst of the trial – Paul finally says something in his own defense in v.16 –
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men”
Someone once stated that “what life does to us depends on what life finds in us”
Even though Paul was being falsely accused …
He was able to say that he had lived his life in such a way that he had a good testimony
“a conscience void of offence”
(void = empty, clear)
(Offence = Any transgression of law, divine or human; a crime; sin; act of wickedness or omission of duty)
He said he had a ‘Clear’ Conscience before God and man
This should be the desire of every Christian
I’d like to preach on that thought –
“Maintaining a Conscience Void of Offense”
~~~ OPENING PRAYER~~~
I. THE “DYNAMIC” OF CONSCIENCE (the effect of)
The conscience is the inner faculty that – with the Holy Spirit –
® Approves when we do right
® And disapproves or convicts when we do wrong
The conscience most be taught what is right or wrong
The conscience can be described as a window in the soul that allows light into a situation
A light that reveals the motive and hidden agendas of the heart
There are four types of Conscience described in the Word of God – Good, Defiled, Evil, Seared
A. The ‘Good’ Conscience
God wants us to have a Good Conscience
Acts 23:1 – “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day”
I Timothy 1:19 – “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:”
II Timothy 1:3 – “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;”
We should all desire to do our best in service to our Lord
We must strive to have a clear conscience toward God and toward man in all matters
Paul was able to write back to his churches with a clear conscience that he had done his very best
The Good Conscience is ‘developed’ by the Grace of God
Titus 2:11, 12 – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
”Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
If we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and grow in the Grace and the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ …
We will have a good conscience
II Corinthians 1:12 – “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-ward”
As Paul served his Saviour – he stated that he kept a good testimony toward his fellowman
Why could he say this?
He could say it - because he allowed the Holy Spirit to work in his heart
Controlling, Guiding, and Directing his life - moment by moment
The Holy Spirits work within us - helps us - to make the right decisions during moments of pressure and temptation
Paul was a man of godliness – he was a man of grace
I cannot emphasize enough the inner working of God’s grace
The results of living with God’s grace will be a Christ-like attitude –
A Good Conscience void of Offence
B. The ‘Defiled’ Conscience
Titus 1:15 – “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled”.
It’s amazing how a certain word can be mentioned in a group of people that is not meant in a bad context …
Yet someone will begin to laugh or joke about it
Why? Their conscience as been Defiled!
Titus 1:16 cont. – “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate”
The man whose conscience is defiled is not regarding the Truth of God’s Word
He does not regard the conviction of the Holy Spirit
A defile conscience prevents conviction
Unconfessed sin creates a defiled conscience
C. The ‘Evil’ Conscience
Hebrews 10:22 – “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water”
The evil conscience is a conscience that is constantly thinking evil thoughts
This happens over time to the one with a defiled conscience
I Thessalonians 5:19 – “Quench not the Spirit”
We are not to extinguish His influences
Ephesians 4:30 – “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, …”
The heart can become numb to the conviction of God
There’s thinking out there today that minimizes any teaching on holy or right living
Claiming that it creates “false guilt” in people’s hearts
There is vast different between true Holy Ghost conviction and guilt
When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin – the result should NOT be a continued guiltiness
It should be confession and repentance
Sensing conviction in our heart is something we do not want to lose
If we develop the habit of ignoring the Lord’s dealing with us – eventually you will stop feeling it!
Feeling convicted simply means that you can still sense God working in your heart
The solution for an evil conscience is heartfelt repentance before God
D. The ‘Seared’ Conscience
I Timothy 4:1, 2 – “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
”Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”
These verses present a tragic illustration
Have you ever burned yourself?
If you have - you know that after time – burned skin - becomes dead to the sense of feeling
This is what is meant by a seared conscience
A person with a seared conscience will hear preaching
But it will have no effects
They can be around other Christians and not have any sensitivity to God’s work in their heart
A seared conscience is so limited in feeling conviction that it opens itself up to all sorts of deception and false doctrine
Look at I Timothy 4:1b again – “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
As the Apostle Paul stood before the religious elite of his day
He could say he had loved God with a clear conscience
Void of offence toward both God and man
THE “DYNAMIC” OF CONSCIENCE
II. THE “DEVELOPMENT” OF CONSCIENCE
How can we develop a conscience that is clear and that is exercised unto godliness?
Some would say that it does not matter – because we are under grace
Their reasoning is that you can do whatever you want because of God’s grace!
Yet – this is the type of thinking that lead to ungodly living
It ought to be our heart’s desire to please God in all that we do
Developing a conscience that is void of offence
A. Exercise requires ‘a Goal’
Again our text says in Acts 24:16 – “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men”
He says it’s something we have to work at
“I exercise myself”
Exercise requires a goal
We find Paul’s goal in I Corinthians 9:24-27
Olympic athletes train (exercise) so that they can win
Paul exercised himself to please God
Paul’s goal was not an earthly prize but an Heavenly one
His goal was to please the Lord Jesus Christ
I Thessalonians 4:1 – “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more”
II Timothy 2:4 – “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”
The goal of a clear conscience is not simply to conform to an outward list of rules (do’s and don’t)
A list of rules in and of itself does not please the Lord
But holy living from the heart does please Him
Following Christ will mean that there will be some rules, some guidelines for our behavior
His Word gives us principles to live by
Our finished goal should always be to please Christ
Exercise requires ‘a Goal’
B. Exercise requires ‘Discipline’
Look again at I Corinthians 9 and v.27 – “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”
Paul was willing to make sacrifices in his own comfort and pleasure
Things that where not necessarily evil
But things that would hinder his work for Christ and the salvation of others
Things that may be weights to us or stumbling blocks to the lost
This theology isn’t popular today – because people want to be called Christian but live like a heathen world
Romans 12:2 – “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”
If you are serious about having a clear conscience before God and before men …
Then be willing to live a life of discipline
Laying aside things that could hinder you or harm others
You are going to have to lay aside your rights and liberties so you can be the right influence on those around you
THE “DYNAMIC” OF CONSCIENCE
THE “DEVELOPMENT” OF CONSCIENCE
III. THE “DISPLAY” OF RIGHT CONSCIENCE
In Acts 24:16 Paul says that his life was a life lived for Christ and that it was “Void of offence” (without)
He had not brought reproach to the name of his Saviour
A. Void of Offence toward ‘God’
How is it that Paul could say that he was void (clear) of offence toward God?
I believe Paul understood that it is God who tries our hearts
As Christians – our first priority is to our relationship to our Heavenly Father
Matthew 6:33a – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; …”
The greatest joys in life come from knowing we have done our best for the Lord
There is no greater reward then to lay your head down at night and think back on how good God has been that day to you
Paul makes it absolutely clear that this was his habit
He chose moment by moment to live in such a way that his heart was clear before his Lord
I Samuel 16:7 – “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart”
B. Void of Offence toward ‘Man’
The key to having a life void of offense toward men is to live a godly lifestyle outwardly
II Corinthians 4:2 – “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God”
We must commend our selves to every man’s conscience
Throughout Paul’s ministry -he had by exhibition of the truth proved himself in the conscience of all …
As well as in the sight of God
Both his message and his character demonstrated
the integrity of his ministry - God was his witness
Every Christian does things that they regret
Failures we wish we could undo
Applying this principle to our lives will help us to avoid those awkward moments
Paul had handled the Word of God in his life without deceit
He wasn’t concerned with his own rights or liberties
I Corinthians 8:9 – “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak”