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Acts 24:16 “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and
toward men.”
INTRO./ In this passage we find the Apostle Paul before the Jewish high priest Annanias, the Sadducees, and
the Pharisees. They were outraged over his preaching concerning Jesus. In verse 5 we read :”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.”
They were doing all they could to discredit his ministry. We find this same thing going on today. There are many
in our world who hate the name of Jesus, and try every way they can to trouble or discredit a ministry that s
being true to the Gospel. They will question the motives of churches and Pastors and in some cases, even bring
false accusations against a pastor to bring him down and destroy the ministry.
In the middle of the trial, Paul makes a very startling statement. Look with me in verse 16.
Someone once said that what life does to us depends on what life finds in us.
You see, 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. He had a clear conscience before God and man. This ought to be the desire of
everyone of us who proclaim to be followers of Jesus Christ.
Now, what is the conscience?
The conscience is the inner faculty that, with the Holy Spirit, approves when we do right, and convicts when we
do wrong. The conscience can be described as a window in the soul that allows light into a situation, a light that
reveals motives and the hidden agendas of the heart. I believe that a pure heart and a right conscience will
always go together.
God wants you to have a good conscience. Look back in Acts 23:1
1 Timothy 1:19; “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have
made shipwreck.”
2 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.”
No one can say too much concerning the importance of having a good conscience. So many that I encounter
have problems with a guilty conscience-they have done things wrong in the past that they cannot seem to get
past the shame from.
But God still wants us to have a conscience that is clear from all guilt.
The Bible speaks much about the conscience:
The Good Conscience; The Defiled Conscience; The Evil Conscience and The Seared Conscience.
THE GOOD CONSCIENCE
Titus 2:11,12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
this present world;
If we will follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, we
will have a good conscience. Look at 2 Corinthians 1:12.
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.
Paul kept a good conscience because of his faithful surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in his life.
It was the work of the Spirit controlling, guiding, and directing his life moment by moment. He will do this work in
us as well-when all is falling apart, or we are angry, distressed, worried etc. He will cause us to have love, joy,
and peace by His grace. This results in a good conscience.
THE DEFILED CONSCIENCE
Titus 1:15.
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 is amazing how a certain word can be said within a group of people that is not meant in a bad way, yet
someone will begin to laugh or joke about that particular word. Why? A defiled conscience.
We have allowed so much filth into our homes through our TV’s, internet (The Kids at MYSPACE.Com or Wicked
space) that we have become fleshly in our thinking and this will ultimately lead to a defiled conscience.
Look further at Titus 1:16
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto
every good work reprobate.
The one with a defiled conscience is not receiving the truth as clearly as he once did. He cannot sense the
convicting presence of the Holy Spirit, like the man with a clear conscience.
There will not be confession of sin which will lead to a defiled conscience.
THE EVIL CONSCIENCE
Hebrews 10:22
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.
This is a conscience that is constantly thinking evil thoughts-this is a direct result of a defiled conscience.
This person has quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit-the heart is completely numb to the conviction of the Spirit.
THE SEARED CONSCIENCE
1 Timothy 4:1,2
1 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;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
If you have ever burned yourself you can relate to this. Burned skin becomes dead. There is no felling or
sensitivity in that spot. This is what it means to have a seared conscience.
A person with a seared conscience will hear preaching but will feel no effects, or he/she may be around other
Christians who are serious about their walk, yet this person will not have this desire.
Because there is no sensitivity to the work of the Spirt, the person with a seared conscience becomes open to all
sorts of deception and beliefs. Look back at 1 Timothy 4:1
The Apostle Paul however, had a clear conscience, void of offense toward God and man. This should be the
desire and goal of every Christian.
HOW TO HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
EXERCISE IT! Acts 24:16
All exercise must have a goal-1 Corinthians 9:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:4
We are not trying to live by a list of rules, but we are seeking to please the one who gave His life
I have to say sadly, that I seem to find more today who are trying to rationalize and excuse their sin and lack of
commitment to Christ, rather than who are seeking to exercise themselves in righteous living to have a good
conscience!
LIVE IT!
Void of offense toward God- A heart for God 1 Samuel 16:7
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.
Void of offense toward man
The key to having a life void of offense toward men is to live a Godly lifestyle outwardly. Look at
2 Corinthians 4:2
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.
Paul said that he handled the Word of God in his life without deceit. His life was pure before God and man
because he walked honestly. He was not concerned with his rights, privileges, freedom or liberty. He was
concerned about Christ.
Turn 1 Corinthians 8:10-13
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him
which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my
brother to offend.
We must live every moment realizing that we are in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ-the audience of
Heaven; and the audience of men on the earth. IS YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR?
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,
purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
You need to be cleansed by the only cleanser which can clear and purify your conscience: The Blood of Jesus!
As a Christian, you need to come confessing that what you are doing, have done, aren’t doing etc is sin, and
come for cleansing! Today! Right Now!
toward men.”
INTRO./ In this passage we find the Apostle Paul before the Jewish high priest Annanias, the Sadducees, and
the Pharisees. They were outraged over his preaching concerning Jesus. In verse 5 we read :”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.”
They were doing all they could to discredit his ministry. We find this same thing going on today. There are many
in our world who hate the name of Jesus, and try every way they can to trouble or discredit a ministry that s
being true to the Gospel. They will question the motives of churches and Pastors and in some cases, even bring
false accusations against a pastor to bring him down and destroy the ministry.
In the middle of the trial, Paul makes a very startling statement. Look with me in verse 16.
Someone once said that what life does to us depends on what life finds in us.
You see, 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. He had a clear conscience before God and man. This ought to be the desire of
everyone of us who proclaim to be followers of Jesus Christ.
Now, what is the conscience?
The conscience is the inner faculty that, with the Holy Spirit, approves when we do right, and convicts when we
do wrong. The conscience can be described as a window in the soul that allows light into a situation, a light that
reveals motives and the hidden agendas of the heart. I believe that a pure heart and a right conscience will
always go together.
God wants you to have a good conscience. Look back in Acts 23:1
1 Timothy 1:19; “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have
made shipwreck.”
2 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.”
No one can say too much concerning the importance of having a good conscience. So many that I encounter
have problems with a guilty conscience-they have done things wrong in the past that they cannot seem to get
past the shame from.
But God still wants us to have a conscience that is clear from all guilt.
The Bible speaks much about the conscience:
The Good Conscience; The Defiled Conscience; The Evil Conscience and The Seared Conscience.
THE GOOD CONSCIENCE
Titus 2:11,12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
this present world;
If we will follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, we
will have a good conscience. Look at 2 Corinthians 1:12.
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.
Paul kept a good conscience because of his faithful surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in his life.
It was the work of the Spirit controlling, guiding, and directing his life moment by moment. He will do this work in
us as well-when all is falling apart, or we are angry, distressed, worried etc. He will cause us to have love, joy,
and peace by His grace. This results in a good conscience.
THE DEFILED CONSCIENCE
Titus 1:15.
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 is amazing how a certain word can be said within a group of people that is not meant in a bad way, yet
someone will begin to laugh or joke about that particular word. Why? A defiled conscience.
We have allowed so much filth into our homes through our TV’s, internet (The Kids at MYSPACE.Com or Wicked
space) that we have become fleshly in our thinking and this will ultimately lead to a defiled conscience.
Look further at Titus 1:16
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto
every good work reprobate.
The one with a defiled conscience is not receiving the truth as clearly as he once did. He cannot sense the
convicting presence of the Holy Spirit, like the man with a clear conscience.
There will not be confession of sin which will lead to a defiled conscience.
THE EVIL CONSCIENCE
Hebrews 10:22
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.
This is a conscience that is constantly thinking evil thoughts-this is a direct result of a defiled conscience.
This person has quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit-the heart is completely numb to the conviction of the Spirit.
THE SEARED CONSCIENCE
1 Timothy 4:1,2
1 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;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
If you have ever burned yourself you can relate to this. Burned skin becomes dead. There is no felling or
sensitivity in that spot. This is what it means to have a seared conscience.
A person with a seared conscience will hear preaching but will feel no effects, or he/she may be around other
Christians who are serious about their walk, yet this person will not have this desire.
Because there is no sensitivity to the work of the Spirt, the person with a seared conscience becomes open to all
sorts of deception and beliefs. Look back at 1 Timothy 4:1
The Apostle Paul however, had a clear conscience, void of offense toward God and man. This should be the
desire and goal of every Christian.
HOW TO HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
EXERCISE IT! Acts 24:16
All exercise must have a goal-1 Corinthians 9:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:4
We are not trying to live by a list of rules, but we are seeking to please the one who gave His life
I have to say sadly, that I seem to find more today who are trying to rationalize and excuse their sin and lack of
commitment to Christ, rather than who are seeking to exercise themselves in righteous living to have a good
conscience!
LIVE IT!
Void of offense toward God- A heart for God 1 Samuel 16:7
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.
Void of offense toward man
The key to having a life void of offense toward men is to live a Godly lifestyle outwardly. Look at
2 Corinthians 4:2
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.
Paul said that he handled the Word of God in his life without deceit. His life was pure before God and man
because he walked honestly. He was not concerned with his rights, privileges, freedom or liberty. He was
concerned about Christ.
Turn 1 Corinthians 8:10-13
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him
which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my
brother to offend.
We must live every moment realizing that we are in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ-the audience of
Heaven; and the audience of men on the earth. IS YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR?
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,
purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
You need to be cleansed by the only cleanser which can clear and purify your conscience: The Blood of Jesus!
As a Christian, you need to come confessing that what you are doing, have done, aren’t doing etc is sin, and
come for cleansing! Today! Right Now!
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