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Sunday Video Message 7 June 2020 : “The testimony of our conscience”

7 June 2020

MORNING WORSHIP 7 June 2020
Text: 2 Corinthians 1:12-14
Title: “The testimony of our conscience”

REVIEW:

1. A practical theology of “Tribulation”

2. How this Theology is developed

a) We discover truths (from God’s word)
b) We add to our treasury of truth
c) We are tested in our understanding and faith
d) Truth becomes firm, our faith becomes proven
e) It becomes “practical theology”

A WORKING DEFINITION OF THE CONSCIENCE

1. Mention of the word “conscience” (2 Corinthians 1:12)

2. What does the word “conscience” really mean?
Three aspects may be considered:

a) The Christian Conscience
i) There is firstly the knowledge of God
ii) The knowledge of God becomes our moral code
iii) This moral code is consciously applied in life’s situation (“tribulation”)
iv) It becomes a moral compass for the believer
b) The Conscience becomes “A special consciousness of God”
i) For the person who knows God well
ii) The Conscience becomes a special sense of “Consciousness of God”
iii) This can help the person who may be caught up in situations that are difficult
c) The Consciousness of God when applied well will cause the person
to become “conscientious”
i) He applies his conscience effectively
ii) He is conscious of the presence of God
iii) He becomes conscientious in all that he does

THE TRIBULATION PAUL MENTIONED

1. Burdened beyond measure (2 Corinthians 1:8)

2. Despaired even of life (2 Corinthians 1:8)

3. The sentence of death in ourselves (2 Corinthians 1:9)

4. No trust in self (2 Corinthians 1:9)

HOW DOES THE CONSCIENCE HELP IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT?

1. The Testimony of our Conscience

a) Consciousness
b) Conscientiousness
c) Our Conscience is like a living moral compass of our soul
i) It will bear testimony
ii) It will affirm that which is good and right

2. The Conscience will guide our conduct

a) Our conduct would be our response
b) Our behaviour

3. The Conscience and Trust in the grace of God

a) Consciousness of God’s grace
b) Believing and trusting in His grace
c) That His grace would be sufficient for our needs

4. An example of Paul’s conduct amidst Tribulation

a) Context: “In the world” (2 Corinthians 1:12)
b) Conduct Feature 1: “Simplicity”
i) Singled-heartedness
ii) Devotion
c) Conduct Feature 2: “Godly sincerity”
i) A synonym of “simplicity”
ii) Sincerity
iii) Godly sincerity when thoroughly examined

4. In clear contrast

a) Fleshly wisdom (2 Corinthians 1:12-14)
b) Worldly wisdom (2 Corinthians 1:12-14)
c) Old saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”

COMMON KNOWLEDGE

1. The Conscience is not really “special knowledge”

2. It is in fact common knowledge
These are things that the Corinthians have come across

a) What they have read
b) What they have understood (2 Corinthians 1:13)

THE DANGER THAT EXISTS

1. No Conscience

2. A seared conscience

3. A fleshly conscience

4. A false conscience

THE CHALLENGE TO CULTIVATE OUR CONSCIENCE

1. Cultivate knowledge

2. Knowledge becomes our Conscience (moral code)

3. Conscience becomes practical Consciousness of God

4. Consciousness becomes Conscientiousness

5. Conscientiousness becomes our Conduct