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Benefits Of A Clear Conscience
I. Some basic Scriptures:
There are two sides of getting a clear conscience. One side is that of being offended and hurt and receiving freedom and healing from the emotional wounds and emotional bruises. See: "Emotional Wounds Menu". This article focuses upon our own wrong words, actions, attitudes, and motives.
The problem is that when we don't get a clear conscience, we end up shipwrecked. "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck" (I Timothy 1:18-19). A blot on our conscience is an open door for the enemy to work in our lives.
Paul said, "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men" (Acts 24:16). In other words, Paul was saying that he purposed to have a clear conscience to the degree that no one, neither man or God, could point their finger at him and legitimately say, "You have wronged me and have done nothing to make it right."
A blot on our conscious is like carrying a weight about your ankles that keep you from running the race. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
Some symptoms of not having a clear conscience are confusion, fear, worry, closed personality, being critical of others,
II. Simple steps to get a clear conscience
A. Pray and ask God where you need a
clear conscience. See: "Prayer
Of Discovery"
B. If you have sinned, then you are to acknowledge your sin toward God and ask for His forgiveness. (Psalm 51:3-4, I John 1:9).
C. If you have offended someone else, you need to contact them.
B. If you have sinned, then you are to acknowledge your sin toward God and ask for His forgiveness. (Psalm 51:3-4, I John 1:9).
C. If you have offended someone else, you need to contact them.
1. Personal, face to face contact is
generally the best.
2. You should generally not use the expression, "I am sorry."
3. You should verbally express your acknowledgment of your wrong (words, actions, attitudes, or motives.)
4. You should not to try to balance the scales.
5. After acknowledging your wrong, you should ask for forgiveness.
6. If you have stolen something, you should be willing to make restitution for the item stolen.
7. You should prayerfully choose the proper time and place to contact the individually.
8. You should be prepared for a negative response.
9. If they are not willing to forgive you, give God time to work on their heart.
a. In a written letter or email, people
may read some unintended between the lines or keep the letter to show
to others.
b. Phone "texts" and may easily be misunderstood.
c. Phone calls may be acceptable in some cases but may also be misunderstood.
b. Phone "texts" and may easily be misunderstood.
c. Phone calls may be acceptable in some cases but may also be misunderstood.
2. You should generally not use the expression, "I am sorry."
a. "I am sorry" may express empahy.
b. However, it may not express wrong on your part, but only that you are sorry for the results.
c. You have probably said, "I am sorry" previously and it did not carry much weight.
b. However, it may not express wrong on your part, but only that you are sorry for the results.
c. You have probably said, "I am sorry" previously and it did not carry much weight.
3. You should verbally express your acknowledgment of your wrong (words, actions, attitudes, or motives.)
a. "I said the wrong thing."
b. "I did the wrong thing."
c. "I had the wrong attitude."
d. "I had the wrong motive when ...."
b. "I did the wrong thing."
c. "I had the wrong attitude."
d. "I had the wrong motive when ...."
4. You should not to try to balance the scales.
a. Don't say, "If you hadn't ..., I
would not have responded that way.
b. Don't give excuse by saying, "I was too tired or too ...."
c. You are only responsible to deal with what you have done and not to correct them for their offense at this point.
b. Don't give excuse by saying, "I was too tired or too ...."
c. You are only responsible to deal with what you have done and not to correct them for their offense at this point.
5. After acknowledging your wrong, you should ask for forgiveness.
a. Forgiveness is not deserved.
b. Forgiveness is the word "give" in the middle.
c. The means that you are pleading for forgiveness.
b. Forgiveness is the word "give" in the middle.
c. The means that you are pleading for forgiveness.
6. If you have stolen something, you should be willing to make restitution for the item stolen.
a. This means that you are willing to
replace what is stolen.
b. It also means that usually restitution is more than the original value of the item stolen.
b. It also means that usually restitution is more than the original value of the item stolen.
7. You should prayerfully choose the proper time and place to contact the individually.
8. You should be prepared for a negative response.
a. You may have caught them off guard.
b. You may have caught them in a bad mood.
c. They may not want to forgive you, because if they forgive you, they may have to look at what they have done to offend you.
b. You may have caught them in a bad mood.
c. They may not want to forgive you, because if they forgive you, they may have to look at what they have done to offend you.
9. If they are not willing to forgive you, give God time to work on their heart.
III. Some benefits of getting a clear conscience:
A. A freedom to enter into
the presence of God. (Psalm 15:1-2 24:3-4)
B. A freedom from fear of destruction by the Enemy. (Psalm 91:1-16).
C. A freedom from guilt (Romans 8:1).
D. A freedom to hear and obey the voice of God. (Isaiah 6:8-9).
E. A freedom to receive physical healing (Psalm 103:2-3).
F. A freedom to receive God's blessings (Psalm 24: 4, 32:1-2).
G. A freedom serve God (Hebrews 9:14).
H. A freedom to teach others (Psalm 51:13).
I. A freedom from the power of sin. (Romans 6:17-18).
J. A freedom to witness (I Peter 2:12, 3:15-16).
L. A freedom to rejoice (Psalm 51:8, 12, Proverbs 12:20, II Corinthians 1:12).
M. A freedom to live a long life (I Peter 3:8-10).
N. A freedom to see from God's perspective (wisdom) (Psalm 51:6).
O. A freedom to receive answers to our prayers (Psalm 66:18-19).
P. A freedom to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 1:23)
Q. A freedom to believe God (Hebrews 10:22, I Timothy 3:9).
R. A freedom from shame and confusion (James 3:16, Isaiah 61:7).
S. A freedom to sleep at night (Psalm 4:4-8).
T. A freedom to find peace (Psalm 37:37).
B. A freedom from fear of destruction by the Enemy. (Psalm 91:1-16).
C. A freedom from guilt (Romans 8:1).
D. A freedom to hear and obey the voice of God. (Isaiah 6:8-9).
E. A freedom to receive physical healing (Psalm 103:2-3).
F. A freedom to receive God's blessings (Psalm 24: 4, 32:1-2).
G. A freedom serve God (Hebrews 9:14).
H. A freedom to teach others (Psalm 51:13).
I. A freedom from the power of sin. (Romans 6:17-18).
J. A freedom to witness (I Peter 2:12, 3:15-16).
L. A freedom to rejoice (Psalm 51:8, 12, Proverbs 12:20, II Corinthians 1:12).
M. A freedom to live a long life (I Peter 3:8-10).
N. A freedom to see from God's perspective (wisdom) (Psalm 51:6).
O. A freedom to receive answers to our prayers (Psalm 66:18-19).
P. A freedom to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 1:23)
Q. A freedom to believe God (Hebrews 10:22, I Timothy 3:9).
R. A freedom from shame and confusion (James 3:16, Isaiah 61:7).
S. A freedom to sleep at night (Psalm 4:4-8).
T. A freedom to find peace (Psalm 37:37).
Additional Information: "Steps
In Getting A Clear Consciencce"