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What is the meaning of the word Good? It means having the right qualities; of the kind that people like.
So a good man is a man with the right qualities; he is a man with a conscience.
A good man may do bad things but he will feel bad afterwards. Note, the bad man may do good and good man may do bad things but how do they feel afterwards?
Ask yourself this question ‘how easily do I overcome sin?’
What is your attitude when you fall into sin?
What is your attitude when you fall into sin?
What is a conscience? Your conscience is your moral capacity that enables you to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong.
TYPES OF CONSCIENCE
1. 1 Cor. 8:7 – Weak Conscience. These are people who determine what is right or wrong from what others do. They are people with low esteem. In their presence, don’t do anything controversial. They fall easily to peer pressure.
2. Titus 1:15 – Defiled Conscience. We get defiled by our experience
3. Heb. 10:22 – Evil Conscience. These are people that plan evil. Beware of people that plan evil for you or encourage you to do evil like Jonadab. 2 Sam. 13: 1-20
4. 1 Tim 4:2 – Seared Conscience. These are hearts that are sin-dominated. They get continually hardened until you don’t feel guilt anymore when you sin. The day you stop feeling bad about the bad things you do, you are gone.
5. Heb. 9:14 – Purged Conscience or Cleansed Conscience. Conscience that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
6. 1 Tim. 3:9 – Pure Conscience or Blameless Conscience (Acts 24:14-16) Why are you doing what you are doing. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8
7. 1 Tim. 1:19 – Good Conscience (Acts 23:1). The hallmark of a good man is his good conscience.
HOW TO DEVELOP A GOOD CONSCIENCE
1. Through revelation – you can’t do more than you know. Remember that there is no ignorance in the law court. “We are tempted alike but do not sin alike because we understand differently”.
2. Fellowship with God and His people.
3. By maintaining your innocence
HOW DOES A GOOD CONSCIENCE HELP YOU ON A DAILY BASIS?
1. You have courage – No matter what hardships and difficulties you face, you have confidence that you acted in the right manner.
2. You have peace – you can remain calm and quiet and let the attack rage around you.
3. You have no fear – because you have acted right, you have the father on your side
WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BE ABLE TO TRUST YOUR CONSCIENCE?
1. Trust Jesus Christ as your personal savior
2. Make the word of God your standard: – surrender your right to do what you want, give God complete control of your life.
3. Cleanse yourself through confession and repentance
by; DEACON OLUWAYIMIKA ANIBABA
