1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: you always a joy to come into your homes. We 7 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: love you, we know that God has good things in 8 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: store for you. And if you're ever in our area, 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: I hope you'll stop by and be a part of 10 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: one of our services. I promise you will make you 11 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: feel right at home. I say it often, but these 12 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: are the finest people in all of Houston right here, 13 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 1: so we'd love to have you be apart, come out 14 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: and join us sometime. Thanks for tuning in today, and 15 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: you know I'd like to get started with something funny 16 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: each week. And of course most of these jokes are 17 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: not doctrinally correct, and especially today, it's just a joke 18 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: just to make you laugh. But anyway, a woman died 19 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: and found herself standing at the pearly gates. Peter said, 20 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: you can't go in unless you correctly spell a word. 21 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: What word she asked, Any word? Peter replied, So she 22 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: spelled the word love l ovee and welcomed her to heaven. 23 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: He then asked her to take his position. He instructed 24 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: her to follow the same procedure should anyone arrive. A 25 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: few minutes later, the woman sees her ex husband coming up. 26 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: What are you doing here? He said, I just had 27 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: a heart attack. Did I really make it to heaven? 28 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: Not yet? She said, You've got to correctly spell a word. 29 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: What word he asked? After a long pause, she replied, Czechoslovakia. 30 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,680 Speaker 1: All right, hold up your bible. Say it like you 31 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: mean it. Are you ready? This is my Bible. I 32 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: am what it says I am. I have what it 33 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: says I have. I can do what it says I 34 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 1: can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 35 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 36 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 37 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 38 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: developing a tender conscience. The conscience is just like an 39 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: alarm when you're about to do something that's not beneficial 40 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: or something that's going to get you into trouble. All 41 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: of a sudden, you're going to feel uncomfortable, right down 42 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: in here, there's going to be an unrest and uneasiness. 43 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: That's God trying to warn you. Don't ignore that, don't 44 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: override that uneasiness. See, the conscience is like an inward monitor. 45 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: It's called the compass of our souls. It helps us 46 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: to know what is right and what is wrong. One 47 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: of the best friends you can ever have is your 48 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: own conscience. I like what Abraham Lincoln said. He said, 49 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: when my presidency is over, I may not have one 50 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: other friend on earth, but I will have at least 51 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: one friend. And that friend is on the inside of me. 52 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: He was saying, I'm going to listen to my conscience. 53 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: I'm going to heed what it's saying to me. And really, 54 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: there's no telling how much trouble that we could avoid, 55 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: how much heartache we could avoid, if we'd simply pay 56 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: more attention to what we're feeling right down in here. 57 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: I hear people say all the time, I know I 58 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 1: shouldn't do this, but I know I shouldn't say this butt. No, 59 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: I shouldn't buy this butt. See, they know what they 60 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 1: should do. The alarm is going off. They can feel 61 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: that sense of disapproval. But the problem is many times 62 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: we don't obey our conscience. The truth is much of 63 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: the trouble that we get ourselves into. If we look back, 64 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 1: we can see how God tried to warn us again 65 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: and again and again. Now, don't make the mistake of 66 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: overriding your conscience. Respect it, just like you respect your boss, 67 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: or you respect someone that has authority over you. You wouldn't 68 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: disobey them. We'll learn to treat your conscience in the 69 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,839 Speaker 1: same way. That's God leading you and trying to keep 70 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: you out of trouble. How many times have you been 71 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: in a conversation with your spouse and things get a 72 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: little heated up and you can feel yourself getting aggravated, 73 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: ready to want to argue, and all of a sudden 74 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: that check goes off. Something right down in here says, 75 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: let it go, drop it, bite your tongue, walk away, 76 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: keep the peace. Well, that's your conscience trying to keep 77 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: out of trouble. That's God trying to warn you. But 78 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: too many times we just ignore it, We do our 79 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: own thing. We end up having a big argument, getting 80 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: all upset, ruining the rest of the evening, and really 81 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: it all could have been avoided if we just paid 82 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: attention to what our conscience was trying to say to us. Friends, 83 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: Learn to be sensitive. Stop when your conscience says stop. 84 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: Quit having to have the last word. Men, Quit looking 85 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 1: at your wives. Somebody said, a woman always has the 86 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: last word in an argument. Anything after that is a 87 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: brand new argument. But pay attention to what you're feeling 88 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: right down in here. Don't ever override your own conscience. 89 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: This will spare you so much heartache and pain. I 90 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: know one time my father was driving down the Feeder 91 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: Road about to get on the freeway. He was in 92 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: a big hurrys running late to this meeting, and he 93 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: was going well over the speed limit, and just as 94 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: he came up to this big curve in the road, 95 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 1: that alarm went off. Right down in here. Something said 96 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: to him, you better slow down. There's a policeman around 97 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: the corner. And Daddy told how it was so distinct, 98 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: he felt it so strongly, but he was in that 99 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: big hurry and he just ignored it, didn't pay any attention. Well, 100 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: sure enough, when he got around the corner, there was 101 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: a police officer standing there holding his radar gun out 102 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: and he just flagged my dad over. He came up 103 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: to the window and Daddy had a big smile on 104 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: his face. He said, officer, you're never gonna believe this, 105 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: but God told me you were up here. That officer 106 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: looked at him like he was from another planet. He 107 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: took Daddy's license and went to his car, and he 108 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: came back a couple of minutes later. He's kind of 109 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: shaking his head. He said, listen here, preacher. I'm gonna 110 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: let you go, but the next time God speaks to you, 111 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: you better listen. This friend of ours was a Methodist 112 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: minister for many years, and he told how one time 113 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: he got pulled over by the police, and he has 114 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: a real big Southern draw and he said, oh, officer, 115 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: please don't give me a ticket. I'm just a poor 116 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: old preacher. The officer said, I know that I heard 117 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: you on television last Sunday. My boy, it is don't 118 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: override your own conscious when you feel uncomfortable down in here, 119 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: when you have that uneasiness, just pull back and see 120 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: what God is trying to say to you. You may 121 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: be in the middle of a conversation all of a 122 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: sudden the alarm goes off, and you know you need 123 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: to button it up, or you know you need to 124 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: walk away. Don't ignore that you may be just about 125 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: to buy something, just about to eat something, just about 126 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: to make some plans, and that check goes off right 127 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 1: down in here. Will be sensitive. If you'll learn to 128 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: listen to your conscience, God will keep you out of trouble. 129 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: He'll even protect you from danger. I remember this young 130 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: man that used to do some work for us. One 131 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: day I saw him and it looked like he had 132 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: been in some type of accident. His face was all bruised, 133 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: he had these black eyes, and he had some stitches 134 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: on this arm. I said, man, what in the world 135 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: happened to you? Were you in a wreck or something? 136 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: And he began to explain how, on his way home 137 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: from work he had gotten card. He'd stopped at this light, 138 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: and these guys came and pulled him out of his car, 139 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: and he didn't have a wallet, and so they just 140 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: ended up beating him up and leaving him there. Then 141 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: he said something so interesting, He said, you know, Joel, 142 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: the funny thing was on my way home that night, 143 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: something told me to not go that way right down 144 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: in here. As distinct as it could be, he said, 145 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: something said you better go another way. And it was 146 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: so strong that he even debated it in his mind. 147 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: He thought, I always go this way, this is the 148 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: quickest way. Why should I go another way? And understand, 149 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: this young man was not what you'd considered to be 150 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: a religious type person, But he said, I know that 151 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: was God trying to warn me. I know that was 152 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: God trying to protect me. These were his exact words, 153 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: he said, Joel, if I had only just listened, And really, 154 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: that's what I'm saying to all of us today, before 155 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: you get into trouble, before you make a poor decision, 156 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: God is always going to warn you that alarm is 157 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: going to go off right down in here. And it 158 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: may not be something as dramatic as this young man. 159 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: It may just be an alarm to keep your mouth 160 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: closed in order to avoid an argument. It may be 161 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: alarmed to turn off the TV to keep your mind pure, 162 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: or an alarm to just change your attitude. But whatever 163 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: it is, if you'll be sensitive and pay attention to it, 164 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: then God will lead you. Don't be like this young 165 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: man and try to figure it all out. Well, why 166 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: can't I go that way? Or why can't I say this? 167 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: She started it. It's her fault. Now you've got to 168 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: get out of your head and start listening to your heart. 169 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: If you will obey what you're feeling down in here, 170 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: if you'll obey your conscience, God will help you to 171 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: make good decisions. He'll help you live his abundant life 172 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: and understand just because somebody else is doing something doesn't 173 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: mean it's okay for you to do it. Well, Joel, 174 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: all my friends are going to see this movie, and 175 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: they're good people. They love God. I don't know why 176 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: I shouldn't go. No, don't compare yourself to anybody else, 177 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: and don't try to have to justify your actions. You've 178 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,839 Speaker 1: got to learn to listen to your own heart. If 179 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,119 Speaker 1: you have that uneasiness down in here, if your conscience 180 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: is not clear, it doesn't matter what everybody else is doing. 181 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: Follow how God is leading you. Every person is at 182 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: different stages. You're not always going to understand why you 183 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: can or can't do certain things, but you've got to 184 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: go deeper than that and be obedient anyway. I know 185 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: some pastor friends that do certain things that I don't 186 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: feel comfortable with. It's not a sin, but it's just 187 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: something that personally, right down in here, I don't feel 188 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: good about doesn't mean they're bad people. I don't judge 189 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: them and condemn them, but I know just because they 190 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: do it doesn't mean that it's right for me. I've 191 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: learned I've got to keep my own conscience clear. And 192 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: in the same way, ladies, you may have some friends 193 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: at work that dress a little more revealing than you do. 194 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: Maybe they're even in a position of leadership, and you 195 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: kind of think, well, I guess that's okay for me. 196 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 1: Now you've got to check with your own heart. God 197 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: deals with us individually. You don't know all the details 198 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 1: in that person's life. Who knows. Maybe God is speaking 199 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: to them but they're not listening, or maybe they've come 200 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: a long way. They're making progress. God is pleased, but 201 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 1: you're just at a different stage. If you make the 202 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: mistake of comparing, and you have to justify your actions, 203 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: before long, you'll be going against your contents and that 204 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: will always keep you from God's best. And don't make excuses. Well, 205 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: everybody speeds out there on the highway, Joel. I saw 206 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: him going seventy five miles an hour, and he's even 207 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: on staff at Lakewood. Now just because you saw my 208 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:38,199 Speaker 1: brother Paul speeding, Just because somebody else is doing it 209 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: doesn't mean that it's okay for you. Keep your own 210 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: conscience clear. And there may even be things that your 211 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: husband or wife or your good friend does and it 212 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: doesn't bother them a bit, but when you go to 213 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: do it, it just doesn't feel right. You have that 214 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: check or what I'm saying is only do what is 215 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 1: right for you and something else that's important to understand. 216 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: Don't judge that other person, don't condemn them. Let God 217 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: deal with them. Well, I can't believe you would see 218 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: that movie. I can't believe you don't get up and 219 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 1: pray every morning like I do. No, maybe they're not 220 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: at that level. And God didn't call us to be 221 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: somebody else's conscience. Quit judging and just focus on keeping 222 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: your own conscience clear. And there's no telling how much 223 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: God would bless us, no telling how happy and fulfilled 224 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: our lives would be if we simply learn to maintain 225 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: a clear conscience, if we just learn to not move 226 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: forward when we feel that sense of disapproval down in here. 227 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: And it may not be something big, it may just 228 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: be something small. But if we can't be faithful in 229 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: the little things, how can God trust us? In the 230 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,319 Speaker 1: big things. If we can't keep our mouth closed to 231 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: avoid an argument, or if we can't slow down on 232 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: the freeway when our conscience is convicting us, then those 233 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: seemingly small things will keep us from rising higher. And 234 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: what's interesting is, most of the time, deep down in here, 235 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: we know what we should do, but often we just 236 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: make the mistake of not doing it. And what's happening 237 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: is we're overriding our consciences. And understand, every time you 238 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: ignore your conscience, every time you push it down, you 239 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: don't pay any attention. The next time that voice will 240 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: speak a little softer, then the next time a little softer, 241 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: the next time even more softly, And unfortunately, you can 242 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: get to the place where you have totally drowned out 243 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: the voice of your conscience. For instance, maybe you're about 244 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: to say something rude to someone and all of a sudden, 245 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 1: that check goes off right down in here. You feel 246 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: that uneasiness and something tells you bite your tongue, don't 247 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 1: do it. But if you just ignore that, you override 248 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: it and do it anyway. Number One, you're gonna feel guilty. 249 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: And if you don't go back and make things right 250 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,239 Speaker 1: and apologize. Then the next time you're in that situation, 251 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: the alarm won't be quite as loud, the voice won't 252 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: be quite so strong, and you can get to the 253 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: place where you've done it so long you become desensitized 254 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: to it. You can come to the point where you're 255 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: acting a certain way or treating the people a certain way, 256 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: and even though it's not right, you don't even realize 257 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: that you're doing it. And you may be here today 258 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,719 Speaker 1: and you're kind of hard and rude with people, and 259 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: you've been that way so long, you're so set in 260 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: your ways you don't really hear the alarm anymore. Or 261 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: maybe you've been watching questionable things so long that it 262 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: doesn't bother you much anymore. And that's why we need 263 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: to pray every single day. God, help me to develop 264 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: a tender conscience. God, help me to be sensitive to 265 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: your voice. I don't know about you, but I don't 266 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: want to have areas in my life where I'm stuck 267 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: in mediocrity all because I'm not obeying my conscience. The 268 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: Bible talks about in One Timothy chapter four, how a 269 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: conscience can become seared. That simply means that it becomes 270 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: numb in that area. We don't have any feeling in it. 271 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: Say you're at home watching TV one night, and you know, 272 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: it kind of gets a little bit vulgar, kind of 273 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: gets a little off color, and all of a sudden, 274 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: that alarm goes off. Something says, get up, turn it off. 275 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 1: Don't put that trash in your mind. But if you 276 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: just sit there time after time and ignore it, month 277 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: after month, before long, that won't bother you anymore. You 278 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 1: become numb to that. It's like, it's no big deal. 279 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: You know, what's it gonna hurt to watch this stuff. 280 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: I know people today that are involved in a relationship 281 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: outside of their marriage. They're not being faithful, and it 282 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: really doesn't even bother them too much. And I can 283 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: assure you when they first started to give into that 284 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: temptation the alarm went off, I can guarantee you at 285 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: first they felt uncomfortable down in here. They were uneasy, 286 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: they knew it wasn't right. But month after month, as 287 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: they turned the alarm off, now it's no big deal. 288 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: They've sort of justified it in their mind. Everybody's doing it. See, 289 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: they've totally drowned out the voice of their conscience. They 290 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: pushed it down so much they don't feel the uneasiness anymore. 291 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: And that's why I encourage it so strongly. To be 292 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: quick to obey, don't be hard headed, don't be stubborn 293 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: and have to do it your own way. That will 294 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: only lead to heartache and pain. I met a man 295 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago. His family lives in another country 296 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: and he's been here in the States for several years 297 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: working with his company. And he began to tell how 298 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: he was involved with this other woman and they had 299 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: been in this relationship for a couple of years, but 300 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: he felt so badly about it. He said, Joel, I 301 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: just feel terrible. I know that it's not right. I 302 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: can hardly sleep at night, and I really want to change, 303 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: but I just can't seem to do it. And I 304 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: told him, you're in a very interesting situation. You are 305 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: the exception to the rule, because most people that have 306 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: been overriding their consciences that long don't care anything about it. 307 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: They don't feel anything, they're not concerned. And I said, 308 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: you should thank God that you still have a tender conscience. 309 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: You should be grateful that you still have that concern. 310 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: And I challenged him to do his best to make 311 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: the necessary changes before that uneasiness war off. And really 312 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: that's the danger. That's what should concern us more than anything, 313 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: that we're doing something wrong for so long that we 314 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: don't even realize that we're doing it. We become numb 315 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: in that area. And again, I think that's why we 316 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 1: need to pray every day. God, help me to stay 317 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: sensitive to your voice. God, don't let me to get 318 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: hard and cold and numb in any area of my life, 319 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: in my attitude, in how I treat people, in what 320 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: I say and what I do, and what I watch. 321 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: God help me to have a tender conscience. Friends, God 322 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: rewards obedience. If you have things in your life, big 323 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: or small, that you know in here are not right, 324 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 1: I believe God is saying today is the time to 325 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: make changes. Get into God's best path. Don't keep overriding 326 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: your conscience. Some of you have been pushing that alarm 327 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: down for a long time, and when you have ten 328 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: or fifteen years of doing something a certain way, it's 329 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: very easy to just want to stay right where you are. 330 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: If you will be open and honest with yourself, and 331 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: when you feel God convicting you in here, if you 332 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: have the desire to change, God will help you to change. 333 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: And it is better to go through a little pain 334 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: of change than it is to go twenty or thirty 335 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: years stuck in mediocrity. And I found the more obedient 336 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: we are, the easier it will be to obey. Obedience 337 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: breeds obedience. Just the opposite is true. Disobedience breeds more disobedience. 338 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 1: And you can increase the sensitivity of your conscience or 339 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: you can decrease it. Every time you obey, your conscience 340 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: is getting a little more sensitive. It's just like a window. 341 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: When you obey, you're letting a little more light in. 342 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: The Next time, it'll be a little easier, your heart 343 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 1: will be a little softer, and you'll do it a 344 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: little quicker. You can get to the point where you're 345 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: so sensitive that when you first feel that uneasiness, you 346 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: first feel that slight, uncomfortable feeling down in here, that 347 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: will get your attention and cause you to make changes. 348 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: And really, that's the kind of people God wants us 349 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: to be. When we hear the still small voice, when 350 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: we first feel that little nudge, we are quick to 351 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: take action. See, don't be the kind of person that 352 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: has to have ten warnings and twelve sirens go off 353 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: and you still don't get it. Be quick to obey 354 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: and understand this. When you live an obedient life, you 355 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: don't have to worry about being blessed. That's when God's 356 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: blessings will chase you down and overtake you. When you obey, 357 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: you cannot outrun the good things of God. And remember 358 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,719 Speaker 1: I'm talking about obeying your own conscience, not obeying what 359 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 1: your neighbor does or what your coworker doesn't do. They 360 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: don't set the standard. Obey what God is telling you 361 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: right down in here. And as I said, God takes 362 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: us all in stages. You may be here today and 363 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: you kind of have a problem with your attitude. You've 364 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: got a problem with being negative. Well, the good news 365 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,439 Speaker 1: is God does not expect you to change overnight. He 366 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 1: is not going to be disappointed with you and just 367 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: write you off if you don't turn it around in 368 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,959 Speaker 1: one week's time. No, God, all he asks is that 369 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: you keep making progress. He doesn't want you to be 370 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: at this same place next year as you are right now. 371 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: He's gonna lead you in his own special way. And 372 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 1: if you will be sensitive and just do your best 373 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: to keep your own conscience clear, then God will be 374 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: pleased and he'll begin to release more of his blessings 375 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: in your life. And really, this is something that we 376 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: all can do because God meets us at our own level. 377 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,159 Speaker 1: I don't have to keep up with you, and you 378 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: don't have to keep up with me. I just have 379 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:28,439 Speaker 1: to be true to my own heart. I know the 380 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: areas God deals with me in I can hear that 381 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: alarm going on. I always do my best to not 382 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,360 Speaker 1: go against my own conscience, and that's what I'm challenging 383 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: you to do as well. I know this young man 384 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: that I went to college with, and he was very 385 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: short with people. I mean basically, he was just kind 386 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: of hard and rude in a sense. He could be 387 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 1: nice if you knew him, but if you didn't know him, 388 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 1: he was just very matter of fact. And one day 389 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: we were at this restaurant together with a group of 390 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: the guys from the school, and the waiter got his 391 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: order all mixed up and this young man just jump 392 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 1: down his throat. I mean he let him have it. 393 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: He embarrassed him in front of all of us, and 394 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: it was so uncalled for. I mean, anybody can make 395 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,360 Speaker 1: a mistake, but he just didn't show him any mercy. 396 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 1: And anyway, we got back to the dorm later that night, 397 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: and he came into my room about an hour later, 398 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: and he asked me if he could borrow my card. 399 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: I said, sure, you can, but where are you going 400 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,400 Speaker 1: this late? He said, you know, Joel, I feel terrible. 401 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: I treated that waiter so bad. I can't even sleep, 402 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: and I'm going to go back there and apologize to him. 403 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,199 Speaker 1: And do you know, I saw that young man change 404 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 1: over the course of that year. He went from being 405 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 1: hard and cold and rude to being one of the kindest, 406 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,199 Speaker 1: most considerate people you could ever meet. My point is 407 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: God will help you to change if you will simply 408 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: work with him. None of us are perfect. We all 409 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 1: make mistakes. But if we can just learn to obey 410 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:52,199 Speaker 1: our own conscience, If we can just do like that 411 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: young man and be big enough to say I'm sorry 412 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: I didn't treat You're right, I'll do better next time. 413 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: If you will be sensitive and maintain a clear conscience, 414 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: there's no limit to what God will do in your life. 415 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: You know as well as I do. When we have 416 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 1: a guilty conscience, we don't feel good about ourselves. We 417 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: can't pray with boldness. We feel condemned. We don't expect 418 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 1: good things. We're not fulfilled. The best thing we can 419 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: do is just go back and make things right. Like 420 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: that young man, swallow your pride and be quick to obey. 421 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: Why don't you apologize to the people you need to 422 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: apologize to, don't live with a guilty conscience. Or maybe 423 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 1: you need to say, God, I'm sorry for watching all 424 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: that junk, forgive me, or God, I'm sorry for having 425 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: such a critical attitude toward that person. Listen, when you 426 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: do that, your conscience will go back to that place 427 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: of ease, That heavy burden will be lifted off of you. 428 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:46,880 Speaker 1: You'll be able to sleep well. Not only that, God 429 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: will help you to do better next time. I remember 430 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 1: years ago, one time after the service, my father came 431 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 1: back into the television area and myself and four or 432 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: five of the crew members were back there, and it 433 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: just so happened. When Daddy walked in, we were all 434 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: laughing real big and having a good time. Something real 435 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: funny had just happened. But for some reason, my father 436 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: thought that we were making fun of something that had 437 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: happened in the service. The truth is it didn't have 438 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: anything to do with that. And now Daddy was very kind, 439 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 1: he was a very compassionate person, but this seemed to 440 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: just set him off, and he began to chew us 441 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,439 Speaker 1: out and let us know that we should not be 442 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 1: making fun of people and things, and on and on 443 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: and on. I said, again, Daddy, it had nothing to 444 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: do with that. It was totally unrelated. Well, he left there, 445 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: and of course we felt kind of badly about it. Well, 446 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: when I got home that night, a couple of hours later, 447 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: I'll never forget my father came into my room and 448 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: he said, Joel, I got to talk to you. I 449 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 1: blew it tonight. I know I was wrong. I know 450 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 1: I made a mistake, and I'm asking you to forgive me. 451 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: I just want to apologize. Do you know Daddy called 452 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: each of those other young men that night as well 453 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,920 Speaker 1: and apologize to them. It must have been close to midnight, 454 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,639 Speaker 1: but he would not go to bed with having that 455 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: heaviness on his heart. And what an impression that made 456 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: upon him, what an impression it made upon those other 457 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: young men. He was not too proud to apologize. He 458 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: was not too proud to admit that he made a mistake. 459 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: See My father had a tender conscience. He wouldn't even 460 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 1: go to bed with that feeling of heaviness. No wonder 461 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: God blessed him, No wonder God used him in a 462 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: great way. And if we can just learn to have 463 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: that same kind of pure heart and be sensitive and 464 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: whatever area it may be in, be quick to obey, 465 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 1: be quick to forgive, be quick to apologize, be quick 466 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 1: to change your attitude. That's what's pleasing to God. If 467 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 1: you're here today and you have things hanging on to 468 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: your conscience, people, you need to apologize to habits, you 469 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: need to break things you know you need to do. 470 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:52,120 Speaker 1: Don't live life guilty. Make the necessary changes, make those adjustments, 471 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: and listen. I'm not here to condemn anybody. I'm here 472 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: to help you come up higher. And I can tell 473 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: you this life is too short to live at compromising 474 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 1: with unforgiveness, with bad attitudes, going around treating people poorly. 475 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: Pay attention to what you're feeling on the inside. Live 476 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 1: your life with a clear conscience, get into God's best plan. 477 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 1: The scripture says there in Matthew six point twenty two 478 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: that the lamp of the body is the eye, the 479 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 1: spiritual eye. You might say, is our conscience. Goes on 480 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: to say that if the eye is good, the whole 481 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: body will be filled with light. In other words, if 482 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: your conscience is clear, life is gonna be good. You're 483 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: gonna be happy, you're gonna have a positive vision, and 484 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:40,119 Speaker 1: you'll be enjoying God's blessings. But the next verse describes 485 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 1: many people today. Says in the amplified if our conscience 486 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,679 Speaker 1: is full of darkness, then how dense will that darkness be? 487 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: I think about how many people are living with a heaviness. 488 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,719 Speaker 1: They've always got this nagging feeling, something's always bothering them. 489 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: They're not happy. Well, the problem is they don't have 490 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 1: a clear conscience. They've swept things under the rug. They've 491 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 1: ignored the warnings. They've gotten hard and cold in certain areas. 492 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 1: And listen, that's not going to change until you make 493 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 1: the adjustments. And what I'm saying today, if there are 494 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 1: things that you are doing that you know you should 495 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: not be doing, then make some adjustments. Or if there 496 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: are things that you should not be doing and you're 497 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,920 Speaker 1: doing them, then make those changes. And as I said, 498 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: it may not be something big. You may not be 499 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 1: in some kind of great sin. But maybe God is 500 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,639 Speaker 1: dealing with you just about having a better attitude, or 501 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: about spending more time with your children, about eating healthier, 502 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: whatever it is. Make it decision that you're going to 503 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 1: pay more attention to your conscience, and not only that, 504 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: that you're going to be quick to obey. That's when 505 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,199 Speaker 1: all that heaviness is going to leave. I like what 506 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: the apostle Paul said in Acts twenty three. He said, 507 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 1: I have lived before God with a perfectly clear conscience. 508 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 1: That should be the goal of every one of us. 509 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 1: When our conscience is clear, condemnation won't bother. When we 510 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: have a clear conscience, we're gonna be happy. Other people 511 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: may try to judge us or condemn us, but that'll 512 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 1: just bounce right off of us. Sometimes people say, Joel, 513 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: why don't you do more of this or more of that. Listen, 514 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: I know I'm not perfect, but I also know this. 515 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: My conscience is clear before God. I know that I'm 516 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 1: doing my best to please him. That's why I can 517 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: sleep well at night. That's why I can lie down 518 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: at peace. That's why I can have a smile on 519 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: my face. Friends, this is a very freeing way to live. 520 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: So let me challenge you again, pay close attention to 521 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: your conscience, respect it, don't ignore those warnings. Be quick 522 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,679 Speaker 1: to obey and pray every day. God help me to 523 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: have a tender conscience. And remember, every time you obey 524 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: your conscience, your heart is getting a little bit softer 525 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,679 Speaker 1: and you'll do it a little quicker the next time. 526 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 1: So make a decision with me that you're gonna do 527 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,959 Speaker 1: your best to maintain a clear conscience. If you do that, 528 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: I know God will take it from victory to victory 529 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 1: and you'll experience the abundant life he has in store. Amen. 530 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: How many of you receive it this morning? And we 531 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: never like to close our god past without giving you 532 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 533 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me, just say, Lord, Jesus, I 534 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: repent of my sins, Come into my heart. I make 535 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 536 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 537 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 1: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 538 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 539 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 540 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:35,679 Speaker 1: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 541 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 1: keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. Help 542 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: us to continue to share the message of hope with 543 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com or 544 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: click the link in the description to partner with us today. 545 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 1: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 546 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 1: be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 547 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 548 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: see you next time.