Sin (and iniquity) is the disease all men experience.
The symptoms of that disease in the spirit/conscience is pride.
Pride debilitates(weakens) the conscience.
Conscience(spirit) is designed to directly respond to God’s communication of faith, hope and love to you.
If your conscience affirms these communications from God, then you agree with Truth [Jesus- the Truth-the Word].
If your soul or body is out of alignment with the truth in any of the areas we discussed (i.e.-sin); then the Godly response is repentance.
But pride blocks/hinders repentance! Consider the devil.
Thus, you are convicted of sin but refuse to turn away from it due to pride.
Pride has been called the deadliest of sins. This is why.
The Solution to strengthen the conscience: Humility
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. - Pr 29:23
The way to both salvation, and conformity to the image of Jesus, is through the spirit of humility.
The Spirit of humility opens the door to two other necessary spirits of God:
• Spirit of repentance
• Spirit of Fear of the Lord
With these three spirits of God (humility, repentance, fear of the Lord) both your eternal salvation is assured and your conformity to the image of Christ!
Some Christians are deceived thinking they walk in humility of spirit.
Pride has weakened the conscience and prevented repentance even though they may be convicted(aware) concerning their various lusts of this world.
Here is a test -what your daily life looks like when you are humble of spirit- when humility is your controlling virtue:
Psm 131
Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me. Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms, so my heart is quiet within me. Trust in the Lord now and forever! GNT
or
God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always! MSG
A cultural example of pride vs humility
pre-owned car used car
A spirit /conscience example of pride vs humility
mistake sin
A proud conscience says “mistakes”… no need to repent
A humble conscience says “sin”… i do repent
PRESS ON TOWARD THE HIGH CALL IN CHRIST!!!!!!!
Early on you evaluated your rating of the degree this hindrance plays in your life.
Now reevaluate:
MAN: in IMAGE OF God: MEASURE (of hindrance)
Spirit:Conscience Pride
A 1 or 2 self-rating indicates you haven’t yet been very diligent concerning cultivating this aspect of humility. The encouragement to you is you are self-honest. Time to start relying on the Spirit to develop humility!
A 3 or 4 self-rating indicates you have an ongoing effort in developing humility.
Keep on keeping on!!
A 5? – No way!
