THE HEALTHY SPIRITUAL LIFE 2

In my previous post where the foundation for both posts was laid we established the fact that God wants Christians to live healthy spiritual lives which reflect on our been productive in the kingdom of God.

I wrote, "There is a big correlation between a healthy spiritual life and productivity just like there is between a grape vine and the grape's she produces. How do you know as a Christian that you are making progress or growing? It is by the fruit you produce.

Healthy spiritual growth makes us fruit-bearing Christians. Jesus passionately explained to his disciples in John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

No tree can bear quality fruits without being healthy. There the spiritual well-being of believers determines if they will reproduce at all. We realized that the Word of God is the nourishment for a healthy spiritual life.

We saw 1Peter 2:1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

We need to adequately feed on the word to get knowledge, understanding so that we can apply it.

Today we will look at another aspect that is key to spiritual health and productivity.

THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE
The conscience is the voice of the inner spirit of man. God shines light upon the conscience. Solomon writing by the spirit says, in Proverbs 20:27 "The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being."

When a man is an unbeliever, his heart is evil, death by sin. His conscience speaks to him according to the darkness of his heart. He can swear, steal, lie and cheat fearlessly. His conscience is speaking to him based on the standard of the old man in him.

Ephesians 2:1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

But when a man becomes born again, by accepting by faith what Jesus did for us in his death and resurrection, it is a new life. His spirit is recreated. His inner man is changed.
 

2Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

As Solomon said in Proverbs 20, his new recreated spirit becomes the Lord's candle. And his conscience begins to speak in light of the new man.

That's why when a Christian sins, his conscience tells him that's wrong. It is impossible for a Christian to sin and not know.

The new man speaks differently, and behaves differently. The old things of sin and death are gone. Love, peace and joy replace hate, anxiety and sorrow.

Jesus teaching on the mount addressed this critical issue in a certain way. He said in
Matthew 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

We know most certainly that Jesus wasn't talking about our physical eyes. He was talking about our inner eyes. The eyes that look inside, that see clearly the difference between right and wrong.

"...if your eyes are healthy... " means if your conscience has the highest godly standard then you will be well guided. But if your conscience is unhealthy, the light within you turns into darkness!

How disastrous such darkness can be!

WALKING WITH YOUR CONSCIENCE
Your conscience is you inner monitor. We have a priceless example in David during his years of running from King Saul. The troubles begin after David killed Goliath, one of the most dreaded enemy of Israel in history.

No gentile nation during the reign of king Saul so threatened Israel! David a teenager with extraordinary relationship with God was willing to dare Goliath. He did and killed the giant extraordinaire. It was a great victory in Israel.

Women streamed out of Israeli towns and villages and poured on the streets of Jerusalem to welcome the brave warriors of Israel.

Prominent among the soldiers was a non-soldier and teenager David. There was an electric ambience as joy and relief clashed. And women composed a chant immediately:
     Saul killed his thousands;
       David killed his ten thousands!

 The towns and dusty villages caught the new chants that had an even greater meaning!

After a few minutes that the king and his handlers heard the new song, relief, joy and excitement gave way to insecurity and hatred. Somebody exclaimed: Long live the king,  they are overthrowing you already!

The pressure of war was over, and Saul found his person and his throne undermined and David was by default the biggest threat! For the next 13 years, David will fight for his life and the protection of friends and family.

David has to shuttle between mountains, caves and forests. In fact, one time he had to go on exile. He and his men suffered lost of properties and families.

In one of such occasions as recorded in 1Samuel 24, David and his men were hiding in a cave while Saul and the soldiers of Israel searched for them, they stopped at the entrance of the cave. King Saul was pressed and needed to relieve himself. He went into the cave. And as he squad down, David and his men were right behind him at stealth.

David's men thought God has brought David's enemy to him, that it was an easy victory and the end of his troubles, but David will not let them lay hand on Saul.

"3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 

4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 

6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 

7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way."

David's conscience rebuked him. It was the biggest internal monitor David had. It kept him safe and close to God throughout his life.

To grow healthy in the Lord, you need a tender conscience, nourished by the word of God.

God bless you as you grow and bring forth fruit.
David Pam McQuel