God's Preacher in the Heart
A clear conscience before God and man is essential for experiencing God's love and receiving His blessings.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that conscience serves as God's preacher within us, acting as a witness to our actions and intentions. He warns that tampering with sin leads to a guilty conscience, which obstructs our peace and assurance in God. Brooks explains that harboring unconfessed sins creates a barrier between us and God, preventing Him from revealing His love and grace. He stresses that God will not listen to the prayers of those who continue to indulge in sin, as it is contrary to His holiness. Ultimately, a clear conscience is essential for true communion with God.
Text
"I strive always to keep my conscience clear before
God and man." Acts 24:16
Conscience is God's preacher in the heart. Conscience
is a thousand witnesses for or against a man. Those who
dally and tamper with this sin or that sin, develop a guilty
conscience--which clouds, clogs, and distracts the soul
with many fears, doubts, and scruples. God will have no
communion with those who, against light and checks of
conscience--dally and tamper with this sin or that sin.
The harboring of some unmortified lust, some secret,
special, peculiar sin--is the greatest and most common
cause of the lack of assurance, comfort, and peace.
How should it be otherwise, seeing God, who is infinitely
wise, holy, and righteous--will not reveal the secrets of
His love to those who harbor His known enemies in their
bosoms?
The great God will not regard the prayers of those who
play and dally with that very sin, or that very lust--for
which He hides His face from them.
Sermon Outline
- Conscience as God's Preacher in the Heart
- Dallying with sin
- God's relationship with those who harbor sin
- God will not reveal His love to those who harbor sin
- God will not regard the prayers of those who dally with sin
Key Quotes
“Conscience is God's preacher in the heart.” — Thomas Brooks
“God will have no communion with those who, against light and checks of conscience--dally and tamper with this sin or that sin.” — Thomas Brooks
“The great God will not regard the prayers of those who play and dally with that very sin, or that very lust--for which He hides His face from them.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must strive to keep our conscience clear before God and man.
- Dallying with sin clouds, clogs, and distracts the soul with many fears, doubts, and scruples.
- Harboring unmortified lust is the greatest and most common cause of the lack of assurance, comfort, and peace.