The Death of a Conscience

Notes: The Death of a Conscience

Matthew 14

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

God Came Near

Sunday, October 11, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Woodlawn is opening October 16.

Have you ever heard of Arthur Conan Doyle, he wrote the Sherlock Holmes series? As a joke he wrote twelve friends an anonymous note saying, "Flee at once, all is discovered!" All of those people fled the country. Apparently they all had a guilty conscience.

What shape is your conscience in?

A clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.

A conscience can be seared, as if by an iron, where it becomes less responsive.

Today we are talking about the life and death of conscience. King Herod had seared his conscience.

Luke 23:5-7 NKJV

[5] But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place." [6] When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. [7] And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Matthew 14:1-5 NKJV

[1] At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus [2] and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." [3] For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. [4] Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." [5] And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Who was King Herod? This Herod is not Herod the Great that was searching for the King of the Jews when Jesus was born.

This is Herod of Antipas, he is the son of Herod the Great.

John the Baptist was one of Herod's advisers.

John the Baptist was the first prophet the Jews had heard from in over 400 years.

John was a man of immense moral courage and the greatest prophet that ever lived. John was the direct forerunner of Jesus Christ.

Mark 6:20 NKJV

[20] for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Herod liked John, but his wife Herodias despised John.

John the Baptist was a true friend to Herod because he told him the truth.

Proverbs 27:6 NKJV

[6] Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

A true friend will stab you in the front.

Mark 6:20 NKJV

[20] for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

"He did many thing" we don't know what he did, but maybe he was a little better to others.

A little religion in your life could be a bad thing; you can be searing your conscience if you are not all the committed.

Mark 6:19 NKJV

[19] Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

Alcoholism is a choice not a disease. The Bible calls them drunkards.

Herod was a drunkard.

Mark 6:21-24 NKJV

[21] Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. [22] And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." [23] He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom." [24] So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"

In the pursuit of keeping yourself looking good, don't forget your soul.

Titus 2:3-5 NKJV

[3] the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- [4] that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Matthew 14:6-11 NKJV

[6] But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. [7] Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. [8] So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter." [9] And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. [10] So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. [11] And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

Herod was prompted to kill his only friend for two reasons, sexual desires and the desire to please others.

Don't feed lust you need to starve it.

Matthew 14:9 NKJV

[9] And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.

Instead of admitting he was wrong, Herod had murder committed.

Herod's conscience was not just troubled it was dying.

Mark 6:16 NKJV

[16] But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"

Herod had a guilty conscience, because your sin will find you out.

Sometimes we don't even realize what we have done in our sin until later in life. Women who have abortions seem to get hit later in life with the realization of what they have done.

Jesus did not speak a single word to Herod.

Luke 23:8-11 NKJV

[8] Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. [9] Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. [10] And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. [11] Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

Jesus would not engage Herod.

John 2:23-25 NKJV

[23] Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. [24] But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, [25] and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

Jesus knows when a commitment to Him is either true or fake.

Luke 23:11 NKJV

[11] Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

The death of a conscience starts with small things. Then those things grow.

1 Timothy 1:19 NKJV

[19] having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

Has God been speaking to you through your conscience and you have been ignoring it?

Hebrews 10:22 NKJV

[22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

[9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 1:6 NKJV

[6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

The only way to get rid of a guilty conscience is by going to the cross.

We all need the Gospel.