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Holy Spirit
What about my conscience? Is that different from the guidance
of the Holy Spirit, or do they operate together?
The conscience functions somewhat like a computer. A computer is programmed to respond in specific ways to specific incoming information. Also, it responds to incoming information based on the commands it has been programmed to follow. When I click my word processing application, my computer knows to open my word processor. When my computer receives the copy command, it copies whatever I have selected to copy. Computers are smart, but for the most part, they are simply responders.
The conscience is a responder as well. It responds to certain input the way it has been instructed to respond. God has programmed every man and woman's conscience to respond in particular ways to certain data. Paul described it like this: "For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them" (Romans 2:14-15, emphasis mine).
God has written, or programmed, His moral code into the heart of every man and woman. We are born with it. When a person's actions or thoughts are contrary to that code, the conscience responds by sending a "NO" message to the brain. On the other hand, when a person decides to go along with the preprogrammed moral code, the conscience says, "GO."
We experience the phenomenon every day. Sometimes it comes as an inner hesitancy. At other times, it is just plain old guilt. Then there are times when an opportunity to do good comes along, and something on the inside urges us to follow through. That something is the conscience. Notice, Paul says our thoughts sometimes defend or point out the legitimacy of certain actions (see Romans 2:14-15). When that happens, if the actions are in line with the law of God written in our hearts, the conscience gives us the go-ahead.
When you became a Christian, a change began to occur in your conscience. The basic moral code that everyone is born with was overhauled or reconditioned. The Spirit of truth took up residency in your heart. Then, whether you were aware of it or not, He immediately set about to complete the programming of your conscience. Whereas before you had a general sense of right and wrong, the Holy Spirit began renewing your mind to more specific and complete truths (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-13).
You participate in this renewal process every time you read your Bible, attend worship, memorize a verse, or pray. The Holy Spirit uses all this input to reprogram the data base through which your conscience evaluates every opportunity, thought, invitation, word, and deed.
As this process continues, your conscience tunes in with the moral code of the Holy Spirit—a code reflecting the moral and ethical standards of God. This process sensitizes you not only to God's moral standards but to the will of God as well.
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