In today’s post, I am deviating from the situation in Iran, but will still pray regarding it at the end. Today’s title is:
That Which Crippled a Nation
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
In the New Testament, the word translated as “conscience” is the Greek term suneidesis.(1) According to Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates, suneidēsis combines two words which form the unusual meaning of “to know together with oneself; that is to say, to be one’s own witness.”(2) Rather than being an inner list of moral rules, it is a God-given faculty that functions as an inner witness. In first-century thought, the conscience was viewed like a witness in a courtroom. When faced with moral decisions, it “takes the stand” and testifies for or against our actions based on what we know to be truth.
In 1 Timothy 4:2, when Paul speaks of a seared conscience, he means the “witness” inside individuals has been turned off—it no longer speaks up to object when they act corruptly. If a conscience is shaped by God’s truth, it alerts the individual when they deviate from His standards. If, on the other hand, a conscience has been continuously trained by self-deception, cultural lies, or unrepentant sin, it is defiled and no longer operates as God intended.
“Seared with a hot iron” is actually one word in Greek, kautēriazo,(3) from which we get the English word “cauterization.” Literally, cauterization involves applying a branding iron or extreme heat to flesh, either to stop bleeding, fight infection, or for branding livestock to show ownership.
When the tissue has been severely burned, it forms scar tissue as it heals. That scarred area loses its nerve endings, becoming numb, incapable of feeling pain or touch. The Scriptures use this vivid physical imagery to describe a seared conscience. It has been cauterized and hardened; the nerve endings have died. The person is now “owned” by sin and deception, not truth. Their moral compass has been repeatedly ignored and/or overridden to the point where it simply no longer functions. The God-given “witness” is now insensitive, and the warning alarm is no longer given. Actions that would have once caused guilt or shame no longer do so.
Now, for an example of this, pull up yesterday’s Senate hearing with Dr. Anthony Fauci. On second thought, though it is enlightening, don’t put yourself through this infuriating spectacle. As I watched, observing the seared consciences of Dr. Fauci and those on the Left who defend him, I was reminded once again of the anger and trauma so many felt during the Covid era:
meaningless regulations,
foolish masks - even on helpless infants and children who were not able to understand what was happening,
social separation - even among loved ones and their dying family members,
the crippling cognitive development of children,
no graduation ceremonies,
firings and bankruptcies by the thousands,
the destruction of reputations and careers,
lies regarding medications and vaccinations,
people could buy liquor but couldn’t check on loved ones,
police broke up church services,
aborted baby body parts were used for Covid research,
and deaths by the millions.
The hundreds of now-exposed emails and Fauci’s own diary have exposed and proven the many lies, misrepresentations, hypocrisies, and corruption of those who controlled and crippled our entire nation. And while many were dying or losing everything, Fauci was gloating over his newfound fame and fortune. It is beyond shameful; it is reprehensible and disgusting.
Was there ever any indication of a functioning conscience by Fauci or those on the Left? No. It was infuriating enough to prompt one Republican senator [in yesterday’s hearing] to drop the F-bomb.
The hearing also brought back memories of the hell that was visited on America through the four years of the Biden administration. A foreign invasion, record inflation, a senile “president” and his shadow government ruling America, lawfare, out of control child mutilation, hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied children brought across the border and lost (many ended up in human trafficking and the sex trade), hundreds of thousands of Americans killed by fentanyl, nudity among transsexuals celebrated on the White House lawn, parents dragged from school board meetings and prosecuted for demanding the right to control what their children are taught, record low education scores, innocent nuns prosecuted, innocent Americans dragged from their homes and thrown in jail at gun point by an out of control FBI, conservatives by the millions censored throughout our nation, a sleepy and bored “president” staring at his watch as flag-draped coffins were carried past, and much more.
Yes, I was reminded of all of this. And with a heavy heart, I asked the Lord to please never again allow another season like this to occur in America. Then I asked Him for the miracle it will require to heal our land.
I realize, of course, that it isn’t only up to the Lord whether or not something of this nature happens again in America. All Americans have a vote – literally. But our prayers can be used to produce the type of awakening in our nation that changes hearts – and yes, revives seared consciences.
Pray with me:
Father, biblically, kairos(4) seasons are “opportune times” for success and breakthrough, not “guaranteed times.” You have brought us to a great kairos season that allows for the reaping of a ripe harvest and reforming of a broken nation hungry for change. The corruption in our government, gross ignorance in our population, violence in our streets, lukewarmness in our churches, and many seared consciences have created desperation and hunger.
We cry out with passion and urgency: Please send the Third Great Awakening we so desperately need. Rain down the fires of revival on our children and youth, our homes and neighborhoods, our schools and campuses, our government, and our churches. Lift the veil of deception off our land and resurrect consciences by the millions. Cause such a holy fascination with Jesus that millions can’t wait to meet Him. Release signs and wonders to confirm the gospel and convince many that Jesus is alive. Startle masses of people with extraordinary miracles: open blind eyes, heal terminal illnesses, even raise the dead. This coming awakening is an offer You have made – “America shall be saved” – and we will never stop contending for this.
And now we turn our attention to the war in Iran. Many of us are convinced, Lord, that this activity is related to what You desire to do in the entire Middle East. A worldwide harvest is on the horizon, and what occurs in the Middle East could very possibly light the match. We ask for Your Kingdom to come to that region with heaven’s full force, igniting holy fires that will not only burn there, but spread to all the world.
In the name of Jesus, we bind the powers of darkness seeking to stop this, and declare that no weapon formed against God’s purposes will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). We declare with the Psalmist, “Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered” (Psalm 68:1). And we declare that the ever increasing Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is making its way into the Middle East. Amen.
Our decree:
We declare that the consciences of Americans are being healed and reawakened by the resurrection power of Almighty God.
Click on the link below to watch the full video.
James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 4893.
Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard, rev. ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1990).
Strong’s Concordance, ref. no. 2743.
Ibid., ref. no. 2540.