Conviction... Peter was a convicted man, and told Jesus that no matter what circumstances arose, that he would never deny his Savior, but when the time came to proclaim his allegiance before a hostile crowd, he shrank away in fear, denying even knowing Jesus...Yet he was the rock upon which Jesus would establish the church. Peter denied Christ and paid dearly for it, if he had it to do all over again, I am sure he would have been bolder. Faith is only bold and real when we are living it, otherwise it is not faith, it is just a sentiment. Peter learned this the hard way. Last week I read a story of four young christian boys who were confronted by ISIS and told to deny their faith and convert to islam, or be killed. They responded, No, we love Yesua, we have always loved Yesua, we have always followed Yesua, Yesua has always been with us., and Isis beheaded them as examples...and what powerful examples of the faith they were, and martyrs for the savior of mankind. Thier conviction was pure and powerful, and they did not flinch or shrink in the face of utter evil. They denied their oppressors knowing theirs was a better way, and their savior more powerful than the sword...their faith was a proclamation, and in no way sentimental in nature. What a powerful testimony of faith in a world filled with death and destruction. We, however, may have a difficult time connecting to this story, as we live in relative ease and comfort. Our oppressors are threatening our faith, yet not our lives, but how can we sit back and let our faith be systematically destroyed by the minority of evil hands surrounding us, calling our faith a fairy tale, and our savior a work of fiction for the weak minded? Will we shrink, will we fade away, or will we stand up and be voices of the King...it should not take a sword to our throats to make us stand up and proclaim our faith, and the work of atheists and non-believers to erase any mention of God from public view is no less a threat to our way of life than what these young men faced...it all seeks to destroy what we believe, the way that confronts their evil and makes them uncomfortable in their sin. How strong is your conviction, is it a sentiment or is it real? _____ Just because someone is sincere in his conviction does not mean that it is true. It is possible to be sincerely wrong. ---Alistair Begg Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this influence still more widely; in the full conviction, that that is the happiest society which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and peaceful spirit of Christianity. ---Daniel Webster There is a growing conviction everywhere, and especially among thoughtful people, that unless revival comes, other forces will take the field, that will sink us still deeper into the mire of humanism and materialism. ---Duncan Campbell The great truths of revelation are neither able to preach nor defend themselves. They must have soldier preachers who proclaim and defend them. They have never conquered as silent force, they have never won as a reserve corps. ---E.M. Bounds The Bible does not say we should aim at numbers but rather urges us faithfully to proclaim Gods message in the boldness of the Holy Spirit. This will build Gods church Gods way. ---Jim Cymbala _____ 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Matthew 10:32-33 ESV, So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. John 3:19-21 ESV, And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 14:1 ESV, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. Revelation 3:21 ESV, The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 15:52:52 +0000