Podcast: Download
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Read at beginning of service:
John 2:23-3:17 (NIV)
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
INTRODUCTION
Read text:
Romans 4:20-25 (NLT)
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. And because of Abraham’s faith, God declared him to be righteous. Now this wonderful truth ? that God declared him to be righteous ? wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit.
It was for us, too, assuring us that God will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought Jesus our Lord back from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.
In today?s message I want to focus on a short verse found in the passage I just read (Romans 4:21). There is something here that I believe has potential to impact how we think and how we act. A lot of what we do or don?t do in life is determined by what we are persuaded to do or not do OR what we are convinced in or not. Being persuaded or convinced of something is an important facet of faith and so I want to zero in on this observation made by Paul that Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to do whatever he promises. I believe that our success, our joy, our accomplishments in life (and the next!) are determined by what we are persuaded/ convinced in.
Examples:
If an athlete is convinced that they will lose in their sport then they most likely will lose.
If a person in need of a job is convinced that there is nothing on the job market for them then it is more than likely they won?t exert much effort in looking for one.
If a single person is convinced they will never find someone to love and be loved then they will probably remain single for a long time.
If a couple are convinced that their relationship is doomed to fail then they will likely do little to see it succeed.
If a woman is convinced all men are evil then she?ll be quick to find flaws in every guy she comes across. If a man is convinced all women are evil then he?s probably going to give women a reason to think all men are evil.
A pessimist is one who is persuaded there is no hope, an optimist is persuaded there?s always hope.
A person who is convinced there is a God will tend to live very differently than the person who is persuaded there is no God or that we are all gods.
All this leads to another observation that just because we are fully convinced or persuaded about something doesn?t? necessarily mean that it?s true ? however, it will still affect our actions and thoughts.
For instance, were you aware that there are a group of people in our modern world who believe that the earth is flat not a globe? You can read about the Flat Earth Society on the wikipedia (online encyclopedia ? see address in your notes [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth_Society]) or on the Flat Earth Society Forums (http://www.theflatearthsociety.org). Basically they are fully convinced that the majority of the people in the world have been subject to a massive deception which states that the earth is a globe. The Flat Earth Society is convinced that they are the harbringers of truth and will do everything they can to un-doctrinate the deceived. What?s sad when I read about the Flat Earth society is that many claim to be Bible believers and take much support for their beliefs from biblical passages. However convinced they may be, they are still wrong. Or at least I?m convinced of that!
What I think everyone of us needs to realize this morning is that the biggest battle in the world today is fought in our hearts and minds as the enemy of God does everything in his power to keep us from being convinced of God?s power. This first salvo of this battle was launched in the garden of Eden back at the dawn of creation around 6,000 years ago. Adam and Eve the first man and woman enjoyed a rich relationship with their Creator and were living in paradise. In the young world of their existence God introduced them personally to a life of bliss and fulfillment. They had everything they needed everything they could want. God gave them everything but marked the fruit of one tree as out of bounds. In all the created world there was only one tree, The tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they were not to eat of.
One day the enemy of God (who had been earlier cast out of heaven ? Lucifer the leader of a rebellion of angels) guised in the form of a serpent approached Eve and said,
Genesis 3:1-5 (NIV)
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The first salvo of Satan?s work to convince man that there was something God was holding back, to shake their confidence in God?s power was delivered to Eve. Read further and you find,
Genesis 3:6 (NLT)
The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too.
Ultimately this resulted the introduction of the curse of sin into the bloodline of the human race and the sentence of death over everyone descended from this first Adam. A death with the most horrible fruit of everlasting separation from the life-giving and complete presence of God.
So this morning, the reason why I?m focusing on this one phrase fully convinced in reference to the faith of Abraham is because it is evident to me that the battle still continues and rages on today in our world. Satan is continuing to do everything in his power to get people convinced and persuaded about things that are false.
The first question I think needs to be considered is,
What convinces (or persuades) us of something?
I believe that there isn?t any one way or formula for becoming persuaded or convinced of something but rather there are different pathways that can influence us in one direction or another.
i. Evidence gained through our senses certainly plays a part
What we are able to see, feel, hear, taste, and smell certainly influence what it is we become convinced of. An example that quickly comes to mind is the story of Thomas, one of Jesus? disciples. People are given the nickname doubting Thomas because of this guy.
The news of Jesus rising from the dead had been circulating among his scattered (and hiding) followers. On one occasion Jesus appeared to a group of the disciples in a room ? but Thomas was not among them. When they shared the news with Thomas he said,
They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” ? John 20:25 (NLT)
In other words Thomas was relying on the evidence filtered through his senses before he would be convinced that Jesus? actually rose from the dead. The next time Jesus showed up, Thomas was in the room and Jesus makes a point by inviting Thomas to touch His side and His hands.
So yes, often evidence gained through our senses influences what become convinced of.
ii. Evidence gained through learning (through being taught or through experience)
What we are taught and what we experience as we grow has an influence on what we are convinced of. In other words our environment to some degree impacts what we are persuaded of. We see the evidence of this in our world today:
Someone raised in a family that puts them down and treats them like bad cheese will tend to me more easily convinced later in life that they are worthless. Whereas someone who is raised in a family that loves and cherishes them will be more likely full of a sense of self-worth and value.
Someone who is taught consistently and regularly that volunteering to worthy causes is important will probably be more easily convinced that they should spend some time helping people out than someone who is taught consistently and regularly that looking out for number one is the pursuit of life.
Statistics show that someone who is abused as a child is more likely to abuse someone as an adult ? why? Well because this experience gives evidence that contributes towards their being convinced that it?s a normal behavior (maybe not necessarily right, but normal).
I could probably go on for a long time with numerous examples of the influence that what we learn through experience and teaching has on what we become convinced of.
iii. Evidence through the influence of relationship
When it comes to the influence of relationship on our convictions ? trust is a big factor in the degree of this influence. We become more inspired by the convictions of people who we have a trusting relationship with than those who we don?t trust. This is why parents and grandparents have such a big influence on the values and beliefs of their children. The things your children become convinced of in life will be hugely impacted by the things you as parents are convinced of. Paul says to his prot?g? Timothy,
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. — 2 Timothy 3:14 (NIV)
Essentially Paul is telling Timothy to stay convinced of what he has been taught because he can trust those who taught him. The influence of trusted relationships played a huge role in shaping young Timothy?s convictions.
iv. Evidence through the influence of desire (or lack of)
Part of the reason why Eve ate the fruit of (and touched) the forbidden tree was because Satan awakened in her a desire for it. That desire influenced her to become convinced that it was okay to disobey God.
Desire itself is not evil but it is definitely one of the paths that lead to what we become persuaded of. As a positive example look at what happens when we are convicted of something we?ve done wrong. Let?s say a husband has said some hurtful words to his wife. At first he?s convinced that he?s done nothing wrong but later he looks at the tears in her eyes and his love for her wells up. All of a sudden this desire to make his wife happy takes over and it hits him that what he said was awful. The influence of his love for her convicts him of his hurtful speech and convinces him he was wrong.
The same is true in our relationship with God. The more we desire to draw close to Him and experience His presence in our lives the more we start to become aware of the things that are holding us back from just that. We become convinced of the sin in our life in part because of the influence of desire.
Now before I get to the last point in answering the question “What convinces (or fully persuades) us of something? I?d like to just conduct a little demonstration?
[[Extended illustration?have someone who is small and weak come to the front with someone who is big and strong. Do the trust exercise with them (the big and strong, falling back onto the weak and small)]]
“Now we have a number of different influences at work here?”
This brings me to the last point
v. Ultimately becoming convinced of something requires a personal choice!
Certainly there are things that influence that choice but we still must choose. After weighing all the influences in our lives it all comes down to what we decide in our hearts and minds is right or normal. Our convictions are a result of those choices.
Next I want to articulate something that you?ll probably recognize from your own life experience ? and that is that there are different levels of being convinced:
LEVELS OF CONVICTION
i. Not-convinced
- This is where a person is either ambivalent or against the subject being presented.
- Example: I?m not convinced in the idea that the earth is flat.
- Usually the reason why someone is not-convinced of one thing is because they are convinced of something else. (I?m not convinced in the idea that the earth is flat because I am convinced the earth is a globe)
ii. Semi-convinced
This is where we use the phrase, “sitting on the fence”. This person?s convictions sway depending on the circumstance and situation. Being semi-convinced can be a stage on the way to being fully-convinced of something but for most people it?s a stage they stay stuck at and live at.
For instance, most smokers are usually convinced that there isn?t a whole lot of good with smoking (either for your own body or others) but when it comes to actually quitting themselves well then it?s okay. They are on the fence.
Often you can tell when you are semi-convinced of something when you are still have unresolved doubts or questions about the subject.
People who are semi-convinced are half-hearted in their commitment and there is little effort.
A scriptural example of being semi-convinced is found in Revelations 3:14-22 in Jesus? words to the church in Laodicea. He described them as being, “neither hot nor cold” and being like lukewarm water. In other words they were living in a stage of being semi-convinced with regards to their faith in Christ and were quite comfortable with it. Jesus used rather strong words in describing his reaction to their convictions,
Revelations 3:15-16 (NLT)”I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!
In other words, Jesus is saying, you might as well be not convinced at all! There comes a time where you have to make the decision. Where you say, “okay, I?m convinced” or not. Now there are some things where it really doesn?t matter whether you are live in the stage of being semi-convinced or not. For example, it doesn?t really matter if you aren?t sure whether pepsi or coke tastes better. But there are things where it does matter!
It matters whether you are convinced smoking is hazardous to yours (and others health or not). Or for that matter any harmful addiction.
It does matter whether you believe that the world was created or evolved.
It does matter whether you believe in the success of your marriage or not.
It does matter if you are convinced in the power of God or not.
It does matter if you are convinced in the words of scripture or not.
It does matter if you are convinced you are valuable or not.
It does matter if you are convinced you have a purpose in life or not.
iii. Fully-convinced
A person who is fully-convinced of something can be described as “sold-out”. In other words, they are committed. They?ve made the decision. Going back to our text, this is how Abraham was described. What are the indicators that someone is fully convinced?
a. They remain convinced even when things begin to look bad.
Abraham had been promised by God that He would have descendants as numerous as the stars and yet at that point Abraham had no children. Further, well I like how Paul put it so I?ll read from Romans 4:19,
Romans 4:19 (NLT)
And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though he knew that he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred and that Sarah, his wife, had never been able to have children.
Even thought things looked bad towards the fulfilling of the promise of God Abraham?s faith didn?t waver ? he remained convinced that God had the power to keep His promises.
b. Their trust in what they are convinced in is unshakeable.
Paul himself is a good example of someone who is fully convinced. Paul wrote to Timothy,
2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)
12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
People who are fully convinced have and incredible trust in what they are convinced in. It?s almost like a cycle ? they are convinced because of their trust ? and they trust because they are convinced.
c. Their actions reveal what they are convinced of.
It?s easier to point out the people who are fully convinced of something because they are living testaments of their convictions.
You?ll never see a person who is fully-convinced smoking will kill them light up.
You?ll never see a person who is fully-convinced they can?t read pick up a book.
You?ll never see a person who is fully-convinced God can heal people tell a sick person that doctor?s have given up on that there?s nothing that can be done.
d. They become influential in convincing others.
I?ve already touched on this earlier when talking about the pathways to becoming convinced about something so I won?t go into detail here. But it?s significant to note that when people become fully convinced of something they are more likely to convince others than someone who is semi-convinced.
It?s like the person who?s smoking telling their children that smoking is bad for them and they shouldn?t smoke vs. the person who used to smoke quitting and then telling their children that they shouldn?t smoke. Which person do you think will have more influence?
CONCLUSION
Now I?ve spent most of my time in this message giving some answers to the question, “What convinces us of something” and looking at different levels of being convinced. Along the way I?ve given a few examples of how being fully convinced for the important things in life matters. There are many different answers to that question but to conclude this message I want to zero in on the particular case with Abraham. Our text says that Abraham was fully persuaded that God was able to do anything He promised. I want to share why I believe it?s important that we are fully convinced of this as well. I believe your answer to this question is vital because?
i. It will affect your eternal destiny (key to your salvation).
The argument Paul is making in the context of this verse is that because Abraham was fully persuaded or convinced of God?s power to do what he promised his faith was credited to him as righteousness. A key verse in understanding Paul?s conclusion is Romans 4:13,
Romans 4:13 (NLT)
It is clear, then, that God?s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God?s law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith.
In other words, the key to Abraham?s blessings was his faith in God. The fact that he was convinced in God?s power to do what he promised.
Every single one of us is faced with the question of whether we are convinced God?s words are true. The question of whether we are convinced we are sinners and destined for an eternity without God unless that sin is dealt with. The question of whether we are convinced that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life”. The question of whether or not we are convinced that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and became victorious over death and sin when He rose from the grave three days later. The question of whether or not we are convinced there is eternal life for those who put their faith in Christ.
Almost persuaded to be a Christian is like the man who was almost pardoned, but he was hanged, like the man who was almost rescued, but he was burned in the house. A man that is almost saved is damned. (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)
Our answer to that question affects our eternal destiny. However, it doesn?t only affect our destiny in the life hereafter but also our lives now because if you are fully convinced that God has the power to keep His promises?
ii. You will experience the wonders of God in your life now (the key to growing in faith).
If you carefully study men and women who have experienced miracles and supernatural moves of God in their lives it is always the result of someone being fully convinced of God?s power to keep His promises. We all like hearing great stories of what God is doing around the world, in other churches, in other peoples lives. Friends, when you are fully convinced of the power of God to keep His promises you?ll experience the wonders of God in your life!
However, these experiences won?t only affect you but?
iii. God will impact the world through you (the key to making a difference).
People who are fully convinced that God has the power to keep His promises are the people who are truly impacting their world around them. I believe that one big reason why some churches are dwindling in North America is because the people are only semi-convinced. They are like the church of Laodicea. If we aren?t making an impact in our community then it?s because we aren?t fully convinced God has the power to keep His promises. As I?ve already said there comes a point where we have to get past the stage of being semi-convinced and make the decision to be fully-convinced. Satan is doing everything in his power to keep the church powerless by keeping people from being fully-persuaded with the power of God. He?s doing everything he can to convince us that we?re really not bad, that sin is just an inconvenience?one that God can conveniently take care of if we want. He?s doing everything he can to convince us that hell isn?t really as bad as it seems. He?s doing everything he can to convince us that we have all the time in the world to tell others about Jesus?there really isn?t much urgency. He?s doing everything he can to convince us we have a way, a truth, a life rather than the way, truth and life. He?s doing everything he can to convince us that the Bible isn?t really the inspired word of God but is simply a collection of stories, myths, and sayings that have good moral teachings.
Abraham was fully convinced in the power of God to keep his promises. Are you?
Dr. Paul Tourni once compared life to a man who hangs from a trapeze. The trapeze bar is the man?s security, his pattern of existence, his lifestyle. Then God swings another trapeze into the man?s view, and he faces a perplexing dilemma. Should he relinquish his past? Should he reach for the new bar? The moment of truth comes when the man realizes that to grab onto the new one, he must release the old one.
(Search for Significance, McGee, pgs. 102-103)