Moving with Conviction

Introduction:

How long has it been since you have driven by an old church building? Have you wondered when the building was built? Why the people ceased meeting? Where the people are now? Today, many congregations are filled with Christians who sit at a crossroads.  What they do in the next few years will play a role in the long-term survival of their congregation! Success requires more than good intentions! We must be making a plan and, not only that, but the conviction to prayerfully implement those plans!

I. A look at the Church at Ephesus.

A.    In the beginning the congregation had a marvelous beginning! See Acts 19:9-20.

B.    The Middle Period – the Letter to the Ephesians. Picture of a mature congregation.

C.    In the early & middle period we see a church filled with:

1.     love; rich fellowship; joy; enthusiasm; singing of praise to God.

2.     Prayer; concern for learning truth.

3.     Genuine repentance & vibrant evangelism…

D.   Revelation 2: The 2^nd generation of believers came into influence.

1.     They left their first love.  2:3-4.

II. Those who lack conviction may:

A.     Have low motivation to be spiritual and do spiritual things.

B.      Have little desire/drive to “excel still more.” (1 Thess. 4:10) 

C.     Not employ every effort is made to imitate God.

D.     Have doubts about the future

III.  Much is packed into the meaning of conviction.

A.    Rev. 2:1-7, 18-29 - Churches at Ephesus and Thyatira lacked full conviction.

1.     There is more to conviction than being intolerant of evil men!

2.     Conviction is more than doing good deeds!

B.    Num. 25:1-9.  Phinehas – grandson of Aaron.  Could I have done that?

1.     From beginning to end, Phinehas provides a living example of conviction! How?

IV. Conviction forces us to act on our beliefs.

A.    Conviction is what we do about what we believe!

1.     Acts 4:18-20 – was someone forcing them to preach?

a)     Their conviction was forcing them!

2.     The entire church prayed for boldness.  Acts 4:23-31.

V. Conviction is the absence of all doubt!

A.    Contrast Phinehas’ conviction to Peter’s effort to walk on water.

1.     Peter began with good intentions! What happened?

2.     Needed to be rescued in end & received rebuke from Jesus – Mt. 14:30-31.

B.    If God’s people are going to be successful – there must be no doubt that God will grant them success!  Mt. 21:21-22.

C.    We constantly battle pessimism. Consider a theme that runs through Philippians.

1.     1:6, 1:25 - He constantly admonishes them to rejoice; dwell on good things; to avoid anxiety.

D.   How can we be anything but positive if we are convicted that God is perfecting our work & that we will progress? (Jason Cheney)

Conclusion:

A.    A lack of conviction will lead to demise of our spiritual lives.

B.    How strong is your conviction? Act on what you believe & begin your relationship with God today.