“What is Biblical Conviction”
Introduction:
What is the condition of your heart this morning? When I speak of your heart I am not talking about the organ inside your body which pumps blood, but I am speaking of your spiritual condition. There are many ways we can gauge our own spiritual condition. We can gauge it by looking at how we treat other people. Jesus did say, the greatest command is to love the Lord and the second was to love your neighbor. You can ask yourself how you interact with others. Maybe you could ask yourself what is the level of sin in your life. Most likely if you are living a lifestyle of habitual sin some repentance needs to take place and you are not where you should be spiritually. Perhaps you could gauge your spiritual condition by the amount of time you spend in God’s Word and in prayer. Maybe you could gauge it by your motives or the thoughts that come to your mind. I believe one of the most revealing things about our hearts is how do we respond to conviction. I mean when we are confronted with a reality of a need to change a certain aspect of our lives how do we respond? Do we respond by ignoring it? Do we respond by saying we will wait until later to fix that issue? Do we respond by sincere conviction and sincere effort to change a practice in our lives?
The question that I asked, “what is the condition of your heart?” is the most important question that you will ever ask and answer of yourself. It is more important that asking yourself about important decisions in life. It is more important than asking yourself what you want to do with your life. It is a decision that has eternal implications.
Paul said it this way, “Test yourself to see whether you are in the faith.” The Psalmist said it this way, “test me and know my anxious thoughts and see if there is any offensive way in me.” There is nothing wrong with having those deeps looks into the bowels of your spiritual self. In fact I want to suggest to you this morning that those who refuse to take look into the condition of their hearts are in grave spiritual danger.
The word conviction has several different meanings. It can mean a strong belief in something. The word conviction, as we will be using it today is referring to the idea or realization of your guilt in a particular area of life.
How do you respond though to conviction when you receive it? The Proverbs teach numerous times that a wise man will accept instruction and rebuke gladly. What is your response when you are shown the error of your ways? People respond in different ways when they are told they are wrong. Some people get very defensive about their actions and try to find excuses for what they have done. Other people respond by comparing themselves to others, “I may have done that, but at least I am not really bad like that other guy.” Other people are willing to admit they are wrong and work to correct the problem. Imagine with me that you are sitting in church as you are now, and you hear the preacher state something that brings some type of conviction to your heart for something you have done or been doing, maybe some flaw you have. How do you respond? I have had people tell me before that they do not like coming to church because they do not always leave feeling good following the message. There is a great temptation for preachers to preach what people want to hear, but I would not be doing you any favors by always preaching a feel good gospel to you. Sometimes we need our toes stepped on, but the question is when we have our toes stepped on what is our response following that.
I as a preacher really believe with all my heart that when I stand up to preach I am not just doing so in order to say something, but rather because I have something to say. Not something I have concocted in my own mind, but something I really feel every time I preach God has laid on my heart for His people to hear. Maybe not always what people want to hear, but what people need to hear. Hopefully the reason you feel you need a preacher at a church is so that you can be challenged to be more like Christ. Sometimes some things may get preached and said that you need to hear. You may feel your toes were stepped on, if that is the case what should your attitude be? Should it be to get upset and mad at what was said or who said it? Absolutely not, but rather should be one of gratitude that we have been taught something or corrected in an area, which may make a difference in our lives or in our eternity. What makes something so deep a conviction within you that you are serious about change or response? What does it take for you to feel conviction over something? How many times do you have to feel conviction over something before a change develops?
The people of Isaiah’s time responded quite differently to the confrontation of their sin. Rather than responding with repentance they responded by going all out in their sin.
Text: Isaiah 22:12-13
I. Biblical Conviction Leads to Real Repentance
Biblical conviction is not just feeling guilty about something. There are tons of people who feel guilt over their actions, but never change what they do. Biblical conviction is not just knowing what the Bible has to say about sin, tons of people know what the Bible says is right and wrong. A non-Christian is always quick to point out our errors and many times they are correct, but Biblical conviction results in a change of action. Repentance should be the natural response to conviction over wrong-doing, but it isn’t always the way people respond.
I heard a story about Christian junior high camp. One of the campers, a boy with spastic paralysis, was the object of heartless ridicule. When he would ask a question, the boys would deliberately answer in a halting, mimicking way. One night his cabin group chose him to lead the devotions before the entire camp. It was one more effort to have some "fun" at his expense. Unashamedly the spastic boy stood up, and in his strained, slurred manner -- each word coming with enormous effort -- he said simple, "Jesus loves me -- and I love Jesus!" That was all. Conviction fell upon those junior-highers. Many began to cry. Revival gripped the camp.
It blows my mind that people can persist in sin without ever changing. It blows my mind that some people can sit and listen to sermons week after week, meanwhile living a hypocritical life. It blows my mind that a person can know in their head that a certain action they do is wrong and it is sin, and yet not ever show repentance for their actions.
II. Biblical Conviction Leads to Godly Character
John the Baptist demanded fruits of repentance from the people, in other words he wanted to see proof through their changed lives and their character that they were serious about change.
One thing that amazes me about God is His incredible patience with us. Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t just give up on us at times? God cares enough about us to bring conviction to our hearts to show us our wrong. He does that because He loves us. When you receive conviction, it is not a time to be mad, angry, or frustrated, but it is a time to be thankful for God’s patience. Today I hope you believe and realize that God is involved in our lives today and cares enough about us to bring conviction of our sin when we err in different ways. He may do it through the Word of God, maybe through the Holy Spirit that indwells us, or maybe through someone else. Throughout the Scriptures we have countless accounts of people feeling conviction for what they had done. David was contrite and repentant after his sin with Bathsheba. The whole nation of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes over the preaching of Jonah. Paul was sincerely repentant over the persecution that he unleashed against the church. When you are confronted with the wrong you have done, how will you respond? Will you just maybe feel guilty? Or will you have repentance that leads to a change of action?
A lot of times after church people will say things like, “good sermon” or “you stepped on my toes”, well my purpose is not just to create a feeling of conviction that will never change lives, but rather is to stir people’s hearts to bring about a change of action. Conviction without a response is pointless.
After David sinned with Bathsheba the prophet Nathan came to David with a message from God. He first told David a story, he told him of a rich man who owned a very large number of sheep and cattle and of a poor man who owned one lamb. The poor man loved this lamb immensely. One day a traveler came and instead of feeding the man on one of his lambs the rich man took the one lamb from the poor man. David was angry at what he heard and even suggested that the man deserved to die for what he did and pay back four times as much. Then Nathan told David that he was that man in a sense. He had taken what was not his, he had sinned. David was broken over his sin; it was after this confrontation that he wrote Psalm 51.
Psalm 51:1-14
Could you imagine if that confrontation would not have created and stirred a change in David? Him feeling guilty wouldn’t have mattered; it was the willingness to respond to conviction that made David a man after God’s own heart.
We really live in a world that lacks conviction for wrongdoing. I think this may be one of the greatest problems facing our nation and the church today. If I could have a church full of any type of people, I would not want perfect people, I would want people of strong conviction. People that were willing to change when they realize their wrongs. The people of Isaiah’s day were told of their sin and the judgment of God, and they responded by jumping deeper into their sin. They decided to have the “let’s eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die mentality.” They were called to weep and wail, to like other put on sackcloth in repentance, but instead they feasted. Sometimes the church needs to fast more than it needs to feast.
I am really concerned about the state of the church as a whole; it seems as if people no longer want to respond to conviction. Let me give an example. From time to time I really feel that God has given me something to say that the church needs to hear. Perhaps to reveal an area that the church needs to repent and change. It is not because I am anything special, but because I am the Lord’s messenger. What we often do is sweep it under the rug. I believe that Biblically speaking when we are faced with an area that we have erred and need to change we need to do it. We need to change and we need to put our conviction into practice. My job as the preacher is to reveal a message that I believe is from God to God’s people, I cannot force a response. What about when we talk about the need to be faithful to the corporate assembly? Is this something I am just making up myself with no biblical merit? No! I believe the Bible does instruct us to not give up meeting together, but every time I have preached that on a Sunday morning less people show up Sunday night than normal! Does that message not apply to some? Are there some people that are above the need to obey certain commands? Are there exceptions to God’s rule? I don’t think so! My point is this when we face conviction from a wrong in our lives it should lead us not just a feeling guilty, but of a response that changes our character. When you brush of conviction you are not rejecting me, but rather are rejecting God. I plead with you to be people that listen to the Word – and have the humility to change when you face conviction even if it means sacrifice.
I love reading about godly people in the Bible. I find such strength through their examples. I love reading of faithful Noah, of the faith of Abraham, of the integrity of Joseph, of the perseverance of Job, of the passion of David, of the boldness of the prophets, of the dedication of the Apostle Paul. These stories inspire me because they were real people, who put conviction into practice and it showed in their lives. They made mistakes, they sinned, they struggled at times, but they put conviction into practice and it showed through their character. Biblical conviction is seen in our lives though not by the measure we speak of feeling convicted, it is not by an inward feeling of immense guilt, but it is seen by a change in character
II. Biblical Conviction Leads to Serious Commitment
There are many people in the church who have strong preferences. There are people that have preferences as to what they believe. Those preferences they may devote time, energy, and money to. There is a difference though in conviction and preference. Preferences you can change convictions you will not change no matter what the circumstances. You will not change convictions even with the threat of jail, sacrifice, or even loss of life. Many people treat what should be their unchanging convictions as preferences. They treat it like they prefer diet soda over regular, regular over decaff coffee. Our convictions should never change and should lead to some outward action.
No matter if those convictions are right or wrong they should come into play in how you live. For example, Hitler was a man with strong conviction on certain things, and he lived those convictions. Bin Laden has strong conviction and he lives it. That can be used for good too. We have seen time and time again that people with real deep conviction are willing to stand up for what they believe in no matter what the cost may be. I am convinced that one of the problems that exist within the church is a lack of people with true convictions. I know that some people have moral standards and may even show some of the fruit of the spirit in their lives, but that does not equate having conviction. People with conviction have a serious commitment to what they believe. If we could find people in the church that are so devoted to their beliefs and morals that they would not compromise no matter what the church would make a much greater impact of a world without any convictions. I have said many times and I really believe that people are willing to follow people with strong convictions no matter what those convictions are. I love seeing people with conviction stand up for what they believe.
Roy Moore was chief justice of the Alabama Supreme court, and when a federal judge ordered him to remove the Ten Commandments monument from the courthouse he refused. Moore was removed from his office because of his firm stance and serious commitment to what he believed. His convictions and beliefs were so strong that he was willing to loose his job for what he believed in.
How strong are your convictions? If you believe something is right with all of your heart to what extent are you willing to take a stand? Are you willing to stand up if it will cost you your job or even your own life? True Biblical conviction of something leads to a serious commitment.
What is it that causes a Muslim person to be convicted by the belief that if he is killed in a holy war, or if he kills who he would call an infidel that he will inherit eternal life to fly a plane into a building killing thousands. Isn’t that conviction of beliefs put into practice. You can see many Muslims really believe what they believe and they show it through their actions. Sometimes I wonder if we really believe what we say we believe, and if we do why is it not showing in our lives. Sometimes you see in godly people that go through tough times, when they live their lives faithfully that they really believed in something and had strong conviction, such strong conviction that they would do extreme things.
Daniel had such strong conviction from God that prayer was a vital part of his life that even when the government passed a law forbidding people to pray to God, and if they did they would be punished by death he still prayed. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had such strong conviction of only worshiping one God that even when a law was passed commanding people to bow down to a golden man-made statue they refused even though it meant they were to face death. The early disciples were so convinced of the fact that Jesus was the Way, the Truth, and the Life that they dedicated their lives to preaching him to others even when their lives were in jeopardy, in fact 11 of the 12 disciples of Jesus died because of their conviction and dedication to Jesus Christ.
That conviction that we receive should cause an extreme faith. That is exactly what the early Christians were, wasn’t it? Extreme! They lived in an extreme way, because their conviction was so deep. They really believed that Jesus died on the cross and took the punishment for their sins. They really believed that there was one God and one way to God and that was Jesus. They really believed that there was a Heaven and a Hell, and those convictions transformed the way they lived. It changed them from ordinary men, to people who do extreme things.
Here is my point, today you come to church and we say we have conviction, we say that we have things that we believe strongly, but to what extent do those convictions run in your life? All throughout the Bible we read of conviction coming upon people and it did not just fall on deaf ears, but merited a response in action, which was a greater commitment.
James 1:22-25
III. Biblical Conviction Leads to Unwavering Beliefs
David Hume, 18th century British philosopher who rejected Christianity, he once met a friend as he was hurrying along a London street and was asked where he was going. The friend said he was off to hear George Whitfield preach. "But surely you don’t believe what Whitfield preaches do you?" "No, I don’t, but he does.”
I believe when we become people who really live out areas of conviction that we will greatly impact the world. I believe that the world is truly looking for answers. I know there are some moral dilemmas in the world today, you can look at television and see that, but I believe we live in a world that is primed and ready to hear and receive the gospel. I believe that they want answers to their questions. I believe people are seeking for truth and are contemplating eternal things. They may go to the wrong areas, but what an opportunity for the church which has the precious truth of Christ. The problem is we cannot expect the world to be convinced of something we aren’t convinced of. They see it this way:
You people believe that there is a Heaven which is amazing and a Hell which is awful, but yet you never feel a burden to tell people about Jesus; if you really believed it wouldn’t you have more motivation to share Jesus with your non-Christian family and friends.
There is a tale told of that great English actor Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: "I wish you would explain to me something." "Well, what is it? I don’t know that I can explain anything to a preacher." "What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all." Macready’s answer was this: "This is quite simple. I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction."
Perhaps a great problem in the church, and one reason why we are not reaching more people is because people in the church do not really believe what they say they believe.
One noted atheist said, “if I believed in Hell as you Christians do I would crawl on my hands and knees across burning deserts just to tell one person how to avoid going there.”
You people believe that people are called to high standards and breaking a command of God is sin, yet at the same time Christians are just as likely to be involved in pornography, divorce, or immorality. You Christians believe that some of the things going on in the world are wrong, you speak about the immorality of Hollywood, but yet you support the shows that promote that same immorality you speak of. You say abortion is awful and is murder, but yet you don’t speak out against it. If you really believed those things wouldn’t your actions be different?
Having real conviction about issues would result in unwavering beliefs. Beliefs that would not change with every new teaching. Actions that would not be influenced by the people we hung around, but rather actions and beliefs that stemmed from deep convictions that come from God himself.
One thing that really impresses me about the Apostle Paul is that he really believed what he taught. I think that every ounce of his being believed that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God, and that salvation was found in no one else. I really believed he thought that people outside of Christ were in eternal danger.
II Timothy 1:12
He believed it so much that he was willing to die for it. People don’t often die for something they don’t really believe in.
Acts 2:22-37
That message that Peter brought about Jesus pierced the hearts of the listeners. Do you remember the first time you came to the realization of your sin and Jesus as the Savior? I remember that time well for me. It was like running into a brick wall. My heart ached with all that I had because I realized I had sinned and I deserved Jesus’ place on the cross of Calvary.
Acts 2:38-47
On that particular day 3,000 people were convicted enough to actually respond. I wonder if some that felt conviction never responded? Did you notice though that it didn’t stop there with one action, but it was a continuous faithfulness because that conviction ran so deep. With those people that had conviction enough to live like it God used them to multiply in umber and reach thousands for Christ. God can use people with conviction. Today, will you be a person of conviction, which is willing to respond and act upon that conviction you may have in your hearts.
