The Courage to Be Convinced

Text:Romans 4:20-22

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. —Romans 4:20-22 (KJV - King James Version)

20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. —Romans 4:20-22 (CSB - Christian Standard Bible)

IT TAKES

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. —John 20:19-31 (KJV - King James Version)

CONVINCED:
of the existence of a Loving God,
of an empty tomb,
of a power beyond this life,

GOD IS ABLE - HE HAS PROMISED - BY BELIEVING WE HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME!

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or hunger or lack of sufficient clothing or danger or the sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“On account of you we are being put to death the whole day long;
we are considered as sheep for slaughter.”[a]
37 No, but in all these things we prevail completely through the one who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8:35-39

EXAMPLES IN SCRIPTURE

• The Three Hebrew Children - (Daniel 3)
• Noah
• Abraham
• Daniel
• Mary
• Paul

The Warning of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Lk 16:19–31
(27-31) 27 So he said, ‘Then I ask you, father, that you send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he could warn them, in order that they also should not come to this place of torment!’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must listen to them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead.’”

PAUL was another person who was CONVINCED about the Gospel and Love of Jesus Christ!
We have to CHOOSE to BE CONVINCED! We have to have the COURAGE to BE CONVINCED!

28 But Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” —Ac 26:28 (LEB)

23 And when they[a] had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince[b] them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 And some were convinced by[c] what was said, but others refused to believe. —Acts 28:23-24 (LEB)

BE CONVINCED - GOD HAS YOUR

convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it[a] until the day of Christ Jesus, —Philippians 1:6 (LEB)

God has a plan for you, for your family, for your church, and for this community!
He is not willing that ANY should perish and wants all to come to repentance!
Are you convinced that HE EXISTS?
Are you convinced that HE LOVES YOU?
Are you convinced that HIS WORD IS TRUE?
Are you convinced that HE WILL BLESS YOU?

GOD IS NOT

If you are convinced, you will act differently!

GOD’S POWER IS STILL THE SAME - HE IS STILL IN CONTROL - HE STILL HAS GREAT PLANS FOR YOU!
Have the COURAGE to be CONVINCED!