Developing Deep Convictions

A young man wrote to the love of his life. 

“My dearest darling, I will do anything for your love.  I will scale the highest mountains, plunge into the darkest abyss, cross the harshest deserts, brave the fiercest storms.  Nothing will keep me from you.  Forever yours. 

PS – I long to see you for our date tomorrow evening.  But if it rains, I will have to cancel as I do not wish to catch a cold.”

What beautiful words.  But what shallow convictions.  Have you ever wondered why there are some people with such shallow convictions and yet at the same time others with such deep convictions?  Perhaps you may have wished to be a person of conviction.  In fact, the Scriptures encourage us to be people of conviction.  And when we examine history, we find that those who have made impact upon this world are invariably people of conviction. 

Conviction is the differentiating factor between people who get fired up and make a difference, in contrast to people who get hyped up and make no difference.

Why is this important for Christ-followers?  Because we do not want to be fired up for just a moment but have no lasting power.  Further, how much we can genuinely fire up will depend upon our convictions.  Conviction is the differentiating factor between people who get fired up and make a difference, in contrast to people who get hyped up and make no difference.

Let me unpack the value of having deep convictions and how we may develop such convictions.  From 2 Timothy 1:11-12 we discover some of these principles.

2 Timothy 1:11–12 (NIV) 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

CONVICTIONS ANCHORED ON THE DIVINE CALLER

Paul’s deep convictions were not primarily reliant on some system of beliefs that he subscribed to.  It did not develop because of he was faithful to some church institution that ordained him.  This is not to say that the above do not contribute towards our convictions.  But there is something greater. Paul’s convictions was anchored upon the caller, God Himself.  Why?

Due to personal relationship “...I know whom I have believed...”.

The word “know” in the Greek is oida which carries the idea of knowing with certainty. Paul’s convictions came out of a personal and intimate relationship with God who had called him.  This begun when He had encountered Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6). 

He had continued to experience God’s grace again and again in his life and ministry.  He had seen the miraculous power of God at work numerous times. He had seen how God healed, protected, strengthened, and guided him through the most challenging times even.  Through all these, it had only served to deepen his convictions in Jesus the Christ.  His faith was refined and his connection with Christ strengthened. 

As apostle Peter explained in 1 Peter 1:6 - 7 (NIV) 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

The deepest convictions we could ever develop in our journey of faith is built upon our relationship with God Himself. 

Paul’s convictions were anchored upon the God he knew and knew well because of what he has gone through with God.  Many who served in the army experience and understand how their tight bond developed as they face life threatening situations together.  The deepest convictions we could ever develop in our journey of faith is built upon our relationship with God Himself.  Often, we trust the people we know well, so will we trust the God we know well.  Often, we trust the people who have proven themselves to us, so will we trust the God who has proven Himself to us in our experience.

Hudson Taylor was the founder of China Inland Missions who made incredible inroads in reaching the Chinese and inspired thousands of other missionaries.  Yet before he commenced on his missions, he resolved that he had to learn to develop a high level of trust in God and His provision.  He resolved that he was not going to depend on anyone else for provisions except God. That he was not going to remind his forgetful employer to pay him his salary but entrust it to God. 

At one time his employer had forgotten to provide his pay for an extended time.  Hudson despite his best efforts at frugality was down to his last shilling. Then in his medical rounds, he met a poor starving family.  He felt the Holy Spirit prompt him to give his last shilling to them. He struggled because he knew that he had no more money to pay for his lodging and food. Yet in that moment, he decided he would obey God’s prompting.  As he gave away his precious last shilling, he felt God’s peace wash over him.  He went home glad but had to forego any food that evening.  The next day, his employer came to him apologetically and gave him all his backpay.  Hudson developed deep convictions in that season in trusting God.

A key to growing deeper in our convictions is to throw ourselves into the hands of the living God. 

A key to growing deeper in our convictions is to determine to grow in our relationship with God.  A key to growing deeper in our convictions is to throw ourselves into the hands of the living God. 

In 1990, my own faith journey had reached a point where I realised the only way for me to grow further was to learn to hear God’s voice, obey and trust Him. Shortly after, I was invited to a meeting where they discussed planting a new church. At that time, I had taken too long to complete my Engineering PhD.  My scholarship had basically run out.  I had just informed an elder in the church that I had to step back from my leadership role in the student ministry so that I could finish my PhD.  Yet during the meeting the Holy Spirit spoke clearly into my heart, “Join”. I knew that to be part of a pioneering church venture would involve considerable commitment.  Time and energy I did not have if I was going to quickly complete the rest of my PhD.  But I resolved to obey God and trust Him.  I threw myself into the hands of God for my PhD.

I chose to give up a part-time job which was supplementing my income because of the time commitments involved. But God came through. I was awarded a small research grant to undertake what I had already planned to do in my PhD.  The grant amount was better than my scholarship or even the income I would have earned in the part-time job.  In effect, God had provided for me, and I had to do next to nothing. It grew my convictions that I could trust God to provide.  The church planting experience also grew me in many other areas of faith, maturity and leadership. None of that would have happened unless I threw myself into God’s hands.

Will you choose to know God more?  Choose to rely on God more?

Due to God’s capability “...and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”

Paul testified that God is dunamos or powerful enough to guard what Paul has entrusted to God.  The Greek word for “guard” was a military term used for a soldier on watch duty.  Paul’s convictions were based not only upon his personal knowledge of God’s trustworthiness.  It was based also upon God’s capability, God’s power to do what He promised. Romans 8:35 - 39 (NIV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ...   38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul’s convictions was based also upon God’s capability, God’s power to do what He promised.

As far as Paul was concerned, God is totally capable of delivering on His promises.  It was not enough that Paul had a personal relationship with God, God also had to be capable to deliver on His promises. That is why Paul could entrust his soul unto God fully. Because God is fully capable to take care of his soul. 

CONVICTIONS UNDERGIRDING THE CALL

Why do you think Paul had strong convictions about his call to be a herald, an apostle and a teacher (v11)? Paul was very clear about the fact that he had been called by God to his life task.  It probably helped that he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, who commissioned him to bring the Gospel.

Prior to that encounter he was the chief persecutor of the infant church. Acts 9:1 - 2 (NIV) 1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 

Yet when he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, it totally turned him around.  And God declared to Ananias in Acts 9:15 (NIV) …Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 

There have been many others who also had dramatic encounters with God, yet not all have developed convictions to serve God.  Why?  The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 gives us some insights.

Spiritual understanding

Matthew 13:18 - 19 (NIV) 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 

In v19, the seed that falls on the road never got to the earth.  The evil one snatches it away.  Why?  There was no understanding.  Ever sat in a lecture and you didn't understand what the lecturer was saying?  Usually you would also forget the details of what he taught and probably even the topic.

Ever sat through a sermon and it was just over your head?  Where you forget the details and even the sermon topic.  The problem is compounded by our enemy Satan who tries to snatch away that Word from us as well.  Bill Hybels once preached a sermon that he felt was one of his best.  He was excited to hear what his congregation thought about it. That Sunday afternoon he attended life group.  Nobody brought it up and he thought they conspired to pull his leg.  Finally, he could stand it any longer, and asked his friends what they thought. No one could remember much about what he preached that morning.

This is a common problem.  I have met many Christians who have attended church for years - and they say to me, “I have a very poor understanding of the Bible”.  Is it because their church doesn't teach them adequately?  Or is it because they did not have spiritual understanding and as a result lost most of what they heard?  Amazing thing is I then meet other Christians from the same church, sat through the same sermons and they have a great understanding of the Bible. 

Some tips on how we can avoid the Devil stealing God's Word from us.

·      Pray for spiritual understanding.

·      Value God's Word.  Unless we value it, we will never make the effort necessary to retain it.

·      Soften our hearts, be humble to learn. 

·      Be obedient to God's Word, submit to it.  Don't fight against it.  But apply it in our lives. Application helps make it tangible in our own lives.

Heart change

Matthew 13:20-21 (NIV) 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 

The seed in rocky ground was not able to penetrate into the soil sufficiently.  Its roots were too shallow.  The seed that is in good soil, its roots penetrate deep into the soil.  Its roots rearrange the structure and fabric of the soil.  There is change, deep into the soil.

For deep convictions to develop, there must be change in the heart that goes deeper than simply spiritual understanding. 

In the same way, for deep convictions to develop, there must be change in the heart that goes deeper than simply spiritual understanding.  When there is no change in our heart, it merely means our minds or our emotions were engaged.  There is no real change in our lives.  Therefore, we must apply what we believe to bring change in our lives!

Wholeheartedness.

Matthew 13:22 - 23 (NIV) 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Convictions can only properly develop if we are whole-hearted.  When we are half-hearted, we waver and convictions cannot firm up. 

The seed amongst the thorns allowed itself to be distracted, divided amongst competing interests.  As a result, it could not develop fully. Convictions can only properly develop if we are whole-hearted.  When we are half-hearted, we waver and convictions cannot firm up.  Kingdom of God or kingdom of the world?

In the highest levels of any sports, the athlete must be whole-hearted otherwise they will not invest the time, energy or sacrifice needed to reach the very top.  It is this conviction that they have got what it takes, that helps them invest what it takes.  God desires a whole-hearted person.  Psalms 86:11 (NIV) Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

E. Stanley Jones states it graphically, "If you don't make up your mind, then your unmade mind will unmake you.  Here is the place where there must be no dallying.  For any dallying will be the Trojan  horse that will get on the inside and open the gates to the enemy.  God can do anything for the man who has made up his mind; he can do little or nothing for the double‑minded."[i]   

Let’s be whole-hearted in the things of God!

CONVICTIONS GREATER THAN COST

Even as Paul wrote the letter, he was in prison because of the Gospel he was preaching.  And it is because of his convictions to preach the Gospel despite the persecution, that landed him there. The depth of our convictions will be tested when we face trials.  The depth of our convictions will be shown by the cost we are willing to pay to carry out our convictions.

The depth of our convictions will be shown by the cost we are willing to pay to carry out our convictions.

A hen and a pig were discussing how they may provide for their kind farmer.  The hen said, “I know!  I can give some eggs, and you can give some pork!”  The pig thought for a moment and replied, “That is easy for you to say.  For you it is convenient.  For me it is conviction.” 

What shall it be for us?  Living our lives for convenience?  Or out of conviction?

CONCLUSIONS

Let us be a people of biblical conviction.  Such convictions will be a firm foundation upon which we can be fired up for God!

---

[i] The Way to Power and Poise, p.258

Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.