Message 31 – With Conviction

Blue Lake Presbyterian | 4-15-2018

Good morning,

Welcome to the Blue Lake Presbyterian church, thank you for coming this morning,

The title of today message is “With Conviction”

An evangelist, a priest, and a minister go fishing in a boat in the middle of a lake. Four hours later, they still haven’t caught anything.
Then the evangelist stands up because he really needs to go to the bathroom, so he climbs out of the boat and with “Great Conviction” walks on the water to shore. He comes back ten minutes later the same way.

Then the minister also needs to go, so he gets out of the boat and walks on the water to shore, returning after a little while.

The priest looks at both of them and determines that his faith is just as strong as his fishing buddies and he can also walk on water. He stands up, steps out of the boat, he makes a big splash down into the water.

The evangelist looks at the minister and says: “I suppose, we should have told him where the stepping rocks were.

In the last few weeks I have asked several folks what comes to mind, when hearing the word “Conviction”. The vast majority answered:  conviction of a crime, in a court of law.

Once we add the word “With” to “Conviction”, it dramatically changes its meaning, and this brings today’s message directly into focus.

Let me illustrate this with an example: A customer asked if we would participate in a vendor spotlight, a 90 second video clip featuring a flower farmer on their website.

We agreed, but to our surprise, a crew showed up of 15 cameramen and technicians from Chicago, Oakland, Los Angeles and San Diego. They filmed for two days, including an interview with me for several hours.  They were very pleased with the footage and the interview.

Talking about, the great climate on the North Coast, the small  differential between winter and summer temperatures, making this a unique place to grow bulb flowers, features and benefits, like growing Tulips in composting bark soil, with high levels of beneficial microorganisms,  and our Telstar Iris lasting longer than any other Iris.

Standing in front of a camera talking about all these things comes natural, because of a “Conviction”, a strong belief in the things we do and stand for as a company.

The other day I was watching a documentary of the Kennedy’s.  One of JFK most prominent speeches was his nationally televised, civil rights speech. It was his brother Robert Kennedy who had prompted JFK to give this speech and address the American people.

But what most people don’t know is that 2 hours prior to the broadcast at 8pm, no work had been done on a speech. At 7pm speechwriter Ted Sorenson had made two drafts. 20 minutes before going “Live” Robert and JFK met in the oval office to outline some thoughts in case the speech wasn’t ready.

JFK wrote some notes on an envelope. 4 minutes before the broadcast, Sorenson walked into the room with the speech. Kennedy made last minute changes, but his secretary was unable to type it before the cameras started rolling at 8 pm.

Kennedy read the prepared portion of the speech mostly verbatim. But he dropped the ending and improvised the last paragraphs. It is at the conclusion of the speech where Kennedy spoke “With Conviction”, this is where he spoke from the heart.

When he articulated what he believed, the words rolled of his tongue and touched the hearts of the American people. It became one of Kennedy’s most memorable speeches.

Martin Luther King watched the speech, jumped up, and said to a friend, can you believe this, he not only stepped up to the plate but hit the ball out of the park. He sent a telegram to the White House saying: I have just listened to your speech to the Nation. It was one of the most eloquent, profound pleas for justice and freedom ever made by any President.

MLK himself was known to speak “With Conviction”. He said: Words ring hollow, when you declare something with wavering, weak words. When your message lacks conviction, it is noticed.

Gandhi said: A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest “Conviction”  is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.

Winston Churchill spoke  to students of his Alma Matter the Harrow school in October 1941 .Never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in, except to “convictions” of honor and good sense.

What does the bible say about “Conviction”?

Although “strong belief” the underlying meaning of the term “Conviction” is a corner stone of the Gospel, the word “Conviction” itself, is not found in the bible at all. Not surprising because according to Miriam Webster, use of the word “Conviction” started in the 1500’s.

In the book of Acts, the theme of “Conviction” comes back repeatedly. This ultimate history book of the early church was written by Doctor Luke, as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke.

The book of Acts contains 19 sermons given by the apostles Paul, James, Stephen and Phillip including 6 sermons by Peter. His first sermon was delivered at Pentecost when 3000 believers were added.  The second sermon followed, after he healed a crippled man.  This is what brings us to today’s scripture reading in Acts 3:12-19 which can we found on page………….

¹²When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. ¹⁴But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, ¹⁵and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁶And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. ¹⁷“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.

¹⁹Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out…………………

Let’s bow our heads. Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find wisdom, and in your will, discover your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

When Peter saw it, he addressed the people. What is “it” that Peter saw?

A little earlier Peter and John had gone up to the temple. A man that was unable to walk from birth was there. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate.

The Eastern Gate of Jerusalem is also called the Beautiful Gate or the Golden Gate. This is the gate that gives the most direct access to the temple mount, in the same location where Jesus entered Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives on Palm Sunday.

This Eastern Gate was sealed shut in AD 1540 by a sultan of the Ottoman Empire. In Jewish tradition, the Messiah will pass through the Eastern Gate when He comes to rule. The Muslim leader was attempting to prevent this with sixteen feet of cement. The Eastern Gate has remained sealed to this day.
At this gate, the man unable to walk asked for money as people entered and left the temple. Peter said to him, “I have no gold and silver but I have something else”.

Then taking the man’s right hand, he helped the man up and immediately the man’s legs and arms became strong again and he was able to walk, instead of lying there begging. The people were in awe and astonishment and started running over to where this miracle just took place. Then in verse 12, Peter “with “Great Conviction” starts addressing the crowd: Fellow Israelites why does this surprise you?

Jesus had told his disciples in John 14:13 whatever you ask in my name, I will do, that the father be glorified in the Son.

He said in Matthew 21:22  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

But there is the heart of the matter. This is where “With Conviction” comes in the picture.

Some people may just say the words, but deep down they don’t believe it.

In chapter 19 of Acts, there is the story of the 7 sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva, they saw the apostle Paul casting out evil spirits in the name of Jesus, they also wanted to do this. To an evil possessed man they proclaimed I command you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims. But he spirit said: Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you? The man with the evil spirit turned and jumped on the 7 fellows, overpowered them and ripped of their clothes, and they fled.

This attempt by the 7 sons of Sceva failed, because they just spoke the words. But they did not speak “With Conviction” with the belief in Jesus. They did not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

They recognized the power of his name, but it wasn’t personal to them. This incident had a great effect on the Jews and gentiles living in Ephesus. It caused a mini revival. People repented from the sins, and changed their ways.

“With conviction”, with a deep rooted faith, miracles can happen.

In his book, “When You See the Invisible, You Can Do the Impossible”, Oral Roberts, shares his most powerful secrets on living a life of miracles.

That is what those folks, at the temple gate encountered; they experienced what was deemed impossible. This fellow had been carried to the temple gate every morning, for his entire adult life, unable to walk, and here Peter “With Conviction” tells him “stand up” and he walks immediately.

37 specific miracles performed by Jesus are recorded in the four gospels. But in the book of Acts, disciples perform miracles in the name of Jesus.  According to Acts 2:43 many miracles were performed by the apostles, 18 miracles are specifically recorded.

I know there are nay-sayers, and sceptics who claim miracles are a state of imagination. Some acknowledge that there may have been miracles in the days of Jesus and the disciples, but are inconceivable today.

Prayers “With Conviction” and a steadfast belief in our Lord and Savior, are the pathway to miracles still happening today.

Here is an illustration: little Sam, a nephew of a team member in our Company, was born 4 years ago with a condition called “Spina bifida”, a huge lump on the back, where the nerves are exposed outside the spinal cord.

Little Sam was unable to walk, talk, and lacked many other functions. Prayer and belief “With Conviction”, and after 10 hour surgery, little Sam started walking; this kid is filled with the spirit, they call him the “Sparkler” in the family.

Rosa a lady working in our company was diagnosed with a malignant tumor, and was sent to UC Davis Medical Center, where the oncologist confirmed the condition.

He told Rosa to get ready for intrusive surgery and treatment and long recovery period. She put all her things in storage, sent her daughter to stay with family in Southern California, and checked herself into UC Davis.

Prayers “With Conviction” to help her through this difficult time, Rosa surrendered to Jesus, she put her trust in the hands of the Lord. Before surgery the doctor did another MRI scan, and couldn’t believe his eyes, he told Rosa, the malignant tumor is gone. He couldn’t explain it. Rosa is in our midst here this morning.

A few months ago coming back from a trip to the East coast, I walked  into the terminal at the Arcata airport  in pouring rain, on smooth concrete surface, slid backward and went flying and fell to the ground, landing on my wrist, the moment it happened, I knew something was wrong,  I temporarily lost vision, and almost fainted.

I had to sit down for a while, and then walked to the car and drove home, but while driving on the freeway I was in so much pain; my whole body was shaking and trembling uncontrollably.

At one point a cried out to the Lord, please help, I cannot bear this pain. A peace came over me, and immediately the pain subsided from a 9 to a 2, it didn’t slowly subside.

Next day had an X-ray at the urgent care, and it was diagnosed as a buckle fracture, and they put a splint on it, with a referral to orthopedic specialist.

When I went there 5 days later, they took another X-ray, but the fracture was gone.

When I shared this story,  a friend reminded me of Psalm 50:15: Call upon Me, in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

C.S. Lewis wrote: miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story, which is written across the whole world in letters too large for most of us to see.

In a program called “Touching Lives” James Merritt said: Nobody can change your life, like God can, but even God will not completely change your life until you place your faith in him.

The road to a relationship with Jesus Christ is paved with the cement of faith.

Friends what are we to do? In Verse 19 Peter said: repent, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that time of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Change in behavior begins with a change in the heart.

Turn to God “With Conviction” in everything we do.

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was.   He answered in Matt 22:37: You shall love your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind.

In other words “With Conviction”

Folks, we are hungry for an encounter with our Lord Jesus.

Let Jesus come into our hearts and touch the heavy laded parts of our soul, let him heal and comfort and give us strength.

“With Conviction” we pray.

“With Conviction” we believe.

and “With Conviction” we put our trust in Jesus and accept him as Lord and Savior.

Thank you,

God Bless you,

Amen