LIVING WITH CONVICTION WITHOUT COMPROMISE

18/12/2018

LIVING WITH CONVICTION WITHOUT COMPROMISE

John 8. 31-32, Galatians 5.1, Daniel 1.8, 2 Timothy 2.10-13

Conviction is the strong belief a believer has in his God and His word which guides and controls his lifestyle i.e. conversations, actions and reactions while compromise is the disagreement to God’s instruction settling for a reduction in the expected standard of His will. There is always an impulse of the Spirit of God which checks the heart (conscience) of the Christian whenever he is about to cross the boundary to the opposite of God’s will. The purpose for which Christ saved and redeemed us is for us to be completely separated from this world and its corruptive system. Therefore, having been converted from sin, the believer is called into a life of complete obedience to God and His words. This must be done both in actions and conversations both in secret and in public as this is the only evidence that we belong to Him.  Jesus made it clear to the Jewish disciples of His that “…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8.31).  This was exemplified by Daniel in Babylon, who, despite the fact that he was a slave boy and in a strange land”,… purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself”. Compromising our faith in God and our stand for Him is to know God’s will but avoid it or not to do His will with a perfect heart. This is punishable by God and will cost the believer untold hardship at the long run.

Caution against of Compromise among Christians Jeremiah 10.2-3, Leviticus 20.23, Matthew 24:1-13; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; Proverbs 22:28; Proverbs 23:10; 24:21-22; Exodus 23:2

The Lord strictly warns us against every form of compromise in the Land. There are various ways by which the system of this world will want to appeal to the believer, but every one of them have damnable consequences from the Lord.  As true children of God, the Lord wants a total separation from the world and all the things that are anti-God and anti-righteousness in it. Deception is number one thing that the devil uses to lure many unsuspecting believers into compromise. Worldliness is a common source of temptation to modern day believer as there are many things in the world that try to call the attention of the believer to distract him from going through with the Lord as the Scriptures affirms that “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). An attempt to be like other nations like Israel of old (1 Samuel 8:4-6) will not make God happy with us. Fashion of the world is another area where you need to be watchful. Don’t forget that not all things that glister is gold as “...the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Corinthians 7:31). Unholy ambition is rampant in the world as people are into the rat race of seeking for position, fame, wealth etc. As believers, we need to be wary of these things that can becloud our vision of living with God eternally in the city of life.

Always remember that there are many SHIPS that can take the careless soul to unfriendly and unexpected destination. This include (i) FRIENDSHIP – James 4:4. (ii) PARTNERSHIP - 1 Kings 22:1-4,31-33; 2 Chronicles 20:36-37. (iii) COURTSHIP - Deuteronomy 7:3; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. (iv) FELLOWSHIP - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

CONSEQUENCES AND CALAMITY OF COMPROMISE  Matthew 24.11-12, Luke 21:34-36; 17:32; Genesis 19:26, 1 Kings 13. 18-21, 2 Tim. 4.10, Acts 1. 16-20.

There is need for strict watchfulness as we await the coming of the Lord. In warning His audience against compromise, the Lord Jesus Christ told them to “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Lots wife was warned by the angels, yet she looked back and faced severe eternal consequence. The Young prophet in 1 Kings 13 was told not to eat in the place he was sent to; he was persuaded otherwise by an old prophet in the city. He disobeyed the Lord and perished. Balaam was a charismatic prophet who was recognized to carry an unusual anointing by the people around, he refused God’s perfect will and settled for His permissive will. He died like a rebel on the battle field. Christian beware! Judas allowed the love of money to push him into betraying the Lord; he couldn’t spend a dime from the 30 pieces of silver he collected before he committed suicide. Demas, an associate of Paul the apostle, forsook the people of God and went to the city of Thessalonica not to seek for the lost souls but because he fell in love with this present evil world; he never came back before death struck and he leaped into a hopeless eternity because of mundane things of this world. Don’t forget the 10 virgins; the foolish ones didn’t know they were foolish until they missed the glorious opportunity to enter in with the groom.

Conviction and Consecration of the Conquerors Matthew 24. 13,  Titus 1. 7-9, Daniel 1.8, Daniel 3. 16-28, 1 Kings 22. 12-14, Jeremiah 17., 7-8,

In spite of the growing trend of compromise around the world, the grace of God is very much available to us as believers if we maintain our conviction on God’s word and maintain His standard. Daniel in Babylon maintained his stand and he didn’t defile himself. He stood upon His conviction in godliness, holiness and in prayer and God made him to conquer. The same was the three Hebrew children in Babylon. Micaiah also, was confronted with the compromise to change God’s word of judgement against Ahab, yet he stood upon his conviction and declared Gods word appropriately.  To maintain our conviction, we must be sure we are truly converted and consecrated to the Lord. We must also

v  Be on your guard not to allow temptation to fall you – 1 Peter 5:8; Mark 14:38

v  Maintain your regular quiet time – Mark 1:35

v  Weigh every option before you with God’s unchanging word – Psalms 119:11

v  Make the best use of available spiritual resources – Hebrews 10:25

v  Maintain clean hands and a pure heart – Psalm 24:3,4

v  Maintain a life of holiness everywhere – 1 Peter 1:14-16

v  Practice constant abiding presence of God – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Hebrews 4:13

v  Be conscious of heaven all the time – John 14:1-3

v  Be watchful and spiritually alert – Luke 21:36 and Be Prayerful -  Luke 21:36

We all know that we are living in the last days when compromise and backsliding are very rampant, We must maintain strong conviction over sin, Satan and the world so as nore to be entices away from God. The Lord has assured us of abundant reward of His presence and profits in this world and in heaven at the end “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” Revelation 21.7.