Developing Biblical Convictions
Many are falling away from the faith because of a lack of Biblical conviction. Biblical conviction means being so convinced that the Bible is true that one lives by it and evaluates everything through it. Many agree that the Bible is true, but fewer hold it as something to live and judge everything by.
If we do not have Biblical convictions, we can easily fall to any popular thing or doctrine that comes along.
Receiving
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Receiving the word presupposes that you will be humble enough to turn away from those things contrary to the Word of God.
We build Biblical convictions by receiving the preaching and teaching of God’s word. The testimonies of others who are living out God’s word also builds confidence in our hearts. Moreover, spiritual impartations through the laying on of hands, and declarations also build Biblical conviction.
Believe The Preaching and teaching of God’s Word
For yourself: Receive it by turning away from your own ways, and accepting it as true.
Share the conviction by preaching and teaching
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Testimonies of applying the truth of God’s Word
Deuteronomy 6:21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
For yourself: Listen to the testimonies of other believers who have experienced the power of living by the word of God. Read the biographical books of reputable men and women of God to learn what God did in their lives.
Share your testimony with others.
Impartation
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
You can receive impartation through the laying on of hands, prophetic utterances, and declarations. Allow proven men and women of God to lay hands on you. Receive the input of others in your life when they speak into your life.
Speak into the lives of others prophetically, and lay hands on them in prayer to walk in the conviction of God’s word.
Seeing
Examples of people living out God’s Word
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
For yourself, look for examples of godly men and women of God. Those who are committed believers live out God’s word and the impact of living by God’s word is seen in their lives. By seeing the example of godly living people, Biblical conviction grows.
To pass on Biblical conviction, be an example of living by the Word of God to others.
Studying
Confirm what You Hear and See with personal Study of the Bible
Acts 17:11 -12 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed;
Many Christians stop at listening to sound preaching and teaching and looking at examples of godly living. However, it is crucial to confirm what you hear and see by studying the scriptures for yourself.
Encourage others to study the Word of God for themselves. Do a Bible study with them.
Encourage Bible reading and scripture memorization
Three Simple Bible Study Methods
Devotional Study - read a short passage, and then meditate on it for application in your own life. This is an essential first step in studying the Bible for believers. Ask the following questions as you read:
What does this passage say to me?
Where am I falling short? Give specific examples.
What am I going to do about it?
Take notes of your reflection for future reference.
Topical Study
Decide on a topic and list all the possible words related to the topic. For example, if the topic is healing related words would be health, wholeness, sickness, affliction, etc.
Read and study every verse related to the topic.
Compare and group the verses you have studied.
Create an outline of your results.
Chapter Study
Read a chapter in its entirety.
Give a caption to describe the chapter.
List the major points of the chapter.
Major characters in the chapter.
Key verse or verses
Identify keywords
Use cross-references in your Bible to help you understand it.
How is Christ revealed in the chapter?
What are the major lessons of the chapter?
Apply the findings to your own life.
For example in John 3, you could give it the caption, “Entering the Kingdom of God”. John 3:3 and John 3:16 are key verses. Believe and born seem to be keywords. John 3:14 can refer back to Numbers 21; most bibles will have a reference to it.
Applying
Apply the Word of God to your life
God’s Word is not fully understood without application. We apply God’s word by taking action on what God is telling us to do.
Teach others that they will not really know the truth without doing the truth.
Hebrews 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
By applying the word of God our senses become more attuned to the differences between wrong and right. Our consciences become more sensitive and lively to doing the Word of God. Therefore, our convictions grow.
Teaching
By teaching the Word of God we build up ourselves.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
You reinforce the truth in your own heart when you teach it to others, and you help to develop Biblical conviction to others
This is missing among many. We do not teach others God’s word starting with the gospel and the rudiments of the Christian life.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
When you apply these things you grow in Biblical conviction. You will not only verbally assent to the truth of scripture, but God’s words will be hidden in your heart, and active in your life. This grounds you from drifting away from the truth because you have full confidence in the Word of God for yourself.
