Gaining Convictions
Paul J. Bucknell
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What is it that enables us to gain convictions?
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Qualified
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What qualifies me to run?
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| Decisions |
What life events make me want to run?
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Events
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How have my past failures and victories shaped the way I will run this race?
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| Training |
What decisions have I made in my life that will ensure victory? |
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This is a most important question. We need to look into our own lives and think a bit about what our convictions are. We should also be aware that some of our convictions might not be good. Others might be good but not firmly enough developed. They can be shaken. I knew of one man who was running and had a stroke. His system could not bear the pressure on his system. I also know others who have taught many about having sexual pure convictions but later changed and committed adultery. What devastation occurred.
We have mentioned that the truest and most genuine convictions come from those who know Jesus Christ. This is the true source of convictions. Of course we recognize that those who don't know Christ also would be blessed to live sexually pure lives because of the design of God and marriage.
Gaining power
Those convictions come from knowing God. Those that have come to know God, have gained a new spiritual nature run by the Holy Spirit. He desires the things of God. He is able to understand the desires of his new nature by reading the Word of God. But our early Christian lives has a great impact on how we understand and live out our Christian lives.
Power but no conviction
For example, some have learned to ignore what they have read in the scriptures because those around them when they became Christians did not take God's Word seriously. This will cause them to have so many difficulties in life because they will not rightly understand their new nature. They will be tested and fall. Their convictions are not solidly built on God's Word.
Power but no faith
A further development of this person is when 'small' sins are tolerated. For example, we hear it is normal for teens to be interested in sexual matters. So many parents will consider it normal for them to get into pornography. If these sins have not been worked through, then they lay as an infection in their soul. They have the strength if they only knew how to get to it. They have spurts to become pure (because of the desire of the Holy Spirit) but fail because they have no faith that they could actually do it. They hear that it is natural for men to lusts. {It is natural but naturally wrong!]
We must see that problems can lead us to those who do not have the problem. They provide support. But if we do not adopt their convictions, then the trouble more than likely will come back at another time. The problem might be shaped differently, but the true source of the problem will again sprout forth difficulties in life.
Let's go on then and see what it is that brings a person to gain those convictions.
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• Events - do I know the real reasons I am running?
We must think through what the key events are that got us interested in this race. We might think of moral defeats, challenge to be a godly leader, scared that you were almost caught. These events are what propelled you to run for moral purity. But they usually are not enough to bring us across the line. So we need to think through a bit more clearly how to adopt those goals that will help you succeed at this good and wonderful goal of sexual purity.
What are the key events that prompted you to run?
Any particular person? What about them attracted you?
Any particular goal? What do you want from the race?
Any thing you are trying to avoid by running?
