I Am Convinced
It’s amazing what we get convinced by these days. We live in a world where we are constantly being convinced of things – I've been convinced to buy a certain face cream, I’ve been convinced with hair products, I’ve been convinced by people telling me how things are going to change my life and make it better. It’s also amazing how we can be convinced by negative things. You’re not beautiful. You’re not good enough. Look at your family, look at your past, look at your background. Don’t ever dream that big, that dream is too big for you. It’s amazing how our hearts can be convinced so easily by all sorts of stuff.
But today, I want to remind you that the most important thing that you can be convinced of is that our God is a faithful God. Girls, I am convinced that this is what we have got to do in our hearts. We have to be people that believe and are so convinced in God, in His Word & in His promises.
Are you fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises?
In Romans 4, Abraham discovers something about being made right with God. If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about, but that was not God's way. The Scriptures tell us Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith, even before he was circumcised. In those days, circumcision was a sign of faith, but Abraham was already a spiritual father and God had accepted Him and declared him righteous beforehand.
The promise that God gave to Abraham was received by faith. God told him, he was a father of many nations and Abraham kept believing what God had said to him, even when there was no reason to hope. He knew God was a God who would bring the dead back to life and a God who could create new things out of nothing. Abraham’s faith did not weaken, and even at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead just like Sarah’s womb, but Abraham’s faith didn’t waver. In fact, his faith grew stronger and in this, he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
We need to be convinced of who we are in Christ. We need to be convinced that what the Bible says about us is the truth. Not what the world says, not what world leaders say, not what our family might say. What God says is what I want us to be convinced by, and this is what I'm wanting to stir within us. When I convince you of how beautiful you are, how incredible you are, you know, we need to convince ourselves that God has made us, created us. He creates all life, it's Him. We weren't ever a mistake. We are God's divine purpose. We need to convince ourselves we are alive and breathing for such a time as this. And we're not just alive and breathing, we're here with destiny. We're here with authority. We're here with anointing, we are here to change the world for Jesus, we are here to bring breakthrough. We are here to heal the sick, raise the dead. That's what God has placed upon us.
When we convinced about the things of God, we see them become a reality. See, this is what God said to us. You know, pray, Jesus encouraged us pray like this. Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. It's God's kingdom, and so being part of Kingdomcity, you have a mandate to see heaven on earth through you. This is about being convinced. This is why I'm alive. This is why I'm part of this church. This is why I'm proud of this leadership – to convince ourselves of this, but also to convince ourselves that God loves us. We are so loved by God. His thoughts towards us outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore. This is what the Bible says. Think of how many grains of sand and think of how many thoughts He has toward you and because He is good!
See, we tend to filter God through judgement, we filter Him through maybe a religious spirit that was saying to you, you're not good enough, you've messed up here, and you've messed up there. I've just read Romans chapter four. And it's your faith that makes you right with God. It's His ability to cleanse us of our sin to make us right with Him. It's our faith in His capacity to do that and so many of us live under such judgement, that we can't possibly convince ourselves that God truly loves us or wants to love us. God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die for us so that He can be in relationship with us again! That’s how much He loves us.
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!”
Oh, come on. We’ve got to be women of faith. We are beautiful and we have faith. It's not about this exterior. It's about what we believe. When challenges come, remember that God loves you. Don’t allow the enemy to use circumstances to try and shift what you’re convinced of. We need to say to ourselves, we are more than conquerors. We are overcomers. That is the Word of God. God said, He would supply all my needs, according to His glory. So even when I face difficulties, I tell myself this and I am convinced that God is true to His word.
The more we believe, the deeper we are convinced about our God, the more beautiful we become because joy radiates out of us. Do not be afraid – God is with you!
Sign up for Greenroom to watch the ‘I Am Convinced’ sermon & more!
*Extracted from ‘I Am Convinced’ sermon by Sam Evans during Beautiful Brunch
Sam Evans helps to champion the mandate of Planetshakers and implement the vision alongside her husband, Russell Evans. Sam is a gifted an anointed preacher and worship leader who operates powerfully in the prophetic.