Episode 4: God's Word.
PERSONAL CONVICTION.
Memory Verse: This people honours me with their lips but their heart is far from me. Mathew 15 : 8
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, conviction is a strong belief or opinion.
What is the reason that makes you go to church? Why are you going to the house of God? Does your parent, wife, husband, or friend force you? Or you just decide to go? Are you victimized to go or what?
In this today's memory verse, God decried people's habit towards worshipping him. It is a taboo to worship God through mouth, not heart. We are meant to worship God in our heart.
What does your heart say about God, Jesus and Holy Spirit? Do you believe in all? If your answer is Yes, then you need to move close to God.
Tips to Having Personal Conviction.
(1) Studying the word of God: the word of God is not a fairy tale. It is true and given to you and me. Study it daily and you closeness with God will improve. Joshua 1 : 8
(2) Manifestation of Holy Spirit: You ought to have been baptized in the spirit. You must have been speaking in tongue, performing miracles, deciphering spirits and a lot. Many people who backslide do not have these because they do not have connection with God. Jesus says that God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in truth and spirit. John 4 : 24. If you are not spiritual, you can never have the conviction.
Do not use the years you have been in the church for this; it is not how far but how well. Spiritual baptism will surely give you the strong believe about God, Jesus' work of redemption and the manifestation of holy spirit.
In christianity, we work in spirit. If you do not connect with God in spirit by your heart, your reward is like that man's who fetches water inside the basket.
Salvation is personal, you also must have personal salvation. Do not follow anyone to church. Rather, it is your personal conviction. If that person that forces you to church dies or desist due to circumstances, what will be your fate? Will your backslide? Will you still worship God?
Brethren, worshipping God while your heart is far away from God is in vain ( Matthew 15 : 9) Move close to God, repent, read the bible and pray for holy spirit baptism. You need to grow; individually. True worship of your pastor, father, mother, child, friend or relative cannot be of help to you. Do not go to church because you want to see somebody, rather, see Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.
Peace!