To be Persuaded.
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Acts 26:27-29 NKJV
Almost persuaded.
Persuaded means to be convinced and without a doubt.
In Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words defines the word “persuade” as to prevail upon or win over, to bring about a change of mind by the influence of reason or moral considerations.
We don’t think very often about the importance of persuasion and our faith in Jesus Christ.
It’s through this change of mind that we commit ourselves, our lives, our thoughts,our actions. What has convinced us about the saving grace, the forgiveness of sins and restoration.
This happens when we finally submit to the idea that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Then it’s by the power of our Testimony in Christ of what He has said in His Holy Word that made you come to that decision.
That is all the result of being persuaded.
Once we hear the Truth of the Gospel we have to make a conscious effort to consider receiving it, then be persuaded because of it!
Is what people said about the Messiah true? Is there really a place called Heaven?
So if there is Heaven, what about Hell? Are there really blessings and curses? Why being a good person isn’t good enough to bring you into an Eternity with the Father.
There are two parts to this. There’s the one that has to know and have the confidence to speak of the things of the Kingdom as true, with no doubt!
It has to be more than a feeling, more than an emotion. It has to be at the core of everything you believe to be true.
Then there has to be not just an impression of heart but also of mind and thinking. We have to be fully persuaded about the truth and the results of the Gospel.
If we are not and do not, or refuse to accept it then doubt settles in. These are the ones that fall away from the faith, because they weren’t fully persuaded in the power of the Resurrection!
As a Follower of Jesus Christ we have to be better at persuading the lost to the Glory of the Kingdom of God through the life, death and Resurrection of the Father’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Have we learned to persuade about the Salvation we find in Christ.
Yes, we must go and Proclaim and Explain to fill the Command of the Great Commission.
Don’t stop there.
We must speak of the truthfulness of the Word of God.
Persuasion is not trying to trick someone to believe what you believe. Persuasion is at the root of being a good evangelist for the Kingdom of God! It’s speaking of the Goodness, Faithfulness, Love, Mercy, Grace the Father has. Persuasive speaking of the Salvation, Redemption, Restoration and the Regeneration found in Jesus.
How do you accomplish this?
Connect with people. Try to understand their circumstances.
Don’t get frustrated when speaking. Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work.
Continue to have Hope like the Apostle Paul and believe the Power of Truth! Then pray to the Father in the name of His Son Jesus that “all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am”!
The Holy Spirit can still work in the heart of the almost Persuaded!
The Holy Spirit will change these hearts and minds.
We will never be able to bring anyone to the Foot of the Cross if we are just Almost persuaded!
We have to be convinced, without a doubt and be the influence of reason to the Truth that we have found!
Then the guiding of people to the Grace of God through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus will not just be in body, but in heart and mind!
Be Persuasive!
Pastor Ed