Can you be persuaded? If you get talked into something, you’ve been persuaded. For example, if you convince your parents to allow you to borrow the car on a Friday night, you have persuaded them.
The time in which we live offers ample opportunity to be persuaded by the news and media that your demise is imminent and assured. Accepting this perspective makes it hard to accomplish the plan and purpose God has for your life individually as well as your part to play in the overall vision God has for the body of Christ where building His kingdom is concerned.
Some time back, the Lord spoke this to me, “There’s more for the body of Christ than what it has seen. There’s more and I’ll do more as it comes to the place of relying on Me and My word instead of the media and the world rather than only running to Me as a last resort.” He continued, “I work best when placed at the beginning of all things, for then all that I am is running through the system of the thing pursued, initiated, or built.” Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God…” John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” When God’s word is at the beginning of our day, thoughts, and words we will begin to see and accomplish His plan and purpose for our lives. This is called divine persuasion which influences the way you think, talk, and act.
Hebrews 11:1 Begins with, “Now faith is….” The word faith here is the Greek word pis-tis which means conviction of truth, belief, or trust. Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go....” The word faith here is the Greek word pi-tho from which pis-tis is derived. Pi-tho means, persuasion, to induce one by words to believe, or agree; to listen to, obey, yield to, comply. The way we come to a place of conviction concerning truth is to be consistently persuaded by God’s word.
We must stay under the influence of God’s word. Just like an individual under the influence of drugs or alcohol begins to act outside of their natural character, being bolder, and louder in word and deed, so does the believer who digests and comes under the influence of God’s word.
I present three benefits of being divinely persuaded by God’s word.
Peace of mind. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” How do you keep your mind stayed on God? It’s not thinking about a glory cloud or some mystical unfathomable throne room somewhere in heaven trying to envision God.
Instead, the only way to keep our minds stayed on Him is to keep our minds stayed on His word. If you had a vision of Jesus, it wouldn’t matter so much how He looked as what He said. It is by meditation on God’s word that we are transformed into the reality of what Christ purchased and gave as our inheritance.
Understanding. This is a big one and is extremely important to accomplish what God has called you to. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Psalms 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith (by conviction of truth we are persuaded to believe) we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God….” When we are divinely persuaded by God’s word, we understand the impossible and accept spiritual truths that supersede natural elements. This is where you begin to succeed despite all opposition of economic downturn, recession, and plague.
What explanation is to the mind, understanding is to the spirit. Job 32:8 says, “But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty (2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God breathed….”) gives him understanding.” When you have understanding you have insight. You have been taught by the Holy Spirit divine truths that bring complete freedom from all lies of the enemy. This is why the Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesian 1:17-18 AMPC, “…That He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into the mysteries and secrets] into the deep and intimate knowledge of Him. So that you know and understand the hope to which He called you….”
Divine persuasion will move you to a place of understanding that will fix your heart and establish it completely on the foundation of truth, safeguarding it from deception and insecurity.
Confidence. Hebrews 10:35 says, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” The word confidence here means, unreservedness of speech. The image seen here is not so much of your posture as it is your confession. When God speaks to you concerning your breakthrough, healing, or His vision for increase in your life it will come with opposition to back you down and intimidate you, to get you to exchange your confident confession for an anxious complaint.
When you have God’s word and a clear and precise direction, there is no reservedness or timidity, only confidence in God and His word, boldness and full courage! We see this in Acts 27:23-25, “For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all whose who sail with you. Therefore, take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be JUST AS it was told me.” When you are under God’s divine persuasion there will be an abundant peace, established heart, and confidence in the promise that it will be just as it was proclaimed! No questions or concerns! God has you completely and without reserve.