Tim Conway challenges believers to deeply examine and firmly anchor their faith in Jesus Christ amid life's storms and doctrinal challenges.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of truly knowing and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, especially in times of trials and challenges. It highlights the need to have a solid foundation in Christ to withstand the storms of life, including false teachings and personal struggles. The speaker urges listeners to deeply examine their faith and relationship with Jesus, ensuring that He is the anchor of their souls and the ultimate refuge in times of trouble.
Full Transcript
Brethren, I would ask you this, do you really know what you believe about the Lord Jesus Christ? I mean, do you really know what you believe? When you've got a son with lymphoma, you begin to ask the question, what do I really believe? You know, right here in this space where I stand, there was a body yesterday. When you're a young woman with two young children and you're standing in front of an open casket with your husband in it, start asking yourself what you really believe. Do we know what we really believe? See, this is what lifts us out of childishness.
Because this idea of waves and this idea of wind, that's an idea of storms and they come. And what he says is they're doctrinal. We get hit with truth and error.
Lots of error, bad doctrine. You know what it does? It tests what we believe. It's constantly pulling us.
We're confronted by waves and winds and storms of bad teaching and waves and winds and storms of what life brings upon us. And the issue is what do we really believe? Do you really know where your hope is set? When things don't go your way, when the bottom begins to fall out, when the foundations are giving way, do you really know what you believe about the Son of God? And you don't want to leave that part off the end. This is not just the faith in some ambiguous way.
What do you really believe about the Lord Jesus Christ? What do you really believe that He is to you? Who is He? You see, this is the issue with mature manhood. Yes, it's that we rightly handle the oracles of God. It's that we know them.
It's that by practice, our powers of discernment. But I'll tell you this, this comes down. Paul is very specific here.
Paul is specific about the Scripture, about what we believe, and it's got to do with the Son of God. That's the issue. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the sure, steadfast anchor of your soul? When the devil rushes in, and he will, because he's looking for opportunity and he's looking for people to devour, and we see what he did to Job, and we see what he did to Peter, we see that he came upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and he's looking for opportunity with each one of us.
When he rushes in, have you so tried and proven the Lord Jesus Christ that you know exactly where to run? Have you so tried and proved the promises that are given? All those promises that we can stand back, and you know, on the good sunny day we can say, oh, all those promises are yes and amen in Christ. But I'll tell you, when the storms come, you know where the children go? They go to the Internet. Where do the children go? They go to the TV.
Where do the children go? They go to the distractions. They go somewhere else. They go to whatever's sedative in this world.
Have we tried and proven Christ that we know He's our only refuge? You see, this is what brings people up out of childishness. Childhood. You have an arsenal of promises that you have tried and proven.
This excerpt was taken from the full sermon, No Longer Children.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Questioning what we truly believe about Jesus
- Life’s hardships prompt deep faith reflection
- Moving beyond childish faith
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II
- Storms represent doctrinal and life challenges
- Truth and error test our beliefs
- The necessity of discernment
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III
- Jesus Christ as the steadfast anchor of the soul
- The devil’s attacks and spiritual warfare
- Proving God’s promises through experience
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IV
- The danger of seeking worldly distractions
- Maturity means relying solely on Christ
- Having an arsenal of proven promises
Key Quotes
“Do you really know what you believe about the Lord Jesus Christ?” — Tim Conway
“Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the sure, steadfast anchor of your soul?” — Tim Conway
“When the storms come, you know where the children go? They go to the Internet. Where do the children go? They go to the TV. Where do the children go? They go to the distractions.” — Tim Conway
Application Points
- Regularly evaluate and deepen your personal belief in Jesus Christ through prayer and Scripture.
- Rely on proven promises of God as your refuge during life's challenges instead of worldly distractions.
- Develop spiritual discernment to recognize and stand firm against false teachings and trials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tim Conway mean by 'do you really know what you believe?'
He challenges believers to examine the depth and authenticity of their faith, especially in difficult circumstances.
Why are storms used as a metaphor in the sermon?
Storms symbolize both life’s hardships and doctrinal challenges that test and refine our faith.
How can believers prepare for spiritual attacks?
By knowing and proving God’s promises through experience and maintaining a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ.
What is the danger of turning to worldly distractions during trials?
It leads believers away from Christ, preventing spiritual growth and maturity.
What does maturity in faith look like according to the sermon?
It involves moving beyond childishness to a tested, proven, and anchored faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
