The West Coast of Canada and the United States has a reputation as the destination for people who are fleeing the oppressive restraints of their parents religion. People come out here to be free, to shed the shackles that bound them. Many of them like the idea of a fresh start without God.

These are people who temporarily adopted their parents religion but fail to developed their own strong Biblical convictions. To them God is like a wet blanket at a party.

One of my pastoral goals is to minister in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit so that our New Hope congregation are a people with strong Biblical convictions that propel them into ministry. A Biblical conviction is a Biblical principle or truth that we hold and follow no matter what it may cost us.

A strong Biblical conviction is dynamic and throbs with life. The joyful embracing of that conviction brings great glory to God and joy to the person holding the conviction. Convictions are life long affirmations of Biblical truth that help keep us walking in the ways of God and living so that we will be the head and not the tail.

Biblical convictions grow in our lives as we read the Bible and listen to Biblical messages. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the reality of a Biblical truth and gives us a strong desire to live by our Biblical convictions.

About three years ago Tiger Woods said, "There is a fundamental flaw in my golf swing. If I don't change my swing, I will never be able to hit the ball further than I am hitting it now. My defective swing will put a cap on my golf score." The conviction grew in him that he needed to re-build his golf swing, Today we can see the difference that conviction made in his life.

The young Hebrew slave Daniel had a conviction that he must be true to Jehovah God no matter what the consequences. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table.

Daniel had a conviction that he would compromise his faith in God if he ate food that had been offered to idols. He was convinced that eating that food would constitute an act of disloyalty to Jehovah God.

Here is the Biblical account of this incident. Speaking about the elite slaves Daniel says, (v.5)"The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service. Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

(v.7) The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

9 Now God had caused the official to show favour and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."

(v.11) Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." (Daniel 1:5-13 NIV)

Let's never underestimate the power and willingness of God to influence a pagan official to do His will. Daniel was not obnoxious nor belligerent or self-righteous about his conviction.

The way that some Christians hold their convictions makes me sad. They parade their convictions in a pious way that makes people sick. You wonder if they have ever heard of the word graciousness. Daniel had no expectation that the official would share his convictions. He understood that the chief official had a job to do.

Daniel believed that he and the official could find a win/win solution to their problem. Incidently, to find a win/win solution both sides in a dispute must be big enough to understand what the underlying objectives of each side are.

Daniel understood that the objective of the official was to prepare him and his friends for the big examination before the king in three years. His complexion, physique, general wisdom, understanding and knowledge would be tested.

It is obvious that Daniel understood something about dietary laws. He knew that a strict vegetarian and water fast does miracles for your complexion and clarity of thinking. Let's not forget that God gave Daniel and his friends favour with Daniel's supervisor.

Let's continue reading from the Bible. (v.14) "So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

(v.17) "To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.

(v.19) The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom." (Daniel 1:5-20 NIV)

WOW, ten times better. So far so good. Daniel and his three friends stuck to their God honouring convictions and God blessed them. Remember, life does not always work this way.

In future messages we'll discover that holding to Biblical convictions can cost us our life. Holding to his convictions propelled Daniel into a life time of ministry and service. Many years ago I adopted nine biblical convictions that propel me into the service of the Lord.

1. I am convinced that The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority for my attitudes, actions and ministry.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV)

2. I am convinced that God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit worked together to save me from the penalty of sin, they are presently saving and keeping me from the power of sin and one glorious day will save me from the presence of sin.
This is my sure hope. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:22-24 NIV) "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2 NIV) "But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (I John 3:2 NIV)

3. I am convinced that I must love God with my whole being and my neighbour as myself. I will build my goals around this conviction. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33 NIV) "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8 NIV)

4. I am convinced that the church is the body of Christ in this world and that I honour God by my weekly attendance and support.
"Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25 NIV)

5. I am convinced that God expects me to be a majestic oak of righteousness who finishes life well.
"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour." (Isaiah 61:3 NIV) "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV)

6. I am convinced that my choices and attitudes influence and impact my children and grandchildren.
Therefore I must walk humbly and with integrity before my God to earn the right to speak into their lives. "Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14 NIV) "What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father." (Galatians 4:1-2 NIV)

7. I am convinced that My marriage is a life-long commitment to God, Sonia, my family and friends.
"So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Matthew 19:6 NIV)

8. I am convinced that My money is a trust from God and must be earned and managed according to Scriptural principles.
"So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16:11 NIV) "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV)

9. I am convinced that My affections must be set on things above, not on things in the earth.
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:20-21 NIV) "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 3:2 NIV)

Conclusion:
What our your Biblical convictions? Have you recorded them on paper? Until you write them down they are merely ideas floating in the ether of laughing gas. Write them on paper, sign your name to them and then commit yourself to live by them. Instead of binding and restricting you, these Biblical convictions will release and propel you into the joy and blessing of serving God and others out of a pure heart.