Faith and Conviction from Christian Union's National Fast in 2020
by dimas SalaBerrios (2020); updated by erin conner (2024)
The following devotional is a transcript of a video devotional that was originally recorded as part of Christian Union's National Fast in 2020 by Dimas Salaberrios. Salaberrios is the author of Street God: The Explosive True Story of a Former Drug Boss and his film “Chicago: America’s Hidden War” was recently nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. He is also the founder and former pastor of Infinity Bible Church in New York City, and the President Emeritus of Concerts of Prayer Greater New York.
Salaberrios has been on the frontlines of the earthquakes in Haiti and of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. After the shootings in Saint Paul, Dallas, Charleston, and Paris, Salaberrios organized believers to infiltrate the protests and pray with hurting people. He has also organized prayer during the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis and in New York City. His directorial debut is titled, “Chicago: America’s Hidden War, and he co-produced the documentary film “Emanuel.” Salaberrios will be a featured speaker at the next Christian Union Fire Retreat being held October 4-5, 2024 entitled, "America Returning to God."
Have We Lost Conviction?
Today, I want to talk to you about a word that used to be very popular, but I don't hear it in Christian circles as much as I would like, and that word is conviction. I remember in the 90s, it was very big to discuss about "this person has conviction when they speak, this person is firm in their beliefs. This person has authority when they talk." Even in the Gospels they said [of] the disciples, [that] they spoke with an authority. What that all is discussing is the word conviction.
One definition for conviction is a firm-held belief. I love the way the Apostle Paul, when he wrote to the church in Galatia, he was talking about conviction, and he says this in Galatians 2:5. He says, "But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour." What Paul was saying was, we didn't bow down or soften the gospel or soften what we believe, "not even for an hour." And then he goes further to say, "so that the truth of the gospel will remain with you." In other words, there are people that are looking for us to have conviction of who we are.
Some people are asking, "Where is God? Where is Jesus?" When times are going on, when turmoil is showing up or catastrophe happens, I want to tell everyone: Jesus is always on the throne. Jesus is always in control. There are things that happen in this world. There are bad things, and evil, because this world is a fallen world, but our God has to never leave His stature or His status in order to reach us or minister to us. But we have to all be reminded through our faith, through our trust in Christ, that we speak with conviction.
There are things pecking out faith all day long ... articles written, things that we read ... to try to say, "Try this path. No, no, try this path." But we have to hold fast that we know the way, and the way is through Jesus Christ. And when we pray with conviction, when we walk in conviction, when we trust in Christ, I'm telling you, time and time again, I've seen God show up.
I love the way in Hebrews where it talks about faith, in the ESV, it says this, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." In other words, the belief. Do you believe that Jesus can save this world? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that Jesus is coming back again?
If you do, then walk in faith, walk in boldness, walk in conviction.
Learn more about the speakers of the upcoming CU Fire Retreat or register to attend this powerful weekend retreat in your own home this fall here.
