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COMMITMENT

COMMITMENT. PREACHING ON COMMITMENT. THINS THE RANKS SEPARATES THE CURIOSITY SEEKER SEPARATES THE SPECTATOR SEPARATES THE CASUAL ATTENDEE. TWO PROBLEMS TODAY. DEFICIENCY IN DILIGENCE NEGLIGENCE IN BIBLE STUDY CARELESSNESS IN OUR WALK UNCONCERN FOR THE LOST. TWO PROBLEMS TODAY.

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COMMITMENT

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  1. COMMITMENT

  2. PREACHING ON COMMITMENT • THINS THE RANKS • SEPARATES THE CURIOSITY SEEKER • SEPARATES THE SPECTATOR • SEPARATES THE CASUAL ATTENDEE

  3. TWO PROBLEMS TODAY • DEFICIENCY IN DILIGENCE • NEGLIGENCE IN BIBLE STUDY • CARELESSNESS IN OUR WALK • UNCONCERN FOR THE LOST

  4. TWO PROBLEMS TODAY • A SURPLUS OF BOREDOM • OBESE CHURCH BUILDINGS AND ANOREXIC PEWS • INTOLERANT TO “LONG SERMONS” (45 MIN) • USED TO BE ANYTHING LESS THAN 1 HOUR WAS SHORT • 2-3 HOUR SERMONS USED TO BE IN DEMAND WITH BRETHREN SITTING ON HARD BENCHES IN DRAFTY CHURCH BUILDINGS! • TODAY MANY COMPLAIN ON THEIR PADDED PEWS WHEN ONE GOES OVER 1 HOUR!

  5. NEHEMIAH 8:1-3 1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from [EARLY, RSV] morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

  6. WHAT THEY HAD: law of Moses law which pointed out sin glory of Moses inferior covenant came together with a committed heart to know law WHAT WE HAVE: law of Christ law of liberty glory of Christ “better covenant” ?????????? PARADOXICAL OBSERVATIONS CAN YOU IMAGINE A CHURCH COMING TOGETHER TODAY TO ASK THE PREACHER TO READ FROM THE NT FROM EARLY MORNING UNTIL MIDDAY?

  7. “COMMIT” “DEPOSITING” “ENTRUSTING” “GIVING OVER THAT WHICH WE HAVE TO ANOTHER” DEFINING COMMITMENT

  8. COMMIT • “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Lk. 23:46) • “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Pet. 4:19) • Key: Deposit soul to God • “Faithful” • “Creator”

  9. SPEAK OF COMMITMENT. . . SPEAK OF PRIORITIES • Life is all about priorities and values • How committed we are to something depends on how much we value it • Committed to marriage—treasure marriage • Committed to children—treasure children • Committed to self—treasure things (cf. Lk. 12:15-21) • We are never committed to things that we do not value

  10. JESUS IS NOT A 2ND PLACE PRIORITY • Do you like to take a number? • Sometimes we want to give Jesus a number! • Jesus doesn’t take anumber • Luke 9:59-62 • Matthew 6:33

  11. How Grossly Offensive Is A Non-Committed Christian? • Revelation 3:15, 16“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (NKJV)

  12. How Grossly Offensive Is A Non-Committed Christian? • 2 Peter 2:21-22,“For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire’” (NKJV)

  13. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • 14:25 – multitudes • Probably a multitude of curiosity-seekers • Probably a multitude of causal listeners • Probably a multitude of sincerely interested • Probably some who were committed

  14. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • 14:25 – multitudes • What an opportunity for truth • What would Jesus say? • What would you say if you had the opportunity? What would your message be? • Consider that some say: • “Preach with more compassion!” • “Don’t be so abrasive!”

  15. FIRE HIM Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • 14:25 – multitudes • Some Christians are ashamed of the gospel! • Some Christiansare ashamed ofGospel preachers • If preaching offends then “fire” the preacher

  16. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • 14:25 – multitudes • Jesus never sought a way to make His message more palatable to his listeners • We often see snap shots of “rejection” from the master teacher • Matthew 19:22 • John 6:61-66 • The response of many would be, “It’s time for a preacher change.”

  17. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • 14:26 – family not over Christ • Not advocating that we abuse spouse, children or be suicidal • Compare Genesis 29:30, 31 (“hated” v. 31; KJV) • When someone will not believe the truth because it condemns their family, Jesus responds: “You cannot be My disciple.”

  18. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • 14:27 – commitment crucifies • “bear your cross” • watered down definitions: • Physical problems • Employment problems • Lack of marital bliss

  19. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • Someone carrying a cross in the first-century didn’t have “problems.” He was a walking dead man! • Bear a cross today? • A relationship may get crucified because of truth • A job may get crucified because of truth • Crucify man of sin. . .die to sin (Rom. 6:1-6) • Mortify self-will (Matt. 16:24)

  20. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • 14:28-32 – commitment counts cost • Christianity has a “cost” • Salvation is “free” BUT not “cheap” • A wrong understanding of “freedom”Lyrics, “If this is a free country, why does it cost so much to live here?”

  21. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • Freedom CO$T$ as seen in the men who signed the “Declaration of Independence” • Five were tortured to death • Nine died in the actual war • Twelve had homes looted and burned • Two lost their sons in battle • One lost two sons in captivity • Christianity has a cost too! • “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem to lightly” Thomas Payne

  22. CHRISTIANITY COSTLYCOMMITMENT OR PREFERENCE? hospital forms, college studies, etc. inquire of “religious preference” • PREFERENCES: • COKE OR PEPSI • FORD OR CHEVY • CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA • ETC. CAUTION: WHEN CHURCHES ARE MADE UP OF ‘RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE,’ THEY WILL DIE!

  23. CHRISTIANITY COSTLYCOMMITMENT OR PREFERENCE? ‘RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT’ MEANS THAT YOU MAY LOSE YOUR JOB, A RELATIONSHIP, A PROMOTION • PREFERENCES: • DO NOT GET IN THE WAY • WON’T BEAR ANOTHER’S BURDEN UNLESS IT IS CONVENIENT • BIBLE STUDIES WON’T HAPPEN BECAUSE MEMBERS PREFER TO STAY HOME AND DO SOMETHING ELSE

  24. Luke 14:25-33 “Commitment” & “Discipleship” • 14:33 – commitment forsakes all for Christ • Are we possessed by our possessions? • Can we live without “things?” • If you have something that you cannot live without, you don’t own it; it owns you • Do things choke out the word?

  25. ROMANS 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (NKJV) • COMMITMENT • WHAT WILL BE THE LEGACY THAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND? • A MAN COMMITTED TO THINGS • A MAN COMMITTED TO THE LORD

  26. WHAT THE LORD SAYS AT JUDGMENT WILL BE IN PROPORTION TO OUR COMMITMENT

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