DATE: – 6TH JUNE, 2021
TOPIC: – COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS WORK (Part 2)
BIBLE PASSAGE: – Luke 9:21 – 26, 57 – 62
MEMORY VERSE: -“And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62)
INTRODUCTION: – Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. Starting a journey is not as important as finishing it. To run the race of life and eternity, one must be committed to the course. Those who take commitment with levity or out rightly neglecting it would surely not end well or succeed. Commitment is one very important key to success in life and ministry. There is hardly any meaningful achievement without true commitment to God.
LESSON OUTLINES
1) Causes And Dangers Of Halfhearted Commitment
Those who are halfhearted committed Christians truly realize that they need Christ’s forgiveness (i.e. accepting Him as Saviour) but never really accept Christ as the Lord of their lives, and thus never become part of His true Church. Others may at first accept Christ however; they never allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives. As a result, their commitment never becomes strong enough to endure life’s trial (Mk.4:15-17). Even if they become part of His church, they do not show true commitment to Christ and His work. They are not separated from ungodly behaviours, beliefs and lifestyles that are so common in the world.
These halfhearted spiritual commitments results from: –
1) The Church fails in the responsibility of:
a) Communicating the truth of Christ’s message thoroughly, making a commitment to Christ seem too easy or neglecting to emphasize the cost of following Christ
b) Failing to follow through with new converts by not establishing the new converts with planned discipleship, thereby neglecting to help them develop solid Christian relationships that will encourage growth and accountability.
c) Failing to deal with the demonic powers that trouble, oppress and enslave people; sin. (Mk.16:15-17; Mt.10:1,8; 12:22-29).
ii) Spiritual “seekers” believe in Christ only with the mind, but not with the heart. That is to say, they never truly devote themselves to Christ and His purposes.
iii) Seekers fail to repent – to turn from their sinful ways and make a complete life change (Mk.3:2; Acts 8:18-23).
iv) Seekers want to accept Christ as Saviour but not as Lord (Mt.13:20-21). That is, they want the benefits of forgiveness and salvation, but they do not actively give the leadership and Lordship of their lives to Christ and submit fully to His authority.
v) The faith of seekers is based on persuasive words or charismatic personalities rather than a true response to God’s Spirit or an effective display of God’s power in the Church (1Corint.2:4-5).
2) The purpose and price of commitment in Every life that is not meaningful and valuable.
Christ lived a clearly defined and purposeful life. He pursued His life purpose with all vigour. He gave all for us and left for the glory of the Father so that we might be ransomed (Phil.2:5-11). In like manner, there should be nothing two great and no price too high for us to pay as we show our loyalty to God (1Corint.6:19-20; 2Corint.5:20; Phil.3:7-14). Just as the Lord Jesus Christ paid the utmost price for the prize, going to the cross to get the Crown as King of kings. So we must: (i) deny ourselves (Lk.9:23-24; 1Corint.9:27).
ii) Forgetting those things that are past, successes, failures, glory, shame etc (Phil.3:12).
iii) Focus on the Lord Jesus Christ (Lk.9:62; Heb.12:2).
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
No one lives commitedly for God without being ransomely rewarded because God is faithful Rewarder. Whatever you do for God, be committed to Him and you will surely receive your reward (Rom.3:6-9; 1Co.15:58).
QUESTIONS
- Why are people having halfhearted commitment today?
- Why must we be committed to God and the work?