Committed To Follow God

Introduction

Ruth 1:6–17 KJV 1900

6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Attention: Night School

Kevin Hart plays the part of Teddy Walker.

Teddy Walker is a successful salesman whose life takes an unexpected turn when he accidentally blows up his place of employment. Forced to attend night school to get his GED, Teddy soon finds himself dealing with a group of misfit students, his former high school nemesis, and a feisty teacher who doesn't think he's too bright.

Kevin Hart finds himself not committed to doing the work in night school. He is trying to bribe the teacher in giving him a good grade without doing the work. The teacher inform him if he was not going to be committed to doing the work he need to remove himself from the class.

we found ourselves in the same condition trying to bribe God. We come to church every once in a while we do study his word. God is calling us this morning to be committed.

Needs: We find ourselves struggling when it comes to the word commitment.

We find ourselves too busy when it comes to commitment today. We find ourselves making excuses when it comes to commitment, we’ll God has a word for us today about this word commitment.

Contexts: At the beginning of the book of Ruth, the author introduces Elimelech’s family in the midst of a crisis. Due to a famine in Judah, Elimelech, his wife, Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, sojourn in Moab. The family leaves the “house of bread” (Bethlehem) in order to find food in a foreign country (Moab). The emphasis on their being Ephrathites recalls the disheartening end to the book of Judges (17–21), where many of the events occur in or around “Bethlehem of Judah” (Judg 17:1, 7; 19:1, etc.). The question arises whether this family will provide relief from the judges era or whether they will be just another pitfall in the history of Israel. After the death of her husband and sons, Naomi is left with only her daughters-in-law.

The Interrogative statement:

The Transitional statement:

Point 1 Commitment Will Challenge Us To Leave Something’s Behind vs 8-9

Explanation:

Explanation:

Explanation:

Illustration: Philippians 3:13

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press on towards the goal (3:13–14)

As if to ensure that the Philippians did not think Paul believed he had somehow already ‘arrived’ he repeats, ‘I do not consider that I have made it [the resurrection] my own’. Let them understand that his eye is on the future, not the present, nor the past. Accordingly, he states that he ‘forgets what lies behind’ by which he primarily means his qualities and achievements as a ‘Hebrew of Hebrews’ (3:4–6), which belonged to his pre-Damascus years. But it is likely that Paul also includes aspects of his Christian past. No doubt Paul had made his share of mistakes and matters in which he was not proud. Like others he was a morally flawed man as he so graphically acknowledges in Romans 7:7–25 (also Galatians 3:22–23).

It is good to learn from the lessons of the past, including from our own mistakes. But it can be unhelpful repeatedly to dwell on the past. God wants us to seek his forgiveness and, in the strength of his grace, to turn the page on the past and to move on. If we live in the past we may easily develop a ‘victim’ complex whereby the all-important thing for us is to seek the sympathy of others. This is not the way of spiritual victory or moral progress.

Argument: “ Joshua 24:14-27

KEY BIBLE VERSE: If you are unwilling to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)

Our commitment to God must be consistent.

The people had to decide whether they would obey the Lord, who had proven his trustworthiness, or obey the local gods, which were only man-made idols. It’s easy to slip into a quiet rebellion—going about life in your own way. But the time comes when you have to choose who or what will control you. In taking a definite stand for the Lord, Joshua again displayed his spiritual leadership. Regardless of what others decided, Joshua had made a commitment to God, and he was willing to set the example of living by that decision. The way we live shows others the strength of our commitment to serving God.”

Point 2 Commitment will challenge us to keep going when we are discouraged.

Explanation: The fact that Orpah and Ruth were accompanying her meant a most wonderful thing: they would soon be exposed to the message of the Lord, that He is the only living and true God. They would have the opportunity to be saved, to become believers and be identified with the people of God.

For this reason, Naomi should have been encouraging Orpah and Ruth to accompany her. But she soon began to discourage them.

Explanation: She pressed them to return home to their families. Her suggestion reveals a spiritual insensitivity, a spirit of dullness. She was using her influence to turn them away from God, not to God. She was suggesting that they return to the world of unbelievers and false worship. Why? Why did Naomi encourage her two daughters-in-law to return home? So they could remarry; so they could find comfort and security in the home of another husband. But their devotion to Naomi ran ever so deep. As she kissed them good-bye, they began to feel the pain of separation, weeping and declaring a deep sense of obligation to her. They professed they would stay with Naomi, going with her to her people

Illustration: “OVERCOMERS, VICTORY OF

GOVERNOR George Wallace on June 11, 1963, defied the federal court by standing in front of the doors of the University of Alabama to keep two black students from entering in. He said, “You’ll enter in over my dead body.” He was maintaining a system of segregation in the University of Alabama.

The only problem was that the U.S. government sent down U.S. marshals to escort the two students. They said, “Governor Wallace, you have two choices. You can remove yourself from in front of these doors, or we can remove you. But one thing is going to be the case: you’re not going to block the law of the United States, which says that you must not maintain segregation at this University. Things are going to change today. Now, you decide whether you’re going to get out of the way, or whether we’re going to get you out of the way, but you need to know you will be out of the way.”

When God joins you in the lions’ den, and Satan has taken his stand against you, and he’s gotten your boss to stand against you, your friends to stand against you, your.

Argument:“1 Samuel 1:1-28

KEY BIBLE VERSE: Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. (1 Samuel 1:10)

Prayer is the key to handling discouragement.

Hannah had good reason to feel discouraged and bitter. She was unable to bear children; she shared her husband with a woman who ridiculed her (1:7); her loving husband could not solve her problem (1:8); and even the high priest misunderstood her motives (1:14). But instead of retaliating or giving up hope, Hannah prayed. She brought her problem honestly before God.

Each of us may face times of barrenness when nothing “comes to birth” in our work, service, or relationships. It is difficult to pray in faith when we feel so ineffective. But, as Hannah discovered, prayer opens the way for God to work (1:19-20).”

Point 3 Commitment will challenge us to stay on course

Explanation:

Explanation:

Explanation:

Illustration: ROY RIEGELS: DON'T GIVE UP

On New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played the University of California in the Rose Bowl. A UC player named Roy Riegels, who was their center, recovered a fumble for California and in the confusion of evading some of the Georgia Tech tacklers, started running sixty-five yards… in the wrong direction. Just before Riegels was about to score for Georgia Tech one of his own teammates tackled him landing on the one yard line.

As half-time came to an end everyone but Riegels got up to leave the locker room. He didn’t budge. Reportedly he said to his coach, "Coach, I can’t do it. I’ve ruined you, I’ve ruined myself, I’ve ruined the University of California. I couldn’t face that crowd to save my life." To which the coach replied, "Roy, get up and go back out there — the game is only half over."

Argument: “Matthew 8:18-27

KEY BIBLE VERSE: But Jesus told him, “Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead.” (Matthew 8:22)

Our commitment to Christ must be complete.

It is possible that this disciple was not asking permission to go to his father’s funeral, but rather to put off following Jesus until his elderly father died. Perhaps he was the firstborn son and wanted to be sure to claim his inheritance. Perhaps he didn’t want to face his father’s wrath if he left the family business to follow an itinerant preacher. Whether his concern was financial security, family approval, or something else, he did not want to commit himself to Jesus just yet. Jesus, however, would not accept his excuse.

Jesus was always direct with those who wanted to follow him. He made sure they counted the cost and set aside any conditions they might have for following him. As God’s Son, Jesus did not hesitate to demand complete loyalty. Even family loyalty was not to take priority over the demands of obedience. His direct challenge forces us to ask ourselves about our own priorities in following him. The decision to follow[…]”

Point 4 Commitment will challenge us not to quit

Explanation:

Expanation:

Illustration: “GOD, POWER OF

THE DAUGHTER of the elementary school principal got in trouble one day. She was doing something that she shouldn’t have and one of the teachers corrected her. The girl ignored the teacher’s reprimand and continued to do exactly that which got her into trouble. The teacher then leaned down and got eye to eye with the girl to threaten her with a punishment if the young lady didn’t change her behavior.

The little girl looked up at the teacher and said confidently, pulling rank, “Do you know who my father is?”

Do you know who your Daddy is? He is God almighty and King of the universe. When you’ve got that kind of Daddy, you can pull rank. You can pull rank over the Devil. You can pull rank over people. You can pull rank over problems. You can pull rank over difficult situations.”

.Argument: “Psalm 13:1-6

KEY BIBLE VERSE: O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? (Psalm 13:1)

Being honest with God about our feelings is our first step toward victory.

Sometimes all we need to do is talk over a problem with a friend to help put it in perspective. In this psalm, the phrase how long occurs four times in the first two verses, indicating the depth of David’s distress. David expressed his feelings to God and found strength. By the end of his prayer, he was able to express hope and trust in God. Through prayer we can express our feelings and talk our problems out with God. He helps us regain the right perspective, and this gives us peace”

Conclusion