Christ wants Commitment
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Resolving or Committing?
ILLUST - Resolutions
TOP 5 Resolutions
Exercise more
Eat healthier
Lose weight
Save money
Spend time w/ friends and family
The Forbes Health/One Poll survey found that the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months.
Only 8% of respondents tend to stick with their goals for one month
22% last two months
22% last three months
13% last four months
Resolutions fail because there is no commitment
Decisions without actions are resolutions
But we feel better SAYING we are going to do it
It feels good to tell other people we are going to do it
READ Philippians 3:7-14
Keys to Committing to Christ
Keys to Committing to Christ
(Committing FOR Christ) - Paul says this is where we find joy (v. 1)
Challenging word of the day - CHANGE
1) The Basics
1) The Basics
Salvation reminder - starts there, or the rest makes no sense
Word - being in God’s Word, daily, reading, studying
Prayer - talking to the LORD , daily, throughout the day, specific, purposeful, expectantly
Church - being in church, part of a local body, giving physically, spiritually, giving financially
Really owning these basics - distinguishes the committed follower of Christ from one simply making resolutions
Distinguishes from the lost souls relying on this world and it’s draw
There is no committed life for Christ without all three of these basics. Which can you slack on? NONE, off balance stool
How has your year been? Where can you commit looking ahead?
BIBLE READING CHECKLIST for all of us
2) Putting the Past in its Place
2) Putting the Past in its Place
Evaluate “success”- what have I counted as success?
Is that in line with God’s Word or this world?
Where have my efforts been placed?
What have my goals been?
What is the true value of past accomplishments for self or the world?
Paul says there are loss, rubbish, dung
We can work and work so hard to get ahead
We can even try to do great things to be more “acceptable” to God
But without a heart of commitment to Him - rubbish, dung
It’s difficult to leave the past if you cannot compare the life lived for Christ
Evaluate self
Can God use you? YES
Will you allow Him to? TBD
The past haunts so many of us
And the enemy loves to remind us
Past failures
Past decisions
Past situations
We must deal with the past, properly - put it in its place!
The past does not define us
The past is not to be ignored and brushed away, either
Realize what God has brought you through, for this moment, for NOW
Change - can’t do it if you don’t let go
Find me a committed follower in the Bible who did NOT change
Lots and lots of people evaluated, and chose to stay in the past, old patterns, worldly comfort
Maybe you’ve got a rough past - God knows
Maybe you’ve done “all the right worldly things” (like Paul) - God wants your focus to be on Him, not the things
See, commitment to Christ is more than a prayer of a decision, more than talk
Commitment involves effort, spiritually and physically, inwardly and outwardly……
The committed life for Christ is all about sanctification - IF He has declared you “not guilty,” then He rightfully expects a life of responding in worship to Him
Paul says it is IMPOSSIBLE to hold on to the former life values when you decide to follow Jesus
So…we can all stand to follow a bit closer…
3) Striving to Grow
3) Striving to Grow
Christmas - we often get gifts we don’t use
ILLUST - maybe a gift from years ago still in a box or on a shelf
We just celebrated the gift of Jesus - what will you do with that gift?
Old self, new self
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
“pressing forward” - as Paul says
The committed follower of Christ is growing closer to Him, not more aligned with this world
It makes sense that is becomes even more challenging and troubling to manage the faithful walk here
The things of this world do not bring us closer to Christ - they are not designed to!
The rubbish and dung of this world is what keeps us from committing
Do you know your Bible?
It makes sense - Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world?
So why do we strive so hard to fit in here?
My life needs to be one that shows I belong to His kingdom!
Change is possible when you change what you want
Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
I can pretty much eat what I want - I’ve just changed what I want
Didn’t happen overnight
Sanctification - spiritual growth -
I can live the way I want - I’ve just changed what I want
Again, does not happen overnight
BUT…the commitment CAN
You can make changes TODAY
Will see effects soon
You will finally commit when you truly believe and trust the source
Some commit to this world - and measure success here
Some commit to Christ - and measure success in Heavenly terms
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Love this world - it shows, and you’ll live for this world
Love the Lord - it shows, and you’ll live for Him
No in between
Paul compares the two - he knows them both
Verses
The committed farmer - believes the hard work is worth it
But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Paul invokes the picture of a committed athlete
Straining, pushing, never quitting
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The committed follower of Christ - believes the hard work is worth it
Resolution - just a concept, empty words
Commitment - Action, dedication, based on the choice you make, the informed and evaluated decision
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
How will you grow this year?
Maybe the basics?
Maybe the issues with your past?
Maybe the overall commitment to grow - just too many other things taking priority
Role in your family
Witnessing
Faithfulness to church
Baptized
I know this, God has and will make it clear where you need to focus growth - once you respond and start, you’ll keep growing
Take a 3 x 5 card - you write out specifically how you’d like to grow.
Commit that to prayer
Put it in your Bible that you will read
Make a copy and bring it to church - unsigned
People, the church today lacks commitment
We can complain about that
Or we can commit - starting with each one of us
Make a resolution - fine, that’s your business
Make a commitment - that’s the business of surrender to the LORD