Commitment (Matthew 6:33)

Commitment When we study the failure of men throughout history to be all they should be, to claim all the blessings of God, most often the missing ingredient has been commitment. If we wish to claim all the blessings of God - then we must be committed to Him. If we want to successful in accomplishing God’s will for us - then we must be totally committed to Him.

Matthew 10:34-39 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in- law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (NKJV)

Matthew 10:34-39 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in- law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (NKJV)

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (NKJV)

John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (NKJV)

James 1:21-25 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (NKJV)

Examples Israel (Exod. 19:4-6; Jer. 7:20-26) The Apostles (Matt. 19:16-30; Phil. 3:7-14) Jesus (Lk. 9:57-62; Matt. 16:21-26)

We must determine to overcome the obstacles in our way… But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 (NKJV) Ephesians 6:10-18 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 1 Cor 9:27 (NKJV)

To what should we be committed? God (Matt. 22:37) Jesus (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 8:29; Matt. 10:37) The Local Church (Eph. 4:11-16, 2:21; 1 Cor. 12:12-3; Acts 9:26-28, 13:1; Heb. 10:24-25; Jas. 2:1-13) The Truth (Prov. 23:23; Eph. 4:14; Col. 3:9)

Commitment All the blessings God has provided for us depend upon the power working in us, which is Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:20, 17). We need to examine ourselves and be sure that we are fully committed to the Lord and to His service.

Commitment How do we know we are committed? By our interest in things spiritual. By the prayers we utter for the cause of Christ. By the commitment of our time to God’s service. By the commitment of our resources to God’s service. By our participation in the work of the local church: attendance, contribution, teaching, visiting, helping to do the physical things that need to be done for a church to function. The spirit of commitment, of dedication, of sacrifice is necessary to Christianity, or it will not work.

Luke 24:46-47 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (NKJV)