Committing to Christ

8/17/2019 Committing to Christ

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Committing to Christ

Previous lessons in this series emphasized two critical steps: a) clarifying your values and b)identifying your God-given make-up, your shape, toward maximizing your life !ut they"re

absolutely worthless unless you take the third step, committing your life to #esus $hrist, which is

the focus of this lesson

%ow we live in a time when our society fears commitment &obert !ella, sociologist at the

'niversity of (outhern $alifornia, wrote abits of the eart e said, *+mericans are committedto nothing f we"re committed to anything it"s individual freedom and keeping our options open*

%ow the problem with that is where it leads f don"t commit to anything, then "m not going to

get anything out of life t"s like going down a cafeteria line and saying, *ell, "m not going tochoose my entree right now, want to keep my options open "ll wait on the vegetables am

going to keep my options open* !y the time you get to the end of the line .ou don"t have

anything on the tray, and that"s what happens in so many lives

/arlier in this series, we said that maintaining a focus is essential to the maximum life by notwasting time on things that don"t matter 0he key to focus is commitment 0he number one thing

necessary to living a life that is really full is to commit your life to God"s will through his son,#esus $hrist Paul said in &omans 12:1, * beseech you brethren to present your bodies as a living

sacrifice which is your reasonable service 3spiritual service-+(4)* %ow hear me, when say,

*$ommit to $hrist,* "m talking about more than a decision "m talking about a commitment

5any of you have made a decision about $hrist, but think it"s fair to say that there are many of

you who have not really committed to im .ou want the salvation that e offers, but you"re not

sure you want the lordship that e demands 0hat"s what we"re talking about with commitment

We need to commit our life to Christ because:

1 t is part of God"s plan for our life

*e are God"s workmanship, created in $hrist #esus to do good works, which God

prepared in advance for us to do* 3/phesians 2:16) 0here are good things that e createdus to do %otice *e are created 3how7) in $hrist #esus to do good works* n other

words, apart from a genuine commitment to $hrist, we will never realize life"s maximum

purpose, our potential until that commitment is made2 "m grateful for my salvation

Paul said in 2 0imothy 1:8 9#esus saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of

anything we have done, but because of is own purpose and grace need to give my life

to God because e"s given is life to me +men7 God made the ultimate commitmentwhen e took on the form of man and came to earth to die on that cross for us as the

perfect sin atonement t"s pretty obvious, but at the same time extremely powerful

f God never did another thing for me, never blessed anything else in my life, never

answered another prayer, never gave me another morsel of food or never said another

kind word my way, owe im my all right now because of what e did for me on thecross Paul writing about is own motivation in 1 $orinthians 1;:16 stated, *!ut by the


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grace of God am what am, and labor more abundantly than they all-yet not , but the

grace of God that was with me* commit to $hrist because "m grateful for my salvation

ord hit

the nail right on the head e focus on the urgent, not the important e lose sight of

those real values that we evaluated in the *hat +re 5y 4alues* lesson e stopped

asking, *hen "m 86 years old and looking back, what is it that most want to havedone7 ow do most want to be remembered7* +ll we think about is now e don"t

commitD

love the story of #ohn (kulley n the mid-E6s, he was the president and chief executive

officer of Pepsi $ola e became president at age


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him to come, but (kulley was making too much money Finally, in a %ew .ork

penthouse, he looked at #ohn and he asked him this fateful uestion: *#ohn, do you want

to spend the rest of your life making sugared-water, or do you want to change the world7*0hat did it t broke him out of his nearsightedness, and he did take +pple $omputer to

unprecedented heights

!ut there are heights beyond computers 0he apostle #ohn said in 1 #ohn 2:1E, *0he

world and all its passions and desires will one day disappear, but anyone who does the

will of God will live forever* e"ve got to get over that nearsightedness to commit2 (elfishness - thinking only about self

5any millions of people build their whole world around themselves and they don"t have

time for God don"t have time for GodA "m too busy with my career don"t have time

for God"s purposes in my life, "ve got places to go, people to see and things to do "vegot dreams, "ve got plans, "ve got ambition %ow these are people who are in essence

saying, *%ow God, know more about my life than you do know what"s going to make

me happy, know what"s going to fulfill me* !ut God says, *%o, you don"t designed

you and built you .ou think you know, but you"re blowing it*

(ome of you read $alvin and obbs, the cartoon in the newspaper 0here was one sawsome time back that thought was really cute $alvin was looking at obbs and said to

him, *"m at peace with the world, and "m completely serene* obbs said, *ell, why is

that7* $alvin said, *ell, "ve discovered my purpose in life, know why was put hereand why everything exists* obbs said, *6 really7* $alvin said, *.es, "m here so that

everybody can do what want* obbs said, *ell, it"s nice to have cleared that up*

$alvin said, *.es, and once everybody else accepts it, they"ll be serene, too*

e laugh at that, but there are a whole lot of $alvins in the world 0he world revolves

around them Cnce everybody else figures that out, they"ll be serene, too !ut when you

live for yourself, you have a pretty small goal in life !ut #esus said as recorded in 5ark@:


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bummer e said, * know the plans have for you 0hey are for good, and not for evil*

3#eremiah 28:11) /very father, every parent can identify with this f your child was to

come to you and said, *Had, respect you and love you, you"re my dad, and want tolive life the way you want me to live it* ow would you respond to that7 Had, would

you look at that child and say, *a, ha, ha, 6 boy, you don"t know it, but you"re going to

be miserable from here on out %o more ice cream-spinach, artichokes, and anchovies for you "m going to break your play station .ou"re going to sit in that corner and wear a

dunce cap the rest of your life and never go out* sn"t that ridiculous7 t"s absolutely

absurd .et, that is the very concept many people have about their life if they commit it toGod e"s going to put me through some obstacle course to make me miserable

want to tell you what, if my son walks up to me and says, *Had, want to commit my

life to your purposes and goals, want to be the son you want me to be* would doeverything, everything in my power to make his life as wonderful as it could possibly be

God, our Father, says, * want to do the same* 0hat"s why #esus said, *(eek ye first the

kingdom of God and is righteousness, and "ll add all these things to you*

>ook at Psalm ord and e will give you the desires of your heart$ommit your way to the >ordA trust in im and e will do this:* 0hat"s the promise "ve

got nothing to fear by committing my life to $hrist >ife is going to be more wonderful

than it could be otherwise

Why we need to commit toi Dhrist?

ow do respond with commitment to $hrist7 Cbviously, if you"re not a $hristian, you need to put your trust in $hrist and obey the gospel Cbviously, you need to recognize #esus as who e

is, the (on of God .ou need to come to im on you knees saying, * believe that,* confessing

is name .ou need to be immersed into the death of $hrist being buried with im, baptized into$hrist, for the forgiveness of your sin 0hat is the means by which one accepts the grace that God

has offered !ut some of you have already done that .ou"ve already obeyed the gospel .ou have

put on $hrist having been buried with im in baptism (ome of you assemble with a churchregularly, but if the truth is known, you"ve yet to really commit your life to $hrist .ou"ve yet to

really step on is power and grace saying, * want is way more than my way*

hat do you still need to do7 0he first thing you need to do is calculate n >uke 1B:2;, #esus isup front about commitment e said if you"re going to follow me, you"d better think about it e

said there"s not a man who would build a tower without first taking inventory of his money and

his materials e would make sure he could finish e"s not going to get halfway up and uit esaid there"s not a king who"s not going to take care to count his own forces before he goes to war

f he"s got 16,666, he"s not likely to go do battle against somebody with 26,666 e said, *f

you"re going to commit to me, you better think about it, you better calculate it* n everycommitment, there are benefits to be had and prices to be paid .ou decide whether you"re

committed based on whether you think the benefits outweigh the costs 0hat"s it n other words,

is the cause worth the costs7


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want you to do a little experiment Picture in your mind two ledgers Cn one side in this ledger

is the uestion: hat is the cost to follow #esus $hrist, because there is a cost7 Cn the other side

of the ledger the uestion is: hat does it cost not to really commit to #esus $hrist7 !y yourresponse to these uestions you are making a commitment

When we commit to Christ, what do you give up?

1 0he right to personal sovereignty

"m not going to pull any punches Hon"t say *"m committed to $hrist* if you"re not goingto commit n other words, it"s no longer what do want, but God, what do you want7 t"s

not what want to do, it"s God, what do you want me to do7

(ee, amazingly, the God who created the universe gave each of us the ability to choosehow much influence the +lmighty God will have in our lives e didn"t have to do that f

e wanted to, e could have made every one of us puppets, robots or animals, birds or

fish !ut e made us with the ability to think, reason and choose e gave you the ability,

right, to decide (o if you commit to #esus $hrist, you"re saying, *God, "m turning thatright back over to you* >ook at what Paul said in Galatians 2:26, * have been crucified

with $hrist and no longer live, but $hrist lives in me* 0here was a commitment, ande turned over personal sovereignty

2 Personal priority of your resources

hewD 0hat one stingsD t"s no longer what do want to do with my time, it is, God whatdo you want me to do with your time7 t"s no longer what am going to do with my

money, but God what do you want me to do with your money7 (ee, it"s the concept of

stewardship hen you commit to #esus $hrist, you"re saying, * realize that God owns

everything have and e wants me =ust to manage it for =ust a little while for is glory give up *the my and mine concept* t"s God give up priority of my resources, any kind

of resource


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can and wants to do with my life because that only comes from really walking hand in

hand with the >ord

2 (atisfaction and =oy0hose of you who are maybe advanced in years who have never made that commitment

could testify you"ve felt a hollow feeling for a long time 0hat empty or hollow feeling is

the lack of satisfaction and =oy that you gave up


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188E

!" ips for #etting your

Christian $ife %ac& on rac&

SERIES, PART 1

There are times in our Christian lives when we may feel uninspired,unfulfilled, and incomplete. Perhaps we've lost our joy and enthusiasm

for the cause of Christ. Perhaps priorities are out of focus.

If this describes you, then it's time to get your Christian life "bac to

the basics."

!ere are 10 simple steps you can tae to help get your life bac onthe right path...

ip '!: Re(establish your relationship with #od

and Christ

It's very possible to be a "religious person" but not havea real"relationship" with your !eavenly ather.

#uch was the case with the Pharisees of $esus' day, and I'm convinced

is also the case with many modern Christians %$ohn &()*.

They may go to church, attend +ible studies, and be very religiousandstill may not have truly developed a relationship with -od andChrist. bviously, there isn't a more important relationship you candevelop than this one/ Everything in your Christian life hinges onthis, including your very eternal future %0omans 12&3 $eremiah 45)26))*.

The +ible says "Draw near to God, and He will draw near toyou." %$ames (1*


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-od desires to be near you, but the relationship must be mutual. It's

also important to now that you must put -od first to have a properrelationship with !im. $esus said

The most important [commandment] is this !ear, # $srael, the %ordour God, the %ord is one. %ove the %ord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all yourstrength.&%7ar 2))8645*

#o, step 92 is to draw near to -od. 0e6commit yourself to -od and

Christ. ullywith "all your heart, soul, mind, and'ody." 100%. :nything less is not enough.

Truly be willing to do ;!:T


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difficult to understand, and many old


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-ou 'rood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good /or out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man 'rings good things out of the good storedup in him, and the evil man 'rings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. %7atthew 2)4(64&*

The +ible also indicates %Proverbs 2)* that we will be "blessed" if our"delight is in the lawof the %#0D, and on is law [we] meditate day and night."

It's always been puling to me to attend a worship assembly, and then discovertime aftertimethat no one seemed interested in discussing what was taughtor had anything else

from the +ible they wanted to discuss. r, attending church dinners and not a spiritual

comment is ever made. r, calling Christians together for entertainment and havingeveryone turn out, but calling them for a +ible study and hardly anyone shows up. These

are disturbing signs of a congregation that is unspiritually6minded. In other words, a churchthat may have truth but not the spirit.

#piritually minded people love to share things a'out the spirit. It's part of their nature. Ibelieve it is impossible for true Christians to not spea of things of the spirit freDuently,especially when they are around others of lie mind.

#o, meditate about -od's words, plant them in your heart, and spea about them. They willbe your salvation %$ames 2)23 0omans )2&3 ) Corinthians 4)*.

ip '.: /a&e sure your worship e0periences aremeaningful

;hen we attend worship, it's important to have our minds focused, and that we are "intothe worship" in spite of occasional distractions of children or those around us. It's alsoimportant that our families are maintaining an atmosphere where others can worship

without distraction, especially if we have young, untrained children. %+y the way, churchesdescribed in the +ible did not have "day care centers"instead, they trained their children

to be obedientsee


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This is a classic eFample of how another tradition has supplanted the actual, plainly spoen

will of -od.

bviously, the worship part of the assembly begins at the appointed time. Prior to, and afterthat time, we should be busy "encouraging and building one another up" in our spiritual

families.

ip '1: %e a person of love

7any modern Christian people have developed cold, judgmental, and even harsh attitudes

about the world around them. They don't appear to have much love and compassion for

others %$ohn &)(*.

;hile it's true that we should not be naive, and that sometimes "tough love" is necessary

%$ude )4*at the end of the day, we must never forget that we must be people of love %2Corinthians 24*.

#o, let's resolve to be compassionate, patient, and helpful toward those around us. Eot only

will we be living as Christ directed, our eFamples to the world will be more lie it should be.

>ove certainly doesn't replace the other commandments of -od, but it's the greatest of all

Christian characteristics.

Therefore it's impossible to lac proper love and still be a true Christian %2 Corinthians

2424*.

ip '2: Don3t compromise with error

:s incredible as it sounds, believers can sometimes find themselves defending the need todefend truth. ;hile most matters of life are "compromisable" and we should certainly see

to live at peace with everyone, truth can never be compromised. Truth is a foundational

principle of -od's willit will indeed "set you free." :nd just as Christ adhered strictly totruth, so must !is people. @oing so, sadly, will put us at odds with others.

7any people apparently confuse love with tolerance %2 Corinthians &*.

:nd tolerance these days implies "acceptance." #o, they learn to accept the corrupt lives of

those around them in society, simply because it's politically or religiously correct to do so.

These same casual attitudes often also reflect themselves in their view of false Christian

religions. They learn to develop tolerant attitudes toward those -od has strictly warned usabout. @ue to these attitudes, they may eventually even find themselves part of and in

support of those religions.

!owever, the +ible has repeatedly warned us about the danger of false prophets andteachers, who are numerous in our world today. or eFample 2 $ohn (23 ) Peter )26)3


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7atthew ?2&623 )(2262)3 ) Timothy (26(3 :cts )5)86453 7atthew 2&2(3 2 Timothy246(3 )56)23 ) Corinthians 222462&3 Philippians 4)64and many others.

:s you can see, time after time the +ible warns Christians to be on serious guard against

C!0I#TI:E false prophets. Bet so few today seem to be aware of themand usuallybecause they ignored tip 9) above. The +ible says

Dear friends, do not 'elieve every spirit, 'ut test the spirits to see whether they are fromGod, 'ecause many false prophets have gone out into the world.%2 $ohn (2*

If a Christian taes these warnings lightly, and begins to compromise with anti6+iblical

practices and teachings, it will be impossible for that person to have a proper relationshipwith Christ.

#ome Christians become discouraged because their conservative churches are cold, inactive,

and unspiritual. ConseDuently, they see out liberal Christian religions that clearly areun+iblical in both teaching and practice.

If your congregation worships in truth, but lacs the spirit, find out how you can have both.

It maes no sense to worship -od in spirit without thetruth either. 0emember %seeabove*, both are 0


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doing so.

ip '6: 7ind a wor& of Christ you can 8throw yourself into8

-od is #pirit, but !e put you in a physical world. ne reason is that !e wants you to serve

!im in this physical world, with your physical body.

#o, evaluate your talents and find a cause you can pour yourself into. 0emember, -od doesnot want Christians to be complacent, but ealous for Christ's causea'ove all othercauses %0omans 2)22*.

Therefore, find a cause of the church that matches your talents, and then busy yourself withit. :nd thereby you will start laying up treasure in heaven.

ip '!": 9tay in close touch with other spiritually minded trueChristians

Isolation is the last phase of spiritual death. $ust as the lion sees to devour those on thefringes of the herdthe wea and youngso satan desires those who are on the fringes of

the church and have become wea and isolated. The +ible states(e self3controlled and alert. -our enemy the devil prowls around li*e a roaring lion lookingfor someone to devour.%2 Peter &1*#o, get in touch and stay in touch with other spiritually minded Christians, and see to

continually grow in Christ.


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How to use the scripture

i% Heari#"

aith comes from what is hear a# what is hear comes throu"h the messa"e about Christ% Go usesthis heari#" of His wor i# a y#amic way%

ii% -uestio#./

Remember./

0 The #o#/belie!er will be oi#" the tal$i#", liste#i#" i# a way that he or she will wa#t to tal$

0 The Holy Spirit will be oi#" the co#!i#ci#"

0 Go's wor will bri#" co#!ictio#

ollow the three steps

1% a 2o you ha!e a#y $i# of spiritual belief+

b 2o you $#ow who 3esus is+

c 2o you belie!e there is Hea!e# a# Hell+

4 a Are you a si##er

b 2o you wa#t for"i!e#ess for your si#s+

c Are you willi#" to surre#er your life to Christ+

Are you reay to i#!ite 3esus i#to your heart a# i#to your life+

Prayer


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Hea!e#ly ather, I ha!e si##e a"ai#st you% I wa#t for"i!e#ess for all my si#s% I belie!e that 3esus ieo# the cross for me a# rose a"ai#% ather, I "i!e you my life to o with as you wish% I wa#t 3esus Christto come i#to my life a# i#to my heart% This I as$ i# 3esus' #ame, Ame#%

It elimi#ates

5 the pressure to succee,

5 the #ee to ar"ue a#

5 the fear of failure throu"h e!eryay co#!ersatio#,

Perso#s are "uie to the wor of Go a# as$e to rea for themsel!es% What is has to say% &ou ope#the oor for Go to wor$ i# the #o#/belie!er's life% Remember that success i# wit#essi#" is li!i#" outChristia# life, shari#" the "ospel a# trusti#" Go for the results%

Hear *y prayer 6or

6or, the creator of Hea!e# a# Earth, are the 3ustice, 3u"e to be compare to you is #o#e% &ou $#ewme before I was co#cei!e% &ou were prese#t at the place where I was bor#, you #ame me to this a"ethat I am% &ou ha!e bee# with me i# my times of fears sorrows a# I $#ow you, my face will be fille with

smiles a# lau"hter of 7oy% &ou are "racious e!erywhere a# hope of the iscoura"e% Hear me earfather whe# I call% Wipe away my tears whe# I cry%

Pro!e my i##oce#ce whe# I am accuse falsely 6or, a# o #ot let my hope "o because of temptatio#sa# tribulatio#s of this worl because I $#ow that my home is where you are% It has bee# lo#"% I ha bee#sufferi#", re7ectio# a# #e"li"e#ce yet I $eep trusti#" i# you% I mae a choice to follow you i# all the aysof my life%

Help me Holy Spirit to achie!e the crow# that has bee# $ept for me i# Hea!e#% 8ow that my heart is

bro$e# a# my mi# #ot i# peace come to me that I may be restore% Hea!e#ly ather my "oo shepheryou are all what I #ee my lo!e for you lasts fore!er%

I# His prese#ce li!e, lo!e so mi"ht a# so true, your happi#ess, lo!i#" ser!ice it belo#"s to 3esus Christ%If you are i# trouble, loo$ abo!e, because 3esus completely sa!es% He will lift you by His lo!e out of thea#"ry wa!es%


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9 Has the church e!er as$e you for mo#ey+9 It is true that most churches ta$e a# offeri#"9 Go oes#'t wa#t your mo#ey% )ut whe# you become a belie!er, somethi#" happe#s to your heart% &ou"i!e because you wa#t to% I you o#'t "i!e i# 7oy, you shoul#'t "i!e at all%9 Go wa#ts you to surre#er your life to Him%9 &ou ca# say, I trie a prayer o#ce a# #othi#" happe#e% 2i you mea# the prayer whe# you sai it+9 How o I $#ow I ha!e e#ou"h faith+ If you ha!e e#ou"h faith to as$ Christ to come i#to your heart, youha!e e#ou"h faith to recei!e Him i#to your heart%

Isaiah :;.1;, *att


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*a#, the use of the si#"ular ma$es the accusatio# perso#al thou"h *icah is spea$i#" to all Israel% Act 7ustly, lo!e mercy% The $i# of obeie#ce Go epects from His co!e#a#t people%

Wro#" 2ecisio#s

That is what El Shaai ca# o%

9 &ou may ha!e mae wro#" ecisio#s, if you tur# bac$ to Go, you will isco!er that He has pro!iesome !ery u#iKue opportu#ities%9 How ma#y of you are willi#" to pay the cost+ BIf a#yo#e woul come after me, let them e#y themsel!es,ta$e up the cross a# follow me'% or whoe!er loses his life for me will sa!e it% What "oo is it for a ma#to "ai# the whole worl a# i# the e# lose his life+

9 That i# all of life Go is the factor 9 We may u#ersta#i#" it or #ot9 Choose Him or #ot9 #ow Him or #ot9 6o!e Him or #ot9 E!ery ecisio# you ma$e you must ma$e Go the factor% Whether it is a 7ob, busi#ess !e#ture, a school%Go must be your all a# all% &ou i#!ol!e him to your blessi#"% &ou lea!e Him out to your peril%9 I# your ay to ay li!es, you may e#cou#ter sorrows, istress, 7oy a# pai#s but Go, li$e the masterartist, will wea!e these i#to a most beautiful patter#% &ou will soo# ma$e some !ery pro!ie#t isco!eriesif you hol o# a# o #ot wa!er%

It is illo"ical to epect a laborer to wor$ without suste#a#ce from his labor% 6i$ewise, the Gospel *i#isterwho wor$s tirelessly yet the church fails to support him as he eser!es i#e!itably loses his >eal for thewor$% It is eKually wro#" for a#yo#e to e#ter Christia# ser!ice because of what they ca# "et% *a#yChristia#s ha!e this problem where they pay better tha# e!e# the pri!ate sector%

This remo!es the eleme#t of Go's call a# the sacrifice that is a# importa#t i#"reie#t i# Christia#ser!ice% The result is that there are ma#y people floc$i#" for 7obs i# these or"a#i>atio#s i# the #ame ofBcall to the mi#istry'% Someo#e force their heart out of relatio#ships leai#" to marria"e simply becausethe other family is too eco#omic or from a wro#" social class% There someo#e says that Bit is #ot a#ea""eratio# that that the a!era"e Christia# toay sees reli"io# primarily i# terms of the help which Goca# "i!e him or her i# this worl( with a !a"ue epectatio# for the worl to come rather tha# as a# acti!e

creati!e relatio#ship with Go( a relatio#ship which has professio#al implicatio#s for this life but which isfulfille i# eter#ity% To put it cruely, it is a# attitue which re"ars Go i# terms of His useful#ess rathertha# as a# ob7ect of aoratio# a# lo!e%

Ephesia#s


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It is for you o#ly, try to u#ersta# this messa"e

&ou must ecie to rea throu"h the boo$ of Ephesia#s whe# you reali>e the ma#y ecuses you ha!e"i!e# to 7ustify your failure to $eep promise before Go% Put your feeli#"s sie a# "o ahea a# reathrou"h the boo$ of Ephesia#s% After a few ays, you will co#sier how subtle the e#emy of your soulsca# be i# his schemes to lea you i#to state of lu$e warm#ess%

&ou will tou"ht it woul be i# orer for you to alert others especially those of us i# full/time of the a#"erof the bei#" cau"ht up i# the Bslu""ar sy#rome' which leas to #ot o#ly faili#" Go but yourself a#others as well% 4Cor .1


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4% Accepti#" to ser!e Go?% 6i!i#" i# Go's i#te#i#" reaso#s for your lifeMCommitti#" your self to the Gospel of Truth% 8o room for isobeie#ce:% 6ea the army forth ri"ht to !ictory

The belie!ers who are #ot fille with the Holy Spirit may #ot be put i# priso# but they e#a#"erthemsel!es a# others whe# they li!e a# e#"a"e a !icious e#emy without the Holy Ghost power%Without the Holy Spirit we are powerless i# our Christia# li!i#" a# e#ea!ors% He bri#"s i#toremembra#ce all our weapo#s of war% He i#structs, irects a# empowers our wor$ a# li!es% *aybesomeo#e is iscoura"e, wou#e a# epresse% The Holy Spirit is#'t i#iffere#t to that% This reKuiresthat you eal with past si#s a# as$ Him to come a# f ill you up wait o# Him, ye soliers i# battle% Wait i#your ow# 3erusalem u#til you are fille with the power%

*a#y people "i!e up fast% They o #ot thi#$ lo#"/term but short/term% They fail to reali>e that Armstro#"i #ot la# o# the moo# the first ay he tau"ht about it a# i# his first attempt% It too$ a lo#" process It ispersiste#ce that creates wi##ers% It ta$es resol!e to reach the top% There will be obstacles i# your patha# impeime#ts to your success%

6ife is a cycle of pla#ti#", reapi#", resti#" a# re#ewal% E!e# thou"h wi#ter is #ot e#less% It e!e#tually"i!es way to spri#"% 2o #ot ie i# your wi#ter% Hol o# a little lo#"er for your spri#"% Wi##ers use them tobuil up stre#"th a# lear# a better way to o somethi#"% They lose focus a# irectio#% Apostle Peter isthe eample of how persiste#ce bri#"s spiritual "ai#%

I saw the 6or before at all times% He is #ear me, a# I will #ot be trouble% A# so I am fille with"la#ess a# my wors a# wors are full of 7oy% *ortal thou"h I am, will rest assure i# hope, becauseyou will #ot aba#o# me i# the worl of the ea( you will #ot allow your faithful ser!a#t to rot i# the"ra!e% &ou ha!e show# me the paths that lea to life, a# by your prese#ce you will fill me with 7oy%

*eium./ *ea#s that a perso# who belie!es that heNshe ca# commu#icate with the ea

@ut$ast./ *ea#s si##ers% i# i# the boo$ of *ar$ 4.1:/1 or 6u$e .?, 1:.1/4

Paralytic./ Someo#e who suffers from isease that pre!e#ts him N her from mo!i#" part or all his boy

Sorcerer./A perso# who wor$s ma"ic for e!il purposes

Wi#"e creature./ *ea#s Go's ma7esty a# His prese#ce

Dsee Eous 4:.1/4=, E>e$iel 1.:/1?, Re!elatio# .


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Christ is e!erythi#" a# you ha!e to rise a# sta# for your 7ob a# eclare the "lory of Go% &ou aresuppose to purify the altars because a ay will come a# e!erythi#" will be cha#"e% Prayer ma$es thee!il put ow# his weapo#s% If Christia#s ma$eup their mi#s to "et bac$ what the e!il has ta$e#, theywill be a mi"hty !ictory% BIf my people, who are calle by my #ame, will humble themsel!es a# pray a#see$ my face a# tur# from their wic$e ways, the# I will hear from Hea!e# a# I will for"i!e their si#sa# will heal their la#% 8ow my eyes will be ope# a# my ears atte#ti!e to the prayers offere' We #eeto repe#t for bei#" reli"ious without bei#" spiritual% Go #ees two thi#"s( people who will sta# a# praya# who will wal$ i# true character of a Christia#% The rewar of the e!il will #e!er challe#"e your wal$with Go% )ei#" faithful mea#s that whe# Go promises somethi#" it oes#'t matter how lo#" it ta$es,you're "oi#" to wait% People ca##ot be faithful because they o #ot ha!e the ri"ht co#cept of faith% The)ible oes #ot say you belie!e Go u#til you "et it% It says, faith wor$eth patie#ce% aith ma$es you waitupo# Go e!e# whe# e!eryboy else has "i!e# up The )ible says those who shall wait upo# the 6orshall wal$ a# they shall #ot be weary%

It is where we are "oi#" that shoul cou#t the most%

Go's Ge#erals

Great hearts ma$e "reat characters, "reat hearts ma$e i!i#e characters% It is the heart a# #ot the heawhich ma$es Go's Ge#erals% The heart cou#ts much e!ery way i# the "ospel% The preacher bi#s hispeople to him a# rules his people by his heart% They may amire his "ifts, they will be prou of his ability,they may be affecte for the time by his sermo#s, but they stro#"hol of his power i# heart

How much o you weep+ How ofte# o you o it+ It's the o#e who "oes forth weepi#" #ot preachi#""reat sermo#s, it is this perso# who "oes forth beari#" precious see% It is a perso# who shall come a"ai#

re7oici#", bri#" his shea!es, eter#al har!est with him% There are bi" iffere#ce betwee# people who cometo the 6or after recei!i#" a "ospel preache from the heart a# closet a# those who recei!e from thehea $#owle"e% Time tells it all% *a#y of those who recei!e the messa"e from the hea will soo#bac$slie or wa col% It is the a#oi#ti#" which ma$es the wor of Go powerful, sharper tha# a#y two/e"e swor, pierci#" e!e# of the i!ii#" asu#er of soul a# spirit a# of the 7oi#ts marrow, a iscer#erof the thou"hts of the hearts% A#oi#ti#" brea$s chai#s of si#, wi#s estra#"e a# epra!e hearts to Goa# repairs the breaches%

2eutero#omy ?=.1;

3eremiah 1161/4?, 14.1/<

3oh# 1?.??/?:, 1:.11/4

1st Cori#thia#s .1=/1?, 1/41

Re!elatio#s ?./14

Sorrow tur#s to 3oy


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How wo#erful for you whe# the sorrows tur# to 7oy% That is what Go ca# o% &ou may ha!e mae wro#"ecisio#s% If you tur# bac$ to Go, you will isco!er that He has pro!ie some !ery u#iKue opportu#ities%It will ta$e o#ly the reamer a# the !isio#ary who is willi#" to pay the cost to reali>e the culmi#atio# of itall%

)ut how ma#y of us are willi#" to pay the cost% BIf a#yo#e woul come after me, let them e#y themsel!esta$e up the cross a# follow me'% or whoe!er loses his life for me will sa!e it% What "oo is it for a ma#to "ai# the whole worl a# i# the e# lose or forfeit his !ery self+ 6ea!e all your life to be the part of ai!i#e esti#y fou# i# 3esus Christ%

That i# all of life./

We may $#ow it or #ot

We may choose Him or #ot

We may u#ersta# it or #ot

We may recei!e it or #ot%

I# e!ery ecisio# you must ma$e Go the ultimate factor% Whate!er it is about a 7ob, a career, a busi#ess!e#ture or marria"e part#er, a school, Go must be our all a# i# all% We lea!e him out to our peril% Wei#!ol!e Him to our blessi#"% I# our ay/to/ay li!es we may e#cou#ter sorrows, istress, 7oys a# pai#sbut Go li$e the master artist will wea!e these i#to the most beautiful patter#% We will soo# ma$e some

!ery pro!ie#t isco!eries if we hol o# a# o #ot wa!er%

i"ht earlessly

Whe# the e#emy of your faith lashes out a# hits your boy, your focus will #ot be swaye% Whate!er thee#emy wa#ts to o with your boy will #ot istract your commitme#t to Go% A# you shoul ie for yourfaith, you $#ow you will immeiately fi# yourself i# His prese#ce F your eter#al esti#y% &ou ha!e bee#wei"he ow# by troubles( they ha!e almost crushe you( sometimes you thou"ht you woul #e!er "etout of the place of ifficulty% &esJ &ou ha!e #o iea that behi# the whole thi#", Go has bee# wor$i#" out

a pla# "reater tha# all% I#ee, Christ is always ri"ht there i# the a!ersity%

i"ht fearlessly fear #ot% 8o#e ca# o!erthrow you% The 6or is sta#i#" e!er #ear% Ta$e coura"e, the# thearmy of the 6or% What cause ha!e you to fear+ Triumph is sure% )ut if you o#'t wa#t a spiritual battle,stay seate% Therefore we o #ot become iscoura"e, utterly spiritless, ehauste, a# wa!i#" outthrou"h for, throu"h our outer ma# is pro"ressi!ely ecayi#" a# wasti#" away% &et our i##er self is bei#"pro"ressi!ely re#ewe ay after ay%


23/24

The problem is that the situatio# is esperate% We shoul remember that other people ser!i#" Go by thecloc$ a# other ser!i#" by the spirit% 2i you see a#y iffere#ce betwee# Spirit a# cloc$% The prayer iswhat ma$es the e!il put ow# his weapo#%

)ecause you ha!e come to a poi#t whe# you wa#t Go a# His prese#ce a# #ot what is i# His ha#s%Go respo#s to the people who wa#t what is i# Him first, #ot what they ca# "et from him% Whe# youpraise Go because of His prese#ce, He respo#s to you% The e!il is #ot scare of people who ha!e, heis scare of people who praise Go%

*ore i#formatio# from 3esus Christ i# the form of a ream

9 i"hti#" i# the wor$s of ar$#ess i# orer to reach a #ew clima

9 &ou must be claustrophobic because you share a# you will be stro#" i# your faith also to $#ow how tosta# whe# the e!il comes to hurt your life%9 )e careful because of the people of this worl, because they wish you ba thi#"s a# they wa#t you tobe i# trouble9 People will lo!e you whe# you ha!e e!erythi#" a# whe# you o#'t ha!e they hate you a# they tal$ba thi#"s about you%

Importa#ce of Prayer

Put o# the full armor of Go so that you ca# ta$e your sta# a"ai#st the e!il's schemes% or yourstru""le is #ot a"ai#st flesh a# bloo, but a"ai#st the rulers, a"ai#st the authorities, a"ai#st the powersof this ar$ worl a# a"ai#st the spiritual forces of e!il i# the hea!e#ly realms% Put o# the full armor ofGo so that whe# the e!ils comes you may be able to sta# your "rou# a# after you ha!e o#ee!erythi#" to sta#, sta# firm with the belt of truth buc$le arou# your waist, with the breastplate ofri"hteous#ess i# place a# with your feet fitte with the reai#ess that comes from the "ospel of peace%Ta$e the shiel of faith, which you ca# eti#"uish, all the flami#" arrows of the e!il o#e% Ta$e the helmetof sal!atio# a# the swor of the spirit which is the wor of Go% )ut this time rou# we will #ot so muchwell o# the armor, but o# a#other importa#t tool which is so useful o# our warfare a# that is prayer%

Go reKuires that we see$ Him ili"e#tly a# be steafast i# prayer because it is the o#ly way throu"h

which we ca# o!ercome our arch/e#emy, the e!il a# his ways% Althou"h Go $#ows our esires e!e#before we approach Him% This shoul #ot stop us from prayi#"% Tell Go that you are solely epe#e#t o#Him for your li!i#"% We ha!e to pray i# ear#est, focusi#" fully u#to Go% It is #ot ri"ht to pray as if we are

7ust passi#" time% Go is please with a bro$e# a# co#trite spirit a# we shoul humble oursel!es i# Hisprese#ce% )efore we approach Go, we shoul loo$ at our li!es chec$i#" whether there is a#ywic$e#ess that may hi#er the power of Go to wor$ i# our li!es% If you esire to ha!e the prese#ce ofGo i# our li!es we shoul e#y oursel!es a# see$ him ili"e#tly%


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We shoul #e!er "et tire of prayi#" as Go will meet our #ees as we pray%

We will 7ust cou#t our blessi#"s, fi"hti#" o# a# o!ercomi#"%

Date post:	06-Jul-2018
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Committing to Christ

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