Continuous Commitment Lesson 7 Series

INTRODUCTION:

Yesterday: Past decisions formed you for today.

Tomorrow: Future dreams give you energy and discipline.

Today counts: Strengthening past commitments.

1. Past decisions changed your life. Think back to the time and place your life was changed.

Time

Place

Who

2. Decisions overcome obstacles.

a. Your life is measured by the obstacles you have overcome.

b. Your success is measured by “holding on” or “not giving up.”

3. Past decisions are tested every day.

a. Satan will not let you be victorious without a test.

b. People will detract you. Knowingly and unknowingly.

c. Ask constantly, “Who will I please?”

4. You must stand alone for your commitment.

a. There will be pain and rough times.

b. Your commitment to your decisions gives you character. (A winner or whiner).

5. Your character is revealed in your attitude to failure.

a. You may fail because you are human.

b. Your Father is “THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCE.”

c. If you are trying to do your best, God will forgive you. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

d. Return to your original decision.

e. You may fail, but you are not a failure.

B. DAILY STRENGTHEN YOUR PAST DECISIONS

Decision: A onetime action. “Yield yourselves to God” (Rom. 6:11). “Give your bodies to God” (Rom. 12:1, NLT). “Follow Me” (John 1:43).

Commitment: a daily continuous action, i.e., keeping a pledge, doing what you promised. “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col. 2:6).

1. Count the cost. Know what it will cost to continue keeping past decisions.

2. Everything in life has a price. What will it cost to get a college degree? Money ______ time ______ discipline _________

sacrifice pleasures ______ other _______.

3. The results you want from a decision ultimately become who you are.

a. Every day renew your commitment and keep in mind the benefits.

b. Accomplishing something you believed impossible will make a new person out of you, i.e., a winner.

c. Failing to pay the price and breaking your commitment, makes you a loser.

4. Expect your commitment to be a struggle.

a. To win the revolutionary war, look at the schools.

b. The commitment to education in a hostile environment was greater than in England.

5. Never rely on your talent, circumstances, or physical ability, rely on your commitment.

a. To get excellence out of your life, you must put excellence in.

b. You were born with talent, you develop skill.

c. You cannot get skill without commitment. It takes full commitment to develop excellence in any area of your life.

6. Choices, not conditions, will develop excellence.

a. Each choice faces a fork in the road: to reach excellence, or to take the lower road.

b. The fork in the road is sometimes between first and second, not between first and last.

c. You control your choice, not your circumstances or other people.

7. Live dedicated to your choices.

a. When you cannot do anything else, you can be faithful to your past choices.

b. When you cannot be great, be a plodder.

8. Don’t live by feelings, live by your commitment.

a. Nothing is easier than saying words, so say “I will” anyway.

b. Nothing is harder than doing what you know is right, do it anyway.

c. Nothing is more satisfying than making a commitment, then do it.

d. If you wait to do right when you feel like it, you won’t do it. The same with doing right when it is convenient, you won’t do it.

9. You are deceived if you think you will feel good when you give up your commitment for a quick fix or fleshly satisfaction. The feeling of accomplishing your commitment is the greatest experience in life.

10. Past decisions count today. Remember, you don’t have the power to live or obey, until you make a decision to obey.

PLEDGE

I will pledge to always do what I know is right. I will not turn back when the going gets tough.

I will not quit when it is the easiest thing to do.

I will live by my commitments; so help me God.

______________________________

Sign

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.