Building A Life Of Commitment Series

They said, "We were part of the big miracle last week at Jericho so we'll just sit this one out. We'll just send a few troops up there." I think the warning for those of us in Time To Build three years ago is obvious. Those of us that were here when we did the previous campaign were part of an incredible miracle of God and all kinds of money was given, and lives were changed and people got happy and it was exciting. It's easy to get complacent now and think, "We'll just sit this one out -- the Building For Life. We made our commitment back then. We don't need to be stretched now. We don't need to give now, to pray now. We don't need to have our faith and muscle developed spiritually. We'll cruise through this one." Who do you think is giving us those ideas? God? No, not God.

We need to be aware that Satan wants us to become complacent or we will miss God's blessing and we will be defeated. During the next fourteen days between now and the Building For Life offering, there's going to be a spiritual battle in the mind of every person here. The issue is, How real and how deep is my commitment to Jesus Christ? Will I lay it on the line for Christ? One guy told me, "I don't believe in making a 36-month giving commitment?" I said, "Have you ever bought a car? You believe in commitments as long as it's for selfish purposes."

Those of you who are still giving your commitment for Time To Build, what should you do? I would take whatever you've got left over, combine it with something new and say, "God, this is my new commitment to You." Don't miss God's blessing. Whatever you do, don't become complacent. Be stretched.

When the Israelites went through the Red Sea, was that the last time they were tested? No. They had one test after another. And you're going to be tested the rest of your life too. And a big one is coming up in fourteen days.

Romans 14:12 says 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." We can't live on yesterday's level of commitment. We have to keep developing spiritual muscle.

IV. THE PAYOFF FOR TOTAL COMMITMENT

God promises both a short term payoff and a long term payoff. The short term payoff is in Matthew 6:25, 30. Jesus says this, "25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"

The first payoff when I commit my life totally to Christ, I don't have to worry any more. God says, When you give your life totally to Me, I assume responsibility for every need you have from that point forward.

God does not assume responsibility for all your needs if you're half committed, if you're partially committed, if you're uncommitted. God does not owe you anything. He doesn't owe you tomorrow. But, in His grace, when I give my life totally to Him, and I say, "God, I'm all Yours", God says, "That's what I've been waiting for. Now I will take care of all your needs from here on out."