Commitment

According to Romans 12:1; Total commitment is something we can and must do. It is an act of our will. The problem is that very little is said about total commitment. It is seen in our everyday life.

• If you don’t like your job…. quit

• If you don’t feel like working…. call in sick

• If your marriage is not working out…divorce

in our churches today, there is a spirit of apathy; indifference, who cares. It can be seen in all aspects of our church, but mainly in our services.

• Sunday morning average 140…. casual

• Sunday night average 70…. concerned

• Wednesday night average 45…. committed

I wonder how many of us here this morning are really committed.

Have you ever stopped to ask; What is the stuff commitments are made of?

Total commitment is a decision of the will in a point and time, giving God permission to have complete control of one’s life.

I. We Must Love Christ

1. This does not mean we are to hate our families, but our love for Christ is to be so superior, that our love for our families seems like hate.

2. Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Love God with all:

a. Thine heart

b. All thy soul, our mind, our will, our emotions, pure feelings.

c. All our might, our physical being.

3. God would not tell us to love Him in this manner if it were impossible to do so.

4. Total commitment is to love Christ more than personal relationships

a. Sandra know I love her more because I love Christ first.

5. When we love Christ first it means, we listen to Christ quicker than anyone else.

6. The early disciples had this commitment. Acts 4:18; 5:27-29, 40-42

7. The starting point in commitment is loving Christ.

a. Jesus ask of Peter, “Do you love me?”

b. If you love him, everything else come easy. John 14:21; 1 John 5:3

II. We Must Bear our Cross

1. Bearing our cross is more than just words, or trinkets we wear on our body. The cross is more than just a temporary inconvenience.

2. What was the cross for? It was for crucifying, putting one to death. Dying to self. 1 Corinthians 15:31; Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20

3. The cross is for crucifying the old man. That Christ might live through you. Matthew 10:39

4. I wonder what it is today that you would have to nail to the cross? What is it that keeps you from following Christ?

a. Could it be pride?

b. Could it be possessions? Luke 18:18

c. Could it be priorities? Luke 9:57-62

5. Whatever it is that keeps you from being totally committed to Jesus Christ? It is not worth it.

III. Beware of the Conflict

1. I believe the biggest thing that keeps Christians from being totally committed to Christ is forsaking all that he has.

2. It is true in the lives of men in coming to Jesus. That is salvation. Luke 12:15-20; 14:16-20

3. And it is true in coming after Jesus, that is service.

a. The starting place is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

b. 2 Timothy 2:1-10

4. Why would Jesus put it like that? I feel we grow and trust and depend upon what we have greater than we trust God.

5. Total commitment is a decision of our will, to forsake all we have. Luke 18:28-30