Commitment

Commitment

Rev. John W. Gerald

11-7-04

I. My Cause Committed to God

Job 5:8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

1. My Ministry

I may desire to pastor a great and growing church, but God gave me a great prison ministry instead. I may like to serve God in the city, but he wants me to go where He chose.

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

I remember that Philip was doing a great work in Samaria, then God sent him to a lone traveler on the road to Gaza. Acts 8:26-34 Did he know that the Ethiopian eunuch would start

a lasting church in central Africa? This could be modern Sudan or Africa, where war between Muslems and Christians has brought thousands of Christians under persecution and death for the cause of Christ.

2. My Family

Commitment to my family should be next to my commitment to God. There should be an order for our priorities: God, Family, Others then self. Most of the time the order is reversed.

3. My Protection

We may fear the dangers of serving the Lord where he is sending us. A missionary to Africa had a family of small children. One day the twins were out in the back yard playing, and began to complain about the worms biting them. They had gotten in a bed of snakes. The father decided then to leave the mission field and return home to Louisiana. Not long afterwards, the twins were out in the back yard again. This time they were playing in a bed of young rattle snakes. When the father discovered their danger, he grabbed them up, called to his wife, who did not hear him, to say that he was taking them to the hospital. He backed out of the driveway and headed to the hospital. He did not see the baby behind him. When his wife looked out and saw the baby dead in the driveway, she had a heart attack and died. The twins died on the way to the hospital. This man was left without his family because he did not trust the LORD to keep them on the mission field, and he could not keep them safe at home.

4. My Guidance

Psalms 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

Psalms 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Our LORD is our only safe guide!

5. My Needs

Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

God does not promise to supply our wants, but our needs. While we were raising our children, we tried to see to it that they had clothes, shoes, food and shelter. We sent them to school with only lunch money. They wanted candy and coke money, too. Many times they complained that we were just too poor. We may complain to the LORD sometimes, too, but He will supply what we need!

II. My Spirit Committed to the LORD

Psalms 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

1. Man’s spirit is God-breathed

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2. Man’s spirit is eternal

3. Man’s spirit can be polluted

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Man’s spirit must be controlled by God

5. Man is dead when his spirit departs from him

Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

III. My Way Committed to the LORD

Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

1. Man wants to control his own life and destiny

Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul... Invictus