Chico Alliance Church
September 2, 1990
Revival Part Three
"The Cost of Commitment"
I. REBUILD THE WALLS
II. RESTORE THE WORSHIP
A. Rally together.
B. Read the Word and Worship
C. Rejoice together.
D. Reflect together
E. Resolve together to change
1. The signers 10:1-27
Nehemiah 10 records a list and some description of those who were serious about revival. These were those who agreed together that their sin was intolerable and the need of God's help was indispensable. They agreed together to cultivate the things necessary to kindle the spiritual fire and keep the fire going.
2. The seriousness 10:28-29
This was no light matter, no trivial formality or mere ceremonial exercise. These people realized the consequences of taking a vow before God. They were willing to enter into a curse for their disobedience. They were acknowledging the consequences for violated principles. Having recently studied the law, they had a graphic idea of what was involved in this commitment from the list of consequences listed in Deuteronomy 28. This generation knows very little of what it means to commit to anything or anyone.
The dictionary describes the act of commitment as follows:
1--An agreement or pledge to do something in the future
2--An agreement to assume as financial obligation at a future date
3--Something pledged
4--The state of being obligated or emotionally impelled
We observe commitment in our world to a whole swarm of things. Often everything but to the right things.
Committed players on a team, business man, teacher, soldiers. We observe committed and uncommitted in every profession and sport.
Common thread in each:
Maintain high ideals and goals
Invest abundant amounts of time & energy
Persist over the long haul
Care deeply about what they are doing
Convinced concerning the value of what they are doing.
Today we teach a gospel that demands nothing of my life. It has no trouble expecting optimimal blessing in spite of minimal commitment.
That is not the gospel that Christ preached.
To the Crowd
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:34-37
To the Rich man
"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mat 19
To the crowd
"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. Joh 6:66
To the Crowd
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Mat 10:39
He told them the Parable of the Builder who must estimate the cost.
He related the example of king who must estimate his ability to war.
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Luk 14:35
Again to the crowds
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Joh 12:25
That is not the kind of gospel urged and displayed by the disciples.
Disciples left all and followed Him.
Paul urged to offer bodies a living sacrifice.
Paul considered everything loss for the sake of knowing Christ.
Paul said:
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Act 20:24
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2Co 5:15
It is testified of the followers in Revelation:
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Rev 12:11
Paul told Timothy the young pastor: 2Ti 2:1-7
This full and radical commitment is the least we can do in light of the great blessings of grace lavished on us by Christ. We can be like Demas having loved this present world abandoned Paul. We can be like some who suffered shipwreck. We can be like the Israelites who refused to believe God for the abundant land (life) He had promised over and over again and wound up wandering in the wilderness for the rest of their lives. O they still had fellowship and God's continual care, but it was nothing like what He had intended them to enjoy in the Promised land.
How much better to be like those who through history dared to risk all their fleshly toys and take God at His word for a truly abundant and rich life here as well as hereafter.
Gary Collins identifies several characteristics of what he labels "easy believism".
Not demanding, Not costly, Socially acceptable, Self-centered, Presents pat answers to complex issues, Centers on certain success, Entertainment oriented, Shuns authority and accountability.
Revival comes as we rally together, read the Word together, rejoice together in God's grace, reflect together concerning our need, and resolve together to commit ourselves to God's way.
APPLICATION
How hot is our fire this morning? Are we allowing the water of our life to be heated into the steam of effective ministry for God? We must set our heart to seek the Lord. Faith believes in the person and promise of God for those who SEEK Him. Without that kind of faith, it is impossible to please Him. (Heb 11:6)
There are FOUR specific areas to which the Israelites publicly commit themselves.
3. The stipulations 10:29-39
COMMITMENT TO A LIFE OF:
Discipline by the Word
Distinctiveness in the World
Devotion to God
Dedication of ALL firstfruits
a. DISCIPLINE BY THE WORD
OUR FIRST PROBLEM
Our first problem is that we have become a generation of Bible illiterates. We have a generation that knows very little about the Bible. It has become a nice sounding comforting book to be consulted for spiritual issues. It has little relevance for "real" life.
Interesting survey of busness executives and college and university professors concerning the book that most impacted their lives. Twenty-five percent cited the Bible as a book that impacted their life. 4 Percent "Tale of Two Cities" 2 Percent "Book of Mormon". No other book was cited twice.
SECOND PROBLEM
Second problem is that even when we do read and study, we rarely take obedience to its principles as essential.
"OBSERVE"
to exercise great care over; give careful attention to; guard; watch
"DO"
action, fashion, accomplish
This couplet may be observed in other places. (Jos 1:8 Deu 5:32 Deu 6:3) O how often we get the purpose of the Word confused. We DISSECT it. We DISCUSS it. We DELIGHT in it. We DISCOVER its truth. But do it? We forget that Scripture was intended as God's standard for living not just for reading! All Scripture has been inspired of God and is valuable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteous living.
JAMES MAKES IT CLEAR in 1:19-27 concerning our response to the Word of God.
FERTILE GROUND OF THE WORD
FIRM GROWTH OF THE WORD
COMMAND COMMUNICATED "Be doers of the word and not hearers only"
Positive
"Doer"
Creative performance, creative conduct, poet.
Present imperative (lifestyle) Continual state of obedience.
Continue to be one who produces a beautiful expression of the Word to the world.
Keep on responding to what has already been implanted.
Negative -- Not ones who hear only and do not "do".
This command drives beyond the digging in the Word to the doing of it.
COMMAND ILLUSTRATED
1--FORGETFUL HEARER
First--Sees face in mirror
Second-Notes what is there (look with discernment)
Third--Having looked (point time action) goes away (perfect tense)
Fourth-Quickly forgets what was discerned.
RESULT? Self-delusion, engage defense mechanisms
2--EFFECTUAL DOER
First--Looks intently (stoop close to, near.
Second-Continues looking at law for the purpose of living it.
Third--Initiates necessary changes or actions
RESULT? Blessed in what he does.
The key here is to refuse to move from in front of the mirror until we have mended the malady. The Scriptures bring reproof and offer correction so that we might be mature perfectly fit for every good work. They do not intended to be suggestions but our only source of abundant life. The goliath growth of the early church was due in part to their devotion to the teaching of the Word. People devoted to the apostles teaching and prayers. The Apostles realized that must give themselves completely to the Word and prayer.
If we would experience revival here, there must be a renewed commitment to observe and do the Word. We ought never leave a session of the Word without deciding to do something.
SUGGESTIONS FOR DEEPER DEVOTION
1--Read the Word Broadly (One Year Bible)
2--Study the Word Deeply
Learn Study skills
Memorize/Meditate
3--Study the Word Corporately
Preaching/Teaching
Small Group Study
SUGGESTIONS GREATER APPLICATION
Always approach the word with new expectations (don't be fooled by the familiar!)
Read the passage before hand.
Review the passage and notes after.
Focus on at least one area God wants to develop in my life.
Make a decision to obey.
Share my decision with someone.
Ask someone to follow-up on my decision.
Journal my spiritual journey.
The disciplines of life like fasting, prayer, meditation, study of the Word were never intended to produce spiritual life but to exercise the soul so as to become useful, disciplined channels through which the Spirit can manifest the life of Christ through us. Without those disciplines we quench the working of the Spirit and the arteries of our spiritual life calify until we may experience heart failure. What will you do about your response to the Word?
Reflect--confess failure to respond to God and His Word
Resolve to deeper commitment.
