Change, Commitment and Courage
I want to talk this morning about four principles …
Change, Commitment, Courage, Service
Change
Def: transition, transformation, adjustment
We are in a season of change …
The World
One of our prayers … Lord’s Prayer …
Mtt 6:10 ’ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
As God’s Kingdom breaks in on our world, things here will have to change.
God is coming to establish His government/order.
Psa 2:1-4, 10-12
The Church
God- purifying His Church so we can bring Christ to the world.
1 Pet 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God … NASU
Paul makes this appeal …
Rom 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? NASU
Consider God’s heart for us …
1 Thes 5:9-11
Ourselves
Mtt 16:24-26
Dying to self/living for God speaks of change.
You and I want resurrected/abundant life.
No problem- God will give it to anyone willing to die to themselves/embrace the order/purpose of God.
Lion King … tag lines …
Life’s greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life.
For the Christian there is a circle of dying and being resurrected into the newness of life.
Each death requires faith to let go and believe that God will replace it with something better.
Jesus and Mary
Rob Bell- portrays Mary’s encounter w/Jesus …
Jn 20:11-17
What is Jesus saying to Mary …
Mary, things are different now,
they will no longer be the same,
I must go to my Father,
I will send you a helper the HS,
you must let go of the past,
I love you, I have not forsaken you,
but I will not be physically present w/you.
God did not change, but the form in which He ministered to His disciples had changed.
We must embrace the Lord as He comes today, in whatever form/way He chooses to unveil Himself.
Commitment
Def: obligation that restricts freedom of action.
Gary Stebbins …
Commitment is a restriction that leads into a broad place where the opportunities and possibilities are unlimited.
At the age of 67 years old Thomas Edison watched as a fire destroyed most of his work and equipment.
In response to this lost he said …
All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew.
Edison was not ready to retire, He was committed to continue his work and accomplish what he started.
John Maxwell …
The fire that destroyed his work didn’t destroy the fire that burned within him to continue his work.
As a Christian, it will take commitment on our part if we are going to finish the race well.
Commitment does not depend on your ….
gifts, abilities, or circumstances-
it results from choices we make.
Those choices determine the path that follow in life.
Lk 13:24 " Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. NASU
Broad path- leads us away from God to destruction.
Courage
Def: bravery, boldness, daring, grit, guts, valor.
Deut 20:1-9 (Lk 14:16-24)
What do we see in these verses …
1. Count the cost of walking with God
2. Do not be afraid, God has promised to be with us
3. The Bride of Christ is an army
4. God wants to weed faintheartedness out of us
Service
We are called as warriors in the K of G to serve Him.
Num 18:2-3, 6
God called the Levites to serve along with Aaron in the work of ministering to the Lord.
The Levites were dedicated to God and were gifts to the priests to serve in the work of the Lord.
1 Cor 12:18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. NASU
God has called each of us to a place of service.
Summary
TV Mini-series … Band of Brothers … story of Easy Company- US Army Airborne Paratrooper, WWII
Tag line …
There Was A Time When The World Asked Ordinary Men To Do Extraordinary Things.
In one scene a sergeant was speaking to a new recruit as he hid in one of the fox holes …
We’re all scared. You hid in that ditch because you think there’s still hope. The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you’re already dead. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you’ll be able to function as a soldier’s supposed to function …
We need to see ourselves as dead to ourselves and alive to God and His purposes for our lives.
Only then will we be able to ….
Embrace Change,
Stand in Commitment
Run with Courage
Change, Commitment, Courage lead to Service.
Additional Resources …
Band of Brothers … tag lines …
They depended on each other. And the world depended on them.
Ordinary men. Extraordinary times.
Band of Brothers
without mercy, without compassion, without remorse.
All war depends upon it.
Miniseries based on renowned WWII historian Stephen Ambrose’s nonfiction book.
Lion King … tag lines …
The King Has Returned.
The Circle of Life
Marriage and money …
A study by an Ohio State University researcher shows a person who marries – and stays married – accumulates nearly twice as much personal wealth as a person who I single or divorced.
Jay Zagorsky (above researcher) …
Divorce looks like one of the fastest ways to destroy your wealth.
Compare this Old/New Testament scriptures …
Deut 20:1-9, Lk 14:16-24
Look at the similiarities …
Deut 20 Lk 14
New house New land
New vineyard New oxen
Betrothed wife New wife
Speaking of the coming Messiah, Isaiah says …
Isa 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace … NASU
