The Measure Of Our Commitment

THE MEASURE OF OUR COMMITMENT BEFORE THE LORD FOR OUR OWN PERSONAL MINISTRY!

I. The foundation of our commitment to ministry is CHARACTER AND CALLING.

A. The calling of God is forever.

(Rom 11:29 KJV) For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

B. God can use anyone. He even used a donkey.

(1 Cor 1:26 KJV) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

C. We need to stay the course and be faithful in our calling.

(1 Cor 7:20 KJV) Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

1. If God puts a glass of water in our hands that is all He expects of us.

D. There is hope in your calling.

(Eph 4:4 KJV) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

E. We never stop in our pressing forward.

(Phil 3:14 KJV) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

1. There is a prize to be won.

2. Our calling is called a high calling.

F. That we would be worthy.

(2 Th 1:11a KJV) Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling..........:

1. He has made us worthy of His calling in 2 Cor. 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

G. It is God who saved and called us.

(2 Tim 1:9 KJV) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

1. Not our works.

2.His own purpose

3. We were call before the world begun.

H. It is a heavenly calling.

(Heb 3:1 KJV) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

1. It is called a heavenly calling because that is where we will spend eternity.

II. The nature of our ministry is SERVANTHOOD AND LEADERSHIP.

(Mat 23:11 KJV) But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

(Luke 22:26 KJV) But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

A. Before we can be a good leader we must learn to be a servant.

III. The motive of our ministry must be LOVE.

A. To God first.

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

B. To Man second. Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

C. Then we must let the Love of God motivate us.

(2 Cor 5:14 KJV) For the love of Christ constraineth us;........

IV. The measure of our ministry is SACRIFICE.

Luke 9:23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

A. We sometimes think what a great sacrifice we are making when we give our tithes or offerings for the Work of God.

B. There are many millions in the past and still in the present who have made the supreme sacrifice of giving their lives for the cause of Christ.

V. Authority of our ministry is SUBMISSION.

John 1:27 AMP It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose.

Matt. 3:11 KJV I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire

A. I have leaned over the years that like John, I must decrease and He must increase in my life and ministry.

B. I want people to see Jesus, not me.

C. We must left Him so high in our lives that people can only see Him.

1. There is an old song saying the on the Jericho road there is room for two. Just Jesus, and me. I have leaned that if you get down the road far enough there is room only for one. That is Jesus in you the Hope of Glory.