"When The People Have A Mind To Work”

“When the People have a Mind to Work”

2 Kings 2:1-15

As we take a look at the world and the church we see that the area of commitment is a part of all our lives that needs much work. As I was thinking about this I ask the Lord to show me were the real problem was that causes us not to be able to commit. The Lord spoke to me in my spirit and said it is not so much that people don’t want to commit, but the problem is in our lack of desire to seek for the knowledge to understand what we are committing to.

1. There can be no true commitment to that which we do not have a clear understanding.

2. There are three parts of knowledge that must be explored before a person can truly commit to anything.

1. To what they are committing to?

2. Why I need to commit to this thing?

3. What do I get out of my commitment?

Commitment

The act of commitment involves both your intellect and your emotions. Commitment is a state of being where one is bound to a course of action, obligated to another person or to an envisioned result.

A commitment is your pledge to do whatever it takes, with in reason, to get the job done--no matter what! One that we may have not thought about is

3. Commitment is the opposite of convenience:

There is no way that you can be totally committed to something if you’re not willing to move from your present state. Many of us in the church like to say I’m just going through a hard season, when in all actuality it is your state of being. It is not a season that is going to change, but a state of being that calls for deliverance.

When the children of Israel were in the wilderness they were totally committed to getting to the promise Land. Some more than others but over all they were committed.

Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

When ever the cloud moved they had to stop what they were doing and follow the cloud. That is why we say that commitment is the opposite of convenience; you have to move when God says for you to move. If you’re a person that loves the convenience of doing you’re on thing, not being accountable to anything or any body, ministry is not the place for you; God does not work well with Lone Rangers.

Something that you should remember about a person that is committed,

4. A person that is truly committed is goal-driven and action-oriented. It requires taking a risk—putting something on the line.

5. When people are committed, they persist.

They don’t quit.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Look at this verse. To the natural or carnal hearer it would not make any sense. The world’s view is if you’re the fastest you are going to win it you’re the strongest you’re going to when. But this is not the case in the spirit realm.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

See Christ is not calling for our ability our strength our wisdom or understanding, all he needs is some one that is willing to endure. The word endure is defined as; to carry on through, despite hardships. Any time you can hear a word preached in a church that cuts you the wrong way and go home and entertain the thoughts of changing churches you really have to check your endurance, which is the test of your commitment.

Christ is not as thrilled with our coming to him as he is to see us committed to the things and people that he has placed in our life’s to help us grow.

You want to know about a person find out what they are committed to. We say that we are committed to the Christ, but we miss it when it comes to the things that Christ is mindful of.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Look at what it says concerning Christ and his relationship with the church, he gave himself for it. What are you willing to give your self for? For some it is our jobs. Ask yourself do I put as much in to the church that Christ died for as I do other things in my life. “Well I come to church”, yes but what are you putting back into the church, and I’m not talking about money, though that is a key. Are you willing to find out what you gifts and abilities are that can help us build this ministry to it’s full potential?