"Revival"

A timely message ministered Sunday morning, Feb. 17, 2013 @ MWC.  You can listen to this sermon @ www.messengerwc.com. in the media section.

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J. Rhodes Sermon                                            2/17/13

Title:  “Revival“

Text: Ps. 85:6, “Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?” (A Request.)

Intro.   I believe there are many within the church that are tired of the uninspired, lifeless meetings that are being replicated across the country that we call having church.  There is being birthed in many a desire for something that gives substance to the time that men are giving on Sunday morning to their God.  Something that will help them have faith in God...faith in themselves...faith in others...that they will be able to overcome the obstacle that inevitable come their way every day.

The church is not producing it!   We have ended up with misdirected pursuits…pursuits that are depleting, diluting and destroying the church instead of reviving it.  

History bears out that there are people who have made a mark on their generation because of a great move of God but through time became so caught up in their own organizations they ceased to be an organism that God could work through to bring light to a darkened world.  I pray today that we here at MWC, and the church of today that God is raising up, will not allow itself to follow the paths of self-destruction that so many have followed. 

Today I want to talk to you about  “ Revival “.  We will note I. What Revival Is & The Promise of Revival

  

 What Is Revival?  Is it a church full of shouting saints?  Is it an evangelist who knows how to entice people to get involved in the latest religious fad that has swept into the church?  Is it getting sinners saved? is it turning Washington and everyone there around and heading them in the right direction? Or is it all of these combined?  Though each of these have their place in revival  neither one nor all together constitute revival.    

    We are surrounded by a harvest field of humanity that needs to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ but there is a difference in harvest and revival.  This has been an area of misunderstanding that has hindered revival in the past.  

    Revival defined is “the process (there are no over-night successes) of....

     

     1. Bringing somebody back to life...  Jn. 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and 

        destroy; I have come that they may have life (zoe-spiritual life), and have it to the full.” NIV   

     2. Consciousness, = is the quality or state of being aware of an external object or 

         something within oneself”

     3.  Full strength“.  Ps. 29:11, “The Lord will give strength to His people;”

    This, in my opinion, defines the need of the church today.   We need to see life and strength brought back into the church.

Conc. Are you hungry for revival?  Is there a burning desire to walk in His presence on a daily,  

            consistent  basis?  Do you long for your family and acquaintances to come the knowledge of  

            Who He is?   If your answer is yes.........then let us purpose this day to “ Pray and seek His 

            face ”  then we will hear from heaven!

"Don't Give Up"

Preached Sunday, 2/3/13.  You can hear this message at messengerwc.com. in Media link.

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Text:  Mk. 5:21-34 Amp.

Intro.  Five stand out examples this woman exhibited as she pursued her miracle....

I.  She did not let where Jesus was going or who He was going too see keep her from pursuing Him where He was.

II.  Obstacles were not allowed to be a deterrent in her pursuit for a miracle.

1. She was weak after 12 years of losing blood and had suffering at hands of physicians as well as spending every dime she had but did not get any better.  She had every excuse in the world to give up BUT she kept looking for a better way.

        b. There was no room made for her to get her miracle....she had to press her way through the crowd.

III. She had determination,  v. 28, “ For she kept saying, If I only can touch His garments...

IV.   She had faith/hope,  “I shall be restored to health...”   

     Note:  No doubt the faith was the fruit of the the reports (testimonies) she had heard of Jesus and  

     what He had done for others, v. 27. 

     Those reports (testimonies) birthed hope in her.    Hope: “a strong and confident expectation.”   

     

     Ps. 38:15“For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.”

     Ps. 146:2,  “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his    

     God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

    Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.”

V.  Her aloneness didn’t cause her to give up and get bitter.  For 12 years she had been, as the law demanded, “put a  
      part” from her community because of her condition.  She knew that when she reached out and touched just the hem of 
    Jesus clothes she was breaking the law...He would become unclean...but she also knew this was her last hope.  

Note Jesus reaction:  Mk. 5:34, “And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your [a]trust and confidence in Me, springing from faith in God) has restored you to health. Go in [b](into) peace and be continually healed and freed from your [[c]distressing bodily] disease.”

In truth He, the Word, brought to light that the Law, the Word of God, should never be used to keep us from Him but to bring us to Him.  The Word will produce the miracle not stop it!!

Notice John 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. ⁸He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. ⁹That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

"Called To A Solemn Assembly, The Reason"

January is "Solemn Assembly" at MWC.  A time we set aside to seek the face of God for the Church, families & our nation.  We discontinue all activities other than those related to Word, Worship & Prayer and focus on crying out to God for His intervention in the affairs of the world around us.  Through Him we will tear down the strongholds of the enemy...through Him we shall overcome.  I pray you are blessed....

The Message Bible: 2 Timothy 3: 1-7  ^“2As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, ³dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, ⁴treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. ⁵They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.  ⁶These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.”

 Joel 1:14 - “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the elders and  all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God and cry unto unto the Lord.”

Intro.  In II Timothy we see the condition the world will be in when the last days come upon us.  Sound familiar?   In Joel, we hear the heart cry of a prophet who has heard from God.  He sees the condition Israel (Nation / Church) is in and the judgment that has come their way and the continual judgment that is coming because of their sins and he calls for “all the people” to come together and do whatever it takes to stay the hand of God’s judgment.  He “Called For A Solemn Assembly”.  

SOLEMN ASSEMBLY IS: Note Eccl. 3:1-4, ¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh;  a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 Solemn (demonstrating sincerity and gravity) assembly (the coming together of people for a common purpose) is a corporate and personal call to separate ourselves unto God for a time of… 

a. Consecration:  Declare sacred; devote to a solemn purpose.

b. Prayer: An earnest request for something; one who asks (as for a favor or gift) humbly. Ps.55:15, “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.”

c. Fasting: An abstaining from food or drink. Ezra 5:21-23  “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. …. The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.  So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”

d. It is a time of seeking His face for a specific purpose.    Ps. 27:7-9, “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will  I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.”

    Bartimaeus - Mk. 10:51, And Jesus said to him, What do you want Me to do for you? And the blind man said to Him, Master, let me receive my sight. (Mark 10:51 AMP)

e. It involves humbling ourselves before God in repentance. II Chron. 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

f. It is a time of prayer-intercession as we wait on God. It is God finding someone that will stand in the gap and make up the hedge for a people who have gone astray from His way.  Eze. 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

g. It is a time of preparation. Make or get ready. Ex.15:1-2, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. ²The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Conc. The easy thing to do is to say what we want…I want my family saved…I want a good marriage….I want peace,….I want revival…I want Jesus first in my life….but.....

“our wants are never accomplished by what we say but by what we do.”   

Note James 1:22, "Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only."

"Looking Beyond - The Ability To Disconnect"

(Ministered 12/29/12 in the AM service.  The last Sunday of 2012)

Intro.  It is so easy to get weighted down with the daily problems and circumstances that surround us.  To become encumbered with the daily grind of life; paying bills, raising kids to be productive Godly citizens, overcoming the consistent problem of making ends meet.  But in spite of it all I believe one of the greatest abilities given a Christian is the ability of “Looking Beyond" what is to what will be. It is in truth "faith sight ".  No matter what the circumstances, good or bad, things will change.  

The Problem:  The problem most of us have is the ability to dis-connect.  We find it hard, if not impossible, to disconnect from the pain, the problems, the offenses, the hurts, the weights of our yesterday's.  They have become the un-necessary weights that keep, and will continue to keep you, locked in your present prison of anger, loneliness and despair, hindering you from looking beyond what was and what is and receiving what will be.  

Note Paul's encouragement in Phil 3:13b-14, “ forgetting those things (the pain, the problems, the offenses, the hurts, the weights of our yesterday) behind (past), reaching forth for those things (peace, joy, inner healing) which are ahead (present),.  I press toward the mark (future) for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “   He had his eyes upon tomorrow, the mark, the high calling”. (God calling me on high. Dake)

Jesus said in Matt. 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

We must determine to not allow anything or anyone control or destroy what we are or what we are destined to become.  We must “Look Beyond”!

Note with me others before us that looked beyond.

I. God Looked Beyond: 

  a. Man had disobeyed.

  b. Did what God said he should not do.

  c. God kept His Word.  Man suffered spiritual death... separation from Spirit Life.

  d. The curse was placed upon man.

  e. The serpent had won!

   f. But God looked beyond the darkness and despair of the hour....looked beyond to

   Calvary and said in Gen. 3:15, " And I will put enmity ( a feeling or condition 

   of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism) between thee and the 

   woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise (crush; fall upon) thy 

    head..."

II. Moses Looked Beyond: 

     a. Miraculously raised in the home of the enemy of God’s people.  Never lacked 

         for anything.

b. It is easy to become comfortable surrounded by prosperity though they that are around you are living in bondage of sin and moral poverty of a depraved society. 

c. BUT there came a time that Moses chose to look beyond the prosperity and the privilege ( sometimes a problem ) of being called the son of Pharoah’s daughter. Note Heb. 11:25-27  “ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.  Esteeming ( hold in  high expectation ) the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompence ( give compensation to ) of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:  for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible “. Faith that a better thing was in store for God's chosen! 

III. Isaiah Looked Beyond:  

a. During Isaiah’s time Israel was in bondage and controlled by heathen nations.

b. Time and time again God had sent His Word through the mouths of His 

     prophets calling for the repentance of Israel.  For a season they would return 

     and be blessed but the pull of the world around them would pull them back to 

     the sins of their surroundings.

c. Isaiah looked beyond and said in Isa. 9:6 , "For unto us a child is born, unto  

    us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his 

    name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting

    Father,  The Prince of Peace." 

    “ And the redeemer shall come to Zion...” Isa. 59:20

    " In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, 

     high and lifted up, and his train ( glory ) filled the temple.  " Is.6:1

IV. Jesus Looked Beyond:

      a. In Matt. 16:18 He said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not   

          prevail ( overpower it,  or  be strong to its detriment, or hold out against it ) 

          against it.      

      b. In John 14:3 He said, “ I go to prepare a place for you " He also said,  " I will 

           come again receive you unto  myself; that where I am, there ye may be 

           also.“  John 14:3

V. We Can And Must Look Beyond:

    a. Ps.91:2  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge ( the state of being covered or  

        protected: something to which one turns for assistance in difficulty or need in 

        the absence of a usual means or source of supply ) and my fortress ( a place 

        offering resistance to a hostile force ): my God; in him will I trust 

       ( lean and rely ).

      

Conc. To each present here today I want you to know God has given you the ability to “Look Beyond” the present circumstances and know there are better days ahead.  You do not have to be satisfied with the bondage, the darkness, the despair of the hour.....this same Jesus is saying that to us today in " And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. " Lk. 21:8

        

It is time to “Look Beyond"!!

"The Trial of Your Faith" Part II

 This is a continuation of a 2 Part message ministered at MWC Nov. 25 & Dec. 2, 2012

            (We all know the enemy is working overtime to distract....disrupt...destroy what God has purposed His people to accomplish in this troubled hour.  He is doing everything he can to destroy our FAITH in God's ability and willingness to come through for His people.  How do we overcome the trial?  Knowledge!      Knowing who we are and what we have at our disposal will assure us that we can, not only overcome, but take back what is rightfully ours.  To do so we must not ANYTHING to destroy our FAITH in God.  I pray this message speaks to you and helps you understand what is going on around you. Comments are welcomed.)

        
Ephesians 6:10, 12 NLT,  "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  For we  are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

The object of the evil rulers...the authorities...the Devil is to destroy our faith in God.

The Battleground: Let us now note the four areas the battle is going on in:  

a. You:  If you cease to  believe in yourself and your ability to face head on the problems of life   

     and overcome them, you will cease to be a testimony to those around you.  This ultimately is    

     the objective of all warfare.   How we live and react to what comes our way is the greatest 

     testimony we have.  It is time you began to believe what the Word says about your abilities.

      Ph.4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

     Jesus in Jn.5:30 gives us some insight into where our help comes from, " I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. "

     Let your past be your past.  2Co.5:17 " Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. "

     Rms.  8:1 THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

b. One Another:  1Jn.2:10   He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none   occasion of stumbling in him.

    Matt. 5 & 6 Releasing anger & offense....

     Ro.16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

c. The Church:  The power of unity is the power to accomplish.  This is the primary purpose of the enemy to drive wedges between God's people.   It is not the church that fails people....it is people that fail people.  We must do whatever it takes to overcome the endeavors of the enemy to destroy the very fiber that is keeping this world intact, the church.    There is far to much independency within the body of Christ.  We need to come to the realization that God has made us interdependent.   

    Note the power of unity and agreement in  Matt. 18:19  " Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. "

d. The Word:   This, out of all  the areas the enemy is endeavoring to destroy faith in, is his main   

     objective.  He knows there is  Power in The Word.

      Ps. 107:20   He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

      Matt. 8:5-13  " And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion,   

       beseeching him,And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously  

       tormented.  And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and 

   said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.   And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.   And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.  "

How Do We Overcome?  How Do We Win?

As simple as it may seem, "You fight the fight of faith with faith."  The power of faith is what puts the enemy in his place and keeps him there.  This is the reason he works consistently to destory our faith.

Heb. 11:33-34 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Conc.  I conclude with some words of Paul in Rms. 8:35, 37-39 " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "

"The Trial of Your Faith" Part One

(The following is Part One of a message I ministered @ MWC Nov. 25 in the AM service...a message that deals with the fact that no matter what your position may be in Christ, you are still going to face trials.  No one, absolutely, no one is immune.  The good news is...we will be better off when we come out of the trial than we were when we went into it.  God never allows us to face ANYTHING that will not eventually become beneficial for us.  It may not seem like it at the time...but hold on it will be revealed.  Possibly when you are facing another battle.  I pray you are blessed by this message and that it will speak to encourage you.  Remember, " If God be for us who can be against us.")

I want to preface the message today with a statement that many, if not all, here will be able to relate to....we are in war.  Not a game...not make-believe strategies that you can lay down the game control and walk away from...it is a war.  A war that is effecting every family in here whether directly or indirectly.  The Apostle Paul defined it this way....Ephesians 6:10, 12 NLT,  "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  For we  are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

The object of the evil rulers...the authorities...the Devil is to destroy our faith in God.  To do this he will work untiringly and methodically to destroy our faith in four basic areas; Faith in Yourself, faith in One Another (division), faith in The Church, and faith in The Word.     When failure in either on of these areas is experienced the ultimate outcome will be to lose our faith in God.

Warning:   The enemy is a relentless enemy.  His work is subtle.  Paul in II Cor. 11:1-4 some words concerning the church at Corinth that sheds light upon this.   "  WOULD to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility (not obvious; cleverly indirect and ingenious), so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. "

The Trial of Your Faith:  To better understand what the trial of your faith is and it’s results note James 1:1-8:  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing/trying of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” NKJ    

The product of the trial: v.  When you go through something God always makes sure that  

 something good comes from it.  You may not see it immediately but in time it will show up.  

     

       Note some of the by-products of a trial....

      1. Endurance: the ability or power to bear prolonged exertion, pain, or hardship; an act or  

          example of toleration of prolonged suffering or hardship; the survival or persistence of 

          something despite the ravages of time.

      2. Steadfastness: receive strength; make strong; to turn resolutely to certain direction;  to     

          confirm.

      3. Patience: the ability to endure waiting or delay without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties the ability to tolerate being hurt, provoked, or annoyed without complaint or loss of temper.

           The product of these are: v. 4 “…perfectly and fully developed (with no defects), lacking in nothing.”

           The cause of the devil's pursuit in this warfare is found in v. 5-8:  (Read)  

           *He knows that when we begin to operate in faith that what we ask will be given! V. 5 

           *Failure to operate in faith produces just the opposite.  V. 6-8

(To be continued....)

Next week I "The Battleground" of our faith.  We will note four areas the enemy is fighting to destroy your faith.

"Committed To A Purpose"

Intro.  Throughout the Word we can find times that had it not been for a small core-group of people  who refused to bow to the fear of the hour, the church would have faltered.

So it is today!  Within every church there is a certain number of people who have purposed to make themselves available to God for kingdom purposes.  With the establishment of this purpose has came a determination to succeed.   I call this core-group a “ purpose driven people".  It  matters not  who or what may  get in the way they are devoted to fulfill the purpose God has birthed them for!

Gideon’s 300:  In Judges 7  were these type of men!  Note:  Gideon started out with 32,000; then there were 10,000; and then there were 300.  Out of 32000, 300 passed the test!!  With these 300 men Israel won the war though a greater number was against them!

The 7000 Prophets:  In I Kings 19:18 were these type of men.  Though Elijah, the prophet, was running scared, God had a group that refused to be intimidated by the threats of Jezebel!

What was it that set these a part?  I believe it was because  “  A commitment  had been made to a purpose, not a program; to a purpose, not a person; to a purpose, not a promotion. “  This commitment was one of choice, a free choice if you please.

The church today needs to see the visibility of that core group.

With  a committed few, we can take our families, our city, our county, our state, our nation for God!!

Fact:  To be honest with you, commitment is becoming a lost commodity within the church.    For what ever the reason, people are finding it ever easy to put church and it’s ministries at the end of the list of what is important in their lives.   Whether it is jobs, vacation, sports, etc. they all hold a higher place in the priority list of most people.    

What needs to be remembered are the Words of Christ in  Matt. 16:26 “ For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul “.  For our benefit and the benefit of our families, things cannot and must not be placed before God, His will, or His kingdom!   

John Wesley said,  “  Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen:  such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of heaven on earth.  God does nothing but in answer to prayer  “.

Note: I am not advocating elitism.  I am not doing  the choosing.  You must make the commitment by choice.  I agree will Paul Cho who said, “ God has no favorite children".  What works for one will work for anyone who applies the Godly principles He has given us in His word and by the examples of those who have gone be√fore us.

1. Commitment Defined    ( Something one is bound to do or forbear ( to deny ones self  something for the sake of an end )

    Purpose Defined:  Something set up or an end to attain.

II.  Our Purpose Is: 

      a. Spiritual Growth:  Defined:  Right relationship with God. Matt. 6:33 “ Seek first    

           ( priority) the kingdom of God ( For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; 

           but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost , Rom. 14:17 )  and His 

           righteousness (objective) and  these things (desires of your heart) shall be 

           added unto you “.

      

b. Numerical Growth:  Numbers equal people: People equal souls: Souls equal growth.  We must realize and accept that people / souls are the fruit of our labor.   

    Note the words of Jesus in  Jn. 15:7-8,  “ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done ·unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. “

         The Father is glorified in our  bearing  much fruit!

1. The Source:   To determine the true source of growth in each of the areas note the words of Paul. 

    1. 1Co.3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

    2. 1Co.3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; 

          but God that giveth the increase.

III. Commitment Of Choice:   I would like to remind each one here that the God ordained Purpose is before us.   All around us men and women are falling.   Each day.....many fall without any hope......peace....or joy.  Our Purpose is to change the direction of those ‡who God puts in our paths each day.  To see this accomplished we must have people that are willing to COMMIT to the PURPOSE God has placed before us.  This commitment must be founded on our love of God and faith in Him.  A love and faith that we know will take us through any trial that comes our way.

     I firmly believe the greatest testimony we as people of purpose can have is for 

     those around us to see that we stand when things are good and we stand secure in 

     our faith when the stormy winds begin to rock our lives.   

This level of commitment is a Commitment of Choice.  

We choose to pursue the purpose.  

We choose to stand in the times of tribulation.   

In the hearts of People of Purpose there is no other course.

The need is before us, “ Will you commit to the purpose today? “

Part II

IV. Accomplishing The Purpose:    We must determine to accomplish the purpose 

      that God has placed us here to accomplish.   A purpose without productivity is 

      but wishful thinking.

      

      The road to that accomplishment is Commitment.  As previously stated it must be a

        “ Commitment of Choice “.  It is up to each of us individually to become a person  

      of commitment.  

        

Note with me some of the commitments that must be made in order to accomplish the purpose God has set before us:

Commitment #1: “ I will forget yesterday “.   There is too much time spent reminiscing on the  failures of the past.  When the past is piled upon the present, it becomes too much to bear.

   

    * So what if you lost your job last year...That doesn’t mean you will this year.

    * So you were sick.....You don’t have to be sick this year.

    * So your children gave you problems last year.....They don’t have too this year.

   

Phil. 3:13-14 “ Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “

          

 Commitment #2:  “I will not worry about tomorrow “.   A card once read, “ I have had many troubles but most of them never happened. “ How true!  Too often we sit around waiting, watching, expecting something  bad to happen.  It will destroy you!!  Matt. 6:34 “ Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall shall take thought for the things itself “.  

Worry is a killer!  Quit worrying about what has happened, is happening, is going to happen, about what has been said, what is being said, or what will be said! If God can’t take care of it, who can?

Commitment # 3: “  I will make today count “.  “ This is the day the Lord hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it “.

   This is the day you....

    a.Squander or save.

    b. Use wisely or throw away.

Commitment # 4: “  I will keep my heart pure “.  If there has ever been a time the church needs to keep guard over their heart, this is the day.  The enemy is out to fill you full of every evil thing he can.  We must realize the heart is the seat of the inner man, and guard it we must!!

Pro. 23:7  As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Matt. 12:34  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

It is up to you and I to ”acknowledge Him in all our ways“.

Commitment #5:  “ I will act upon my purpose “.   Phil. 4:8  “ Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report: If there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things “. 

This is as far as most people are getting today.  We as children of God, who stand upon the whole Word, must read a little farther and then we will see it is more than just thinking that gets things done.

v. 9 “ Those things which ye have both learned, and received and heard, and seen in me...DO “.

This is a doing way of life!!  If there is no work, there is no eating!!

Eccl. 11:4  “ He who watches the wind will not sow: and he who regardeth the clouds shall not reap “.

It is time to quit sitting around planning and talking about what needs to be done....it is time to go to work.  The purpose lies ahead!!  Failure to do so is to place the souls of hundreds, if not thousands, at jeopardy!!

Conc. If we will each purpose in our hearts to make these  commitments more than words or thoughts we will see fulfilled all that God has place in our hearts!!