COMMITMENT #3

A. JNO 14:15. Not an option or suggestion.
1. If we refuse to keep His commandments the end result is loss of our souls.
a. Loving Jesus and keeping His commandments is the requirement for discipleship.
(A) God made you a disciple for one reason. To be a vital, active, part of His body.
(B) That’s why discipleship demands total commitment to God and Jesus.
b. Commit is a special word. Webster defines: "That which is pledged, promised or given to
another."
(A) 2 TIM 1:12.
(B) "I’ve made the decision to surrender my life. I made a pledge, promise, a commitment to give Jesus my all --- Me!"
GAL.2:20.
(b) That kind of commitment results in a serious involvement.
2. New Testament commitment involves an open declaration of allegiance to Jesus.
a. Not talking about a statement of belief or a public confession of faith made before baptism.
(A) ROM.10:9-10. We have misunderstood that scripture for years.
That does not mean that we confess Jesus as Savior, Son of God.
You confess Jesus as LORD. That is how you define belief.
Biblical belief is defined as a commitment.
(2) Commitment means He gets first consideration in all things of my life.
(B) Commitment is an open, active, militant, allegiance to Jesus. An act of the will that results in an overwhelming involvement of the total person to a total commitment to Jesus Christ.
New Testament example: LK.15:17-19.
But at that point he is still in the pig pin.
He’s made a noble decision, grand resolution, tremendous aspiration, wonderful Intentions. But, he's still in the pig sty.
(2) VS.20. That's commitment!
(1) Act of will that motivated a response.
(2) It involved the total integration of the total person to the total task.
b. Do you know what commitment is? Lubbock policeman Ken Fowler.
(1) He responded to a call for help. He knocked on door and was shot point blank.
(1) Commit is Simone Hayward.
(2) She gave birth to her 1st child in a Philippine City the day after her husband John was killed by Marxists gorillas in the jungle. They were working in a jungle Leper colony caring for the despised and rejected.
(2) She walked back into the jungle, buried her husband and continued their work in obscure leper colony.
(3) That’s commitment.
(4) What's commitment? . Commitment is Ken Fowler. Commitment is Simone Hayward. Commitment is costly!
B. Jesus spoke more clearly about commitment and the cost of commitment than anything else.
a. MATT.10:37.
LK.14:26-27.
“But, Jesus that’s to strong!”
If your commitment is not stronger than your earthly ties, you can not be a disciple.
Count the cost before you make the commitment.

Commitment is very costly. Jesus requires total commitment.
We are talking about unlimited, unconditional commitment.
Commitment of every last connection and commitment of life.
Total commitment with nothing held back.
b. What’s the greatest experience (Radical, Revolutionary) In your Life?
(5) The day you paid off your home? 1st time you kissed your wife?
An experience so radical, revolutionary that Jesus tried to describe it to Nicodemus in
human terms.
What did He say? It’s like birth!
The most marvelous moment in the human experience and it's very painful.
You must be born again, anew, of water and the spirit. And, Nicodemus did not understand it.
COL.3:1-3.
That's your commitment.
A radical, revolutionary, life changing, redirecting surrender to Jesus.
You become a new creature in Jesus Christ.
(6) Commitment, total commitment, that results from that kind of experience.
I am to renounce all other commitments so God can have my life lock, stock and
barrel.
That's what discipleship is all about.
C. LK. 9:57. “Jesus, I want to be a disciple.”
a. Jesus answers in Vs. 58.
(A) Hear the honesty of Jesus as he says, "Count the cost."
(1) You may have to give up your creature comforts and living a life of ease.
Vs. 59-60.
Put Jesus above the most sacred obligations on earth. He wants all, or nothing at all.
(2) Vs. 61-62. You want a scripture that teaches total commitment? Try Vs. 62.
(1) How could we have missed that for all these years?
(2) Three men are offered discipleship. Not a single one of them had the spiritual sensitivity to make it worth while.
(3) All three missed the boat because all three had one thing in common. Their commitment was defective.
(B) Today to many Christians are comitted, over extended to everything in the world.
Dedicated, committed, overextended to everything except God and His Church.
Like a Kansas City jewelry store window. Crosses and a sign, "On Easy Terms."
Take the crosses off our steeples. From around our necks and into our hearts.
b. Bill Borden (Heir to Borden fortune). He became a missionary. Died of an incurable disease.
(A) String and a note. No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regret!
(B) Today, accept the total commitment He asks. Let Him the make difference in your life
(1) Total commitment of the total person to the total task.
(2) Commitment to Him and this congregation. A total commitment with No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regret.
(3) ACTS 20:32.

Spur - 2/18/01 am