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Are You Just Involved, or Involved and Committed For the Cause of Christ?

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Definitions Involve: “to engage as a participant <workers

involved in building a house> b: to oblige to take part c: to occupy (as oneself) absorbingly; especially : to commit (as oneself) emotionally <was involved with a married man>” Merriam-Webster

Synonyms - Include, contain, number among Rodale

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Definition of Commitment a: an agreement or pledge to do something in

the future; especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date b: something pledged c: the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled <a commitment to a cause> Merriam-Webster

Synonyms -pledge, covenant, promise, vow, giving ones word, obligation, responsibility! Rodale

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Definition of Commit 1 a: to put into charge or trust : ENTRUST; b: to

place in a prison or mental institution; c: to consign or record for preservation <commit it to memory>; d: to put into a place for disposal or safekeeping; e: to refer (as a legislative bill) to a committee for consideration and report2: to carry into action deliberately : PERPETRATE <commit a crime>3 a: OBLIGATE, BIND <a contract committing the company to complete the project on time>; b: to pledge or assign to some particular course or use <commit all troops to the attack>; c: to reveal the views of <refused to commit himself on the issue> Merriam-Webster

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Matthew 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his

righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

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“First” Defined

Proton (GK) - firstly (in time, place, order, or importance):--before, at the beginning, chiefly (at, at the) first (of all).

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J. W. McGarvey & Phillip Pendelton on Matthew 6:33

“The Kingdom of heaven is the real object of our search. It must be sought first both in point of time and of interest, and it must be kept ever first in our thoughts after it is found. That Christian faith and obedience leads to worldly prosperity is proved by countless instances which are multiplied with each passing day. The security of Christ’s kingdom leads to the cheerfulness which renews the strength, and to the undistracted industry which brings success.” The Fourfold Gospel, pp. 259-260

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George T. Eldridge on Matthew 6:33

Seek. It is translated from the Greek word “zeteo” which is found 119 times in the New Testament....Christians constantly need to be motivated, reminded, and pricked in their minds that God’s church is first in their lives. The church is a family and God knew what we needed. God did not bring the church into existence for His benefit or for the benefit of divinity. The church was brought into existence because of the needs of men. Let us kindle a new “zeteo” in ourselves and be found faithful. Truth Magazine, XVIII:3, p. 8-9, November 15, 1973

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Matthew 22:36-39 Master, which is the great commandment in

the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Who is to come FIRST in this passage?

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Luke 14:26-27

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. “Hate” - miseo (GK): by extension, to love less

Strong’s Dictionary

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Commitment Texts! Psalms 37:4-6 Luke 14:15-27; 28-33 Luke 16:1-13 Matthew 19:27-29

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Comments From A Gospel Preacher On Commitment!

“Brother, you couldn’t have described ____any better! My analysis of his long history of performance is that he, (like ___), wants to be involved ‘when he feels like it!’ Procrastination is a huge problem with these two! Commitment requires sacrifice, doing what you might not ‘feel’ like doing. You can’t fight against Goliath and his armies if you are on their side! You can’t fight a good fight and war a good warfare if you refuse to engage in the battle. With some, it's ‘fear’ and with others it is nothing short of lazy causeless ‘Christians.’ God is looking for those who are willing to take the battle to the enemy and once there, willing to sling the stone God has prepared.” (cf. 1 Sam. 17:28-58)

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What Commitment Involves? Sacrifice!

Christ is our sacrifice! Eph. 5:1, 2; Heb. 9:26

We must offer ourselves as a “living sacrifice!” Rom. 12:1-2; 6:13-19 1 Pet. 2:5 Heb. 13:15-16

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What Commitment Involves? Overcoming the fear of men!

King Saul feared the people! 1 Sam. 15:23-24

Religious rulers of Jesus day feared! Mark 11:27-33

Parents of blind son feared! Jn. 9:1-34

Jesus warned about fearing men! Lk. 9:57-61

Being overcome by fear of men is Divinely condemned! Matt. 10:26-33 Rev. 21:7-8

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What Commitment Involves? Toil and labor!

Must “fight the good fight of faith!” 1 Tim. 6:6-12; 2 Tim. 4:5-8 Eph. 6:10-18

Plant and water the seed! “The seed is the word of God!”

Lk. 8:11 1 Cor. 3:1-9

Must be laborers in God’s vineyard Matt. 9:37-38

We will reap what we sow! Gal. 6:7-10 2 Cor. 9:6

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What Commitment Involves? Trusting in the Lord’s Will!

The Lord knows what is best for man! Ps. 4:5; 9:9-10; 18:2-3 Prov. 3:5; 14:12; 16:25 Jer. 10:23

The Lord’s knowledge is far above man’s! Isa. 55:8-13

We must bend our will to God’s will! Eph. 6:1-8 1 Pet. 4:1-5 1 Jn. 2:15-17 Acts 5:29 Matt. 7:21-23

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What Commitment Involves? Enduring to the End!

We must endure difficult trials: Jas. 1:1-5, 12-16; 1 Cor. 10:13

We must endure ridicule and criticism: Mob spit on Jesus!

Matt. 26:67; Mk. 14:65; 15:9 Jesus spat too! - Mk. 8:22

We must endure persecution! Matt. 5:10-12; 1 Pet. 4:12-19 Christ was crucified!

Matt. 27:35; Mk. 15:24, 25; Lk. 24:20; Jn. 19:16-18 Apostles and other Christians were martyred but endured!

Acts 9:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:10-12; 1 Thess. 1:3-10; Rev. 2:12-13 So must we endure such treatment!

Rev. 2:10; vs. 13 - Antipas

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Conclusion Are You Just Involved, or Involved and

Committed For the Cause of Christ? If one is only involved in the Lord’s cause they are

only at the open gate of the Lord’s vineyard! Continue into the vineyard toward spiritual perfection! Commitment necessitates: Sacrifice, Courage, Labor

and Toil, Trusting in the Lord’s Will and Enduring to the End!

Be both involved and committed to the Lord’s cause! “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a

crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

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Romans 8:31-39What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.