Ekklesia 365
Commitment
Sunday March 8th, 2020 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui
Acts 18
"Being the church" every day without COMMITMENT is impossible. COMMITMENT moves you from good intentions to actions, and from intentions to the completion of your intentions.
COMMITMENT
"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." (Romans 16:3-4)
What Is COMMITMENT?
- 1. Make known your intention to sign up for the GO101 Event.
- 2. Sign up for the GO101 Event.
- 3. Attend the G0101 Event.
"And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks." (Acts 18:1-4)
- "He came to them": Paul came to Priscilla and Aquila and asked them to sign up.
"He stayed with them": Priscilla and Aquila signed up by allowing Paul to stay in their house.
- "He reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath": Priscilla and Aquila completed their intentions by working with and supporting Paul.
Jesus is asking for your total commitment rather than a mere contribution. Jesus going to the cross was a total commitment. Joseph of Arimathea giving his tomb for Jesus' burial was a contribution. (Egg is a contribution, Bacon is a total Commitment)
Why Is COMMITMENT Necessary?
Commitment defines
- 1. Goals
- 2. Processes
- 3. Outcomes
"So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews." (Acts 18:18-19)
- "Priscilla and Aquila were with Paul" to help him reach his goal of discipling new leaders.
- "And he came to Ephesus, and left them there." The Process: Paul let Priscilla and Aquila lead.
- "They took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." The outcome edified the church.
INTENTION TO SIGN UP/GOAL
24 "Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
SIGN UP/PROCESS
26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
COMPLETION/OUTCOME
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." (Acts 18:24-27)
PAUL
- 1. Paul's goal was to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.
- 2. Paul preached the Gospel to the Gentiles.
- 3. Paul started more than 20 churches.
PRISCILLA AND AQUILA
- 1. Their goal was to help Paul start new churches.
- 2. They worked at their trade to help Paul.
- 3. They opened their home to believers.
APOLLOS
- 1. Apollos' goal was to preach the Good News.
- 2. Apollos accepted help from others.
- 3. Apollos greatly helped believers.
CHALLENGE
If you find yourself needing to be everywhere, you may not be going anywhere. COMMIT to do ONE thing well in a season and invest yourself completely in it.
To follow Jesus we need to do more than contribute or get involved. We need to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him.