Commit to Christ: A Call to Total Surrender

Exploring Full Devotion and Faithful Service to Jesus

Jimmy Anderson

Nov 05, 2024

Transcript

Commit

Today, I’d like to share notes from our recent Sunday School lesson titled Commit. The tagline of the lesson is Believers must resolve to faithfully serve Jesus all their days. Note that this means it is not a part time job. This Christianity thing - making Jesus Lord - in an ETERNAL commitment, and this scares some people.

Remember, when we allow Jesus to take control, He is supposed to have ALL control. This reminds me of the verse about driving out a spirit and sweeping the house.

Matthew 12:43-45 NIRV - “What happens when an evil spirit comes out of a person? It goes through dry areas looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives there, it finds the house empty. The house has been swept clean and put in order. Then the evil spirit goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. That person is worse off than before. That is how it will be with the evil people of today.”

You see, some people want Jesus to clean their house, but then they don’t let Him fill it up. Jesus wants to do more than just sweep and clean the house. He wants to tear down walls, add windows, and rebuild you entirely.

So, continuing this analogy, some people will let Him in and have fellowship with Him, but they don’t want to allow Him full access. Have you heard anyone tell you, “keep your religion to yourself?” Or, “keep your Bible to yourself?” To someone that puts God in a closet and only brings Him out when He is needed, they will never hear those words. But someone that lets Jesus have COMPLETE control in the ETERNAL commitment! Now that’s the goal!

Opposition

The writer mentions those who serve in the military must show bravery and commitment during periods of warfare. As Christians, we are constantly in a state of spiritual warfare.

While the writer notes that “behind all opposition lies the schemes of Satan,” I don’t take this to mean there is a demon behind every rock. If you go back to Genesis 3 you’ll see that opposition to God is the original sin. When the serpent tempted Eve, it didn’t do so by loud boasting, but by planting a seed of doubt! If the enemy can cause people to doubt, he can stand back and watch! Man will let their evil, human nature take over.

Spiritual Warfare: Artwork by Ron DiCianni

Hold Nothing Back

I want to share part of the passage.

Acts 20:18-21 NIRV - When they arrived, he spoke to them. “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,” he said. “From the first day I came into Asia Minor, I served the Lord with tears and without pride. I served him when I was greatly tested. I was tested by the evil plans of the Jews who disagreed with me. You know that nothing has kept me from preaching whatever would help you. I have taught you in public and from house to house. I have told both Jews and Greeks that they must turn away from their sins to God. They must have faith in our Lord Jesus.

In the King James Version, verse 20 reads - And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.

Paul says that he held nothing back! The word translated as ‘profitable’ is from the Greek sumpherō soom-fer'-o, which means to contribute or collect; be better for, bring together, be good. In other words, whatever would help you to grow. I pray that I can be the same in that I hold nothing back that I learn or discover, but that’s a conversation for another day. In Paul’s case it means everything said and shared was for THEIR benefit, not his.

What love to show to fellow man! Boldly sharing not just the Gospel itself, but instruction and correction as well. I think it is safe to say that even though he wasn’t there, Paul took the Great Commission seriously!

Remember in Matthew, our Lord says to make disciples and teach the things that He taught. I have specific things in mind about this topic which I promise, Lord willing, to share later, but for now just look at it this way. If Jesus said it, did it or taught it, then it is important! If the Gospel writers recorded it, then it is important for us today - including sharing it with other believers.

Publicly and house to house, I believe Paul’s message was the same. There is no hidden knowledge; no secret society or handshake - the Gospel message of Jesus Christ is for everyone - Jews, Greeks, Gentiles. And the rest of the teachings are as well.

If Jesus said it, did it or taught it, then it is important!

Not Shunned

I’ll leave you with one more passage today.

Acts 20:26-27 NIRV - So I tell you today that I am not guilty if any of you don’t believe. I haven’t let anyone keep me from telling you everything God wants you to do.

Paul was not guilty of leaving anyone with the excuse that they had not been told. Can you say that? I must admit, I can’t say this. I do strive to find opportunities to share, but I seem to end the day thinking I could have done more.

As I was writing these notes, I was sitting at an outside table at a local restaurant. I had given several tracts that day, including two while making the notes. Should I have done more? COULD I have done more?