ROMANS 1 v 1. COMMITMENT; Verse 1. Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.

This verse has been made up into seven parts and each part tells us something about Paul and his commitment. PAUL ; This word tells us three things. It was a Personal commitment, a Proud commitment and a Permanent commitment Read ACTS 9 v 1-16 and see the story of Paul unfold. The experience he had when the power of God came upon him and threw him to the ground was the beginning of many traumatic experiences . with Jesus and man. Paul was completely changed by Jesus. Proud Commitment. Paul considered it a privilege to serve Jesus He wrote a great deal of the new testament and was well versed in the old testament. He was happy to be able to say, I Paul, as he identified himself as a follower of Jesus.. From persecuting the early Christian to praying for them. God can change a person right around if one is content to put away his sin and reach out to Jesus. Permanent Commitment. There was no going back for Paul PSALM 61 v 4 ; I will abide in Your tabernacle for ever, so I will sing praise unto Your name for ever. For years Paul was hounded, beaten, imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Christ yet he never considered going back to his old way of life, Have you decided to follow Jesus with a full commitment to serve Him as well as you are able ? A Servant. The Pre requisite in commitment. The word servant here means a bondslave, a person who gladly works for another with no wages or thought of a reward. It requires a deep love and a humble heart. MATTHEW 22 v 17 ; You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. In his letters to the churches Paul identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. Paul wanted the churches to be loving and caring one to another but then so did Jesus when he spoke to the people. Prayer of Commitment. Acts 9 v 6. And he, trembling and astonished said, Lord what will you have me to do.? One of the shortest prayers in the Bible but that was all Jesus needed to hear from Saul, later to be called Paul. Is Jesus still waiting to hear our short prayer of commitment. ? Possessiveness of Commitment. ROMANS 8 v 35-39 ; 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, for Your sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. We think nothing of a thirty year mortgage or a forty year insurance scheme for retirement, so why not a long term servitude to God that we might claim a crown in heaven. No apathy with Paul but a quiet determination to please the Lord. Joshua could say, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Jesus Christ, The Pinnacle of Commitment. He showed us what commitment really is. What is the chief aim of man ? to glorify God. Christ gave a perfect example as how to worship God, A complete obedient servant. Perhaps we cannot reach His pinnacle but at least we can try a little harder PSALM 68 v 4 ; Sing unto God, sing praises to His name, Extol Him that rides upon the heavens by His name Jah and rejoice before Him. God gets all the glory from a dedicated Christian who glorifies Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. We can find true fulfilment of our Christian life in faithfully serving God. Power for Commitment. ACTS 2 v 4 ; And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. MARK 16 v 17-18 ; And these signs shall follow them that believe, In My name shall they cast out devils , they shall speak with new tongues . They shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. The disciples and followers of Jesus were baptised in the Holy Spirit to give them the power necessary to perform the miracles that Jesus did,

Have we been baptised in the power of the Holy Spirit . that we may be strengthened to do the works that God planned for us ? Called, Privilege of Commitment. ROMANS 12 vl-2. I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God., which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. God is ever looking for those people who have been transformed by the Holy Spirit and are now willing to commit themselves to Him and His vineyard. Many are called but few are chosen, simply because they are not willing to be dedicated to the service and worship of God. Pledge or Covenant in Commitment. PSALM 22 v 25 ; My praise shall be of You in the great congregation, I will pay my vows before them that fear Him. Called by God to serve Him and the covenant is made. PROVERBS 3 v 5-6 ; Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Commitment to God is the most important step in your life after you have become a Christian. God says He will never leave us nor forsake us, ( unless we leave Him ) Pleasure of commitment. PSALM 37 v 23 ; The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way. Paul was more than happy that He has become a servant of Jesus Christ. Life for him had never been happier, even though he underwent all kinds of privation and tribulations because he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.. There is great reward in working with Christian friends and seeing some fruit for your prayers and efforts in God's vineyard. If we are in the will of the Lord then we shall be abundantly blessed. There is plenty of work for the willing workers who are ready to do some humble job around the church, if it is not possible to go overseas as a missionary.. Apostle; Purpose of Commitment. To be God's messenger, To show others just what God's standards are for His people. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. MATTHEW 28 v 19-20. Go you into all the world... PSALM 22 v 22 ; I will declare Your name unto my brethren, in the midst of the congregation will I praise You. Let the people see Jesus living out His life in and through us. that God may continue to be glorified. Possibilities in Commitment ; They are endless. There are more lost souls in your district than you could possibly cope with, MATTHEW 10 v 32-33. Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever will deny Me before man, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.. Isaiah 58 v 6-12 ; ( v6-8.) Is not this the feast that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free and that you brake every yoke ? Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry and that you bring the poor that are cast out, to your house. When you see the naked that you cover him, and that you should not hide yourself from your own flesh Then shall your light break forth as the morning and your health shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rereward. Proclamation in Commitment. PSALM35v27-28; Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour My righteous cause, yes, let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long. Let us proclaim Jesus at every opportunity. The more we talk about the love and compassion of Jesus, the more we glorify God.. Separation in Commitment. 2 Corinthians 6 v 14, 18; Be not unequally yoked together with unrighteousness, and what communion has light with darkness, wherefore come out from among them and

be separate says the Lord. And touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and be a Father to you. Commitment means separation from that which would could ruin our Christian walk and witness. May no unsaved person be turned away from Jesus by seeing some undesirable behaviour in us.. Our salvation From God is a free gift but our commitment to God costs us a great deal. Performance in Commitment; PSALM 37 v 3-5 ; Trust in the Lord and , do good, so shall you dwell in the land and verily you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way unto the Lord trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass, As we trust in the providence of God and the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit so our work in God's vineyard will produce fruit that will last for eternity. Our commitment is a continual one, because of a meaningful covenant made to God. Peace in Commitment; MATTHEW I v 28-30; Come unto Me all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest unto your souls. JOHN 14 v 27 ; An oft repeated verse by the Christians. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you, Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. To the Christians who are willing to be Christ's disciples comes the joy of the peace that passes all understanding. A precious gift from God through the Lord Jesus Christ. This peace is available to every believer who has a genuine faith in God. Gospel of Commitment. Plans and specifications. PSALM 119 v 1 0-1 . With my whole heart have I sought You, Your words have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You. v105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light . God says If you read and meditate upon My holy word, and build your life upon that then you will receive all the blessings that I can give you. Follow My will and become a disciple of My Son Jesus Christ. PROVISION in Commitment ; PSALM 28 v 6-7 ; Blessed be the Lord because He has heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusted in Him and I am helped. therefore my heart greatly rejoices and with my song will I praise Him. HEBREWS 13 v 5b ; He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. God has made ample provision for those who will trust Him with their lives and have faith to believe that God has written their names in the Lamb's book of life. Praise in Commitment. PSALM 31 v 19; 0 how great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those that fear You. Which You have wrought for them that trust in You before the sons of men.. My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary. Saviour divine, now hear me while I pray Take all my guilt away, 0 let me from this day, Be wholly Thine. When ends lifes transient dream, When death's cold sullen stream shall o'er me roll. Blest Saviour, then in love, Fear and distrust remove. 0 bear me safe above, a ransomed soul.