-
Browse by Books of the Bible
- Old Testament
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Job
-
Psalm
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- 138
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- 144
- 145
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- New Testament
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Acts
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
- Browse by Topics
-
Browse by Series
Daily Devotions
A systematic reading of the Scriptures, portioned to complement your daily time spent with God.Pastoral Letters
- Meditation
A weekly pastoral column that complements the pulpit messages and bimonthly theme. - Grace Works
A weekly pastoral letter to minister to young adults, inspired by the grace of God. - Youth Walk
A weekly pastoral letter written to encourage young people in their daily walk with God. - Parenting by the Book
A series from the Book of Proverbs that teaches us how to bring up children and build good Christian homes. Study Notes
- Morning Worship Messages
Message notes from every Sunday’s Morning Worship with a common bimonthly theme. - Evening-Bilingual Worship Messages
Message notes from every Sunday’s Evening-Bilingual Worship with a common bimonthly theme. - Prayer Meeting Notes
Notes from our weekly Monday Prayer Meetings - Bible Study Notes
Notes from our weekly Tuesday Bible Study - Senior Sunday School 4 Notes
Notes from Pastor Charles’ Sunday School class - Combined Sunday School Notes
Message notes from Combined Sunday School focusing on the Life and Teachings of Christ Jesus - Young Adults’ Group Messages
Message notes from our weekly Young Adults’ Group meetings. - Young People’s Group Messages
Message notes from our weekly Young People’s Group meetings. - Family Camp Messages
Message notes from our annual family camps where different themes are explored every year. - Spiritual & YAG Retreat Messages
Message notes from our biannual Spiritual & YAG Retreats that serve to instruct, correct and regenerate. - Youth Conference Messages
Message notes from our annual youth conferences where young people learn the relevance of faith. - Intermediate Sunday School
Message notes from the Intermediate Sunday School
2nd Retreat: The Great Makeover Session 9
3 November 2005
YAG RETREAT II
Session #9
Thursday, 3 November 2005
Second Morning Message
Theme: The Great Makeover
Commitment that Lasts a Lifetime
KEY TEXTS
A. Paul’s Example
1. Philippians
2. 2 Corinthians
3. Pastoral Epistles
4. Acts 20
5. Acts 24
B. The Supreme Example of the Lord Jesus
The Gospels
1. Obeying the Father
2. Will of God
3. In Constant communion with God
INTRODUCTION
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:1-2
COMMITMENT
1. A rare word today
2. Few believe in Commitment
3. Fewer practise commitment
COMMITMENT FOR LIFE
1. An even more difficult thought
2. Few feel that they can have a commitment that will last a lifetime
COMMITMENT – IS IT TRULY POSSIBLE?
The Example of the Apostle Paul
1. Basis of Commitment
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, To make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen And of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, To whom I now send you, to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.Therefore, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision
Acts 26:16-19
a) A Direct, heavenly Commission from the Lord Jesus Christ
i) A minister
ii) A witness
ii) An apostle to the Gentiles
b) Promise of the Lord’s Presence
i) Revelation of deep spiritual truths
ii) Deliverance
c) Description of Ministry
i) To open blind eyes
ii) To turn people from darkness to light
iii) Spiritual battle “from the power of Satan to God”
iv) Evangelism “forgiveness of sins and an inheritance”
v) Teaching – “Sanctified by faith in Me”
2. Understanding of Commitment
I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision
Acts 26:19
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart
2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
a) No loss of heart, no matter the toughness of condition in life or ministry (Cf. 2 Cor. 4:8-9)
b) Daily Inward renewal
i) Change is implied
ii) Context suggests that this change is with reference to the spirit 2 Cor. 4:13
iii) More and more Paul found himself gazing at the eternal things 2 Cor. 4:17-18
3. Triumph of Commitment
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
a) Faithful to the very end
b) Fruitful throughout life
4. Sustaining Commitment
a) Love
And now abide faith, hope love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
b) Christ
For the love of Christ compels us…
2 Corinthians 5:14
c) Brethren
For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ
Philippians 1:8
RETREAT CHALLENGES
1. What would happen if there is no Commitment?
2. How should you strengthen your sense of commitment?
3. Are you ready to make a definite commitment?
4. Ponder Jesus’ words to Peter
Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me…?
John 21: 15, 16, 17
5. The greatest of all commitment comes from a heart of love (Cf. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8)