TIME TO COMMIT TO GOD!!

January 29       Time to Commit to God   1 Samuel 7:1-4

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.” (1 Samuel 7:1-4) Top of Form

It is time that we see a real commitment to God, church and community. Israel ignored God for years, God raised up judges and priest to lead them. There were sporadic times of Revival for them but they were continuously oppressed because they refused to continue in serving the true God. One incident sees them taking the Ark to a specific place and appointing a specific person to care for it. It remained there ignored for 20 years. We see in 1st Samuel 7:1-4, that the message was to “Prepare your hearts unto the Lord!” This was the charge from Samuel. Commitment to serve God, to study His word, to seek His will, isn’t that what a prepared heart requires? We are witnessing some insane and Godless actions and motivations, being demonstrated in our country and in this world.  There has been a systematic move away from the things of God and, now, we are experiencing the results of an ungodly culture! Folks, we are living in perilous and difficult times, and this is the time that we must search our hearts, our souls, and we must decide who we will serve. God has promised that He would provide Real Spiritual strength, so that we can be faithful to God and To serve Him and do His will. 1st Samuel verse 3 tells us Samuel said to the people of Israel “If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts”  You see that is a renewal of Heart but what is that heart to be renewed to according to Samuel, he says “Prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only!” Friends, we must Prepare for service-Commit to serving God-Serve God alone-Don’t serve sin-Don’t serve the cares of the world-Don’t get caught up in worldly lust…We are to serve the living God!!  Hebrews 9: 14 tells us… “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”  Galatians 5: 16 says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” We are to Walk in the Spirit, Commit to confession of our sin, and commit our ways unto the Lord!  If we are to have a Heaven Sent, Holy Ghost Revival, in the 21st century, right now, right here, it will begin with God’s people, committed to prayer and surrendering our lives, our thoughts and actions to Almighty God!  What is hindering you from bringing unchurched and unsaved people to church and witnessing to them and gaining a soul winners crown? Whatever that may be, every one of us needs to follow Samuel’s advice “prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only.”  How will you respond? Will you commit to serving God?  Serving the Church and Community. Samuel prayed and the people responded and confessed their sin. That is what our church, our community, our State, our Nation, needs… Commit to interceding on the part of our nation… Commit to interceding in prayer for this state… Commit to interceding in prayer for our community. "There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer." How will the present situation change? Through Prayer! Commitment means being proactive not reactive. We need to be actively working to reach others. In order for Him to fulfill His plans it will take our Commitment to Him. It takes confession and prayer too. God won’t use us if we will not confess our sin… He cannot use us if we do not Seek His face…WE MUSTCommit our ways to Him…!!!  By Faith we can accomplish Great things, with commitment we will see “He shall bring it to pass.” It will take commitment to Prayer…Commit to praying for Revival… Commit to Praying for lost souls to be saved…Commit to prayer for the believers who are away from God and the church…Commit to prayer for our nation and its leaders… Commit to studying God’s word…Daily bible reading; Daily time spent in the study of God’s word. Remember the verse… Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Do you see it? Trust God for the increase and He shall bring it to pass. When we “prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only” He will bring to pass what He has in store for this Nation. Are you willing to commit to God’s will and way? Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!