The Power Of Commitment | Julius Rwotlonyo

[Music] [Music] [Music] hello family welcome to a total thank you for choosing to celebrate Jesus with us add photo each one reaches one or each one invites one and just in case you have not invited your friend yet you have a couple of seconds do that pick up your phone invite them to join the celebration and if you're joining us for your very first time you are our special guests you are very welcome and we would love to connect with you drop us an email at connect at wat ourchurch.com parents regard you covered we have materials for children to keep them engaged during this lockdown check out our website at what total church.com do you know what time it is it's time to celebrate Jesus please stand up and let's have church welcome come on wherever you are get up on your feet and let's lift up the name of Jesus come on hands together like [Music] [Applause] [Music] found me so in need of mercy shoot bringing your arms never let me go [Music] [Music] she loves babies new [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] together [Music] [Music] she loves me ooh-wee [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] come on we find our hope in Jesus we're gonna declare these words together this season I found a new life in you come on you can sing it out in you this is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] isn't it great to be in the presence of the king of kings and a lot of lords we're so glad that you could join us and wash it together you know this past week we were standing from the book of Matthew as a team and in chapter 11 verse 28 Jesus says come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest you say take my yoke it is easy and my burden is light throughout this next song reflecting on those words and it's our prayer that the peace of God will guard your hearts and your mind even in this time of great uncertainty will he just come to Jesus and faith and surrender every care every bite into him for he cares he cares for you [Music] me Oh [Music] for me it is easy [Music] [Music] Oh [Music] a disease [Music] [Applause] [Music] to me okay [Music] Hey [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh [Music] ratima restored Oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] we was sufficient for me the need for 30 now about you are my everything for you one you are sufficient me [Music] love you [Music] father we look to you you are our everything you are sufficient for us and Lord we turn our eyes to everything that does not matter and we fix our eyes on you because your lord matter your Lord our God and Lord we find a hope and we find our peace and we find [Music] because you are a team you're our Savior our sustainer and Lord we don't look at any other thing but we'll look to you Jesus and so abrecan's every sickness every pain every worry every panic in every fear let it go in the name of Jesus because Oh God you are sufficient for us we give you glory we give you praise in Jesus name we pray and everyone say amen [Music] welcome again to our to the church service it's truly an honor for us to come to you wherever you are watching the service today or listening we are so grateful thank you so much for the feedback that you've given to us over the past number of weeks and many of you have been blessed by our to the church services thank you so so much before we get into God's Word today I just want to remind us to uphold those Ministry of Health guidelines that have been given to us to prevent the spread of the corona virus together we will come through this season well let's pray and get into God's Word no father I ask you to speak to us today as you always do we are open in Jesus name a man well today we are going to conclude our series thriving in tough times and I'm going to talk about the final message in this series the power of commitment my firstborn son loves animals he knows details of so many animals but by far his favorite animal is a lion now every day in the African wild a lion and an antelope wake up each of the knows that if is to thrive if it's to live to see the next day it must outrun the other for the antelope it knows if it's gonna live to see another day it must outrun the lion the lion knows if it's to live to see another day it must outrun the antelope and have a meal for that day that's commitment in the wild the same is true when it comes to tough times if we are going to thrive in tough times we need to have commitment now when I talk about commitment I'm talking about that emotional and intellectual and even physical Deveaux to a course of action no matter what nowadays commitment is becoming a very rare virtue we live in a world that loves quick fixes in fact when I think about commitment I think about two kinds there's one that I call worldly commitment and that kind of commitment is based on convenience or comfort people say they are committed as long as it's convenient oh it's comfortable that kind of commitment will never in abil you to thrive in tough times the commitment I'm talking about today in the subject the power of commitment is Kingdom commitment that's the kind of commitment that's based on covenant it's a binding agreement you make to intellectually and even physically and emotionally devote yourself to a course of action it costs it can be uncomfortable but it's the only kind of commitment that will enable us to thrive in tough times that's the kind of commitment that will cause us to outlast any challenging times that we face by the way I need to say this before I go on there is no such thing as the gift of commitment commitment my friend is a choice we make every day it's a choice that we make today as I think about this subject the power of commitment the person that comes to my mind in the Bible is the Apostle Paul he embodies this entire subject of commitment I'm amazed by his life before the Apostle Paul became a believer he was actually committed to persecuting believers he hunted them down and one time in one of his ventures to persecute the believers he had an encounter with Jesus that totally changed his life by the way when we commit our lives to Jesus he doesn't adjust our lives he completely transforms our lives from inside out that was the experience of the Apostle Paul and after he became a believer Paul was so committed to God unto God's work he went preaching the gospel he went planting churches in new ground he literally began to influence cities Paul was thriving in his mission but it wasn't with our challenge he faced some difficulties extreme challenging tough times that he went through but he never let them discourage him from his commitment to God's purpose for his life listen to what Paul says in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 and from verse 23 to 28 describing some of his challenges he says I have worked much harder but I've also been in prison more frequently been flogged more severely and been exposed to death again and again five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes - one three times I was beaten with rods once I was pelted with stones three times I was shipwrecked I spent a night and the day in the open sea I have been constantly on the move I have been in danger from rivers and danger from bandits in danger from my fellow Jews in danger from Gentiles in danger in the city in danger in the country in danger at sea and in danger from false believers who wear a life tough times they face but then he says I have also labored and I have toiled and have often gone without sleep I have known hunger and task and have often gone without food I have been cold and naked beside everything else I faced the daily pressure of my concern for all the charges he still said regardless of the things he faced he was still concerned about the church kingdom commitment the letter that Paul wrote to the Philippians which is actually in our book the book of Philippians is what I want to concentrate on and just bring three things that Paul says we must commit to if we are going to thrive in halftimes by the way Paul wrote that letter of to the Philippians while he was in prison himself but also he was writing to encourage the church in Philippi that was going through difficulty through persecution and he teaches and he says three things that we must commit to if we are going to thrive in tough times these three things will enable you my friend to also thrive in the tough times that we are in today the first thing that Paul teaches when we are going through tough times number one we must commit to a godly mindset how easy it is for us to slip into an ungodly mindset when we are going through tough times we start to entertain negative thoughts that make us very critical or even very pessimistic it all starts in our thoughts but Paul begins to tell us the kind of mindset we need to have a godly mindset has faults that are opposite to the ungodly mindset here Philippians chapter 4 verses 8 and 9 Paul describes the kind of thoughts that we need to have it says finally brothers and sisters hear the thoughts whatever is true whatever is noble noble means it's showing qualities of high moral character whatever is right whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy those are the things that we need to be thinking about even when we're going through tough times think about such things and process whatever you have learned or received or had from me seen in me put it into practice and the God of peace will be with you the mind is a war zone of all kinds of thoughts especially when we go through tough times if we do not manage our thought life very well and begin to carry negative thoughts like I'm never gonna make it through my business we'll never recover I will never get a good job like some people are thinking now I'll never be financially well or physically healthy those kinds of thoughts end up bringing us to a place of fear and stress on depression or even confused on that anxious we carry a defeated mindset some people even become suicidal in the process in tough times we need to resist and the ungodly mindset and embrace a godly mindset my friends I love a book that really helped me when it comes to mindset was written by Joyce Meyer who is a very good friend of Watoto the book is entitled the battlefield of the mind and if you've never ready to I encourage you to read it because Joyce Meyer begins to describe her life how she faced a very abusive childhood and various setbacks that caused her to begin to feel and think that she would never amount to anything in life she faced hard times in her life but she had to fight against an ungodly mindset so she could commit to a godly mindset that would eventually enable her to thrive in her life that's why she wrote the book I want to give you two quotes from the book Joyce Meyer says when a person is going through a hard time his mind wants to give up Satan knows that if he can defeat us in our mind he can defeat us in our experience that's why it is so important Joyce Meyer says that we don't lose heart or grow weary or even faint when we are going through hard times the other quote that I love from that book is this you cannot have a positive life and a negative mind commit to a godly mindset just two final thoughts when it comes to committing to a godly mindset number one a godly mindset embraces tough times as an opportunity for life transformation that it does but secondly a godly mindset is a faith-based mindset without faith we can never please God in order to thrive in tough times we need to commit to a godly mindset change your mindset change your life secondly as Paul was writing to my church in Philippi he encouraged them to commit to number two godly values nothing tests our values like tough times when tough times come that's when you begin to see the core of the values that we hold I had the testimony two weeks ago about one of our youth here a church who moved to do her father studies in the US and when coffee'd came and they had to shut down the university she went to stay with her brother few days while she was there her brother began to experience some symptoms of kovaydin as they did ad tests and it truly came out that he was positive but she was negative that was a test of her values her family got involved and they began to talk what do we do do we find a different apartment for her to stay and she responded back to her dad and to her family and she said you know what there are guidelines that we've been given by the health officials that will help the spread of this virus I'm going to follow all those guidelines I'm going to maintain all those precautions but secondly she said I'm gonna stay in this apartment and care for my brother I don't want him to go through it alone I will maintain the precautions have been given by the health officials but I just want my brother to know that I'm with him she never stigmatized her brother she wanted her brother to know that she cared but thirdly she told her dad daddy I still believe in the power of prayer I know God will protect me from getting this virus but also God will heal my brother and today he's well and he is at work it was a test of our values I'm so moved when I have that story from one of our young people you see friends godly values will give you an unshakable solid foundation for thriving in tough times when to commit to building our lives Korea's businesses family society and nations on godly values so that when times come that are tough we will be like a house built on a rock that will weather any kind of storm that's what Jesus said one value that Paul embraced was the value of contentment this enabled him to thrive in tough times he describes it in Philippians chapter 4 verses 10 to 13 he says I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last writing to the church in Philippi at last you renewed your concern for me because they had sent him some support while he was in prison indeed you were concerned but you had no opportunity to show it I am NOT saying this because I am in need he's reminding them for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances I know what it means to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well fed or hungry whether living in plenty or in what I can do all things through him who gives me strength Paul is saying here this value of contentment has a neighborhood him to thrive in whatever circumstances he faced no wonder he says he was able to rejoice greatly in the Lord even while he was in prison contentment is that attitude of gratitude for what we have now as we trust God to grant us our desires that was the value that kept Paul going now whereas godly values Anna boss to thrive in tough times and godly values will destroy our lives when we earned half times galatians chapter 5 verses 19 to 23 shows us some of the fruit of ungodly values here Paul says when you follow the desires of your sinful nature that are inspired by godly values their results are very clear secretary morality impurity lustful pleasures idolatry sorcery hostility quarreling jealousy outbursts of anger selfish ambition dissension division Envy drunkenness wild parties and other scenes like these these are things that we see when people are under pressure they begin to do these things let me tell you again Paul says as I have before that anyone living that sort of life can never inherit the kingdom of God or the life that God wants them to have ungodly values destroy our lives when we go through tough times but it carries on in verse 22 to talk about some godly values that we must commit to in tough times it says but the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control there's no law against these things the Bible contains the kind of values we must commit to other values like truth and excellence justice Trinity integrity naming these are the values we must commit to if we are going to thrive in tough times and it can be tough but I love what Paul says and here's the truth only Christ can give us the strength to consistently live by godly values in tough times so commit to godly values finally Paul teaches us that when we are going through tough times and we want to thrive in those tough times we need to commit to godly vision vision is that picture of your preferred future that excites you and produces passion inside of you it's the dream in your heart for your life for your family and career vision is what you see when your eyes are closed vision is the future you imagine godly vision is the kind of vision that ultimately brings honor and glory to God tough times have a tendency to blind our vision that's why we must commit to keeping our vision in front of us and never give up on our vision don't you ever let tough times kill your vision my friend keep that vision in front of you some people are already counting 2020 as a lost year some people have abandoned their goals and plans for 2020 yes the reality is that kovat has disrupted everything including our routines and everything is likely to change in the world in the next number of years but that doesn't mean we abandon our visions and dreams that God has given to us we may need to adjust our plans adjust our strategies but keep focused on our vision keep committed to the vision God has given to us why the Bible says in Proverbs 29:18 where there is no vision the people perish other versions say they cast off restraint they begin to leave anyhow that's why we must commit to a godly vision it speaks of the future and a beautiful future our story as what our church is a story that talks about this value of vision it's one of our core values when Gary and Marilyn came to plant were to recharge it was in difficult days but they had a commitment to this god-given vision that what other Church would become one of those churches that celebrates Christ but also cares for community and today we look after thousands of vulnerable children we reach out to thousands of vulnerable women in community to give them a hand up in life was a godly vision given to Gary and Marilee for years they were committed to it as the church we are committed to it we planted a few years ago a church in South Sudan God called us to plant a church in South Sudan and charred South Sudan is quite unstable and there were times when war would erupt in the city of Juba and we had to recall our team twice but we never gave up we and South Sudan today when all this is said and done we will be there celebrating Christ caring for community stay committed to the vision God has given to you Paul talks about his personal vision for his life but also for his work in Philippians 3:10 and 14 he says I want to know Christ this is an opposer my friends who had an encounter with Jesus but he's here saying hey I still this is my personal dream to know Christ more I was this person of vision and he says yes to know the power of his resurrection and the participation in his sufferings becoming like him in his death and so somehow attaining the resurrection from the dead and he says investor of not that I have already obtained all of this I have already arrived at my goal but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took ahold of me brothers and sisters he says I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it but one thing I do forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus what was that prize for him to be with Jesus forever but secondly for him to hear God say well done good and faithful servant because it stayed committed to the vision God gave him in tough times don't quit on Christ be like Paul get to know Christ forget the past Paul says and forget the past and press on towards the goal the future the past or even the present can easily become an enemy of your future so once the game when we are going through tough times commit to a godly vision it will inspire you it will ignite creativity in you it will give you resilience to press on to a better tomorrow cause godly vision this is what it does godly vision motivates us to persevere through tough times those three things will enable us to thrive in tough times Paul demonstrates exactly how the power of commitment is necessary when we face tough times we must exercise Kingdom commitment as I conclude to a godly mindset to godly values but also to godly vision if we're gonna thrive in tough times he has a final scripture I wanna live with you again it's Paul writing second corinthians chapter 4 verses 8 to 9 he says though we experience every kind of pressure we are not crushed at times we do not know what to do but quitting is not an option we are persecuted by others but God has not forsaken us we may be knocked down but not out stay committed we will thrive through tough times in Jesus name wow wow wow wow I love the life of the Apostle Paul it demonstrates the power of commitment and before I finish the message today I just want to draw back to Paul story Paul lived their life totally opposite of what God's plan was for him even persecuted the church but one encounter with Jesus changed his life forever and he became committed to God to God's plan for his life in fact Paul says when it comes to sin he was a chief Cena that's what he describes himself as but say for the grace of God that totally turned his life around maybe you were listening to me today watching you've never experienced this grace of God in your life that totally changes lines I want to pray with you if that's you repeat the simple prayer so dear Jesus I thank you that you loved me you gave your life so I could have life today I ask you to forgive me of my sin I choose to commit my life to you Jesus forever in your name I pray amen amen if you prayed that prayer you are now born again you are a child of God please let us know how we can help you if you're watching online there's a link in the chat section just indicate there that hey you've given your life to Jesus would love to get in touch with you or maybe you're listening or watching on TV you can write to us and connect atwater recharge calm and we will be able to be in touch with you to help you in your newfound life congratulations you are now a part of the family of God welcome my friend now before I turn the service over to pastor ad who's going to take us through the rest of the service I'm so excited to let you know that next week we are beginning a brand new series entitled thriving families I know you are going to be blessed by it so invite your friends watch it as a family these teachings will radically transform your families god bless you and now pasta ad is gonna lead us through the rest of the service thank you pastor Julia so preach in God's Word I have been blessed and I also want to say congratulations to all of you who have said yes to Jesus Christ you have made the best decision I'm so proud of you and now it's time for all of us to give I want you to remember that generosity makes a difference let me read a verse even before we give in Luke 16 9 Jesus said use your ugly resources to benefit others and make friends then when your possessions are gone they will welcome you to an eternal home Jesus in this verse is telling us to use our money our worldly wealth to win people for Jesus Christ and when our lives here on earth are over the people that we want for Jesus Christ are going to welcome us in heaven wow that is so power for and in this moment I want to pray for you even before you give let's pray together now father thank you so much for your children thank you because you love us and you want to bless us to become a blessing thank because when we are generous they are amazing promises for us you tell us that when we are give us you bless us abundantly we will have everything that we need but also we are going to become a blessing to many other people for them praying in this moment bless the giver bless the gift in Jesus name I do pray and all God's people said a man now here are the different giving options you can give using mobile money direct bank transfer or use banking agents within your community but also if you live close to any of our celebration points you can walk over and slip your cash offering into one of the gift boxes now for those using mobile money let me walk you through the steps you would take for Mtn dial star 165 star 3 hash and the merchant code is 1 4 8 7 7 5 4 Airtel dial star 1 8 5 star four star 9 hash and the business number is 700,000 that is 7 followed by 5 zeros to send MTN mobile money to child care dial star 1 6 5 star 4 star for hash then enter the merchant code W CCM in capital letters now as the reference type the sponsors full name only and to the amount to be paid and finally fill in your MTN mobile money pin for more giving options check out our website while total church.com /give but you can also use your phone to scan the QR code which will take you straight to the different giving options thank you for your generosity and as we continue to give let's sing one more song that speaks of our kingdom commitment and I will be back to speak a blessing over you [Music] your voice resounds through the ages [Music] with the recklessness ever calling us to follow so even love your heart [Music] two are justly and love mercy by your spirit we will follow the rhythm of your heart Jesus [Music] Jesus [Music] we are [Music] [Applause] [Music] through the ages [Music] [Music] calling us too far [Music] you are justly and [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] to the bra and we will go to the whole bless we will go senders [Music] we will go to the cities we will go to the nation's we will [Music] send us making your prayer and we will [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] Jesus [Music] Jesus [Music] Oh we are [Music] thank you for joining us today if you need counseling you need prayer or you'd like to join a virtual small group email us at connect at war total charge com and right now I want to speak a blessing over you the Lord bless you the Lord keep you the Lord be gracious to you the Lord turn his face upon you and I'm praying that make goodness and mercy follow you every day of your life I bless you in the name of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit amen I'm a man see you next week [Music] open our eyes to see that me open is to hear that guy the broken [Music] you see [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music]

Channel: Watoto Church

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Id: ug26pC-pd2E

Length: 58min 3sec (3483 seconds)

Published: Sun May 17 2020