Today we will look at our level of commitment or as some refer to as , dedication . The things Jesus said about this matter are somewhat shocking. We will look to the Bible and to other well known first century Christians to get an understanding of how we should relate to the Lord Jesus in this area of our lives.

What does commitment mean ?

act of committing. 2, a pledge; something undertaken to completion, a promise not to be broken

What does dedication mean ?

set aside or mark for a specific purpose, esp. testimonial; consecrate; devote.

Let’s consider a first century disciple of the Apostle John, named Polycarp., he was burned at the stake when he was over 100 years old refusing to deny Him.

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How close is our relationship with the Lord? Does He have our full attention? Does He have preeminence

in our lives? Can He share intimate secrets with us ? Can He ask us for anything , like He did to Abraham? These questions are asked to help us determine if we are ready for His second coming.

Our Lord Jesus gave us an illustration about what it means to be prepared when Jesus comes again. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

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[JOE nuh] (a dove) ‑ the prophet who was first swallowed by a great fish before he obeyed God’s command to preach repentance to the Assyrian city of Nineveh. Jonah was not always a reluctant spokesman for the Lord. He is apparently the same prophet who predicted the remarkable expansion of Israel’s territory during the reign of Jeroboam II (ruled about 793 B.C. ‑ 753 B.C.; 2 Kings 14:25). This passage indicates that Jonah, the son of Amittai, was from Gath Hepher, a town in Zebulun in the northern kingdom of Israel.

While Jonah is described as a servant of the Lord in 2 Kings 14:25, he is a sad and somewhat tragic figure in the book bearing his name. It is a mark of the integrity and reliability of the Bible that a prophet like Jonah is described in such a candid manner. The natural tendency of human writers would be to obscure and hide such a character. But the Spirit of God presents valiant heroes along with petty people to illustrate truth, no matter how weak and unpleasant these characters may have been. We know nothing of Jonah after he returned to Israel from his preaching venture in Nineveh.

We can run………. but we cannot hide .

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This series on relationships would be incomplete without the relationship connection between

Satan, the Devil, the Old Serpent, and the Accuser of mankind. All of us have or have had a relationship with him. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, Satan is still your father. Although this is disturbing it does not have to remain that way.

We were born into darkness when we entered this world.

Ps 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. NIV

Our human nature is an inherent sinful nature, that resists submission to the Spirit of God.

Rom 7: 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. NKJV

This nature comes from our spiritual father……..Satan. Jesus taught a spiritual rebirth.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. NKJV

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The series on relationships would be incomplete without the 10 Commandments. The Commandments were separated and written on two tablets of stone by the finger of God. The first four commandments were written to direct our relationship to Almighty God. The other six commandments were written to show us how to conduct ourselves in our relationships with others.

Our Lord Jesus put his approval on these great foundation stones of our faith.

Matt 5: 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. NKJV

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To understand who Jesus Christ of Nazareth really is and what He has accomplished for us , we must study : His Life, His Teachings, His Person, and His Work.

The work of Christ is related to threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and King. As a prophet he is the Heaven Father’s spokesman to the world proclaiming His will and character.

John 6:45Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father NKJV

John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. NKJV

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To understand who Jesus Christ of Nazareth really is and what He has accomplished for us , we must study : His Life, His Teachings, His Person, and His Work.

His teachings: The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven.

Matt 4:17 Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." NKJV

Jesus demonstrated the superiority of the Kingdom of God over the Kingdom of darkness.

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The Person or Christ

In order to know Jesus Christ personally and intimately, we must understand who He is.

So we study : #1 his life, #2 His Teachings, #3 His Person, and #4 His work. Theologians call this study Christology. The various aspects of the person of Christ are best seen by reviewing the titles that are applied to Him in the Bible.

Son of Man was the way Christ referred to himself.

Luke 7: 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!‘ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

NKJV

A would-be disciple was told if they wanted to follow him they must expect to share his homeless lifestyle.

Luke 9:58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” NKJV

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