Believers Church Of Sylvania
Sunday, October 22, 2023
(Ephesians 5:31-33 NLT) As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ...
(Isaiah 62:4-5 NLT) Never again will you be called "The Forsaken City" or "The Desolate Land." Your new name will be "The City of God's Delight" and "The Bride of God," for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his bride. Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
Commitment today only last as long as the feeling you had when you made it.
Covenant
(John 6-68 MSG) ... many of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?” ||| 'Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. ||| We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.”
1. I commit to give you all I have.
(1 John 4:19 NLT) We love each other because he loved us first.
(1 John 4:10 NLT) This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Am I giving my all?
My spouse deserves the same priority.
2. I commit to be with you always.
(Psalm 139:7-8 NIV) Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
(Matthew 28:20 NLT) Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Am I keeping a plan B in my pocket?
3. I commit to give you a place to belong.
(1 Peter 2:9 NLT) ... you are a chosen people. ... God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God...
(Romans 8:1 NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus....
(Romans 8:15 NLT) ... God's ... adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father."
Am I shutting you out?
4. I commit to protect you.
(Psalm 91:3 NLT) For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
(Psalm 91:11 NLT) For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
(Psalm 91:14 NLT) The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
Am I leaving you vulnerable?
5. I commit to give you a way to come home.
God chose to extend mercy & grace before you even messed up!
(1 John 1:9 NLT) But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
(Lamentations 3:22-24 MSG) ' God ’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God I say it over and over. He’s all I’ve got left.
Am I giving you the grace & mercy I received?