Examples Of Commitment

Philippians 4:9; 2 Timothy 3:14

Scripture Reference

Philippians 4:9 — “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

2 Timothy 3:14 — “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”

Introduction

Title: “Examples Of Commitment” — preached by Dr. Terry LeQuieu.

Commitment is becoming rare in our day. People drift, churches become comfortable, and many treat Christianity as a convenience rather than a covenant. God’s Word warns us, guides us, and gives examples — good and bad — so we can learn, measure, and correct our course. Today we will examine biblical examples of commitment so that we might follow well: the perfect commitment of Christ, the call-commitment of Isaiah, the cause-commitment of David, the commission-commitment of the early apostles, Paul’s Christ-centered commitment — and contrast these with failures such as Lot, Jonah, Demas, and Laodicea. Our aim is not merely information but transformation: to spark a renewed devotion that leads to obedience and fruit.

Not found in any other. Amen. There is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. That’s the name Jesus Christ. We know that and thank God that he does hold us fast. He holds us secure and he holds us in his arms. Praise the Lord for that.

Quote from Preacher

This introductory quotation focuses our attention on the centrality of Christ — the basis for every true Christian commitment. Our commitment flows from who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

Outline

Christ the Chief Example — The Constant Commitment
1. Hebrews 12:2 — Christ, “the author and finisher of our faith,” endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now seated at God’s right hand. Explanation: Jesus never wavered. His commitment was perfect, motivated by the joy of redeeming sinners. We look to Him as the model and source of our commitment.
2. Why this matters: If Christ had faltered, there would be no salvation. Our faith begins and ends in Him, so our loyalty to God must be rooted in gratitude for Christ’s work.
Isaiah — Commitment to the Call
1. Isaiah 6 — “Here am I; send me.” Explanation: In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord and responded to God’s call despite surrounding darkness. Commitment to the call is readiness to answer God whenever, wherever, whatever He requires.
2. Practical point: The Christian life requires availability. When God calls, He may take you out of comfort, into hardship, or into sacrificial service — but He equips those who answer.
David — Commitment to the Cause
1. 1 Samuel 17 — David defends the honor of the Lord and asks, “Is there not a cause?” Explanation: David was devoted to God’s honor and the people’s safety; he fought not for pride but for the cause of the living God.
2. Practical point: Commitment to the cause means remembering the “why” of service. Our actions are not primarily about recognition but about advancing Christ’s kingdom and protecting His reputation.
The Early Church — Commitment to the Commission
1. Acts 17 and related passages — The apostles turned the world upside down for Christ. Explanation: They were driven by the Great Commission: to go, to win, to baptize, and to teach.
2. Practical point: Commitment includes evangelism and discipleship. A church that is committed to the commission seeks to reach the lost and build mature believers, not merely entertain or maintain comfort.
Paul — Commitment to Christ
1. Philippians 3:7–14 — Paul counts all things as loss that he may win Christ and know Him. Explanation: Paul’s entire life was pressed toward Christ; his commitment was measured by his longing to be like Jesus and to serve His purpose.
2. Practical point: True commitment is Christ-centered. We must press forward, forgetting past failures, reaching for the prize that is in Christ.
Negative Examples — Why Commitment Fails
1. Lot — Commitment lost to Comfort
  1. Genesis 13 & 19 — Lot chose the well-watered plain (like Egypt) and later pitched his tent toward Sodom. Explanation: Lot preferred comfort and familiarity; he drifted into compromise and lost his family’s spiritual future.
  2. Practical warning: Comfort is the enemy of progress — it keeps us small and blind to God’s greater calling.
2. Jonah — Commitment limited by Convenience
  1. Jonah 1 — He served when convenient but ran when obedience required discomfort or serving an enemy. Explanation: Convenience makes obedience conditional.
  2. Practical warning: Commitment must be obedient even when inconvenient or when God’s call challenges our prejudices.
3. Demas — Commitment cooled by the World
  1. 2 Timothy 4:10 — “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” Explanation: A devoted worker who drifted away because his love for the world outgrew his love for Christ.
  2. Practical warning: Guard your affections. Worldly love will extinguish spiritual zeal if it becomes first in the heart.
4. Laodicea — Commitment ruined by Compromise
  1. Revelation 3:14–22 — Lukewarm, neither cold nor hot; self-satisfied and compromised. Explanation: Compromise for relevance or comfort results in spiritual deadness.
  2. Practical warning: Churches must be pure and steadfast. If we trade truth for popularity we lose our witness and our first love.
How to Keep Commitment Alive
1. Stay focused on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) — keep your mind renewed and your eyes on the Author and Finisher of your faith.
2. Answer God’s calls quickly and cheerfully (Isaiah 6:8).
3. Remember the cause — service is never merely social or practical; it aims to glorify God and save souls.
4. Keep evangelism and discipleship central — the commission demands action, not passivity.
5. Guard affections — test what you love by what you spend time, money, and tears upon.
6. Refuse compromise — truth and holiness are not negotiable.

Summary

Commitment in the Christian life is non-negotiable. The Bible gives us both radiant examples to emulate and tragic examples to avoid. Jesus Christ is our ultimate standard — He is the perfect, unfailing commitment. From Isaiah we learn to answer the call; from David we learn to fight for the cause; from the apostles we learn to obey the commission; from Paul we learn to center life upon Christ. Conversely, Lot, Jonah, Demas, and Laodicea warn us how comfort, convenience, coldness, and compromise will unravel our faith. The Word of God calls us to consistency: to do what we have learned, received, heard, and seen (Philippians 4:9), and to continue in those things (2 Timothy 3:14).

We ought to be committed to the call. These are some good examples of commitment. Isaiah is the first. He was committed to the call. David was committed to the cause. The early apostles are committed to the commission. Paul was committed to Christ.

Quote to Ponder

This quote summarizes the biblical examples and the challenge: be committed to the call, the cause, the commission, and Christ Himself. Let it spur your reflection this week.

Application for the Week

Make the sermon practical. Use these six concrete steps this week to test and grow your commitment.

Daily Personal Check — 5 Minutes With God
1. Each morning this week, spend five undistracted minutes reading one short passage (start with Philippians 3 and Hebrews 12) and praying: “Lord, help me to be committed to You.”
Answer One Small Call
1. Say “Yes” to a ministry request this week you might normally decline (visit a shut-in, volunteer in children’s ministry, invite a friend to Sunday service). Practically demonstrate “Here am I; send me.”
Do One Evangelistic Act
1. Pray for and speak to one person about the Gospel or share a tract/website link — practice being committed to the commission.
Remove One Comfort
1. Identify something you cling to for comfort (a TV habit, social media hour, or frequent outing) and reduce it this week. Use that time to read Scripture, pray, or serve.
Rekindle Affection
1. At family or personal devotion, read aloud Philippians 3:7–14 and Hebrews 12:1–2. Ask: “Do I desire Christ like Paul did?” Pray for holy affections and tears if the Spirit moves you.
Church Temperature Gauge
1. Take a spiritual temperature for your church involvement: Are you becoming lukewarm? Are you compromising? Commit to one corrective step (attend midweek Bible study, bring a visitor, recommit to tithing).

Remember Philippians 4:9 — put into practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen. Make commitment measurable: small obedience today leads to steadfast faithfulness tomorrow. Pray for boldness, humility, and perseverance — and keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.