Commit Like Jesus: Embracing Life’s Seasons with Faithfulness

Learning to live well means learning to live as Jesus did—committed, faithful, and present in every season of life. The journey of faith is not about striving in our own strength, but about drawing from Jesus, the living well, the source of living water. When we try to manufacture goodness or faithfulness on our own, we inevitably fall short. Instead, we are called to return again and again to Jesus, allowing Him to shape our character and our commitments.

Commitment is both practical and spiritual. On a practical level, it means being people who can be trusted—whose “yes” means yes and “no” means no. Our character is not formed in the spotlight, but in the quiet, unseen moments when we choose to follow through on our word. Neuroscience even affirms that our brains are shaped by our actions; when we consistently do what we say, we build confidence and trust in ourselves, and we become more reliable to others. Conversely, when we fail to follow through, we undermine our own sense of integrity and ability.

Spiritually, commitment is about faithfulness to God through every season—whether it’s a time of crushing and refinement, a season of revelation and blessing, a period of warfare and struggle, or a moment of breakthrough and victory. The story of Elijah and Elisha illustrates this beautifully: Elisha’s unwavering commitment to follow Elijah through Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan mirrors the journey each of us takes with God. Each place represents a different season—winnowing, revelation, warfare, and breakthrough—and each requires a different kind of faithfulness.

Jesus Himself modeled this journey. He experienced the highs of open heavens and miracles, the lows of wilderness and opposition, and the ultimate victory of the cross. Through it all, He remained committed to the Father’s will. We are invited to do the same: to stay with God in every season, to allow Him to shape us, and to trust that He is present and working, whether we are in a season of crushing, revelation, warfare, or victory. The most important thing is not the season we are in, but our willingness to remain open and committed to God, trusting that He is the prize and the source of all we need.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True commitment is forged in the unseen, everyday moments, not in public displays or grand gestures. When we consistently follow through on our word, we not only build trust with others but also reinforce our own sense of integrity and capability. This alignment between what we say and what we do shapes our character and prepares us to reflect Jesus to the world. [06:31]
• 2. Our brains are wired to believe our actions more than our intentions. When we repeatedly fail to follow through, we train ourselves to expect failure, eroding our confidence and motivation. But when we practice faithfulness in small things, we build neural pathways of trust and resilience, making it easier to be faithful in greater things. [09:03]
• 3. Every believer will walk through seasons of winnowing (refinement), revelation, warfare, and breakthrough. Each season has a purpose: the winnowing removes what hinders us, revelation brings clarity and calling, warfare confronts strongholds, and breakthrough ushers in new beginnings. Our task is not to rush through these seasons, but to remain present and committed, allowing God to do His work in us. [27:06]
• 4. Commitment to God means staying faithful through every season, not just the ones that feel good or make sense. Like Elisha, we are called to follow even when it would be easier to stay behind, trusting that God is leading us through each stage for a reason. This kind of faithfulness is what positions us to receive a double portion of God’s Spirit and to walk in the fullness of our calling. [22:30]
• 5. Jesus models perfect commitment by embracing every season—celebration, suffering, opposition, and victory—with unwavering trust in the Father. He invites us to do the same, promising to be with us in every moment. Our greatest calling is to remain open to His presence, allowing Him to shape us, sustain us, and lead us into the life He has prepared for us. [43:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:36] - Reflections on South Africa and Living Well
• [02:19] - Jesus as the Living Well
• [02:55] - What Does It Mean to Commit Well?
• [04:12] - Lessons in Leadership and Commitment
• [06:31] - Character Formed in Quiet Moments
• [08:23] - Neuroscience and the Power of Follow-Through
• [11:22] - Building Habits and Self-Belief
• [12:27] - The Piano Lesson: Practice and Commitment
• [17:15] - The Parable of the Two Sons and Reliability
• [18:44] - Commitment to God Through Every Season
• [20:00] - Elijah and Elisha: A Journey of Commitment
• [27:06] - The Seasons: Winnowing, Window, Warfare, and Win
• [38:10] - The Jordan: Breakthrough and Transition
• [43:43] - Jesus’ Example: Commitment in Every Season
• [47:49] - Responding to God in Every Season (Prayer)
• [55:57] - Closing Worship and Benediction

1. In 2 Kings 2, what are the four places Elijah and Elisha travel through, and what is Elisha’s response each time Elijah tells him to stay behind?
2. According to Matthew 5:37, what does Jesus say about the way we should speak and follow through on our commitments?
3. In the sermon, what does the pastor say about where and how our character is formed? [[06:31]]
4. What does Bethel mean, and what significant event happened there in Genesis 28?

1. Why do you think Elisha refuses to leave Elijah, even when given permission to stay behind? What does this reveal about his understanding of commitment? [[22:30]]
2. The sermon describes different “seasons” represented by Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan. What might these seasons look like in a believer’s life today? [[27:06]]
3. How does Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:37 challenge the way people often make or break commitments?
4. The pastor mentions that our brains are shaped by our actions, not just our intentions. How does this scientific insight connect with the biblical call to faithfulness? [[09:03]]

1. The sermon says our character is formed in the quiet, unseen moments when we choose to follow through on our word. Can you think of a recent “small” commitment you made? Did you follow through? How did it affect your sense of integrity? [[06:31]]
2. When you look at your own life, are there areas where your “yes” or “no” has not been reliable? What is one step you can take this week to align your actions with your words? [[07:08]]
3. The pastor described four seasons: winnowing (refinement), revelation, warfare, and breakthrough. Which season do you feel you are in right now? How can you stay present and committed to God in this season? [[27:06]]
4. Elisha’s commitment led him to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Is there an area in your spiritual life where you sense God is asking you to “keep going” rather than stay behind? What would it look like to say “yes” to that? [[22:30]]
5. The sermon mentioned that when we repeatedly fail to follow through, we train ourselves to expect failure. Is there a pattern in your life where you want to break this cycle? What practical step can you take to build trust in yourself and with others? [[09:03]]
6. Jesus modeled perfect commitment by staying faithful through every season, including suffering and opposition. Is there a difficult area where you need to trust God’s presence and keep going? How can the group pray for you in this? [[43:43]]
7. The pastor said, “The most important thing is not the season we are in, but our willingness to remain open and committed to God, trusting that He is the prize and the source of all we need.” What does it look like for you to make God your “prize” this week? [[55:21]]