Radical Commitment: Embracing God's Future Together

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Future

Elisha's story is a profound example of radical commitment to God's future. Despite his comfortable and prosperous life, Elisha chose to follow Elijah, symbolizing his dedication by sacrificing his oxen and burning his plow. This act of leaving behind his past to embrace a new future with God challenges us to consider how tightly we hold onto our own pasts and comforts. Are we willing to let go and fully commit to the life God has for us? This narrative encourages us to trust in God's guidance as we step into the unknown, believing that He has prepared a path for us that is greater than anything we could imagine. [49:39]

"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one comfort or habit from your past that you feel God is calling you to let go of today? How can you take a step towards embracing the future He has for you?

Day 2: Preparing the Next Generation

The story of Elisha underscores the importance of preparing the next generation for God's call. Elisha's readiness to follow Elijah was a testament to the upbringing he received, rooted in the wisdom and knowledge of God. This calls us to reflect on how we are training our children and ourselves to be ready for God's call. As parents and a community, we must dedicate ourselves to raising children in the wisdom and knowledge of God, ensuring they are ready to respond when He calls. This preparation involves not only teaching biblical truths but also modeling a life of faith and commitment. [53:36]

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally invest in the spiritual growth of a young person in your life this week? What specific action can you take to model faith and commitment to them?

Day 3: Living a Visible Faith

Our faith must be evident in our actions and words. How we handle success, failure, and everyday interactions can inspire others to follow God. We are called to live a life that reflects our commitment to God, drawing others to Him through our example. This involves being mindful of how our behavior and speech reflect our beliefs, especially in challenging situations. By living a visible faith, we become a beacon of hope and encouragement to those around us, pointing them towards the love and grace of God. [01:05:35]

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where your faith was tested. How did your actions and words reflect your commitment to God? What can you do differently next time to better shine His light?

Day 4: Sacrificial Living

Elisha's sacrifice of his oxen and plow symbolizes the need to let go of our past and comforts to fully commit to God's plan. This challenges us to examine what we hold onto and whether we are willing to sacrifice for the sake of following God. Sacrificial living involves prioritizing God's will over our desires, trusting that His plans are for our ultimate good. It requires a willingness to step out of our comfort zones and embrace the unknown, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [01:01:55]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 5: Daily Choice to Follow

Every day presents a choice to follow God. By committing ourselves and our families to this path, we open the door for future generations to know and serve God. Our commitment today impacts the legacy we leave for tomorrow. This daily choice involves intentionality in our spiritual practices, such as prayer, reading Scripture, and serving others. It is a commitment to live out our faith in tangible ways, trusting that God will use our efforts to further His kingdom. [01:07:06]

"Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can choose to follow God more closely today? How can you involve your family in this commitment to create a lasting legacy of faith?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of commitment, drawing inspiration from the story of Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kings 19. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the call to live into the future God has prepared for us. Elijah, a prophet who had experienced both triumph and despair, was instructed by God to find and mentor his successor, Elisha. This story illustrates the importance of recognizing and nurturing the next generation of leaders, even when they are found in unexpected places.

Elisha's story is one of radical commitment. Despite his comfortable and prosperous life, he chose to follow Elijah, symbolizing his dedication by sacrificing his oxen and burning his plow. This act of leaving behind his past to embrace a new future with God challenges us to consider how tightly we hold onto our own pasts and comforts. Are we willing to let go and fully commit to the life God has for us?

The sermon also emphasized the role of parents and the community in preparing the next generation. Elisha's readiness to follow Elijah was a testament to the upbringing he received, rooted in the wisdom and knowledge of God. This calls us to reflect on how we are training our children and ourselves to be ready for God's call.

Furthermore, the sermon highlighted the importance of living a life of faith that is visible and inspiring to others. Our actions, words, and how we handle life's challenges are crucial in drawing others to God. We are encouraged to be all in, to commit to serving, loving, giving, and living as the body of Christ.

As we move forward, let us remember that every day is a choice to follow God. By committing ourselves and our families to this journey, we not only honor those who came before us but also pave the way for future generations to know and serve God.

Key Takeaways

1. Commitment to God's Future: Elisha's willingness to leave behind his prosperous life to follow Elijah exemplifies the radical commitment God calls us to. We must be ready to let go of our past and embrace the future God has for us, trusting that He will guide us in this new journey. [49:39]
2. Nurturing the Next Generation: The story of Elisha underscores the importance of preparing the next generation for God's call. As parents and a community, we must dedicate ourselves to raising children in the wisdom and knowledge of God, ensuring they are ready to respond when He calls. [53:36]
3. Visible Faith: Our faith must be evident in our actions and words. How we handle success, failure, and everyday interactions can inspire others to follow God. We are called to live a life that reflects our commitment to God, drawing others to Him through our example. [65:35]
4. Sacrificial Living: Elisha's sacrifice of his oxen and plow symbolizes the need to let go of our past and comforts to fully commit to God's plan. This challenges us to examine what we hold onto and whether we are willing to sacrifice for the sake of following God. [61:55]
5. Daily Choice to Follow: Every day presents a choice to follow God. By committing ourselves and our families to this path, we open the door for future generations to know and serve God. Our commitment today impacts the legacy we leave for tomorrow. [01:07:06]
** [67:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:00] - Opening Prayer
[42:58] - Commitment to Serve, Love, and Give
[44:06] - Elijah's Journey and Challenges
[46:12] - Encounter with God
[47:20] - The Role of Prophets
[49:39] - Elisha's Call and Commitment
[50:41] - Unexpected Places for Leaders
[52:03] - God's Search for the Committed
[53:36] - Training the Next Generation
[54:39] - Parental Hopes and Prayers
[55:51] - Joni Eareckson Tada's Story
[57:15] - Trusting God with Our Children
[61:55] - Sacrificing the Past
[63:11] - Developing New Leaders
[67:06] - Daily Choices and Commitment
[69:26] - Closing Prayer and Song

Sermon Clips

"I've never gotten that much excitement in front of my voice. Okay, let's begin. Hey, everybody. Good to see you. If you're visiting with us, I want to invite you back next week. REACH is a conference we do at the beginning of every year, and it's a little different. So we have, just imagine going to a conference, you know, you've got keynotes and you've got breakout classes. Well, that's what we're going to have starting next week throughout the month of February. So every class is going to be rooted in the content that we're going to be preaching about every Sunday." [00:38:15] (33 seconds)

"And it's on this idea of growing young. We introduced this last year, but we're really looking forward to how, as a congregation, we can really find ways to connect and pour our lives into the next generation. But we all have a part to play in this. So come back next week. You'll find out a little bit more about it. I'm excited. We've got some good classes, good content. And I thank God. God's moving us to do some really amazing things with the resources and the community he has given us." [00:38:48] (31 seconds)

"And I pray that you would just help us, Lord, to lean into just, you know, making the most out of the time and the place that you've given us. Lord, help us to be your people in everything we do. Not just in word, but also in our actions. Lord, I pray for those people who are not here today. And whether they're struggling through sickness, Lord, please heal them. Bring them back safe. And I pray that as a congregation, we would call and check on them and just see how we can support one another." [00:40:00] (32 seconds)

"Lord, that's our job is to love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And I pray that we love in such a way that it is contagious. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. And I pray that you would let your word linger in our hearts this week. In Jesus' name, amen. Okay, so we have been talking about some significant challenges this past month. And we have committed you. Not committed you. Asked you to commit to a few things this past month. We started out by challenging you to commit to serve." [00:40:15] (37 seconds)

"And at the beginning, I would say beginning next week and throughout the rest of the year, you're going to start hearing from some people on video and different, you know, mediums, I guess, on how they have found a way to serve. They found their ministry. And I want to encourage you to start learning. We're looking for what ministry is best suited for you. And granted, we could just fill holes. We could fill positions. But we're looking for, you know, people to do what God has called and gifted them to do." [00:41:02] (32 seconds)

"And so, you know, specifically, commit to give as if you have nothing to lose. And to live in such a way that we trust that with the Lord as our shepherd, we have all that we need. Amen? That is what we're asking people to do is put your trust and faith in God himself. And so if we tell people that, if we encourage people, put your faith in God. Put your trust in God. But they don't see us trusting God. You know, they don't see us trusting. Then our message is tainted from the start." [00:42:43] (37 seconds)

"So this week, it begins the very last lesson in our series. And I'm going to encourage you to commit to live into the future that God has for you. So open your Bibles to 1 Kings chapter 19. We're going all the way to the Old Testament there. I'm not sure how many pages in it is, but it's right before 2 Kings. Is that helpful? So we're going to be kind of talking about a few people. Elijah and Elijah. There's just one little, you know, consonant. And it's just a little bit of a difference, but they're two different people." [00:43:42] (36 seconds)

"So at the end of 1 Kings 19, we find that it's time. God sees Elijah, and he loves him, and he says, listen, how about you just go find your replacement? Okay? I've already got someone in mind. So he tells them, you need to go and develop your replacement. And the next prophet was gonna have to be someone who was equally committed to God, equally committed to mercy, equally committed to justice, and equally committed to truth. So with this in mind about prophets, let's read 1 Kings 19." [00:49:23] (34 seconds)

"Elisha's already obeying the fifth commandment, right? To honor your father and mother. It tells me that his parents were probably committed to raising Elisha in the wisdom and knowledge of God. Proverbs 22, 6 says, Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he's old, he will not depart from it. Train, more appropriately, may mean dedication. Dedicate a child. Continually dedicating your life and their life to God means that there's going to be an active, ongoing conversation with this child." [00:53:14] (37 seconds)

"Elisha committed completely, and he sacrificed his past and his present in order to move into the future God had prepared for him. And he was all in. He followed Elijah, didn't leave his side. It wasn't just a job. This wasn't just an opportunity for advancement for Elisha. This was a way to get closer to God himself. And he's... He saw how close prophets were to God. You know, he saw that the closeness of a prophet to God was his power." [01:03:34] (34 seconds)

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