Give to Israel

Pastor Mac Hammond | November 21, 2021

Recap:
It’s easy to say you will do something and then never follow through. It’s much harder—but more fulfilling—to commit to pursuing a goal and then fulfill that commitment. Commitment is a valuable part of our relationship with God and the local church, for it is the glue that binds us to our word and encourages us to continue to support that which brings life into our lives.

One reason we make financial commitments to the local church is so the church can have an idea of what they can expect financially so they can expand their ministry to reach people for God’s kingdom. Another reason is so that you can see God’s faithfulness to take care of you as you fulfill a vow you made to the Lord.

Dive Deeper:
We’re six weeks away from 2022, and we are excited about where Living Word is headed. The path to expanding God’s kingdom involves increase, and as Pastor Mac explained during our For His Kingdom series, we have a list of ways we want to expand so we can reach more people locally, globally, and digitally.

Another reason we put this vision before you is because we are committing to grow in these areas—and we want to give you the opportunity to make a commitment with us. Here’s why: Commitment is a cornerstone of any blessing in God. Not only that, but commitment invites God to respond to you in the day of trouble.

The heart and essence of success in anything you do will be commitment. Too many people misunderstand commitment or don’t want to be entangled with a commitment, so they avoid the practice altogether, not realizing that commitment is exactly what can move you forward in life.

When you don’t commit to something you want to have in your life, your flesh will easily weasel its way out of completing the commitment through any variety of excuses it comes up with. When you have a commitment to fulfill, you’re more likely to complete the task you’d like to do. That means if you want to financially support a ministry, commitment is a key way to ensure that it will happen.

A vow is a commitment, a pledge, a promise that you will do something. We launch our commitments to God out of a place of gratitude that God is our provider and will accomplish that which He promises. When we fulfill our commitments—and we have invited God to help us fulfill them—we glorify Him.

Read More:
Psalm 50:5 KJV
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

Ephesians 5:20 KJV
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Genesis 28:20-22 KJV
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Proverbs 10:22 KJV
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

James 1:6-8 KJV
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 1:6-8 Amp.
Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [for being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].

Proverbs 50:14-15 KJV
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: and call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you find it hard or easy to make commitments to the Lord?
2. Have you seen how commitments can help you follow through on your word?
3. Do you see other people exemplify the power of commitment?
4. What can you commit to God today?

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