Sermon

The Vision Needs A Vehicle | Pastor Trev Evans

January 18, 2026 Koinonia Christian Center

Open publisher episode ↗

Publisher transcript

Transcript

View source ↗

Come on, let's grab our Bibles as we get
ready to go into the word of God today.
And we're going to make our confession.
Whether you have a paper Bible,
electronic Bible, cell phone, tablet,
whatever you have, you hold it up. If
it's the Bible with the praying hands on
it, just two hands, hold it up. There
you go. Yeah. Come on. Say, "This is my
Bible.
>> It is God's word.
>> It reveals to me.
>> It reveals to me
>> God's will.
>> Therefore,
>> therefore,
>> it's the final authority.
to which I submit
>> which I submit
>> to settle all the issues
>> all the
>> of my life
>> of my conduct
>> it's the standard
>> the standard
>> of my conduct
>> of my
>> and the basis
>> of all my expectations all
>> shout it out I am
>> I am
>> what it says I am
>> it says
>> I possess
>> what it says I possess
>> and I can do
>> I am
>> absolutely everything
>> absolutely
>> it says I can do
>> it says
>> I'm a believer
>> not a doubter
>> not a doubter I'm a doer.
>> I'm a doer.
>> Not just a hearer.
>> And my life
>> my everyday life
>> My everyday life
>> is the better.
>> Is the better.
>> After having heard
>> the word of faith.
>> Word of faith.
>> Faith comes by hearing
>> faith comes by
>> and hearing
>> and hearing by
>> the word of God.
>> Let's rise.
>> You may be seated in the presence of the
Lord.
Amen.
Go with me to First Corinthians chapter

1 Corinthians 15 chapter mention
15.
First Corinthians, we gonna make this
switch. Yeah, boy. Nobody like the sound
ministry. I love y'all. Yeah. First

1 Corinthians 15 chapter mention
Corinthians chapter 15.
>> Verse 58.
>> 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 58. Talk

1 Corinthians 15:58
Bible.
>> Yes, sir. I I'm going to I want to read
it out of the NIV, but but I just can't
skip over in and without reading it in
the King James first. Just something
about
>> reading it in the King James just
quicken your spirit.
It says, "Therefore, my beloved
brethren,
>> be ye steadfast,
unmoved." Do you remember that used to
tear the church up? You hardly get
through unmovable FOR HEY, BE GONE IN.
My God. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye steadfast,
>> unmovable,
always abounding in the work of the
Lord. For as much as you know that your
labor is not in vain
>> in the Lord.
>> Uh let's read it out of NIV for the new
school in the house. It says,
"Therefore, my dear brothers and
sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move
you.
>> Always give yourselves fully to the work
of the Lord because you know that your
labor in the Lord is not in vain."
I want to talk to us from the subject
today that the vision needs a vehicle.
>> That the vision
>> needs a vehicle. Just tell your neighbor
real quick. Say the vision.
>> The vision
>> needs a vehicle.
>> Needs a vehicle.
>> Turn to the other one. Say the vision.
>> The vision
>> needs a vehicle.
>> Needs a vehicle.
>> Yeah.
>> What an absolutely amazing vision Sunday
we had last week.
I mean, absolutely amazing. From the
beautiful vision builder, shout out to
our creative team. Amen.
>> To the presentation to all those who
dressed up to make the experience what
it was. And my apologies for not
explaining while we were in suits
because many thought we were the Blues
Brothers.
Thank God for Bishop on the senior call
straightening it out for the seniors
that it was the men in black. That's
what we were going for.
Last week we talked about our theme is
kingdom identity.
>> And we said that kingdom identity uh
when we say that we are talking about
the distinguishing traits that define
our worth, our purpose and our
belonging. And these things derive
solely from our relationship with Jesus.
>> Yeah. We are learning who we are in
Jesus and who we are as a local church.
Amen.
>> We have heard the vision and we have
also heard and can catch this. I need
you to catch how we're saying it. We
heard our kingdom assignments.
>> We listed them in the vision builder as
goals, but I need us to catch it. That
we heard our kingdom assignment.
>> Yeah. Our assignment is that we want to
see more than 100 life group and
disciplehip group leaders.
>> Yeah. We want to see more than 500 first
and second time guests.
We will see more than 700 people give
their lives to Jesus.
>> And we will raise more than $600,000
toward our outreach.
>> Amen. That is our assignment.
>> But I need you to hear the truth that we
must face today.
That a vision without a vehicle is only
a daydream.
>> A vision
without a vehicle
>> is only a daydream.
It's not enough to simply hear the
vision.
>> We cannot just nod our heads at the idea
that found people find people.
>> Yeah. We cannot just agree in theory
that God's people give. There must be a
response.
My first line, if y'all would give it to
me, the vision is only brought to pass
in the vehicle of my personal
commitment.
>> That's what that's what that's the
bullseye for today.
>> Is that the vision is only brought to
pass in the vehicle of my personal
commitment.
>> Amen.
>> Understand? When we say commitment,
commitment is the individual taking up
of your specific part of the vision to
help it come to pass.
>> Yeah. Yeah. A a commitment when we talk
about the vehicle of commitment,
commitment is the individual taking up
your specific part.
>> See, this is this is specific. This is
not a generality. You and I cannot just
clap last week and not commit this week.
Amen.
>> There is a part that you and I must take
up specifically.
>> That's why we have commitment cards
because we want to be specific.
>> Yeah. We we want to how much are we
planning to give toward resurrection
seed?
>> We want to be specific.
>> Who am I going to witness to in THE NEXT
30 DAYS? WE WANT TO be specific.
>> Yeah. Because what commitment is is the
spec is is when I specifically take up
my part. I'm not going to have you touch
your neighbor the whole time, but just
at least bump it one time. Say, "You got
a part to play."
>> Yeah. Commitment is the individual
taking up of your specific part of the
vision to help it come to pass.
>> Oh, this this this this this my
definition right here. Give Give me my
next definition. My third give me my
third slide. My third slide.
Uh-huh. Catch this. Commitment is the
stubborn refusal to let your feelings
dictate your faithfulness.
>> Yeah, that's right.
>> Commitment is the I refuse.
>> See, STUBBORNNESS IS SOMETIMES LOOKED AT
AS A NEGATIVE THING. But when IT COMES
TO MY COMMITMENT, I NEED TO BE STUBBORN.
>> OH, SEE, some people are stubborn about
where they sit on Sunday. YOU WON'T EVEN
SLIDE DOWN WHEN USHER ASK YOU TO SLIDE
DOWN. I need you to have that kind OF
STICK TUITIVENESS TO THE VISION, NOT TO
A SEAT.
>> YEAH. YEAH. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT KIND OF
STUBBORNNESS
THAT I DON'T CARE IF IT IS RAINING
OUTSIDE,
>> I'mma be on post.
My commitment is the stubborn refusal to
let my feelings
let my dictate how fateful I'm going to
be.
>> See, it is deciding today. Oh, I love
this. What you will do tomorrow,
regardless of how you feel when tomorrow
comes.
>> It it is DECIDING TODAY. I make a
decision today
>> on what I will do tomorrow,
>> regardless of how you feel when tomorrow
comes.
>> Oh, Jeff, I can't tell you how many
times I remain committed to the gym
>> until I got sore.
>> NO, NO. SEE, BECAUSE IT IS IT IS
necessary for us to to pause to make a
commitment
>> because again, it's not enough for us to
just look at the vision builder. IT'S
NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO JUST hear the
vision. IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO CLAP
FOR THE UNTO HIM OUTREACH CENTER. YOU
AND I MUST make a commitment.
>> Amen.
>> Yeah.
My commitment says that I'm not just a
spectator, but I'm a participant.
Now, I hear some OF YOU SAY, "NOW, WHY
WHY DOES COMMITMENT MATTER? Why why why
does commitment even matter?" We must
first understand what commitment really
looks like from the lens of scripture to
see why it matters.
>> Yeah. See, because in the day in which
we live, our commitments only last as
long as it's convenient.
>> I remember SAYING, "I'M I'MMA START THIS
YEAR. I'MMA EAT RIGHT." And I was
committed until the pizza showed up.
>> I was committed. I'm gonna start running
just as sure. And then I was committed
until I got up and saw it was 19°
outside.
You and I must be committed. And see, we
have to look at what commitment is
through the Bible. Turn with me to
Psalms chapter 15 verse 4.

Psalms 15:4
Psalm 15:4

Psalms 15:4
speaks of biblical commitment. It speaks
to persevering over challenges.
>> Psalms 15.
Yes, Lord. Talk Bible. Psalms 15 verse4
is where we're going. But let me let me
just read let me start at verse one
because here uh David is describing what
a righteous person looks like. It says,
"Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in your holy hill? He who
walks uprightly and works righteousness
and speaks the truth in his heart. He
who does not backbite, my God, with his
tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor,
nor does he take up a reproach against
his friend." Verse four, in whose eyes a
vow person is despised, but he honors
those who fear the Lord. He who swears
to his own hurt and does not change.
>> THAT THAT THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE
CALLS a commitment that I'M GOING TO
STICK to what I said even if it hurts.
>> I'm going to STICK TO WHAT I SAID even
when it's not convenient.
>> Yeah. See the the the Bible, this is the
biblical standard of what it means to be
committed. It means that when we say
save people, serve, we serve even when
we're tired.
>> Yeah. If I serve on parking ministry,
I'M NOT CHECKING THE WEATHER to see if
I'm going to come today.
>> When we say growing people change, it
means that I commit to whatever the
process is that's going to cause me to
change and I don't quit when it gets
challenging.
Understand that commitment is not about
the initial excitement of the start.
>> Thank you, Lord. But it's about the
integrity of the stay.
>> Commitment is not about the initial
excitement of the start, but it's about
the integrity of the stay. We see it in
marriage.
>> Everybody can get anybody can get
excited about the start of the wedding.
>> Oh, and we should. IT'S A CELEBRATION.
AND I get it. But but YOU AND I CANNOT
JUST be excited about the start of the
wedding. We must be interested in and
committed to and invested in the stay of
the marriage.
>> Boy, the claps just faded. My god.
Why? Why? Why making a commitment is
necessary?
Who do I need to make a a formal why?
Why do I need to make a formal
commitment? Can't I just go with the
flow?
Can I just do as I feel? Like, do I
really have to make a commit? Do I
really have to say how much I'm gonna
give? Can I just Can I just, you know,
see what it look like in April?
There's two reasons why you could do
that, but I want to give you two reasons
why you shouldn't do that. Number one,
the reason why you should make a
commitment is is because commitment
creates stability.
>> Yeah. Commitment creates stability.
James chapter 1 vers8, write it down. It

James 1 chapter mention
says that a double-minded man,
>> is unstable in all of his ways. That
when you and I don't make a commitment,
we live in a state of double-mindedness.
>> Amen.
>> Yeah. I I I can remember Caleb uh
putting up uh a a tent one time and uh I
put the tent up, got all the stuff
together, got it put up, and it took a
little work. Now, you know, I'm I was a
Boy Scout, but it took me a little work
to put the tent up. And I was happy
about putting the tent up. And I put it
up and I went in the house.
THEN I CAME BACK out
and the tent was across the yard.
CALEB, I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT THERE
WAS SOMETHING IN THE BAG THAT WAS STILL
JINGLING. AND I'M ADMIT TO YOU, I'M NOT
ALWAYS THE ONE THAT'S GOING to read all
the directions.
See, I can admit that cuz there's too
many of us in here.
>> SO, THE BAG WAS JINGLING, CALEB.
>> Cuz I put the tent up, but I didn't put
any stakes down.
>> THE TENT WAS UP. I COULD GO IN IT, BUT I
DIDN'T PUT ANYTHING DOWN TO HOLD it when
the winds blow.
I DIDN'T PUT NOTHING DOWN TO HOLD IT
WHEN I WOULDN'T FEEL LIKE GOING.
>> I DIDN'T PUT ANYTHING DOWN TO HOLD IT
WHEN SOMEBODY WOULD SAY SOMETHING TO ME
SIDEWAYS AND I DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THREE
MORE MONTHS.
>> MY COMMITMENT CREATES STABILITY. IT
CAUSED ME TO PUT SOMETHING DOWN.
>> I'm not I'm not I'm NOT GOING TO JUST
SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN APRIL. I'M
GOING TO COMMIT IN JANUARY what I'm
going to give in April.
I'M GOING TO PUT SOMETHING DOWN THERE TO
SAY I'M I'M NOT I'M I'M not just going
to, you know, just come to church and
get be the first one here, last one to
leave. No, I'm going to sign up for a
ministry.
>> I'm going to put something down.
>> So, why? Because commitment creates
stability.
>> All of us know people who don't commit
to anything
>> and you couldn't trust them with
anything. Amen.
>> See, because this, SEE, IF IT WAS JUST
ONE AREA that it stayed in,
>> then it would be one thing. BUT BUT A
LACK OF COMMITMENT bleeds
>> into other areas.
>> NOT ONLY AM I NOT COMMITTED in the
kingdom, BUT IF IT IT'LL BEGIN TO SHOW
UP IN HOW I KEEP MY WORD AT WORK,
>> it begin TO SHOW UP HOW I KEEP MY WORD
TO MY FAMILY.
>> I have to commit. K.
>> Why? Because it creates stability.
>> Yeah. Secondly, secondly, why why do I
need to commit? I need to commit because
God is committed to us.
>> No, I I need I need to commit because
God is committed to us. UNDERSTAND
SOMETHING. OUR KINGDOM identity is
derived solely from our relationship
with Jesus.
>> And that relationship is based on God's
unwavering commitment to us.
Write down Deuteronomy chapter 7:E9
because it talks about how God is
committed to keeping his covenant to a
thousand generations.
>> If God is committed to keeping his
covenant to us,
the Bible says in Ephesians 5 that we
ought to be imitators of God. Yes.
>> HOW CAN I BE? HOW CAN I SERVE A God who
keeps his word to a thousand generations
>> and I say that I'm following him
>> but I have all these have commitments in
my life or no commitments at all
>> THAT NOBODY CAN DEPEND ON ME
>> BUT I SAY I FOLLOW HIM
>> WHO is faithful AND JUST. WE SHOUT about
that. HE MAY NOT COME WHEN YOU WANT HIM,
BUT HE'S ALWAYS,
>> but we won't even sign up to serve for a
ministry.
>> Now, come on, y'all. Ain't nobody ain't
nobody mad. Ain't no say ain't nobody
mad but the devil.
>> This is not throwing rocks. This is just
a moment for us to look at ourselves and
evaluate and say, "Hey, where am I in
this thing?"
You and I must commit to God. You and I
must be committed to God.
>> Understand something. If our identity
comes from him and he is a God of
commitment, then we cannot claim kingdom
identity while living our lives with
casual commitments.
>> That's right.
>> Because everybody matters to God. God,
catch this. God has committed everything
to us
>> because everybody matters to God. He has
committed everything to us to make sure
that don't you know that we have been
given the ministry
>> of reconciliation
>> THAT GOD LOVES EVERYBODY SO MUCH THAT HE
IS COMMITTED TO US
>> going to tell others about the love that
he has.
>> YOU AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE A CASUAL
COMMITMENT BECAUSE ETERNITY hangs in the
balance.
Yes.
>> You mean to tell me that I'm not going
to come to church BECAUSE I GOT FAMILY
COMING INTO TOWN.
>> NOW, BISHOP ALWAYS THEY THEY KNOW YOU GO
TO CHURCH.
>> NOW, if y'all going to come to town, you
just come at 1:00. I'LL MEET YOU AT
CRACKER BARREL. But you know WHAT I DO.
>> YOU KNOW MY COMMITMENTS.
Here's
here's my my other statement.
I'll repeat this statement. The vision
is only brought to pass in the vehicle
of my personal commitment.
So let's take a moment and look at what
what are the things that challenge our
commitment?
What are some of the things that
challenge our commitment? See, because
we have to take a minute minute and go
here because if commitments were easy,
everybody would do them.
No, no. We we we have to take a minute
and look at this because you and I, we
we know that as soon as you complete
your commitment card,
>> JU JUST AS SOON AS YOU MAKE YOUR VOW to
what it is you say you going to do,
resistance is going to come.
>> Now, I hear some of you see that why I
don't commit right there. See, cuz that
bring all that kind of stuff. No.
No, I I I I would rather make a
commitment and fight through the
resistance than spend MY WHOLE LIFE NOT
BEING COMMITTED TO ANYTHING.
>> And it bleeds and caused me to be a
person that can't be depended on.
>> Challenges. Let's take a moment and look
at some of the challenges that that try
to kill our commitment. My God.
>> Yeah. Challenge number one is the
challenge of distraction.
>> Yeah. Distraction. See, understand
something. This is the good thing.
>> Yeah. See, distractions are not
inherently bad. They often involve
things that are good or appealing, but
misalign with our priorities.
>> See, understand something. I I'll say it
again. I'll say it again. Distractions
are not bad with in and of themselves,
>> but they often involve things that are
good or appealing, but they don't align
with our priorities.
>> So, you understand something? A
three-piece Supreme from Bojangles
>> with a Mountain Dew with light ice,
barbecue, and hot sauce on the side.
It's not inherently bad,
>> but it it it's not good for me if my
priority is to get my health together
and to drop a few pounds.
>> Yeah. See, sometimes it's not the sin
that kills commitment.
>> NO, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE SIN. NOW,
THAT SIN CAN KILL COMMITMENT,
>> but sometimes IN OUR LIVES, IT'S NOT THE
SIN that kills commitment.
Sometimes, Lord help me through here.
Sometimes success.
>> YES. THERE SOMETIMES IT'S SUCCESS. YOU
GET THAT PROMOTION AND NOW NOW YOU CAN'T
COME TO CHURCH at all on a Sunday.
>> I hear some of y'all right now. See,
people will pull up a a word when they
trying to trying to, you know, defend
what it is. Didn't bishop say we
supposed to be dy placed
>> and you should be duly placed.
>> What this message is asking you to do is
to make sure that your foot is still in
the church realm as well as
>> that's right.
>> See, BECAUSE GOOD THINGS CAN CAUSE US TO
LIFT OUR WEIGHT AND BEFORE WE KNOW IT,
WE NO LONGER HAVE THE FOOT IN THE CHURCH
ANYMORE.
>> That's right. I UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OF
MY WEIGHT MAY BE IN THE SECULAR IN WHAT
I DO, BUT I STILL NEED TO HAVE SOME TO
SOME SORT OF TOUCH POINT IN MY LOCAL
CHURCH.
>> DISTRACTIONS,
>> DISTRACTIONS, the things that can pull
us away. THAT WORD DISTRACT MEANS TO
PULL US AWAY. Write down Luke 8:14.

Luke 8:14
Because Jesus warns us of the worries of
life, the riches and the pleasures that
will come to try to pull us away.
When something distracts you, the word
distract at its core means to pull your
attention away from what it is you
should be focusing on.
>> It's the act of being pulled in multiple
directions, which can lead to a loss of
focus on what really matters.
When I get distracted, I GET PULLED
AWAY.
>> I get I GET PULLED AWAY FROM MY
COMMITMENT TO SERVE.
>> I GET PULLED AWAY FROM MY COMMITMENT TO
GIVE.
>> I GET SO DISTRACTED WITH WHAT IS GOING
ON THAT I LOOK UP AND I HAVEN'T INVITED
ANYBODY TO CHURCH.
>> I CAN GET SO DISTRACTED. BUT CATCH THIS.
NOT BAD THINGS,
>> good things,
great things, PHENOMENAL THINGS, BUT YOU
AND I MUST RUN A CHECK on the things in
our lives
>> to make sure that they're not
distractions.
>> Yeah. Commitment killer. Number one is
distraction. Number two, the second
commitment killer
is the challenge of discouragement.
>> These are hard things. Yeah.
>> See, that's that's when you invite
somebody to church and they reject it.
>> You've been praying and getting up the
courage and say, "You know what?
I want to invite them this week." And
you invite them and they almost come out
the bag on you.
And then if you're not careful what you
say, you know what? See, that's right
there. Right there. That's why I don't
even talk to people right now. That's
why I don't invite them. Right there.
and you will allow discouragement
>> to keep you from being committed
>> because you ran up on a hard thing.
>> Yeah. Some some of you have made THE
COMMITMENT. YOU SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M
GOING I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS YEAR. It's
been kind of shaky, but I'm I'm going to
give. I'm going to give. I'm starting
out. I'm tithing and I'm giving."
>> Giving my offering. It ain't all like
what I want it to be, but but but I'm
giving something.
>> PUT A LITTLE SOMETHING IN PASTOR'S
OFFERING. I'M DOING IT.
>> AND THEN AS SOON AS YOU START DOING IT,
Here comes A LITTLE DISCOURAGEMENT. A
HARD thing comes.
>> That tire had been hadn't gone flat and
in two years.
>> IT'S BEEN BALD FOR FOR 18 MONTHS, BUT IT
AIN'T GONE FLAT.
AS SOON AS YOU MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT,
>> the tire goes flat. And if YOU'RE AND I
NOT CAREFUL, WE'LL ALLOW DISCOURAGEMENT
TO CAUSE US TO BACK UP FROM OUR
COMMITMENT.
>> BUT I HEAR MY GRANDMAMA IN MY HEAD.
BEFORE I TAKE DOWN, I'LL ADD MORE TO IT.
>> WHY? Because discouragement comes TO TRY
TO CAUSE US TO PULL BACK.
>> YEAH. you you decided, I'M GOING TO
SERVE in a ministry
and then somebody SAYS SOMETHING TO YOU
THAT that's just, you know, a little
rough.
You know, they make a correction. They
don't say it hard, but they correct you
cuz they're trying to help you
>> and you take you take feedback in a
negative way.
>> Say, you know what? You know, that's why
right right there. See, I'm giving God
I'm coming here do my best. I'm doing my
best. They don't even act like they want
my best.
Well, we want your best. We just want
your best to be done the right way.
>> Amen.
>> I I want us to have Oh, let me just
insert this. I want us to have a
feedback culture.
>> I want us to be the kind of culture that
we appreciate feedback.
>> No, because when we understand how much
it took for that PERSON TO COME TO US
AND give us that feedback,
>> that wasn't easy. AMEN.
>> NUMBER ONE, THEY CARE ABOUT YOU ENOUGH
TO SAY SOMETHING TO YOU.
>> NUMBER TWO, THEY WERE THEY HAD TO
OVERCOME WHATEVER FEELINGS THEY had
>> to come and say something to you. You
should AT LEAST STEP BACK AND appreciate
that they had enough G and had enough
love for you to say something to you.
>> I appreciate that one clap.
>> Yeah. Yeah. You you so you and I cannot
take criticism as a hard thing and get
discouraged by it and then back up from
our commitment.
>> When you have a personal failure,
YOU HAVE A PERSONAL FAILURE. YOU SAY,
"YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M I'm I'mma be
celibate this year cuz I've been, you
know what I mean? I've been here, there,
and everywhere, but I'mma hold that
thing in the middle of the road and ask
the Lord to help me."
>> And you and and you had you done good
for three months,
>> right? Lord have mercy.
>> And something happens.
>> Can I tell you something? I I don't want
it to happen.
>> You didn't want it to happen. But if it
happens, don't spend three months away
from church.
>> No. If it if it happens, COME COME BACK
TO THE COME GET YOU SOME PRAYER. COME
LAY DOWN. DO SOMETHING.
BUT I BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW
DISCOURAGEMENT to cause ME TO PULL BACK
FROM MY COMMITMENT.
>> If I did mess up, I'm not going to go on
an escapade and then just the next THREE
MONTHS I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
>> Oh Lord.
>> NO. WHY? WHY? WHY? NO. BECAUSE THIS IS
WHERE WE LIVE.
>> This is where we live. BECAUSE THE MIGHT
AS WELL SYNDROME gets you.
>> You say, "Well, I done this.
>> I might as well.
That is DISCOURAGEMENT
>> THAT IS TRYING TO CAUSE YOU TO BACK UP
FROM YOUR COMMITMENT. NO, YOU DIDN'T DO
IT THE RIGHT WAY OR NO, YOU DIDN'T DO IT
THE WAY YOU HOPED FOR, THE WAY YOU
WRITTEN IT DOWN ON YOUR VISION BOARD.
BUT DON'T THROW IN THE TOWEL.
>> The killer,
>> the killer of commitment is distraction.
It's discouragement. Catch this third
one.
is the drifting.
>> This is the gradual things in our lives.
>> Yeah. This this is the slow fade.
>> Yeah. This is this is when I I I I miss
a Sunday and my one miss of a Sunday
turns into three.
>> And my three turns into a month and a
half.
>> It's when I say I'm I'm I'm just sit I'm
just this season of my life right now.
It's so hard right now. You know, it's
really hard. And I get it. There are
seasons of your you go through seasons
of life.
>> Yeah. YEAH. YOU THIS THAT'S WHY WHENEVER
YOU CAN serve and and be committed AND
BE ALL IN, YOU NEED to do it
>> because there will come a season OF YOUR
LIFE WHERE YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT
AS MUCH AS YOU DID IN A PREVIOUS SEASON.
>> God knows I am teaching good.
>> But but what WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU'LL PULL
BACK SAY I'mma serve I'm not going to
serve right here. Yeah, I'm going just
take I'm going to take a month and a
half off
and a month and a half turns into six
months
>> turns into a year and a half
>> and you look up and it's been three
years since you served anywhere
consistently in the house of God.
>> It's the drifting.
>> It's the GRADUAL THINGS IN OUR lives
where where we we you know one morning
we get up and we so busy and we don't
pray.
>> You're not going to hell if you don't
pray one morning.
But then that one morning turns into
three mornings.
>> And then I look up and I haven't spent
any real quality intentional time with
God.
>> And and and I'm trying to figure out
what's GOING ON AND WHY THINGS ARE NOT
NOT going the way they should. It's been
a dri it's a drifting.
>> It's gradual.
>> And see, this is where the enemy gets
us. Yeah,
>> I always tell you about the story. Uh I
always tell you about the story of when
I went to uh a great lodge with my kids
and I'm not going to all these other
kind of rides to LA and got too old. I
don't do that. Not anything that's going
to take my pressure up
and I don't have blood pressure issues
but I uh I ain't going way up there. No,
the scripture said low. I'll be with
you.
talk Bible.
SO, SO I SAID, "I'LL GO IN THE LAZY
RIVER." AND I GOT MY TUBE AND I GOT IN
THE LAZY RIVER AND BOY, it was so nice
and they they playing a damn, you know.
I said, "Y'all go ahead. Let me just let
me just lay right here." And I closed my
eyes and about 60 seconds later, I hear
their voice faintly in the distance. And
I looked up and what happened was we
drifted apart. No intentional effort on
my part.
>> IT WAS JUST THAT I STOPPED DOING
>> OR CONTROLLING OR HANDLING MY BUSINESS
AND I LOOKED UP AND THERE WAS SPACE
BETWEEN US.
>> OH, I hear THE MARRIAGE RETREAT IN MY
HEAD.
THIS IS WHY YOU GOT TO HAVE INTENTIONAL
TIME WITH YOUR SPOUSE
>> BECAUSE BILLS AND CHILDREN AND THE
BASKET OF CLOTHES CAN CAUSE YOU TO
DRIFT.
>> Shout somebody say it's gradual.
>> It's gradual.
>> But these are commitment killers.
>> Distraction and discouragement and
drifting. These things are commitment
killers.
>> God is good to me. Drifting is gradual.
So, how do we keep the vehicle of our
commitment on the road, navigating
around the obstacles of distraction,
discouragement, and drifting? I'm glad
you asked. In our text,
>> 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 58, it

1 Corinthians 15:58
says, "Therefore,
>> my dear brothers and sisters, stand
firm. Let nothing move you. Always give
yourselves fully to the work of the Lord
because you know that your labor in the
Lord is not in vain. Understand that
Paul writes that at the end of a long
chapter about the resurrection. It's the
Corinthian church that was facing major
challenges with false teachers coming in
and telling them that there wasn't no
resurrection. AND SO THAT WAS CAUSING
THEM TO WANT TO JUST GIVE up and JUST
THROW IN THE TOWEL. THEY THEY WAS
TALKING TO PAUL AND SAID, "WELL, WHY WE
WHY ARE WE SACRIFICING?
>> COME ON HERE.
>> WHY WHY ARE WE DOING ALL THE THINGS YOU
SAID WE NEED? WHY ARE WE COMMITTED
>> TO THIS JESUS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
IF IF IF ALL THERE IS TO this life is
all we see?
>> If it really is yolo,
>> that you only LIVE ONCE, THEN WHY WOULD
I BE COMMITTED
>> TO SERVING? WHY WOULD I BE COMMITTED TO
INVITING SOMEBODY? WHY WOULD I BE
COMMITTED TO SEWING MY RESURRECTION SEED
IF I ONLY LIVE ONCE?
>> And Paul grabbed the Corinthians and
said, "Wait a minute. THERE'S MORE THAN
JUST WHAT YOU SEE.
>> There's coming a DAY
>> THAT THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RA BE
raised from the dead.
>> And we're going back to be with him."
AND HE EXPLAINS THIS WHOLE THING SO
BEAUTIFULLY IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15. AND
THEN HE SAYS, "BECAUSE OF ALL OF THAT,
THEREFORE,
>> WHEREFORE, WHY? BECAUSE ALL WE SEE IS
NOT ALL THERE IS.
>> THEREFORE,
>> JESUS IS COMING AGAIN. THEREFORE,
>> THE DEAD IN CHRIST IS GOING TO BE
RAISED. THEREFORE, WHAT I DO IN TIME
MATTERS IN ETERNITY. THEREFORE,
>> my beloved brothers and sisters,
>> WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE STAND AGAINST
commitment killers?
He said number one.
>> Yes sir. He said stand firm.
>> Talk Bible.
>> He said stand firm. Be steadfast.
>> SEE UNDERSTAND BEING STEADFAST THAT'S AN
INWARD RESOLVE.
>> That's right.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. When we TALK ABOUT
STANDING FIRM, BEING ESTABLISHED, PAUL
IS TALKING TO THEM ABOUT BEING SETTLED.
>> SEE, if you and I are going TO BE
COMMITTED, IT DOES NOT BEGIN ON THE
OUTSIDE.
NO, THAT MY MY COMMITMENT BEGINS ON THE
INSIDE.
>> YEAH. YEAH. IF YOU AND I ARE GOING,
THAT'S WHY I HEARD SOMEBODY SAID THE
OTHER WEEK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT
OF THAT SITUATION, YOU GOT TO COME OUT
HEAD FIRST.
>> WHY? BECAUSE THE CHANGE, MY RESOLVE
BEGINS ON THE INSIDE.
>> OH, I'M SO GLAD BECAUSE I DON'T NEED THE
OUTSIDE TO MANIFEST CHANGE FIRST IF I
CAN GET IT ON THE INSIDE. I WANT TO be
settled
>> in my commitment,
>> MAKE MY RESULT. THIS WHY THAT'S WHY THE
COMMITMENT CARD IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE
YOU MAKE THE DECISION ON THE INSIDE.
>> This is where I'M GOING TO BE SETTLED.
>> HE SAID, "THIS IS HOW YOU FIGHT. THIS IS
HOW YOU go against the commitment
killers. First, you have to decide.
>> You have to decide.
>> You have to be settled in what it is
that you're going to do. Don't be
picking on NOBODY ELSE COMMITMENT CALL.
YOU DECIDE.
>> YEAH. LORD, you decide what you going to
do. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT, LORD, WHAT DO
YOU WANT ME TO DO?
>> WHO IS IT THAT YOU WANT me to talk to?
>> And you settle that and you decide.
>> That's an inward resolve.
>> God, I
>> Let me go here. When you This calls for
a decision.
>> The inward resolve. This settling calls
for a decision. The word decision by
definition, let's back into it. Homicide
>> is the killing of someone else.
>> Germicide is the killing of germs.
Herbicide is the killing of plants. You
got homicide.
her homicide, germicide, and and
herbicide. All of it requires killing.
>> How can we get to the word decide
>> and NOT THINK THAT SOMETHING DOESN'T
HAVE TO DIE?
>> SOMETHING HAS TO DIE.
>> WHEN YOU AND I DECIDE, WE KILL THE
THINGS AROUND THAT THREATEN OUR WHAT IT
IS THAT WE THE CHOICE WE'RE MAKING.
That's the word.
>> When we decide, Jordan,
>> it's not just that I choose to be
faithful.
>> I KILL THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT THREATEN
MY FAITHFULNESS.
>> Good God Almighty.
>> THAT WHY I I HAVE TO SETTLE THIS. I GOT
TO DECIDE.
>> NOT JUST CHOOSE IT,
>> BUT WHAT has to die?
What has to die
>> IF I'M GOING TO GIVE MY RESURRECTION
SEAT? WHAT HAS TO DIE?
>> IF I'M GOING TO INVITE THAT PERSON TO
CHURCH, WHAT HAS TO DIE?
>> IF I'M GOING TO SHARE MY FAITH, WHAT HAS
TO DIE?
>> I got to settle that.
>> IF I KILL IT,
>> GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY,
>> that's half the battle.
NO, I I I have to kill it.
>> I HAVE TO GIVE UP SOMETHING.
>> OH, THANK YOU, JESUS.
>> NO, THAT'S WHAT COMMITMENT IS. I HAVE TO
GIVE UP SOMETHING.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS. OH, IN EVERY IN EVERY
RELATIONSHIP. HERE I GO. Here we go.
Right, Lord. My last two minutes.
>> Every relationship.
>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE CHOICE.
>> IT'S ABOUT KILLING THE OTHER OPTIONS
THAT THREATEN THE CHOICE.
IT. WHAT? LET ME TELL Y'ALL SOMETHING.
Y'ALL DATING SOMEBODY RIGHT NOW. LET ME
TELL YOU ABOUT sister girl right here.
22 years July 24th of this year.
>> Let me tell you something.
I was bringing flowers and cards and
talking all that kind of stuff. It was
just coating. That's what old people
call it.
>> Going after what I want.
Diane, the cards and the notes wasn't
enough.
>> What she wanted was a commitment.
She wanted me to make a decision.
>> Not just a choice, but a decision.
>> I know YOU BRINGING ME CARS, BUT BROTHER
MAN, I WANT A DECISION. I NEED YOU TO
SETTLE ON THE INSIDE THAT THIS IS WHAT
YOU WANT.
>> OH, SEE LADIES. OH, GOD HELP ME. JESUS.
>> SOME OF SOME LADIES, I LOVE YOU. COME
ON. SINGLE NIGHT. WE TALK REAL STRAIGHT.
YOU UNDERSTAND? BUT BUT BUT BUT YOU
GIVING UP SOME STUFF BECAUSE THEY MADE A
CHOICE BUT THEY DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION.
>> YOU GIVING UP THE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD
HOLD ON TO BECAUSE THEY MADE A CHOICE.
BUT I NEED YOU, BROTHER MAN, MAKE A
DECISION.
>> I NEED YOU TO KILL SOME OTHER THINGS.
>> Good God almighty.
>> Lord have mercy.
>> I got to BE SETTLED.
HE SAID, "BE STEADFAST."
>> STEADFAST.
>> That's an inward decision.
>> I got to decide.
>> He said, "Be steadfast."
>> NUMBER TWO, MOTHER HALL, HE SAID, "BE
STEADFAST, but be unmovable."
>> IF STEADFAST IS THE INWARD,
>> then unmovable is the outward.
>> THAT THAT THAT'S THAT'S THE OUTWARD.
THAT THAT ONCE I'VE SETTLED ON THE
INSIDE,
>> I'm not going to allow anything
>> to move me.
>> I'm not going to let what they post on
social media
>> move me. I'M NOT GOING TO LET WHAT THEY
SAID move me. I'M NOT GOING TO LET WHAT
THEY DIDN'T SAY.
>> THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THANK YOU. I STOOD
OUT THERE AND HANDED OUT 50 BOXES OF
CHICKEN YESTERDAY AND THEY LOOK LIKE TO
ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SAID I'M NOT
GOING TO LET NONE OF IT.
>> WOO! I'M NOT GOING TO LET NONE OF IT.
>> GOD SAW WHAT I DID.
>> WOO! HE TAKE GOOD RECORDS.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO LET ANY OF it
>> move me.
>> Unmovable.
>> Unmovable. I'm not gonna even let my own
mind.
>> Oh, I GOT TO SHUT DOWN THOSE THOUGHTS.
>> THAT'S TELLING ME THAT IS IS IT WORTH
IT?
>> I GOT TO SHUT THAT STUFF DOWN BECAUSE
IT'S TRYING TO MOVE ME OFF MY
COMMITMENT.
>> MY FEELINGS
>> WILL TRY TO MOVE ME
>> OFF OF MY COMMITMENT.
>> FAMILY
>> WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND YET WILL TRY TO
MOVE ME
>> OFF MY COMMITMENT.
CONVENIENCE,
>> good things
>> will try to move me
>> off my commitment. SEE, SEE, TURN DOWN
TUESDAY is this Tuesday.
>> Uhhuh. Some of the saints were wondering
if it was going TO START IN FEBRUARY.
NO.
>> Starts this Tuesday.
>> And I can go on tell you, you going to
have to you going to have to make an
inward resolve.
>> Inward. Gotta be steadfast
>> because on Tuesday
>> sir,
>> you gonna need to be unmovable
>> because they hadn't brought you lunch
all year long
>> and on Tuesdays just as sure as we
sitting here.
>> E church, I hope you hear me. Just as
sure as we sitting here.
>> Somebody going to invite it's going to
be the person that you least expect.
>> And let me tell you what your flesh
going to do. Your flesh going to say now
you know you need to receive that seed
from them.
You've been praying and asking God now
you know you need to go to lunch. No
>> say now you know what I appreciate that
catch me tomorrow.
>> Catch me on Thursday. I got you. I so
appreciate you
>> but I'm not going to let anything
>> move me. He said be steadfast
>> unmovable.
>> Catch this. Number three. He said always
abounding
>> in the work of the Lord. Always ab that.
What is he saying there? I'M NOT JUST
going to do the minimum.
>> Yeah. My my vehicle of commitment speaks
to I'm not just going to do the minimum.
>> That's right.
>> No, I'm going I'm going to do the the
most that I can do in whatever season
I'm in.
>> That's right.
>> See, I saw a single mom a single mom. Oh
my god. We had a a phenomenal
listening tour and one of the members in
one season was serving AND SHE WAS HERE,
THERE, AND EVERYWHERE. AND NOW SHE'S in
a season now where she got four little
children
>> and she works like two jobs. And I mean
she's handling her business.
>> Yes, sir.
>> And so in this season that she's in,
>> she is she is doing uh as an eurch host.
>> And she was about to feel bad about only
being a east church host.
>> See what what what I love ABOUT GOD IS
GOD IS NOT JUST LOOKING AT JUST WHAT you
do. He also sees the context in which
you're doing it.
>> Oh God, just the the the woman that GAVE
TWO MICS, IT WASN'T JUST THAT SHE JUST
GAVE just two mics. IT WAS ALL SHE HAD.
>> It wasn't just the amount. IT WAS ALL
SHE HAD. THAT SINGLE MOM WITH FOUR
CHILDREN, SHE'S SHE'S HOSTING THE E
CHURCH CHAT. SHE'S GIVING ALL SHE HAS.
RIGHT?
>> SEE, SEE AS AS A MEMBER, WHAT WE GOT TO
ASK IS WE DON'T WANT TO ASK THE
QUESTION, WHAT'S THE least I can do and
still be on the road.
>> So that mean if I I just need to serve
one time a year, so I'm going just go
I'm going just do daff and then and then
I'm going just do that. Then that way I
can say I serve somewhere and they just
get off my back. No, that's not
abounding.
>> No. No. He said be steadfast, unmovable,
always abounding. Abounding. Abound.
Doing the most. We do the most on social
media. Can we do the most in the
kingdom? Uh, WE DO THE MOST ON
INSTAGRAM,
>> BUT BUT I WANT TO DO THE MOST FOR JESUS.
>> I didn't get my picture up, but God
knows this thing tore me up on this past
week. One of the members said, "Pastor
Trey, uh, my my my sister got saved."
Catch this. She said, "My sister got
saved on Sunday
>> and and on tag me Wednesday. She said
yesterday she fasted.
>> She fasted for 24 24 hours.
>> Oh my god. Then she sends me a picture.
>> And she sends the picture. Oh, she sends
the picture. Oh, little no. I need I
need to read this. Just give me one
second. Yes, sir. I want to read this.
Oh, yeah.
Just give me one second.
Sit right there. Sit right there. She
sends me a picture of a handwritten
sticky note.
She says she's passing these out to
people this week.
>> It says, "Found people, find people."
>> She said, "I would like to extend an
invitation for you to join me in church
this Sunday. What he has done for me, he
can do for you, and I'm still a work in
progress. Let's worship together and
grow together.
SHOUT. SHE DOING THE MOST.
>> SHE NOT WAITING FOR US TO MAKE A CALL TO
INVITE SOMEBODY. SHE GOT HER STICKY
NOTE. LORD HAVE MERCY.
>> ALWAYS ABOUNDING.
>> YOU'RE NOT WAITING ON GOD. GOD IS
WAITING ON YOU.
>> That's right.
>> Yes, sir.
>> ALWAYS ABOUNDING.
>> ALWAYS.
>> WHAT CAN I DO? YES.
>> Who can I impact?
>> WHO CAN I TALK TO?
>> He said, "Be steadfast,
>> unmovable,
>> always abounding
>> in the work of the Lord." Catch this.
Fourth, and finally
>> because there's a promise.
>> There's a promise.
>> I'm not just setting a resolve for
nothing.
>> I'm not deciding for nothing. I'm not
letting go of certain things. So it
doesn't threaten the choice that I'm
making for nothing. I'm not standing and
withstanding the outward things for
nothing. I'm not doing the most for God
for nothing.
>> He said, "For as much as you know
>> that your labor
>> is not in vain in the Lord." Can I tell
you something?
>> The seed that leaves your hand
>> never ever leaves your life,
>> but it enters into your future and it
prepares for your arrival. It is not
just the seeds of money, but it is the
seed of my time and my talent and my
treasure.
>> That's right.
>> It's not in vain.
>> You showing up early to make sure the
HOUSE OF GOD IS IN order is not in vain.
>> You serving on different ministries is
not in vain. You standing out there in
the parking lot making sure the cars get
securely placed is not in vain.
>> You being a part of our children's
ministry.
>> That's right. It's not in vain.
>> Not in vain.
>> You making sure the programs and we have
all the literature and things that we
need. It's not in vain.
>> You on the social media team making sure
that we're impacting and reaching and
connecting other people. It's not in
vain.
>> The intercessory prayer team that comes
and prays every single solitary SUNDAY
WITHOUT ANYBODY SEEING YOU. CAN I TELL
YOU IT'S NOT IN VAIN.
The person that God wants you to speak
to and talk to, it's not in vain.
>> Zone leaders, every phone call that you
make, every hospital visit that you
make, every funeral that you attend,
it's not in vain.
>> He said, "Be steadfast,
>> unmovable,
always abounding
>> in the work of the Lord. For as much as
you know,
>> this is one thing you got to know.
>> Yes, sir.
>> That my work, my effort, my labor, sir,
>> my commitment,
>> is not in vain in the Lord.
>> If you and I are going to bring to pass
the vision that God has given us, it
needs the vehicle of our personal
commitment.
>> Let's pray.
Father, in Jesus name, we thank you for
this opportunity that you've given us
around your word. Father, we thank you
for this moment because you've given us
the vision. It's been written. It's been
made plain and all of that has been done
so that they that read it can run with
it.
Father, we are the vehicles that move
the vision.
So father on this commitment Sunday we
take a moment to step back
and ask you Holy Spirit to lead us and
to guide us to direct us to speak to our
hearts so that Lord as we make this
commitment we don't do it casually we
don't do it haphazardly
but father we do it as unto you
we do it as as a response to your
goodness
that as you are committed to us, Father.
We want to be committed to you and we
thank you for it now in Jesus name.