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The dawn of a new year offers new opportunities for service unto God and man, and fresh hope of new blessings.\u00a0 While many people make resolutions to improve on and change their ways of life, increase their businesses, get married, acquire more possessions etc., the believer seeks opportunity to enter into a new relationship with God.\u00a0 He strives to be more committed and consecrated to serve Him acceptable, having in mind the fact that the coming of the Lord is at hand and that the trumpet can blow any time; that we will only be rewarded according to our work.\u00a0 In this study, we shall among other things, be looking at various opportunities open for us to serve God and humanity in this New Year.<\/p>\n
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Commitment refers to the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity or a person.\u00a0 It also means a promise to do or give something etc.\u00a0 \u201cNew commitment in the New Year\u201d involves dedicating oneself afresh to something\/someone in the New Year which can be in service to God, business, academics, marriage, etc.<\/p>\n
Jesus exemplified commitment in every area of human endeavor while on earth; thus He said, \u201cI must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day; the night cometh when no man can work\u201d, John 9:4.\u00a0 His meat was to do the will of God and finish it, John 4:34.\u00a0 He showed humility by washing the disciples\u2019 feet.\u00a0 He was compassionate; He loved, cared for and prayed for both past and present followers.<\/p>\n
The Seven Deacons, Acts 6:1-7:<\/p>\n
v.3 \u201cWherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business\u201d.\u00a0 The seven deacons were of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.\u00a0 In addition, they were full of faith, aspiration and ready to work.\u00a0 It is expedient that the business of the kingdom should be handed over to men and women of such qualities in order to maintain its eternal value.<\/p>\n
Dorcas, Acts 9:36-42:<\/p>\n
Dorcas was recognized by the people around her to be a woman of good works and alms deeds.\u00a0 She affected the lives of the widows that when she died they sent for Apostle Peter, who prayed and presented her to the saints and widows when she was brought back to life.<\/p>\n
Also we are admonished in Titus 3:8 \u2018. . . that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.\u00a0 These things are good and profitable unto men.\u2019 We should endeavor to maintain good works for many will believe through our good works.<\/p>\n
Priscilla and Aquila, Acts 18:1-4, 24-26:<\/p>\n
These were couple that practiced true Christianity.\u00a0 They were united in spirit and had the same aspiration to expand the kingdom of God on earth and at the same time make heaven.\u00a0 They were Paul\u2019s helpers; they had a church in their house, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Acts 18:18.<\/p>\n
The Church:<\/p>\n
Opportunities abound in the church for us to serve God and humanity.\u00a0 Groups like ushering, choir, teaching, cleaning\/decoration, prayer band, evangelism\/visitation of new comers etc. are open for true believers to prayerfully join and function in.<\/p>\n
The Neighborhood:<\/p>\n
The service of God is reflected in the Christian in his\/her neighborhood.\u00a0 The parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37, proves that the believer\u2019s neighbor is anyone that comes across their way.\u00a0 Opportunities are open for us to show mercy or help anyone, although many people have suffered wrong while trying to help others.\u00a0 We should allow the Holy Spirit lead us whenever an opportunity comes for us to help others.<\/p>\n
The Home:<\/p>\n
A real Christian home is where God is welcome.\u00a0 It will be real honor if Christ finds our homes suitable to visit.\u00a0 The home is the first place where believers should be committed to one another as a proof of godliness.\u00a0 This should be reflected in our relationship with our spouses, children and those living with us.\u00a0 Since the believer\u2019s home is the primary church, we should learn to fear God, keep His commandment and live in true righteousness. Our lives should be a replica of Christ no matter the challenges we may be facing at one time or the other. Priscilla and Aquila\u2019s family is a good example as they were able to teach young preacher Apollos who was zealous without knowledge, Acts 18:24-26.<\/p>\n
The Office, Business place, or School, Colossians 3:23; Luke 17:7-10:<\/p>\n
In pursuit of one\u2019s career, the believer must seize every opportunity to serve God.\u00a0 This includes evangelizing the people around us through our lifestyles; preaching, counseling, praying and giving financial assistance as the case may be etc.<\/p>\n
Some reasons for lack of commitment by some brethren can be seen in two ways:<\/p>\n
Spiritual: Many church members may not have been born again or backslidden and so cannot understand why they should be giving their time and energy in the service of God.\u00a0 Romans 8:5-8 says that a carnal man cannot understand the things of the Spirit neither can they be subject to it and so cannot please God.<\/p>\n
Physical:\u00a0 Many believers out of ignorance of God\u2019s word, and a feeling of improper education\/illiteracy, worldly ambition, quest for fame, worldly position\/power and money, are not willing to commit themselves to God\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
The appointment of church workers\/ministers should not be on genealogical credentials, theological\/seminary knowledge, educational qualification, charisma without personal experience of salvation.\u00a0 Though these may be useful, the church should be guided by the scriptural principles, Acts, 6:1-7, and the Holy Spirit, Acts 13:2.\u00a0 There is the need for continuous discipleship in the church because the deeper we know Christ the more we understand His will and purpose for us.<\/p>\n
Supreme love for God and our fellow men attracts blessing from God.\u00a0 There will be divine supplies when we are in need.\u00a0 Besides, God\u2019s favor will be upon us, there will be answers to prayers when we call upon Him and He will continue to fulfill His promises in our lives.\u00a0 He will make our days like \u201cthe days of heaven upon the earth\u201d, Deuteronomy 11:21.\u00a0 We must happily lay down our lives and material resources for the service of God.<\/p>\n
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We are at a time when the cunning craftiness of the devil makes people to relax in lukewarmness and no longer committed to the cause of the gospel.\u00a0 The deviation is so high that many people are building the \u2018tower of Babel\u2019 without knowing it. It takes the focused believer to consecrate himself\/herself for service to God and man which is both a duty and a wonderful privilege.\u00a0 God is calling us to rise and be committed to Him and the cause of the gospel in this New Year because Satan is using lack of commitment to weaken the believers\u2019 service to God.<\/p>\n
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1 Corinthians 15:58 \u2013 \u201cTherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A New Commitment \u00a0Central Thought: Commitment is evidenced in ones service to God and humanity. Text: John 13:1-9 The dawn of a new year offers new opportunities for service unto God and man, and fresh hope of new blessings.\u00a0 While many people make resolutions to improve on and change their ways […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=923"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":924,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/923\/revisions\/924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}