Commitment, Key to Church Growth
Text: 1 Timothy 2:2
Introduction:
A. Our society is in great need of people of commitment.
1.Some are bold enough to make that step - Environmentalist, Civil Rights activist,
National Rifle Association, National Organization for Women, etc...
B. Our text suggests the need for spiritual commitment among God’s leaders.
1. They must be committed to the purity of the church.
2. They must be committed to prayer.
3. They must be committed to the truths found in God’s revealed will.
C. Permit me to introduce a man of unbelievable circumstance - Daniel.
1. He was transplanted out of his environment and placed into one totally
opposed to his convictions.
2. He had to deal with language barriers, culture barriers, government barriers
and religious barriers.
3. Even though these circumstance might shake the common believer, Daniel
remained steadfast to the true God of heaven (1 Cor. 15:56).
D. Many non-Christian as well as Christian folk offer excuses for not serving God acceptably due to their unbelievable circumstances that surround them.
1. I’ve moved and I don’t know where to go to church.
2. I’m busy with college work and don’t have the time to worship.
3. My job just won’t let me attend worship service.
4. My spouse doesn’t agree with the way you do things here.
5. I know that what you are teaching is right for I see it in the scripture but, I
was taught this way as a child and even though I’ve become an adult, I can’t go back on my childhood upbringing. (that is about logical as a criminal
saying my father stole, my grandfather stole, though I know it is wrong, I have no other alternative but to steal).
E. The circumstance of Daniel teaches us that there is a God in heaven (2:28) and that God
is in control of man’s destiny.
1. The name Daniel means - God is my judge.
F. It is the aim of this lesson to deal with the commitment of Daniel and how his commitment can affect the growth of the church today.

I. Daniel was a man committed to purity - Dan. 1:1-8.
A. Daniel decided to remain pure (v. 8).
1. He is taken captive by king Neb.
2. V. 4-5 he is enrolled in Babylonian school of defilement to get his 3 year degree.
3. V. 7 His name is changed to that of a false God.
4. V. 8 Contrast how Daniel overcame his circumstance.



5. If the church is to grow it must decide to keep itself from defilement
a. The words of Paul may echo in our ears at this point (2 Co. 6:17-7:1).
b. Though some of these items may appear to be harmless to some, they would have caused Daniel to become impure.
c. Apply some general things which appear not to be harmful until....
B. Daniel not only decided to be pure, he sought to be pure - v. 8 “Therefore he requested..”
1. Once the decision was made, he had to seek a way to carry out his decision.
2. Lev. 11:44, 45/ 1Pet. 1:15, 16. The church as well must not just decide it must seek a way to carry out its commitment to purity.
a. Some business meetings are as useless as an appendix. They decide something should be done, but how unfortunate it is when seeking a solution is not found.
C. If the church is to grow it must decide to be pure and seek a way to remain pure.

II. Daniel was a man committed to prayer - Daniel 6
A. One may conclude from reading this story that prayer must be offered regardless of
position.
1. He was set up as one of the 3 presidents of the empire - excellent spirit in him.
2. If the church is to grow, it must offer prayers regardless of position it has in the community.
a. When our prayers are taken out of the picture, what good with God can we do?
B. Also we may observe that prayer must be offered regardless of our predicament (6:12).
1. Opposition will arise - folks will attack your commitment to God (Matt. 27:49)
2. Path of least resistance never wins over evil (Matt. 7:14 straight; 2 Pet. 5:8 lion).
C. Prayer must be offered as a practice (6:10 as he did afore...)
1. Prayer not an act of convenience - to be delivered we must keep prayer as a
practice, not as a parachute or an emergency button we press.
a. Men must pray always and not to loose heart (LK. 18:1).
D. For the church to grow it must commit itself not only to purity, but also to prayer.

IV. Daniel had a commitment to prophecy (9:2).
A. Only those committed to God’s word will be delivered.
1. In chapter 9 we have a different Darius but the same old Daniel. He was a
student of the Bible.
2. For the church to be delivered today it must know the revealed will of God.
a. 2 Tim. 2:15.
b. Many claim it is impossible to know God’s revealed will for when one reads one scripture he may come to a dozen interpretations. - Jn. 8:32.
3. May God’s church go forward, back to the Bible.

B. Knowing God’s word will deliver us from our sins (9:4, 5).
1. Confession of sins is noble but abstaining from them is delightful.
2. If the church is to grow it must be committed to the word in delivering us from our sins.
C. Knowing God’s word will make known our deliverance (9:24) an ending.
1. Consider this beautiful them woven throughout the book of Daniel - God is
Able To Deliver!
Chapter
1. He is able to deliver from defilement. 7. ...from despair.
2. ...from Destruction 8. ...beyond a shadow of a doubt
3. ...from firey death. 9. ...from sin
4. ...from pride. 10. ...from weakness
5. ...from dark Dominions. 11. ...from devices of men.
6. ...from the lions 12. ... from final doom.

If the church is to grow it must commit itself to a God who is able to deliver us by His word and through his Hord.

CONCLUSION:
A. This Christian and non-Christian world needs better commitment toward God.
B. If the church is to grow it must be committed to PURITY, PRAYER, PROPHECY.
C. We need to serve a God who is able to deliver us.
D. Do you need deliverance?
E. Commit yourself to a God who is able to save to the utmost! Who is able to deliver us by
his word and through his word.