Developing a heart of commitment rccg og 10 workers seminar- jan 27, 2018

DEVELOPING A HEART
OF COMMITMENT
RETREAT MANUAL
Prepared by: Dr. Oyewole O. Sarumi Date: Sunday Jan. 27, 2018
ORGANISED BY
PASTORAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, LAGOS.
FOR
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, OGUN PROVINCE 10, SANGO-
OTA

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Pastoral Leadership Academy, Lagos.
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P a g e | 1 PLI …..Raising & Empowering leaders
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
OPENING CHARGE: Commitment: The Pathway to Exploit in Ministry 2
PLI Vision & Mission 4
Call to Commitment Quotes 5
Seminar Hymnals 6
MODULE 1: A Comprehensive Study on Commitment 8
MODULE 2: Commitment to the Pursuit of God 15
MODULE 3: The Place and Position of the Heart in the Service of God 17
MODULE 4: Traits of Commitment in a Gospel Worker 19
MODULE 5: Living as Jesus Christ Lived 21
MODULE 6: Commitment to Build Christian Workers Character/Attitude 25
MODULE 7: Faithfulness in Ministry is Needful 29
MODULE 8: Commitment In Ministry 33
CLOSING CHARGE: Keeping Your Commitment through Life 39
References and Further Readings 43
PLI Short Courses for 2018 44

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OPENING CHARGE
COMMITMENT: The Pathway to Exploits in Ministry
Opening Text: Phil.3:13-14
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting
what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal to win
the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. (New International
Version)
Introduction: (SING HYMN 1)
People of old in The Bible days were committed people. They affected generations yet
unborn, for zeal in them caught fire in others. We thirst and desire these days to come in
our time. What is God saying to the "end time church" of which we are a part of today?
Prophet Joel prophesied that in the last days, the Spirit of God would be poured out...",
and this was manifested in Pentecost, (Acts 2:1-7) and still happening in our days.
Why then do we not see churches operating with greater effectiveness? I believe this is in
part due to our low level of commitment to God and ministry. It seems the mind-sets of
many believers and ministers is this; that the work of the ministry is optional, occasional
and/or based upon their convenience. This is wrong and unacceptable for those who have
put their hands on the plough. Today, many Churches are struggling to find committed
members that will do exploit for the Kingdom of God. This meeting is expected to stimulate
in us the consciousness of what God is demanding from church leaders – commitment to
Christ, commitment by caring and commitment by conviction – in the ministry we have
received of the Lord. Col.4:17.
Studying the life of the patriarchs revealed the tenacity with which they pursue the issue
of commitment. We see Noah for over 100 years building the ark without given up. Daniel
was steadfast with Jehovah even at the expense of his life. Jeremiah said nothing could
hold him back to pursue God’s venture in his time. What of the early church? They were
the epitome of committed zealots who were ready to lose their lives for the sake of the
gospel. Even our Lord Jesus exemplified commitment as He refused to dodge the cross for
He knew the implication. All of these were committed to fellowship, praying, giving, faith,
loving, building relationship, Word of God, and Service (especially evangelism). In short,
they were committed to God the Father, His delegated authorities on earth, His
work/church and the brethren. The stories we are reading today were the exploits of the
yesterday’s life. Your commitment level today will be the fulcrum of the story of your life in
the coming days!
When there’s no commitment, there is hesitation, and a drawback. Once we are committed
to a cause or pursuit, a whole steam of events erupts and situation unimagined begins to
flow and follow. Our greatest days should be when something snapped in us to cause us
to a high level of commitment to a pursuit. It may be days of struggle, suffering or battles
for life.
Understanding the Meaning of Commitment from Jesus’ Perspective
The word ‘commit’ means to ‘give in charge or trust,’ ‘to consign’, ‘to involve oneself’,
whereas, the word ‘commitment’ means ‘the act of committing, an order for sending to
prison, an obligation to be undertaken, a declared attachment to a doctrine believe or
cause’. Another word for ‘being committed’ to a cause or in prison is ‘ALONE’. If you’re
deeply and strongly committed to a cause, people won’t understand you, you’ll be alone.

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It’s human to be with the crowd, while divine to stand alone. Man likes to follow people,
but God-like people follow principles. It is natural to compromise conscience and follow
social/religion fashions to gain pleasure and fame, but it’s divine to sacrifice fashion on
the altar of truth and beauty. (ITim.4:16).
Are you committed to the truth? Since the days of Garden of Eden, truth has been
jettisoned and out of fashion. Noah built the ark and ventured to voyage alone Gen.6-8.
Abraham alone was called to wander and worship God. Gen.12:1-10. Daniel stood, ate and
prayed alone – Dan.1:6. Jeremiah prophesied and wept over Israel alone. Elijah confronted
King Ahab and witnessed alone on Mount Carmel. Jesus Christ lived and died alone on
the cross of Calvary. Why is it so in all these characters? (Matt.7:14). The way of
commitment is narrow; it can only take one person!
The Bible teaches that the chief commitment of our lives is to God Himself. Jesus said,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). In other words,
Commitment is following Jesus alone. Jesus is telling us that every fibre of our being,
every facet of our lives must be committed to loving and serving God. This means that we
must hold nothing back from Him because God holds nothing back from us (John 3:16).
Furthermore, Jesus tells us that our commitment to Him must supersede our commitment
to even our families: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother
and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be
My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple”
(Luke 14:26-27). Such commitment means our family relationships may be severed. It
means our commitment to Christ demands, if given an “either/or” situation, we turn away
from them and continue on with Jesus (Luke 12:51-53). The bottom line is that those who
cannot make that kind of commitment cannot be His disciple.
The reason for such commitment and loyalty is that the trials we may have to endure will
be quite demanding; our allegiance to Him at times may be arduous (John 15:18). Jesus
alerted His disciples: “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than
his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). The apostle
Paul echoed His warning: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).
Paul followed the Lord’s example of commitment in sacrifice and service. Paul said, “I have
been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the
life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself
for me” (Galatians 2:20). Commitment has some elements. First, "Commitment demands
a choice.” Secondly, Commitment demands action; it cannot be divorced from
responsibility. Thirdly, Commitment definitely limits choices because it is exclusive. For
example, in a commitment to marriage, God's plan is for one woman and one man to commit to each
other exclusively and permanently. Fourthly, Commitment builds up faith and develops character.
It is a spiritual discipline requiring time, work and determination."
Total commitment to God means that Jesus is our sole authority, our guiding light, and
our unerring compass. Being committed to Christ means being fruitful; it means being a
servant. Our axiom is simple and succinct: “For me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). Are
you ready to get committed in this work? We plead with heaven to use this forum to help
us mend our lives in tune with His purpose for our calling in the name of Jesus Christ.
You are welcome.
Pastor Oyewole O. Sarumi [PhD]
Chief Learning/Strategy Officer

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PASTORAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
VISION:
To be a catalyst for raising world class leaders who will disciple others for heaven.
MISSION:
To provide innovative and inspirational development for emerging and established
Christian leaders, by helping and giving them opportunities and resources for
personal and professional growth.
We shall accomplish these by the provision of various platforms and interface
where required information, knowledge and skills would be shared to engender
positive change and prosperity within the leadership cadre and consequently
impact the body of Christ.
OUR CALL
We are called to do the following:
 Pastors and Leaders Training
 Ministers and Workers Training
 Church Leaders’ Retreat & Conferences
 Strategic Church Management for leaders and under-leaders.
 Conference, Seminars and Workshop for Leaders.
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HOW TO CONTACT US
For your Training, Conferences, Retreats, Counselling and Advisory Services, please contact:
Executive Administrator,
Pastoral Leadership Institute,
Plot 1, Junaid Dosunmu Street, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Tel: 0818 648 9589, 0708 306 3146.
Website: www.pl-academy.org
E-mail: pastorral.leadershipinstitute@gmail.com, leadershipmgtservice@gmail.com

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CALLED TO TOTAL COMMITMENT
“He said to him, 'Follow Me.' So he arose and followed Him." Matthew 9:9
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word...." John 14:23
"'We ought to obey God rather than men.'" Acts 5:29
"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37-38
"...whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you,
intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to
finish it..." Luke 14:27-28
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find
it." Matthew 16:24-25
"I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom
I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be
found in Him..." Philippians 3:8-11
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21-22
We belong to Him!
"...you are not your own.... For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and
in your spirit, which are God’s." 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
"For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or
die, we are the Lord’s." Romans 14:8
"...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.... Abhor what is evil. Cling
to what is good." Romans 12:1-2, 9
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ' If anyone
'defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you
are." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and
members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together,
grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place
of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." 1 Corinthians 7:23
"...we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. ” Acts 4:19
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at
the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will
appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4
"... those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who
live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:1-7
“'Come out from among them and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Do not touch what is unclean, and I
will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon
you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Matthew 11:28-30
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul,
and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is
faithful, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

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RETREAT HYMNS
HYMN 1 HYMN 3
IS YOUR ALL ON THE ALTAR
1.
You have longed for sweet peace,
And for faith to increase
And have earnestly, fervent prayed;
But you cannot have rest or be perfectly blest
Until your all on the altar is laid.
Refrain:
Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the sprit control?
You can only be blest and have peace and sweet
rest?
As you yield Him your body and soul.
2.
Would you walk with the Lord, in the light of his
world?
And you have peace and contentment always?
You must do His good will, to be free from all ill,
On the altar your all must be laid
3.
Oh, we never can know that the Lord will bestow,
Of the blessings for which we have prayed,
Till our body and should be doth full control
And our all on the alter is laid
4.
Who can tell the love He will send from above?
And how happy our hearts will be made
Of the fellowship sweet we shall share at His feet,
When our all on the altar is laid.
HYMN 2
THE HOLY GHOST HAS COME!
The Holy Ghost has come
The Comforter is here,
Flaming up our hearts
With fire so divine
Lord we lay down our lives]
Ready to burn. ] 2x
TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days:
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love,
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shall choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine,
Take my heart-It is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee! Amen
HYMN 4
JESUS, WE ENTHRONE YOU
Jesus, we enthrone you,
We proclaim you as King,
Standing in the midst of all,
We lift you high with our praise,
And as we worship, build your throne (3x)
Come Lord Jesus, and take your Place.

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HYMN 5
GRACE THY GRACE ALONE
1
Grace Thy grace alone
Has brought me to Thy will
Stranger and alien I had been
‘Til grace brought me so high
Refrain:
Grace, Thy grace alone
Is all I plead for,
Grace to serve Thee aright Lord
O! Grace to love Thee more
2
Tis grace that teaches me
Thy path for me to know
And Grace day by day leads me on
My call not to let go
3
I long for this Grace Lord
To be faithful a steward
To lay my all down for the Church
Till her glory burst forth
4
Make me a battle axe
Kept Lord in Thy quiver
Tried, Trimmed, Sharpened in Thy furnace
Meet for my Master’s use
HYMN 6
CHANNELS ONLY
1.
How I praise Thee precious Saviour,
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou has saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be
Refrain:
Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power,
Flowing through us, Thou cants’ use us
Ev’ry day and ev’ry hour.
2.
Just a channel, full of blessing,
To the thirsty hearts around;
To tell out thy full salvation
All Thy loving message sound.
3.
Emptied that Thou soundest fill me,
A clean vessel in thy hand;
With no power as Thou givest;
Graciously with each command.
4.
Witnessing Thy power to save me,
Setting free from self and sin;
Thou has brought me to possesses me,
In Thy fullness, lord, come in.
5.
Jesus, fill now with Thy spirit,
Hearts that full surrender know;
That the steams of living water
From our inner man may flow.
HYMN 7
I AM THINE O LORD
1.
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed
Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
2.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
3.
O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my
God,
I commune as friend with friend!
4.
There are depths of love that I yet may know
Ere Thee face to face I see;
There are heights of joy that I yet may reach
Ere I rest in peace with Thee.

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MODULE 1:
A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON COMMITMENT
Opening Text:
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21-22
Opening Illustration:
A chicken and a pig were walking down the road together. They passed a sign for a local diner advertising its
breakfast special: “Ham and Eggs – $2.95!” The chicken said, “That’s our whole contribution to society: breakfast
food!” The pig replied, “For you, it may be a contribution. For me it’s a total commitment.”
Introduction
Several words are utilized to express commitment. First, commitment communicates the
entrusting of something valuable to another person [Gk tithemi— to commit, commend,
assign; paradidomi— to give over, commit]. Second, commitment additionally includes the
responsibility to practice specific activities [Gk poieo— to do, cause, commit; prasso— to
do, practice, commit]. God has entrusted or committed a valuable deposit unto each
believer that is to be guarded and protected, that is to be faithfully proclaimed, followed,
or exercised, and that in turn is to be committed to others. Each believer is responsible to
respond to God’s call by committing their heart, mind, body, and life to serve Him, to share
the Gospel, and to be His ambassadors in this world.
This is nothing new because thousands of years ago, God asked, “Who is he who will devote
himself to be close to me?” (Jeremiah 30:21). We don’t want to hear it, but the fact of the
matter is that following God involves sacrifice, effort, devotion. We much prefer the
spiritual growth plans that guarantee complete maturity in “15 minutes a day!”
What Does Commitment mean?
Noah Webster defines Commit like this: “To give in trust; to put into the hands or power
of another; to entrust; with to. Does this sound like you with Jesus? What does the bible
say about commitment? 1 Kings 8:61 - Your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD
our God, to live by His decrees and obey His Commands. Doesn’t look like an option to
me! Must commit to avoid growing weary. Galatians 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing
good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (in order to not give
up, we must be committed).
The God Who Commits
Douglas Rumford makes a profound statement in his book Soul Shaping. He writes, “We
make our commitments, then our commitments make us. Once they are chosen, many
other choices follow as a matter of course.” Once we commit to follow Jesus, many other
decisions in life must fall into line or we overturn our prior commitment.
Being Committed to God
Quality relationships are founded on the rock of commitment, not the shifting sand of
feelings or emotions. God calls us to be people of commitment, first to him and then to
others. As a great leader of Israel, Joshua’s entire life was marked by commitment. We
even hear this in his final words: Joshua 24: 14-27. Joshua told the people that even if
they chose not to serve the Lord, they would still not be exempt from service. If we do not
serve the Creator, we will unavoidably serve some part of the creation.

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Committing vs. Bargaining
How on earth do leaders establish and retain committed followers? How, in some cases,
do we get ourselves committed enough to pay the high price of success? God knows how,
and the prophet Habakkuk models an essential truth about God-focused commitment:
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive
crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no
cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.”-
Habakkuk 3:17-18
This is a refreshing statement! Many leaders would love to have followers who are this
committed to the cause. In fact, many leaders would love to have this level of commitment
to their own cause. The key ingredient to Habakkuk’s statement is that it is unidirectional;
he promised to maintain his attitude regardless of the payback. That’s really what
“commitment” is. That’s what God expect from all serve in His vineyard.
The Word Commitment
Is the word Commitment found in the Bible? No! But the word commit, is found there
in. Psalm 31:5 says, “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God
of truth” (NIV). When Jesus was dying on the cross, he said, “Father, into your hands I
commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46, NIV). Committing oneself or one’s spirit to God means to
entrust oneself entirely to Him.
Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act” (ESV).
Again, the basic idea is to entrust. To entrust means to put something into somebody else’s
care. To commit one’s spirit to God is to put one’s own life, one’s own spirit, into God’s
care.
Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established”.
Entrust all your work and activities to God so that He may cause them to bear fruit
according to His will.
Clearly the word “commit” doesn’t belong to the category of theological words such
as sacrament or atonement in terms of its presence or absence in the Bible. The fact is
that “commit” is used frequently in the various English translations of the Bible. An
example from the New Testament is found in 1 Peter 4:19: Therefore let those who suffer
according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
(NKJV). Here the Greek word translated “soul” means life. To save your soul is to save your
life. To lose your soul is to lose your life. To commit your soul to God, as in this verse, is
to commit your life to God. This, in fact, is the scriptural principle of faith in God. By faith
we entrust ourselves to God; it is not just a matter of believing in certain doctrines.
Believing with all your heart that an elevator can take you up is fundamentally different
from your actually stepping into it. If you don’t step into the elevator, you won’t go up even
if you believe with all your heart that it can take you up. You have to walk into the elevator
and entrust yourself to it. To entrust means to “trust into”. In entrusting yourself to the
elevator, you don’t just believe that it can take you up, you actually let it carry you up.
Likewise, you are not saved merely by believing that God can save you. The devil also
believes that God has a plan of salvation, but that won’t save him. The demons believe that
God is one, yet they tremble (James 2:19). To be saved, you have to believe in God in such
a way as to commit yourself to Him. In many Bible translations (e.g., ESV and NASB),
“entrust” is the word found in 1 Peter 4:19 and in other verses such as 1 Timothy
1:18 and 2 Timothy 1:12 and 2:2.

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The Lord Jesus committed himself to God his Father, entrusting his spirit to Him, when
he suffered and died for us: When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges
justly. (1Peter 2:23, NIV). He was committed to the plan of God for the salvation of
mankind!
Commitment is of the Heart
Jesus says in Matthew 5:31-32: “It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give
her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on
the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a
divorced woman commits adultery.” (ESV)
What has this to do with commitment? In a marriage, two persons commit to each other.
When that commitment breaks down at the level of the heart, divorce is easily the next
course of action. Where there is no heart commitment, marriage loses its God-intended
meaning. Some people marry for money, for beauty, for citizenship, or because they were
compelled to get married. Without commitment, can there be true and meaningful
marriage?
Sin is fundamentally non-commitment or contra-commitment, the refusal to be committed
to a person or to God. That is why adultery negates the marriage commitment. God says,
“I hate divorce” (Mal.2:16). He hates non-commitment to one another but also non-
commitment to Him. In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam that he must not eat the fruit
of one particular tree. The whole narrative centres on Adam’s disobedience. Without
commitment obedience isn’t possible. “Obedience” is another word that has no more
meaning if you take commitment out of it. Obedience without commitment is no longer a
heart obedience.
Commitment in Speech
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus deals with divorce one moment, then switches to
trustworthiness of speech the next moment. The statements in the Sermon may seem
disconnected until you realize that they all deal with various aspects of commitment. An
example of this is Matthew 5:33-37: Again you have heard that it was said to those of old,
“You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.” But I say
to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth,
for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an
oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply
“Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil. (ESV)
If I say yes, I commit myself to doing what I said I will do. If I say no, I commit myself to
refraining from doing what I said I won’t do. One way or the other, there is commitment.
Your character has to manifest commitment in your speech, whether “yes” or “no.” Nothing
more need be said. No vow is needed. Making a vow adds nothing to what you have said.
A vow is often said in order to tell the other person that you really mean what you say. But
fundamentally, your character has to be such that you always mean what you say.
As we go through the Sermon on the Mount, we see its underlying theme of commitment.
In the case of vows, there is such a transformation of character that our word is our bond
and commitment. You wouldn’t trust anyone who could one moment say “yes” and the
next moment say “no.” And because God’s own character expresses commitment, He
cannot tolerate the non-commitment which is so typical of the unregenerated person.

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Love is a Commitment
Jesus says in Matthew 5:43-48: “You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your
neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes
his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if
you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do
the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not
even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is
perfect. (ESV).
We are to be different from the “Gentiles,” a term which in Jesus’ teaching refers not just
to non-Jews but to unregenerate people in general. Jesus begins by saying, “You shall love
your neighbour”. The meaning of love is simple. Commitment and nothing more! A
definition of love that doesn’t include commitment is no love, because the essence of love
is commitment. Many people think of love as an emotion or feeling, but the biblical
meaning of love is a “love rooted in commitment rather than feeling”. Those who fall in love
for superficial reasons will always wonder when he or she falls sick, gets wrinkles, or has
thin hair, has not more beauty etc. Is that the end of the relationship?
Surely, we have to build commitment on something stronger. At the very least, you
shouldn’t commit yourself in marriage unless the two of you share the same purpose and
goals in life. You will travel the same road, fight the same battles, and strive to achieve the
same goals. This will provide a stronger basis for committing to each another as the journey
progress.
A marriage based on feelings or external attractiveness but not on deep substance, has no
foundation for commitment. So, if you take commitment out of love, the word “love” won’t
have any more meaning as far as its biblical definition is concerned. Finally, ponder on
what God has done for us in His love for us. Let’s look at the three points on Love and
Commitment below:
1. No Commitment, no Love
We love the neighbour, or love one another, but not for the reason that our neighbour is
lovely. This removes emotional feelings as the basis of love. We love the neighbour or love
one another, not because you are lovely or I am lovely, but because God is lovely and has
commanded us to love. This is the only firm basis on which love between people can
survive. If you try to build a commitment on “liking” the other person, that commitment
won’t survive for long. When he or she offends you by one careless word, then as far as
you’re concerned, that will be the end of the commitment. Therefore, if we take
commitment out of love, there will be no more love to talk about.
2. Commitment to Love is Obedience to God
The motive of love shouldn’t be the mere liking of the other person. In the Lord’s teaching,
the reason we love and commit is not that the other person is lovely, but that God has
commanded us to love. The commitment to love is therefore an act of obedience.
We love the unloving because God, who is loving, has commanded us to love the unloving.
Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Your enemy is most unloving as far as you’re concerned.
Therefore, if you love only the loving, it would be impossible for you to love the enemy. It’s
hard enough to love a friend, especially if you know his or her faults, never mind loving an
enemy. The fact is that we cannot possibly love our enemy except by the power of God. We
have enough trouble loving our friends. Many wives have a hard time loving their

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husbands, and likewise many husbands, their wives. But where there is commitment,
there is grace from God. This grace empowers us to do what we normally cannot do. When
you live by the power of God, you will experience His reality. The challenge of commitment
is to do what we by nature cannot do, so that we can experience God’s reality. That is
something wonderful!
3. Commitment comes from the Heart and requires God’s Power
True commitment comes from the heart; it is not an external performance for people to
see. Here is where Matthew 6 in the Sermon on the Mount comes in. Commitment comes
from a transformed nature, and not by gritting the teeth and saying, “I will see this thing
through.” What we might call “heroic commitment” is an attempt to do God’s will in our
own strength. It is sure to fail, for we will sooner or later get exhausted, frustrated and
disappointed. You may be committed, but that commitment is in your own strength. You
need to commit to God from your heart, and draw from His strength to do what is required
of you.
Commitment of the kind that Jesus talks about is impossible except by the power of God.
The true Christian knows God’s power because he lives by that power every moment. By
contrast, I have seen Christians who have made an effort in commitment, then want to
give up. You cannot go on in the Christian life in your own strength. Try to love your enemy
for even a minute. You may hang on for a minute or two, but soon you want to break his
neck.
Commitment: God’s very Nature
Let us take commitment deeper, right into the very nature of God. In 1 John 4 verses 8
and 16 we read: “The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love ....And
we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one
who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. (HCSB). God is love. To be
united with God and to fellowship with Him, you must walk in love. The very content of
love is commitment, which means that commitment is in the very character of God, who
is love.
God’s Commitment to Us
God’s commitment to us is seen in 1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.”
Equally true is that we commit to God only because God first committed to us. Our
commitment to God is built on His commitment to us. Towards the end of Matthew 5, the
Sermon on the Mount shifts its focus from our commitment to God, to God’s commitment
to us. Jesus says in Matthew 5:45: “... that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He
causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous. (NIV).
Here we see God’s commitment to us through the creation. When God sends rain on the
earth, does He bless only the righteous, diverting the rain toward their fields while the
unrighteous receive no rain and starve to death? The obvious answer is that God extends
His basic commitment to all people, the righteous and the unrighteous. God provides the
unrighteous with rain and sunshine even if they don’t thank Him for a successful harvest
but attribute it to their own industriousness. But if God holds back the rain for a year,
they may see their human limitations. If the rain is held back two years, their sense of
helplessness will be even more acute. If God withholds the rain for three years (as He did
in the time of Elijah, as punishment for Israel’s disobedience), their situation would
unimaginably dire.
God is committed to all His creatures. Whether you are righteous or unrighteous, God
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observable pattern of good health among the righteous and poor health among the
unrighteous? In fact, if there is any pattern at all, it would probably be the other way
around, in which case you might feel that God is partial towards the unrighteous. In Psalm
73, the psalmist laments that the wicked prosper whereas the righteous suffer.
God our Creator is committed to His creatures even if they don’t thank Him. Do you thank
God for what He has given you? Are you committed to your Creator? Many people are not
committed, not even when they have good health or a high-paying job. Isn’t it amazing that
God is gracious to a world that doesn’t acknowledge Him? But there is more: “Look at the
birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father
feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? .... And why do you worry about
clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. (Matthew 6:26,28,
NIV)
Look around you. Do the birds of the air depend on things such as farming machinery?
They don’t even sow seeds! Yet they are vibrant and healthy creatures that fly with vigour.
They don’t look starved. God has seen to it that in His creation, His creatures have food
and other provisions. Look at the flowers around you. Not even Solomon in his kingly glory
could compete with the beauty of flowers (verse 29). If God clothes the grass of the field
with beauty, which is alive today and gone tomorrow, will He not do much more for you,
“O men of little faith” (v.30)?
The Results Of Commitment!
There is reward if we don’t give up: 2 Chronicles 15:7 - Be strong and do not give up, for
your work will be rewarded. God makes the committed right and just: Psalm 37:5-6 -
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your
righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Makes their plans and desires to succeed: Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the LORD whatever
you do, and your plans will succeed.
If one is committed, they need to persevere, to endure. Do you? What does it mean to
endure? The Greek definition gives insight for our understanding: To endure is:
1) To remain: i.e. to tarry behind
2) To remain, i.e. abide, not recede or flee.
2a) to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ
2b) to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments. That is powerful! What does the
bible say about endure? Paul says this: 2Timothy 2:3 - Endure hardship with us like a good
soldier of Christ Jesus.
This is a powerful statement by Jesus: Matthew 10:22 All men will hate you because of me,
but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Stands firm = endures)
What about persevere? Hebrews 10:36 says - You need to persevere so that when you have
done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
The power of perseverance is revealed thus:
1Timothy 4:16 - Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do,
you will save both yourself and your hearers. James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who
perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life
that God has promised to those who love him.
Keep in mind that when we accepted Jesus into our hearts, it was a package deal and part
of that package was agape love, this love helps us in many areas of our walk with Jesus if
we allow it to blossom.

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How Often Do We Need To Persevere?
1 Corinthians 13:6-7 - Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always
protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Without endurance,
perseverance, one cannot commit. Many people struggle with commitments in their lives,
if we can learn to truly commit our lives to Jesus, then the other commitments in our lives
will fall into place. What commitments do you have in your life?
Prayer Issues
1. This day O Lord I am here, sit over my life in this meeting.
2. Father, don’t let my coming to this meeting be a ceremony, brood over my life
3. Have your way here, in this meeting and particularly with me.
4. O Lord, do for me what I cannot do for myself, and what no man can do for me.
5. Unless you bless me in this meeting, I am going nowhere.
6. What has been impossible all this while, we lay at your feet Oh Lord God.
7. What you’ve struggled with all these years must encounter the hand of God today.
8. Turn us to become another man after this meeting.
9. Let our understanding of spiritual things be open hereafter.
10.Spirit of the Lord, give us capacity to conceive what God is talking about here.
11.Father, we will rise from here to do what gladdens heaven on earth.
12.Let this meeting move forward my destiny.
13.I am tired of people’s explanation, if you don’t do it who can, if you don’t work, who can
do it.
14.All my years of search for relevance in ministry must end today in this meeting
15.This meeting must release me into my destiny henceforth.

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MODULE 2:
COMMITMENT TO THE PURSUIT OF GOD
Opening Text: Matthew 13:44-46
Introduction
Many pulpits today exude much head knowledge about God and activities devoid of manifest
presence of God. Little wonder we have not birthed the revival to change our world. We cannot
deliver God that we have not gotten ourselves. We are not taught that after coming to faith, the
priority of knowing God is a deliberate pursuit. Rather, strategies to pursue many things in God’s
hands except God Himself are being taught!
The pursuit of God is a task, in fact it is the task of being a believer. The primary result of your
coming to him by faith is firstly to diligently seek Him – Heb.11:6…
It was AW Tozer that asserted “that the impulse to pursue God originates with God [for ‘no man
can come to me, said our Lord, except the Father which hath sent me draw him’], but the
outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him. Thus, a genuine thirst after God is a
major sign of true regeneration, as genuine child longs to know his father!
Pursuit is a chase, tracking down, and a quest for something. Such expedition takes nothing less
than a commitment. According to the dictionary, the word ‘commitment is being bound
emotionally or intellectually to a course of action or another person or persons, the trait of sincere
and steadfast fixity of purpose.
A. The Priority of Knowing God
Jer.9:23-24
Phil.3:8
1. Man’s legitimate natural pursuit in life centres around
a. Wisdom: We do all to acquire and apply intellectual prowess. The scripture encourages
the pursuit of competence, excellence and dexterity.
b. Might: This talks about power, capacity and influence we exert whether politically or
otherwise. The scripture isn’t against it.
c. Riches: Treasures, assets, resources at our disposal. This is also very essential.
2. In the kingdom of God, knowing God takes priority over wisdom, might and riches. Getting
God is the mother of all pursuits!
B. Commitment to Overcome Substitute and Distraction
Read Exodus 32:21-25
God left a vacuum in every human soul for Himself! When it remains empty, a substitute is
always handy. Aaron couldn’t deliver God like Moses to the Israelites, he found a substitute
in the golden calf.
Exo.32:23….. “
Substitutes and distractions to the pursuit of God as:
a. The Voice of the People: We have misinterpreted and overstretch the concept of
‘seeker sensitive church’ to please people. The wishes of people can be a pressure that
drives us. The sinners came to us as they were and have remained so.

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b. The Voice of the Flesh: Aaron sought for relevance, popularity and honour among the
people.
c. Activities around God, which is not God and not pointing to God: Like the Israelites
after crossing the red sea, we seem to be restless in the church. We crave for events.
All manner of programs are concocted to keep people busy and soothe their emotions.
Jesus retreated with His own followers to the mountain top [Matt.5:1 MSG], showing
them the Father and kingdom values and releases them to turn the world upside down.
How many of our programs are building the inner man of the brethren and changing the
market place?
C. Commitment to Pursue God
Please read through Psalm 42:2, 63:8, Hosea 6:1-3 in AMP, NLT
1. Knowing God is an active pursuit: We must schedule time in personal devotions and
retreats.
2. Consistent and conscientious growth: We must track His dealings in our lives and yield
as He works on us. Knowing Him is cumulative and it takes a consistent, cumulative
experience with Him.
3. To press is to overcome the resistance: There’s an element of effort, so labour to
overcome resistance to knowing God. The present world system is ‘anti-seeking God’.
D. The Reward of Getting God
Please read Job 22:21-28
1. We partake of His nature – vs.23
2. All that are His is available to us – wisdom, might and riches – vs.24-25
3. Answered prayers – vs.27
4. We rule with Him in authority – vs.28
Conclusion
Dear gospel workers and beloved of the Lord, God is again instructing us that … ‘thou art careful
and troubled about many things: But ONE THING IS NEEDFUL: and ……..has chosen that good part,
which shall not be taken away from her.’[Luke 10:41-42].

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MODULE 3:
THE PLACE AND POSITION OF THE HEART IN THE
SERVICE OF GOD
Scriptural Foundation – 1 Samuel 16:1-7
“When God measures a man, He puts the tape around his heart instead of his head”
Introduction:
When God is searching for a right worker for His service, He does not look at the physical structure,
but rather He looks at the inner nature (the heart). This emphatically establishes the fact that the
heart of a Christian worker is the first determinant of how God will use him/her in His vineyard. It
is therefore important for us to look at the place and the position of the heart in the service of God.
Facts Concerning the Placement of Heart to God Service
❖ The state of one’s heart to God’s service is more important to God than any other thing.
❖ God does not choose people for His special service if such don’t possess special hearts.
❖ While men may be looking at the physical structure (facial appearance, beauty, height, size
etc.), God is searching for a right heart.
❖ Genuine services are first and foremost done in the heart before they are manifested on earth.
❖ Every man is qualified for God service if he has a qualified heart.
❖ It is only a man with the right heart that can do the righteous service that will produce the
right work.
❖ It takes a heart that is full of God’s love to render an acceptable service.
❖ The heart of a worker will definitely interpret his service at the end of the day.
❖ The heart is the store house of divine information that gives guidance to God’s service.
❖ Everyone is directly responsible for the state of his heart toward the service of God (Pro 4:23).
12 Heart Conditions That God Condemns in His Service
1. The condition of haughtiness – Proverbs 18:12
2. The condition of foolishness – Proverbs 12:23
3. The condition of deception – Jeremiah 17:9
4. The condition of rebellion – Jeremiah 5:23
5. The condition of evil – Gen. 6:5; Proverbs 6:18
6. The condition of dullness – Psalm 119:70
7. The condition of hardness – Ephesians 4:18
8. The condition of delusion – Isaiah 44:20
9. The condition of unrepentance – Romans 2:5
10. The condition of unbelieving – Hebrews 3:12
11. The condition of idolatry – Ezekiel 11:12
12. The condition of madness – Ecclesiastes 9:3

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Positioning and Conditioning Your Heart for God’s Service
➢ Love God with the whole of your heart – Deut. 6:5
➢ Fear God and reverence him in your heart.
➢ Hate iniquity and love righteousness.
➢ Teach your heart and condition your heart to forgive.
➢ Enlighten your heart through study, reading and meditating
➢ Empower your heart through consistent and constant prayer.
➢ Love justice and mercy.
➢ Grace your heart through consistent and constant prayer
➢ Condition God in to every department of your heart through baptism of Holy Spirit.
➢ Engage your heart through faithful services to God.
CASE STUDY
We are going to examine ‘General’ Eliab the eldest son of Jesse on what God saw in his heart for
rejecting him as ‘leader’ [king] over his people. Then, we will look at king Saul’s heart and why God
replaced him with David, a man after God’s own heart, and Uriah the Hittite, a man with a true heart
of service. Lastly, we will examine Jesus Christ our Lord as the Pattern of the Heart of Service. All
these are for our instruction and learning.
1. Eliab - The man with the incorrect heart: I Sam.16:7, 1 Chronicles 2:13-15, 1 Samuel 17:26-29
2. King Saul – The king who loved his honour more that God – I Sam.13-15.
3. Uriah the Hittite – A man with the heart of Service - 11 Sam. 11:12
4. Jesus Christ – The Pattern of Heart of Service – John 13:1-17
Note: The positioning of your heart now, determines the position of your life in the future. Your
immediate placement of your heart determines your ultimate place. Shalom!

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MODULE 4:
TRAITS OF COMMITMENT IN A GOSPEL LABOURER
Opening Text: I Peter 4:17-19
Introduction
As we said in the opening remark, Commitment is a scare commodity in todays’ church.
However, in spite of this scarcity, there are remnants who have decided that no matter
what happen, they will stay put at the gate rather than go in to their ‘wife’. That’s the spirit
of Uriah when David brought him home to cover his sin. The seven of the traits discussed
below were pieced together from the Bible, and we should endeavour that prospective
gospel workers and those who serves presently develop them. While not all of these
qualities will be fully formed this side of Glory since we are all “work in progress”, however,
they ought to be evident in good measure in the life of anyone being considered for ministry
or already in ministry.
This in itself presupposes that a good relationship exists between the local church
leadership and the prospective Christian worker. Character is developed and proven in the
everyday situations of life, church and ministry, so it is essential that church leaders build
relationships that enable first-hand observation and input. Such relationships are a key
aspect of a church leader’s role and responsibility in helping all gospel labourers do what
the Lord has called them to do in His vineyard. Where church leaders have distanced
themselves from the workforce, it will be a herculean task to ingrain these traits in our
workforce as ‘the deep calleth unto the deep’.
Let’s do a quick review of these traits as we in our hearts weigh ourselves in the crucible
of its reality.
Trait 1: Godliness
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them because if you do you will save both
yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4v16). From this verse, life comes before doctrine.
God puts life before doctrine. What matters to the Lord of the Church is clear: Who we are
matters more than what we’ve done or what we know! Is there evidence in the life of the
individual of a growing submission to Christ and of a growing spiritual maturity? (1
Timothy 3v6; 1 Peter 5v2). The Gospel ministry requires moral authority and a gospel
worker must be known for their integrity and emotional stability.
Trait 2: Teach…ability
Workers, do you have they a “teachable spirit”? (Philippians 3v13-14). We never stop
learning in the Christian life and we are never too old to be taught!
Are you clearly under the oversight of a local church? How do you respond to constructive
criticism? Do you have people in your life who are calling you to account, speaking the
truth in love and being a true friend in Christ?
Are you self-aware? Can you identify own strengths and weaknesses? Do you realise that
your own heart is their greatest challenge in ministry?
Trait 3: Faithfulness
Faithfulness is not much in fashion in our society, but it has never gone out of fashion
with the Faithful God (2 Timothy 2v2). Faithfulness is one of the great hallmarks of a
maturing Christian.

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Are you dependable? Are you consistent in both their relationships and your service? Have
you been proven in discipline and endurance? For example, bad time keeping, a lack of
organisation, failure to return calls – these are all seemingly small, but very significant
signposts that ought to ring warning bells.
Trait 4: Servant-heartedness
The Christian model of leadership is radically different from that which the world promotes.
In God’s new humanity the greatest is the least; the most heroic is the one who is servant
of all. Does the person look out for others and their needs? Do they readily see what needs
to be done and get on and do it?
Trait 5: Humility
Paul spoke out of his own experience when he counselled that ministry flows out of
weakness: “The Lord said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12v9). Do you know anything of the battle of having their
pride subdued? (1 Peter 5v5: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”) Do
you have a natural humility that has been shaped by experiencing brokenness and
weakness in their life?
Trait 6: Love for people
Christopher Ash, Director of the Cornhill Training Course in London, once made a passing
comment that is impressive. Talking of the ‘call’ to ministry he said: “Increasingly, the first
question that I want to ask of anyone who says they are called to ministry is this: Do you
love people?”
Some aspiring to gospel ministry can be more taken-up with the ministry itself than the
aim and purpose of ministry! Without a compassion and affection for people and an
accompanying good level of emotional intelligence, you better steer away from ministry.
Trait 7: Proven-ness
Far too many younger people are being encouraged into ministry today and taken into
Bible colleges without much life and workplace experience. In the longer term it is not
serving the local church well to have unproven leaders. The Bible tells us to appoint to
leadership those who have a “good reputation with outsiders” (1 Timothy 3v8), who have
demonstrated an ability to manage their family (1 Timothy 3v5) and have a ‘proven-ness’
about themselves. There is more to ministry than a good theological education!
Conclusion: The lack of basic experience in handling and leading people will come back
to bite and harm such workers in the everyday life of gospel ministry. Therefore, we need
to take the long term view when preparing people for ministry. Life and workplace
experience is not time wasted but a vital part of the preparation for a lifetime of ministry.

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MODULE 5:
LIVING AS JESUS CHRIST LIVED**
[Becoming Conformed to the Image of Christ Jesus.]
Opening Texts:
Gen 1:26
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Col 2:8-10
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him , who
is the head of all principality and power.
Rom 8:28-29
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He
might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that
good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
Introduction
God did not create man because He needed a servant. He already had millions of angels to serve
Him. He created man because He wanted someone who would manifest His character and His
nature. If we forget this truth, it is easy to get sidetracked into imagining that service for God is the
primary purpose of our salvation in Christ. This is the mistake that many believers have made.
When God was about to make Adam, His words were, let us make man in our image, according to
our likeness (Genesis 1:26). When Adam sinned, God in His foreknowledge, had already made
provision for lifting man out of the pit of sin into which he had fallen. The incarnation of Christ and
His death on the cross were in God's mind, before Adam was even created. God's intention in the
redemption that He has provided for us in Christ, is that we might be brought back to the place where
we can fulfil His original purpose for man - to manifest His nature.
Our Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit in our hearts are both working towards one goal - that we
might become like Jesus. The more we become like our Lord in character, the more we will live on
earth as He lived. This and this alone is the Spirit-filled life.
Becoming Like Christ Jesus
We going to open the pages of the Holy Scriptures on the life of Christ x-raying how He lived so that
we can see the pattern that we ought to follow as Christian workers. As we look at His life and see
how He lived on this earth, we can understand unmistakably what the characteristics of a Spirit-
filled life are. The following are what we can glean from His life on earth so that Christ be formed in
us: Living in the Spirit, Humility, Holiness, Love, in the Will of God, by the Power of God and for the
Glory of God, so that we all can become the Bride of Christ.
Now, let’s look at each briefly to learn of a few lessons by periscoping Jesus Christ and some of the
Biblical patriarchs who exhibited some of these virtues and it was counted for them as conformance
to be like Christ.

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a. Living in Humility
But to the disciple of Jesus Christ, the greatness of God is seen, not primarily in these wonders
of the universe, but rather in the humility that made the Son of God empty Himself and come in
our flesh and identify Himself with our fallen race. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us
and we beheld His glory," said John the apostle (John 1:14). And we can add - "such glory, that
far outshone the glory seen in creation."
Many thousands of years before Jesus came to earth, God had created an angel called Lucifer
who was perfect in wisdom and beauty. Lucifer was appointed by God as the head of the angelic
order. But, being lifted up with pride and discontented with his appointed lot, Lucifer sought to
go up and to exalt himself (Ezekiel 28:11-17; Isaiah 14:12-15). Thus, he brought sin into God's
creation. God cast him down immediately - and he became Satan. Pride is therefore the root of
every sin and evil in this universe.
When Adam sinned, he too became infected with this Satanic pride. Every child of Adam is now
born with this infection. To redeem man from this poison, Jesus humbled Himself. As sin
originated in the pride of Lucifer, so our redemption originated in the self-humbling of Jesus.
We have as much of the mind of Christ as we have of His humility. This is the infallible gauge of
spiritual growth.
- Worldly glory and greatness are measured by a person's position, wealth, accomplishments,
family status, etc. But how different is the glory of God as seen in Jesus Christ!
b. Living in Holiness.
Holiness, for a human being, can come only through temptation. Adam was created innocent,
without even the knowledge of good and evil. God wanted him to be holy; and for this, God
allowed him to be tested. The tree of knowledge of good and evil had been created by God Himself
and was not evil in itself. It existed in a world over which God pronounced the words, "Very good"
(Genesis 1:31). It was very good, because it afforded Adam the opportunity to be holy, by resisting
temptation.
The Bible says, "Consider it all joy when you encounter various temptations" (James 1:2),
because temptations give us the opportunity to partake of God's holiness (Hebrews 12:10) and
become "perfect and complete" (James 1:4).
- Jesus endured every temptation that can ever come to any man. He was tempted "in every
point, as we are". This is clearly taught in Hebrews 4:15.
c. Living in Love
If one claims to have holiness but does not manifest divine love, then what he has is not genuine
holiness but Pharisaical 'righteousness.' Those on the other hand, who claim to have great love
for everybody but who don't live in purity and righteousness, are also deceived into mistaking
their wishy-washy sentimentality for divine love. The Pharisees had a 'righteousness' that was
starchy and dry. They were like bony skeletons - hard and repulsive. They had some truth, but all
warped and out of proportion.
Jesus had all the truth. He stood for every jot and tittle of the law of God more than the Pharisees
did. But He was not just bones. The bones were covered over with flesh, as God intended human
beings to be - the Light was enveloped by Love. He spoke the truth, but He spoke it in love
(Ephesians 4:15). His words had authority, but they were gracious too (Luke 4:22, 36). This is
the nature that the Holy Spirit desires to communicate to us and to manifest through us.
God is Love. It is not that He just acts lovingly. He IS in His very essence LOVE. The glory of God
as seen in Jesus, manifests this clearly. Jesus did not just perform acts of love. He went about
"doing good" (Acts 10:38). But that was because the love of God flooded His whole being.
Love has its origin, like holiness and humility, in our inner man. It is from the innermost being
of the Spirit-filled man that the rivers of life flow (John 7:38, 39). Our thoughts and attitudes

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(even if never expressed) give an odour to our words and actions and to our personality. And
others can easily detect this odour. Words and acts of love count for nothing, if our thoughts and
attitudes to others remain selfish and critical. God desires "truth in the innermost being" (Psalms
51:6).
d. Living in the Spirit
If you are content with being considered upright and kind and gentle and compassionate by man,
then you will not go beyond being a 'soulish' Christian, and beyond a mere imitation of Jesus.
Paul divides Christians into three categories: the spiritual man (1 Corinthians 3:1); the soulish
man (1 Corinthians 2:14 - YLT); and the carnal man (1 Corinthians 3:1). This corresponds to the
threefold division of man's being, mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - spirit, soul and body.
When we are ruled by the desires of the body, we are carnal. But we can overcome those desires
and yet be only soulish - ruled by the desires of the mind and the emotions. The spiritual man is
the one who is ruled by the Holy Spirit and whose soul and body are under the Spirit's control.
Are we going to be made perfect by our own abilities or by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:3)?
- When we are willing to say as Jesus did in the days of His flesh, "Not my will, but Thine be
done," only then can we live as Jesus lived. Then God can rule our spirit. And our soul will
become the servant of the Spirit of God. And then our body too will be brought under the
control of the Holy Spirit. Only such a man can be called 'a spiritual man' or 'a Spirit-filled
man'.
e. Living in the Will of God
Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belonged to the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3). He also said
that only those who do the will of the Father would enter that kingdom (Matthew 7:21). The
kingdom of heaven is eternal, and only that which has been done in the will of God will be found
there. The poor in spirit are those who are conscious of their human insufficiency and who
therefore submit to the will of God completely.
In this sense, Jesus was perpetually poor in spirit. He lived as God intended man to live - in
perpetual dependence on God, refusing to exercise the powers of His mind apart from God.
Consider His words in John 5:19,30; 8:28, 42; 12:49; 14:10.
- Jesus never acted merely because He saw a need. He saw the need, was concerned about it,
but acted only when His Father told Him to.
- Jesus lived by His Father (John 6:57). To Jesus, God's Word was more important than food
(Matthew 4:4). He had to receive it many times a day, straight from the Father. Having
received it, He obeyed it.
- Obedience too was more important than His daily food (John 4:34). Jesus, lived in
dependence on the Father. His attitude throughout the day was, "Speak, Father, I am
listening."
f. Living by the Power of God
Jesus taught that as human beings we do not have the power to live and serve God as we should.
He said that we were like helpless branches entirely dependent on the sap supplied by the tree
for fruitfulness. "Apart from Me," He said, "you can do nothing" (John 15:5). And so, what we do
manage to do, without the help of the Holy Spirit can be considered to be NOTHING.
- Herein lies the vital necessity to be "filled with the Spirit continuously" (Ephesians 5:18).
Jesus Himself was filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, 18), and He lived and
laboured for His Father in the Spirit's power. But this was possible, only because as a man,
He was poor in spirit.
- Jesus was conscious of the weakness of the human frame that He had taken on, so Jesus
looked for solitary places where He could pray.
- He sought for power to overcome temptation and put His soul-power to death. No man was
as conscious as Jesus was, of the utter weakness of the flesh, and so He sought the Father's

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face in prayer for help, as no man ever did. He prayed with "loud crying and tears" in the days
of His flesh.
g. Living for the Glory of God
To be centred in Him is a law that God has built into creation. That law can be violated only by
moral creatures with a free will. Inanimate creation joyfully obeys its Creator and glorifies Him.
But Adam disobeyed that law, and we see the consequences in the misery of humanity.
Everything He did was for the Father's glory. There were no separate sacred and secular
compartments in His life. Everything was sacred. He made stools and benches for the glory of God
as much as He preached and healed the sick for the glory of God. He who speaks from himself seeks
his own glory, said Jesus (John 7:18).
- Jesus waited on His Father to receive His plan, and also waited on the Father for the power
to carry out that plan, so that He did all the will of His Father in the power of God.
- The ministry of Jesus was spiritual. The proof of that is seen in the fact that He left behind a
number (small though it be) who also became spiritual, and not soulish. To manifest His
glory, we must follow in His footsteps here.
- He conduct himself like a servant as in a home. He serves quietly and having done what needs
to be done, withdraws into the kitchen. How many are willing to serve the Lord like this?
Conclusion
Both Jesus and Adam heard the voice of God - the difference was only in the fact that one obeyed
and the other disobeyed. So too, Jesus said, it would be with those who hear His voice - one would
obey and build on the rock, unshakable for eternity, while another would hear but not obey and thus
build on the sand, ultimately to perish (Matthew 7:24-27).
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all together involved in this work of redeeming man and
transforming him. And although, many men and women in their foolishness will not respond to God,
yet the divine purpose will be fulfilled in a remnant (the few who find the narrow way to life), who
submit to God, like Jesus did, and through whom the glory of God will be manifested, not only here
in time, but also in the ages of eternity, when God will show forth through them, the surpassing riches
of His grace that they were made partakers of through Christ Jesus.

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MODULE 6:
COMMITMENT TO BUILD CHRISTIAN WORKER’S
CHARACTER & ATTITUDES
Opening Text: Luke 9:61-62, 16:10-13
Introduction
We are using the phrase "the Christian worker" to refer to a wide variety of Christians,
including parents, teachers, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, disciplers, Christian
education directors, youth and children's workers, administrators, church music
directors, and seminary and Christian college professors -- anyone who ministers to
others. The basic goals of all these workers are the same. So are the basic principles that
apply to their work. The daily activities and particular means employed by each one may
differ, but such differences are relatively superficial. The core of each ministry is the
same. One consideration at the core of every kind of ministry is the quality of the person
who is doing the ministry. His character and his attitudes toward other people, more than
his talents or formal training, will determine the effectiveness of his ministry.
Character
What qualifications must a Christian worker have? Obviously, he must be a genuine
Christian. He must be at least somewhat grown up in many areas of his life, and
continuing to grow spiritually. Two particular areas of growth seem to be especially crucial
in light of the significance of the Bible and the Holy Spirit. First, he/she must have a good
grasp on the Bible's teachings. This is not to say that he must be a walking Bible
encyclopaedia, but he should be quite familiar with both Old and New Testaments, have
an accurate interpretation of the Bible's main teachings, and have a well-integrated view
of God, man, and life. Paul told the young minister, Timothy, to be one "who correctly
handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Secondly, he must live what he knows. He should consistently exemplify the Christian
walk which comes from applying the Bible's teachings in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul

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told the young minister, Titus, "in everything set them an example by doing what is
good" (Titus 2:7).
The Attitude of Empathy
Empathy is not the same as sympathy. Sympathy involves feeling the same feelings
another person has. Thus, sympathy is mainly an emotional thing. But empathy is mainly
cognitive. Empathy involves understanding another person from the other person's point
of view. Notice how the Bible discusses this idea of empathy, even though the word is not
used in these passages:
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others.” (Philippians 2:4).
“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are
mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (Hebrews 13:3).
We must strive to identify with any individual we are trying to help by putting ourselves in
his place. We must realize what it would be like to face life having his background, his
abilities or lack of abilities, and his circle of friends. Without empathy we won't have
genuine sensitivity to others. Without empathy we cannot truly apply the golden rule
(Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31; 1 Corinthians 10:24), because the application of the golden rule
requires us to identify with others. Perhaps this is one of the reason James advised us to
be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). Listening is
the first step toward empathy.
The Attitude of a Servant
Jesus drew a contrast for his disciples in order to help them understand an attitude they
should not have, and an attitude they should have: “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever
wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must
be your slave -- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28; see also Luke 22:24-27 and 1 Peter
5:1-3).
The Christian worker is always looking for ways he can serve others, not for ways they can
serve him. This is not normal, for by nature people tend to look out for their own good
first. But it is the way Jesus both commanded and exemplified. “Christ Jesus ... being in
very nature God ... made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians
2:5-7)
Paul used Jesus' example to illustrate his command: “In humility consider others better
than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Some have mistakenly thought that Paul in this verse
commands us to have the lowest possible self-esteem. But if we examine the context,
especially Jesus' example in the following verses, we will see what Paul's intent is. Paul is
telling us to consider serving others more important than serving ourselves. Everything
the Christian worker does in aimed at serving others by meeting their needs. In fact, the
concept of meeting needs is one of the most basic concepts in all Christian ministries. Paul
said that everything we say should be helpful for building others up according to their
needs. (Ephesians 4:29).
What a contrast this is to the person who appears to minister to others, but is actually
ministering more to himself, his underlying (and probably subconscious) motives
completely selfish. He may enjoy the feeling of power he gets from his position of authority
or leadership, or his ego may need the praise and public recognition that often comes with

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the more visible, "up front" kinds of ministries. Any motive that serves the needs of the
minister more than the needs of the one being ministered to is out of place. The Christian
worker must view himself as a servant and must desire to meet the needs of others.
The Attitude of a Gentle Guide
Jesus said, "I am gentle" (Matthew 11:29). Paul said, "We were gentle among you" (1
Thessalonians 2:7). Paul also said that the pastor, or overseer, must be gentle (1 Timothy
3:3). The forceful individual often bruises and discourages others, but gentleness shows
a deep respect for, and a sensitivity to, each individual.
Gentleness should not be confused with weakness. Being gentle is not the same as being
timid or lacking initiative. Many times, the Christian worker must step forward and be
bold, but always with great consideration for the impact his words and actions have on
others.
He does not view others as objects to be used or manipulated. Rather, he views others as
worthy of his service, and his service is to guide them. Sometimes our organizational
structures work against us. We often work in a hierarchy of various levels of positions and
authority. All this makes it easy for the worker to think of himself more as a boss than as
a gentle guide. But if the Holy Spirit, from his high position and authority, can still
function as a guide (John 16:13), we should do the same.
All of these attitudes are summarized in the word "love," the love shown us by God. "God
so loved the world that he gave ..." (John 3:16). Likewise, our motivation and attitudes
toward others must grow out of the kind of love that gives.
The Character of Loyalty
Loyalty is remaining committed to those whom God has brought into our lives and has
called us to serve, even in times of difficulty. It is developing allegiance and respect in one
another, and not seeking to manipulate the other person. Being loyal exhibits our
commitment to Christ by our commitment--with discernment--to people and righteous
causes at all times (Proverbs 17:17; Ecclesiastes 8:2-4; John 15:13; Romans 13:1-5; Titus
3:1).
Disloyalty, betrayal, distrusting, and unfaithful, are the opposites. It is allowing our
corrupt nature to characterize our desires, so we manipulate others rather than build them
up. It is to disregard God's Lordship and authority as well as His love for others. This
mindset will quickly turn into contempt, and will cause us to disrespect and undermine
our leaders as well as one another, and lead us to impertinence and blasphemy towards
God.
Loyalty is like faith; it means assurance of another. In ancient times, the two words had
the same meaning, and referred to one's loyalty to a person, or trustworthiness to a
promise they had made. The person receiving the promise was acting on faith and trusting
in that person, and that is what loyalty is mainly about. But, loyalty has another facet to
it. It is also a call that we involve other characters into, such as, forgiveness, mercy, and
respect. We are to realize this with people, even when it is underserved and unearned. It
is also the knowledge that people with whom we place our loyalty will disappoint us.
However, we cannot base our character and self-image in their reaction, only in who Christ
is. Our outlook on life and reaction to people needs to be rooted in God, not on how those
people respond to us. We are not responsible for how people treat us; we are only
responsible for treating them with utmost character, as a reflection of Christ. Hence, the
word Christian is being "Christ like," not "self like."

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The Four Key Qualifications For Those Who Serves
The chief biblical texts are: 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 2 Timothy 2:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, Acts 6:1-6,
and Exodus 18:21-22. From these bible passages, four words stand out: commitment,
conviction, competency, and character. These are the main qualifications for anyone whose
has put his/her hands on the plough or desire to become effective pourer of water.
a) Commitment. Are the would-be leaders clearly committed to Jesus Christ as Saviour
and Lord? Is there a passion to know him in all his fullness? While different personality
types express passion differently, there must be evidence of a fire inside to know and
obey the Crucified and Risen One.
b) Conviction. Do the would-be leaders have biblically informed convictions-about who
God is, who humans are, the meaning of history, the nature of the church, and
especially the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection? Are they learning what it
means to be transformed by the renewal of the mind (Rom. 12:2), to "think Christianly"
about every dimension of their lives-money, time, sex, family, recreation? For this
reason, Paul warns against being too quick to call recent converts to leadership;
commitment and conviction take time to deepen.
c) Competency. Do the would-be leaders know how to make their way through the
Scriptures? Can they help others find their way around the sacred pages (2 Tim. 2:15)?
Have the would-be leaders been entrusted with appropriate gifts of the Holy Spirit (.
4:11-12, 1 Cor. 12:12-31, Rom. 12:3-8)? Do they have a working understanding of the
gifts, and can they help others discern and deploy those entrusted to them? Do they
have the necessary relational skills for this position? Do their relationships manifest
the integrity and love of Jesus, especially in their marriage and with their children (2
Tim. 3:5)? The Kingdom of God, after all, is about righteousness; that is, right
relationship.
d) Character. Are the would-be leaders taking on the character of Jesus? Someone has
astutely observed, "It is not a matter of perfection, but direction." Are the potential
leaders moving toward greater and greater Christ-likeness? The lists of leadership
requirements are finally about character. Do they exhibit self-control, hospitality,
gentleness (control of anger), a quest for holiness, temperance? Is there evidence of
dying to the love of money, to manipulation, to always having it one's own way? Are
they faithful to their spouse ("husband of one wife")?
The Christian worker's character and attitudes toward people are of
utmost importance, even more than talents or formal training

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MODULE 7:
FAITHFULNESS IN MINISTRY IS NEEDFUL!
1 Cor 4:1-2, 1 Peter 4:10-11
Introduction
God doesn’t promote a man without first of all proving him, so He must prove you whether you are
faithful or not. Today, lack of faithfulness in stewardship is what makes a man to be transfixed at a
spot for long, stagnated and stagnation often results to frustration. When we are faithful in doing
what God told us to do, He then promotes us to do extraordinary things and keeps promoting us to
do supernatural things.
Every increase, promotion, breakthrough etc. in ministry, in your office and vocation is directly
proportional to your degree of faithfulness. Have we not noticed that even the world rewards faithful
people? Therefore, as we sit at the feet of the master to learn of Him in this meeting, may His Holy
Spirit teach us hidden things that will promote us in ministry and life in Jesus name. Amen.
Definitions
What is the meaning of Fervent and Faithfulness to a Christian worker?
To be Fervent means:
a. Showing passionate enthusiasm to something.
b. Glowingly hot towards a thing.
To be Faithful means:
c. Loyal to somebody or something over a long period of time.
d. Able to be trusted, firmness, steadfast, and fidelity. (Believing firmly).
e. Someone true to the facts, true to his calling as a disciple/follower of Jesus Christ.
THE THREE PERSPECTIVES OF FAITHFULNESS
There are 3 perspectives of faithfulness: faithfulness to God (master), to the earthly leaders (delegated
authority) and to the Work (secular and spiritual). The diagram below illustrates this perfectly:
Faithfulness
Triangle
A
CB
LABOUR/WORK

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A, B, C in the triangle represents point of focus as explains below:
A = When God and Delegated authority are the focus of our faithfulness, the result is the dietification
of men in competition with God. It leads to eyeservice, men-pleaser and sycophancy.
B = When Delegated authority and the work/service are the focus of our faithfulness. The result is the
worship of men as the one who made the work available rather than God.
C= When God and the work/service are the focus of our faithfulness. The result is that most labourers
in the vineyard have no discipler or cover as they live independent of earthly delegated authorities.
The above shows the danger of not balancing the perspectives of our faithfulness as we labour in
ministry. The three dimensions of ministry with respect to our faithfulness is depicted in the life of
Tychicus – a beloved brother, faithful minister and fellow servant of the Lord. Col.4:7. He serves as a
good example for many of us labourers in the vineyard of God on earth.
CASE STUDY: TRAITS OF A FERVENT STEWARD – Lk.12:41-48.
Let’s now consider the traits or supposed character of a fervent and faithful steward who is in service
of His master:
a. Timeliness: In verse 42, we have the phrase “in due season” (KJV), “in proper and right time”
(NIV), “…at appointed time” (AMP). This connotes that ‘there is a specific period of time within
which he should discharge his duty’ or else it will be damn too late and become unacceptable to
the master. We all know that the king’s business requires haste (I Sam.21:8).
b. Perseverance: In verse 43, we read “...when He cometh shall find doing so”. There is the coming
of the master firstly to check on the servant at the duty post from time to time and secondly to
come for him to take him home to heaven. This talk of perseverance in what we do. Having a
single focus on the assignment at hand, and keeping at doing it.
c. Consciousness of His coming: In verses 45-46 we see the heart of the servant as to what he is
thinking: “my Lord delayeth His coming”. Or better still, the Lord tarries as it was for the ten
virgins. The servant no more lives in the imminent coming of His master, so he does what he likes
and may even sleeps or stay away from the given assignment. Thus he begins to misbehave; beat
others i.e. make money out of the people, wine and dine while he thinks the master may not
come now. Meanwhile, the work is slowed down, people of God continue to suffer and the
kingdom of God is depleted by this lack of consciousness of His coming. If He comes now, friends,
will He find you misbehaving or at your duty post?
d. Preparation of the Heart and Life: In verse 47 we saw the phrase: “..and prepared not himself”.
There’s time for preparation i.e. getting ready for the master. Stewards in general know that what
they have is not theirs, hence the logic of preparation for the owner whose coming is not
predictable. The 5 wise virgins prepared from home with extra oil, hence they were ready for the
master when He came at midnight. We are to prepare and guide our hearts well, so that our life
will be worthwhile.
e. Accountability: Lk.12:1-2 described a rich man who had a steward that was wasteful, and was
summoned to give account of his stewardship. There is no man without grace, talents or
potentials. The time comes when every man shall be called upon to give account of how these

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resources were used. Accountability is to show responsibility on the part of God – the giver and
man – the receiver/user. How are you running your parish? Rom.14:12, II Cor.5:10, Lk.12:42-48.
f. Faithfulness: This is the bedrock of the traits of any steward. An unfaithful steward cannot be
fervent and will operate timelessness. He won’t be conscious of His Lords’ coming, and won’t
give time to adequately prepare his heart and life. Also, he does not have to strength to endure
and persevere in turbulent period (can’t wait, but always in a hurry to nowhere) and never count
accountability as necessary as they think it is witch-hunting. In verses 10-12, note the issues the
Holy Spirit is laying bear to us here.
THE MOTIVATION FOR FERVENT/FAITHFUL IN STEWARDSHIP
The question that may be rummaging your heart at this point is likely to be: why must I be a good,
fervent and faithful steward in ministry? The 6 motivation I considered appropriate for fervency,
faithfulness and excellence in stewardship are discussed:
a. Love for the Master: John12:26. God demanded our service unto Him for out of love for Him.
The woman with Alabaster box in Mk 14:1-9 broke it to perfumed Jesus’ body prior to His death
because of love for she could have sold it and spent the money on herself. We are not talking of
love for gain for whether there is reward or not, our service to God must come from the heart of
love for Him.
b. The Desire Of The Steward For Fruitfulness: John 15:2-7. There are 3 categories of fruit desirable
by the servant in the passage above. A steward that wants to be faithful must not just bear fruit,
he must bear more fruit and strive to bear much fruit, for it is in this that the father is glorified. If
you desire to be fruit, then you must do all work on time as no farmer plant maize in dry season
and expect any harvest.
c. The Desire Of God For Profit From Every Steward: Mk.11:12-14. Lk.13:6-9. Mat.25:14-19.
Whatever is given to a man is just manure and a motivation for faithfulness in that portion
received. Jesus had great expectation from the fig tree in Mark 11 hoping that it might have fruits,
but only leaves. This signifies deception of many in ministry as our lives and work has nothing for
men to profit from. So Jesus the master cursed the fig tree and it dried up. May you not dry up
IJN, and may heaven not withdraw all the resources given you IJN.
d. The Examples Of Men Who Had Gone Before Us: Heb.3:1-6, 11:4-6. Looking at Moses, God found
him faithful in his own house as a steward. Though not without fault, yet he was found faithful
according to the testimony of the scriptures. Even Abel was found faithful as he offered acceptable
sacrifice unto God from whom all things we have were received and gave his best to Him.
e. God’s Ownership Right: ICor.6:20, 7:23. We are owned by God as He purchased us with the
blood of His Son Jesus Christ. By redemption, we are His and by creation we are His. We must
acknowledge our stewardship – II Cor.8:5 by accepting God as owner, and that we are stewards
and our possessions as loans to us to manage for God.
WHY GOD TERMINATES A MAN’S STEWARDSHIP
God is patient with us, but when it comes to accountability, He demands response from His stewards.
Lk.16:3-4, 45, Matt.25:24-25. We see in Num.20 how God terminated Moses’ 40years of ministry.
Also in Lk. 16:3-4, the servants said some things in his heart: The heart is the seat of man’s destiny
Pro.4:23. Something must have propped up in his heart. The Holy Spirit must have gnawed at him in

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