The Book of Mark, chapter 5, contains a fascinating story of Jesus and a demon-possessed man. On the eastern shores of the Sea of Galilee, in the land of the Gerasenes, a demon-possessed man lived among the tombs. Some people who also lived in the area raised pigs even though the Old Testament and Jewish laws were very strict in regard to food. Nevertheless, they raised these pigs over on the side where no one could see them. Jesus entered the scene, and the demon-possessed man comes running out of the tombs yelling and screaming. Jesus healed this man, and immediately the demons rushed out of him and into two thousands pigs which go over the edge into the water and die. Whatís interesting is that although this man was healed and the people were amazed by it, they were also upset and asked Jesus to leave the area. Why? They didnít want the Lord changing their lives.

However, the healed man is so excited that he wants to leave everything in his zeal to follow Christ, but Jesus says, "No, I donít want you to follow me". The Lordís answer leaves me a bit surprised, but letís read and find out exactly what Heís saying.

The Lord is saying that the way we will display and express the things that God has done in our lives is not under the spotlights, behind the microphone giving a great and glowing testimony, on the front page of a magazine, or on television. It is to be displayed and expressed at home. Nothing tests our faith more to our basic core than everyday kinds of things. Itís like the Lord is saying, "How are you doing in the simple things?" For the measurement of our faith lies within our daily lives.

Letís take a look at two tests that we must pass in order to have a faith at home. The first is:

• Babe Ruth wanted to be the homerun king. In order to get 714 homeruns, he struck out 1,336 times.
• Henry Ford went broke five times before he finally made a car that bears his name today.
• Theodor Geisel was a childrenís author who was rejected 21 times until a friend decided to publish his books which are now in their 20^th printing under the pen name, Dr. Seuss.
• Harlan Sanders believed in his chicken recipe, and though rejected by restaurants 1,011 times, someone finally relented on his 1,012th attempt and started off the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants.

These individuals had an unconditional commitment to something they believed in. Did you know that successful people normally fail more times than those who are failures? People who are failures usually quit after two or three disappointments. But successful people never stop at failure and go on to do what God has called them to do.

Nothing of value has ever been accomplished outside of the realm of commitment and nothing tests our commitment like an everyday faith at home. Choosing to commit is something that must be learned. Letís read the scripture and see how Jesus exampled this kind of commitment. A commitment not rooted in feelings, but in a conscience choice.

"He always stands by His covenant ñ the commitment He made to a thousand generations". (Psalms 105:8)

There is no greater commitment to be made than to the people God places directly in your life; the people in your family. Thatís the attitude that the Lord Himself modeled for us when He says, "even till the thousandth generation".

After being married for 28 years, Iím learning that thereís got to be an unrelenting goal that says we will push forward to the end of our marriage, so we donít even talk, joke, or consider divorce. A lack of commitment will come out if itís in your heart. Here are two factors that will help build an unconditional commitment:

The word "fervent" in the Greek means "stretching and straining" like a rubber band thatís pulled. How many of you will say that some people in your family stretch and strain you? Yet the Bible says that it is this kind of love that covers a multitude of sins.

When Jesus died on the cross for you and me, He didnít feel good about it. There was the pain of the crucifixion yet, He forgave based on a choice that He made, not a feeling that He had. Even though love sometimes feels wonderful, there are times when love hurts. We need to push through these tough times by using a love of choice. The Lord says this is precisely the kind of love that changed the world. The Bible calls it an "Agape love", or a love of choice that says, ëthe continuance of my love is not determined by your performance or your response to my love.í God gives us this love of choice. Itís the strongest kind of love. Yes, it will be stretched, it will be strained, but God is simply testing our unconditional commitment.

Question 2: Is there someone in your life that stretches and strains you? How has that tested your unconditional commitment?

The second factor affecting unconditional commitment is:

Heís saying to those of you who are married, or single people about to be married, when you say yes to your spouse, you also say no to every other option or any other opportunity that would come your way in the future. Itís a pretty big commitment, but thatís the kind of love that Jesus has for you and for me. If you read Ephesians 5, Heís says, "Husbands love your wife as Christ loved the church." This love is an unconditional kind of love that is going to require self-control, especially sexual self-control.

In fact, the New Testament scripture says one of the qualities of a leader is that he is the husband of one wife. In the Greek, it actually means, heís a one-woman man. As a result, I commit by choice to have only one lady in my life. Do you think that the heart never wanders? Sure it does, but you cannot let it wander far. When you are using self-control in sexual matters, you are doing well because Galatians 5 tells us that it is one of the fruits of the spirit. We live in the world but we are not to be of the world. Weíve learned our love from the world, so we need to change, and make sure we put parameters in our love that reassures our spouse that he or she is the only one in our lives.

Question 3: Have you ever been in a situation where your self-control was tested? What did you learn from that experience?

When I travel, I ask our council to either have Dan Shima or someone travel with me, because all it takes is one wrong encounter. One slip up will affect this church, my marriage, my family and hundreds of young pastors watching this church. Some will complain that this practice costs another airline ticket, but it saves the church hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a lot of pain because that other person helps me to stay accountable. Accountability is not done because I think Iím weak, but because I know the devil is crafty. The same is true with every single brother in here. You must place self-inflicted parameters around yourself because of the commitments you choose to make.

So first, you must hear what God says, set it in concrete, and stay true to who Godís called you to be. This kind of commitment just doesnít happen, it requires:

Anything that is alive and living will require maintenance.

"Öwe are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other". (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT)

If your love is growing, it will give you a strong, flourishing, blossoming and fruitful faith. Those of you in ministry, be careful to make sure that your love at home is growing, otherwise your ministry will sooner or later die.  I have a right to be behind this pulpit only because my family is doing well. If they are not, I will not be standing here very long.

No amount of success in the marketplace or ministry will ever make up for failure at home. Anything growing requires maintenance and the same is true with our families. They are going to require maintenance. Men, it is so important to continue to court your wife, and maintain your relationship with your children. Be sure they enjoy being around you. I try to take Anna out once a week for dinner. It isnít expensive, but I make sure it is not rushed so we can talk and enjoy the company of one another ñ there is a consistent maintenance.

Question 4: What are some ways that you can maintain your love at home?

Another part of maintenance that takes place will be in your own soul.

I watch very carefully the barometer of my joy. Itís sort of like an early warning system. If I no longer enjoy being with Anna, something is wrong and itís not her fault. So I have to make a correction and recalibrate my soul back to my family and to my marriage. Some people say, "Wayne what if itís already too late?" Maybe, but thereís always ways to bring it back to center because God can restore our souls.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His nameís sake".  (Psalm 23:2-3)

One of the greatest things you can do everyday is to make sure youíre slowing down and willing to allow Him to lead you beside still water. If you are busy and anxious and filled with stress, whether it is a good kind of stress or not, itís still a stress on you that it causes you to be distracted. Then once you are distracted in that way, the devil starts to hit you because it is his opportune moment. Whatís the barometer or measuring checkpoint to see if youíre vulnerable in an area? Real easy, watch your soul. Is it a joy for you to be with your spouse or your children? If not, then something is wrong and you need to recalibrate your soul. Thatís where daily devotions come in. Itís so critical and important to take the time to slow down and get before the King so that He can restore your soul. When I go to funerals, weíll pray for the departed soul of "so-and-so". But that doesnít happen only in funerals, it happens in families as well. We sometimes run so fast, our souls are left behind. We get so busy that when we come home, weíre soulless. Our heart is not there. When your joy is gone, stop, recalibrate, and let Him restore you.

"And now this word to all of you: You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Donít repay evil for evil. Donít snap back at those who say unkind things about you". (1 Peter 3:8 LB)

You notice that these are not simply suggestions, these are commands from the Lord. Even if you donít feel like it, if you are going to understand the love that changed the world, it will be a love of choice. The commitments you make and the relationships you maintain have to be a relationship of choice, if they are going to be healthy and full of life.

Question 5: What happens to your relationship with God when you donít have sympathy for others, or snap back at those who hurt you? (when you repay evil for evil?)

One of the best things you can do for your family is to stay strong in the Lord.\

"Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next". (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT)

When your heart is open to the Lord, you become correctable. Maintain a strong connection with God so that He can speak to you. Allow Him to guide you to make changes so that slowly but surely, your life will begin to straighten out. It is through this process that we build an everyday faith in our homes.

Question 6: How will you be changed by what you learned today?