BACKGROUND:
In Romans 12, Paul moves from a doctrinal discussion to a practical discussion, for Christian doctrine translates into action. The first eleven chapters of the book of Romans reveal God’s mercy to sinners in that he sent his Son to die on the cross for our sins. Chapter 12 explains our obligation to God. In view of all God has done for us, how can we respond in a way that is pleasing to him?
And so, because of God’s great compassion on both Jews and Gentiles in offering salvation through Christ, Paul urges believers to please God in their daily lives. The evil world is full of temptation and sin. Paul helps believers understand how they can live for God.
Paul had already told the Roman believers to offer themselves to God so that their whole bodies would be for his glory. Our bodies are all we have to offer—we live in our bodies. The body enfolds our emotions, our mind, our thoughts, our desires, and our plans. Thus, the body represents the total person; it is the instrument by which all our service is given to God. In order to live for God, we must give him all that we are, represented by our body. If our body is at God’s disposal, he will have our free time, our pleasures, and all our behavior.
When sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest would kill the animal, cut it in pieces, and place it on the altar. Sacrifice was important, but even in the Old Testament God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6; Amos 5:21-24). God wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices—daily laying aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources at his disposal, and trusting him to guide us (Hebrews 13:15-16; 1 Peter 2:5). Our new life is a thank-offering to God. Offering our body as a living and holy sacrifice to be completely set apart for God and dedicated to his service.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)
As I read this one single verse again today, God has spoken to my heart in a major way. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have read this one single verse 500= times, yet here i am reading it once again and God says something new to my heart. I am amazed at the power of God's Word.
Today, I want us to look at how to discover God's will and deal with our relationship to God because He says "God's will is good, pleasing and perfect". How do you discover God's will for your life?
There is no magic formula. God's will is not a formula and it's not a feeling. But there are three very powerful principles that outline what is God's will for your life.
1. The principle of dedication. v. 1 "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God which is your spiritual worship." Commit your total life to Christ. The secret to knowing God's will is to be willing in advance to do whatever it is. Even before you know what it is. How many people say "God, You show me what Your will is, and then after I know Your will I'll decide on if I want to do it or not." God doesn't play games. If you want to know God's will you decide you're going to do His will whatever it is.
I had a friend who preached in a church. The choir sand "Yes, Lord, yes. Yes, Lord, yes." over and over until it built to a great crescendo. Then they introduced the speaker and said, "Lord, you've already heard our answer. Now tell us what you want us to do."
That's the attitude God wants us to have. "I'm willing to do Your will, in advance, even before I know what it is." To be totally dedicated to God means to say Yes to Him for your life, your business, your home, your family.
What's the reason for dedication? "I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies." Why should I dedicate myself to God? Because of what God has done for me. All of His mercies. What are His mercies? Romans 4-8 covers in detail what His mercies are. If God has been so good to us, surely we ought to give our lives in return to Him. The starting point is to dedicate our lives to God.
Thee are three characteristics of Christian dedication.
It's voluntary. "Offer your bodies" Offer means to voluntarily commit. The Williams translation says, "Make a decisive dedication of your body." This is the same word for making a reservation for a table in a restaurant. It means to make a reservation. The table has been set aside for your benefit. Nobody else can use that table. Put a reservation card on your life. "God, my life, my time, my money, my self completely belongs to you." It's voluntary.
It's practical. "Offer your bodies" Why would God want your body? God says, "Give me what you've got." We ought to have T-shirts printed up: "This bod belongs to God." Why doesn't God say offer your soul, or your spirit? He says bodies. If God owns your body, He owns you. Have you ever heard anyone say, "I can't make it to be meeting tonight but I'll be with you in spirit." That's great sentiment, but practically it's worthless.
There is no magic formula. God's will is not a formula and it's not a feeling. But there are three very powerful principles that outline what is God's will for your life.
1. The principle of dedication. v. 1 "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God which is your spiritual worship." Commit your total life to Christ. The secret to knowing God's will is to be willing in advance to do whatever it is. Even before you know what it is. How many people say "God, You show me what Your will is, and then after I know Your will I'll decide on if I want to do it or not." God doesn't play games. If you want to know God's will you decide you're going to do His will whatever it is.
I had a friend who preached in a church. The choir sand "Yes, Lord, yes. Yes, Lord, yes." over and over until it built to a great crescendo. Then they introduced the speaker and said, "Lord, you've already heard our answer. Now tell us what you want us to do."
That's the attitude God wants us to have. "I'm willing to do Your will, in advance, even before I know what it is." To be totally dedicated to God means to say Yes to Him for your life, your business, your home, your family.
What's the reason for dedication? "I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies." Why should I dedicate myself to God? Because of what God has done for me. All of His mercies. What are His mercies? Romans 4-8 covers in detail what His mercies are. If God has been so good to us, surely we ought to give our lives in return to Him. The starting point is to dedicate our lives to God.
Thee are three characteristics of Christian dedication.
It's voluntary. "Offer your bodies" Offer means to voluntarily commit. The Williams translation says, "Make a decisive dedication of your body." This is the same word for making a reservation for a table in a restaurant. It means to make a reservation. The table has been set aside for your benefit. Nobody else can use that table. Put a reservation card on your life. "God, my life, my time, my money, my self completely belongs to you." It's voluntary.
It's practical. "Offer your bodies" Why would God want your body? God says, "Give me what you've got." We ought to have T-shirts printed up: "This bod belongs to God." Why doesn't God say offer your soul, or your spirit? He says bodies. If God owns your body, He owns you. Have you ever heard anyone say, "I can't make it to be meeting tonight but I'll be with you in spirit." That's great sentiment, but practically it's worthless.
Your spirit doesn't do anything if your body isn't there. It's one thing to say you'll give your money to missions. It's another thing to say, "I'm going to give my body and go spend two weeks on the mission field." When you give your body it means you're giving yourself. He's saying, be practical. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. How do you know if you've dedicated your body to God? When a need occurs, do you meet it?
It's complete. "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice." Sacrifice means total, unconditional dedication to God.
The starting point for knowing God's will is dedication. Offer your body as a living sacrifice. Usually when we think of sacrifice we think of something dead. But this says living sacrifice. There's one problem with a living sacrifice. It can crawl off the altar. That's why it's got to be a daily sacrifice. A lot of us come to church and commit ourselves on Sunday and then on Monday we crawl off the altar. We sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" and then on Monday we go AWOL.
Note it says "holy and pleasing to God". In Greek it says, "well pleasing to God" which means it makes God happy when we commit ourselves to Him.
When you do this it is "your spiritual worship". Worship is not something you do just on Sundays. Worship is any time you commit yourself to God. Anytime you make a commitment of your life to God, you're worshiping. A commitment of your time, praise, money, life, talents, energy -- that's an act of worship. He says we can be living in constant worship of God when we have the act of dedication.
The first foundational truth we see this week is the principle of dedication: "Offer yourself, totally commit yourself to God." Will you do that right now?
It's complete. "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice." Sacrifice means total, unconditional dedication to God.
The starting point for knowing God's will is dedication. Offer your body as a living sacrifice. Usually when we think of sacrifice we think of something dead. But this says living sacrifice. There's one problem with a living sacrifice. It can crawl off the altar. That's why it's got to be a daily sacrifice. A lot of us come to church and commit ourselves on Sunday and then on Monday we crawl off the altar. We sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" and then on Monday we go AWOL.
Note it says "holy and pleasing to God". In Greek it says, "well pleasing to God" which means it makes God happy when we commit ourselves to Him.
When you do this it is "your spiritual worship". Worship is not something you do just on Sundays. Worship is any time you commit yourself to God. Anytime you make a commitment of your life to God, you're worshiping. A commitment of your time, praise, money, life, talents, energy -- that's an act of worship. He says we can be living in constant worship of God when we have the act of dedication.
The first foundational truth we see this week is the principle of dedication: "Offer yourself, totally commit yourself to God." Will you do that right now?
I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course.
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