Struggling against the Worldly Patterns

All struggle has some level of sacrifice

Romans 12:1–2 NIV84

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We must be willing to give everything over to God if we truly want to serve HIM.

Mark 12:30 NIV84

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

When we offer ourselves over to God we will please HIM and that results in what God considers our reasonable service and what we call a spiritual act of worship.

Throughout the scriptures: God’s people just didn’t “get it.” All God wants from us is a worship that involves our entire lives and in response to that HIS people recieved protection from evil, wisdom to traverse the blockades that come our way, patterns that the world has conceived to trip us up and throw us off course, and give us the key to go though struggles.

Any struggle will eventually resort in some level of transformation.

Why does Paul say it needs to be a transformation of the mind, when our whole body is a part of the equation?

Transformation of the Mind?

Romans 12:3 NIV84

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Transformation starts with understanding that we are not as smart, important, powerful, etc. as we think we are. Rather than turning to The Lord for the answer when all else fails, turn to HIM first. Then we won’t be wasting senseless time and effort spinning with the world’s systems.(The word used here for sober means literally don’t keep spinning around in a circle.)

The measure of faith doesn’t necessarily means God gives one of us an extra dose of faith and another 1/2 a dose. It is like:

Doses are often dependent on the size, weight, etc of the person.

Matthew 23:32 “Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!”

God gives us the faith we need to deal with the sins, problems, struggles we face.

Once we are given that faith it is our turn to pass it on to others

Romans 12:4–8 NIV84

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

What is your gift(s) and how does my faith in God enhance them?

Prophesying: Some receives a word or oracle revealed by God through the Holy Spirit and it is given in order to meet one or more needs within the Christian community for guidance and direction, edification, encouragement, consolation or witness, and it ultimately points back to the One who gives this gift.

Serving: Ministering in things that are Holy Spirit driven. Obedience to the Master or guests at the Master’s table or in hospitality.

teaching: Instructions or precepts that have devine guidance and meaning. God’s instructions as given to us by the Holy Spirit.(Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” )

Exhortation: Tough Love, comfort that brings with it correction if needed. go to walk beside someone because you are called to by the Spirit, called to minister to someone whose desires need to be turned back toward God.

Gives: Someone who gives of themselves; anything God requires, time, talents, treasures. Sharing with others what the Lord has given, or communicate to others what the Holy Spirit has communicated to them.

Rule: Greek word prosteo. This is the word we get Pro and Prosthesis from. It means to guide, lead, support, coach or any other way we might encourage someone else’s faith walk. Leading by example.

Mercy: showing compassion and extending help, even for those whose are facing the consequences of sin. We see the opposite of this throughout that Bible when it speaks of worldly people with hardened hearts. It isn’t something done by obligation but in the spirit of joy.