Stronger Together
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Text:
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Romans 12 chapter, has several overarching themes presented within this chapter.
There are several trains of thought presented by the apostle Paul.
First we want to please God because of his mercies (Verses 1-21).
Because of how good God has been to us, we should do all that we can to please God.
The first requirement in pleasing God is that we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Many of the Jewish constituents understood the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. Not only that, but those who God had delivered from pagan worship and the worshipping of idols understood that sacrifice was a way in which they sacrificed something to gain the favor of that false deity. Throughout human antiquity even, it is documented that sacrifice always accompanied worship.
But because Jesus Christ became the ultimate sacrifice, on the Jewish side, there was no need for daily sacrifices, there was no need for a sin offering and burnt offering. On the pagan side, they no longer had to worship at the altar of Diana, the altar of Zeus, the altar Dionysus. The Lord Jesus sacrifice his life, he gave himself, He who knew no sin, as a one time offering the book of Hebrews says.
So now for those entering the church, those who had been washed in the blood, the question becomes “How do we worship God.” Paul answers this question by writing to the Roman church by pleading with them to give their bodies (their whole being to God) because of all he has done for you.
Let me stop right there. Is there anyone in here that has the testimony that God has done so much for you. God has been good to us!!!! Just testify to three people and tell them what the LORD has done for you.
Often times we get amnesia when the difficult times hit us, but when the difficult times hit you......all you need to do is go back and grab a hold of something that God has done for you and it will help pull you through your current reality!!!!
When your body is racked with pain, when they are giving you trouble on your job, when the dog just won’t act right, all of that stuff will bring you down. But when you get in the presence of the LORD and start thinking about all He’s done for you and how many times He’s brought you out, and how many times He’s opened doors for you......and even the doors he has had to shut that you couldn’t shut. It will begin to lift you above your sorrow, it will give you a different outlook and perspective on your current situation.
And you will declare “Yet will I praise the LORD!!!”
Paul says GIVE GOD YOUR ALL BECAUSE OF ALL HE HAS DONE FOR YOU!!! Give God your bodies, give him your everything, let your bodies be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. Which is your reasonable service or this is the way you worship him.
In order to sacrifice......SOMETHING HAS TO DIE!!!
We have to die to self.....in order to truly worship God. We have to die to our carnal nature and we gotta kill it dead.
Worship is more than coming to church and lifting our hands and singing a slow serenade to God and crying tears and being emotional. Worship is more than clapping our hands and shouting and speaking in tongues, praise is good, praise is a part of worship, but true worship is giving God your mind, body, and soul.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength!
That’s why it makes me feel some kind of way for people to come in God’s house and just sit, and not say something to Him, not praise Him, you too busy thinking about the outside stuff, your too busy worrying about what someone else is going to say. YOU BETTER FORGET ABOUT THAT STUFF!!!! AS GOOD AS GOD HAS BEEN TO YOU.....YOU BETTER WORSHIP HIM, YOU BETTER OPEN YOU MOUTH AND GIVE HIM GLORY......AFTER ALL HE HAS DONE FOR YOU!
Let’s shift:
Verse 2:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Couple of help things Paul tells the church.
First: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.
Let God transform you (you need to let God have his way in your life).
Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (expound).
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which (God’s will, God’s desire) for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Did not The LORD say in his word:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
God’s plan for every saint of God is to give you a future and a hope. An expected end. And God is the author and finisher of our faith.....I know I may use this scripture out of context. But God is in control of all, and He’s writing my story right now......and the story says “All things, work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.
It might get ugly sometimes but God is still in control.
It might hurt sometimes.....with some of us it might hurt everyday all day.
But the word of the LORD and our faith testifies that everything will work together for good.
I feel like preaching that right there but I have to get to the main text.
Because you can’t get to verses 4 and 5 where Paul records:
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
In order for us to be one body, we have to be in unison, we have to be in accord, we cannot be divided, because the devil seeks to divide the house.......Jesus said a house divided against itself cannot stand.
In order for us to be united, we have got to die to self, oh I wish I could preach this to all of COOLJC. Not just Cooljc but all churches, including my church family, because we have some in our congregation that think more highly of themselves then they ought to..
Paul warns of this in verse 3. Don’t think yourself to be on this pedestal so above people.......GOD WILL KNOCK YOU OFF THE PEDESTAL. Paul says “Think Soberly”. Measure yourself not by what people think of you, measure yourself according to the faith which is the word of God.
Because when you take an honest look at yourself in comparison with what God’s word says......it will humble you. It will bring you to a place where you realize I need more Jesus in my life.
Okay let’s deal with the main text:
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
We have many members in one body. Paul is referring to your human body. Each part of your body has a special function. Guess what, your eyeballs need your eyelashes. Your toes need your toenails. Your head needs hair......and some of us are losing our hair and other of us don’t have hair anymore......and you miss your hair......not because it made you look good......because with some of you......hair......ain’t gonna help you look no better.
But you miss it because it keeps you warm in the winter, It shades your head in the summer, so now you gotta wear hats all the time.
All of your body parts are needed.......just tell someone......I need all my parts.
Paul says it is the same with Christ’s body, we are many parts of one body. Just tell someone that you don’t know......we are one. Paul then says “we all belong to each other.”
Now see some of you not going to like that word. But you are not your own, you are bought with a price, Jesus bought you out......with his blood, you belong to Him, and if you belong to Him, we belong to one another.
Paul then says God has given us differing gifts.....in his grace. God didn’t give you a certain gift because you deserved it or because of how knowledgable you are. It is by his grace!
Paul then says:
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
LOOK AT VERSE 9:
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.