Essential Core Values for Believers | Romans 12:1-21 | Pastor Jose

This morning, I want to talk to you about a core values for believers, essential core values, for all believers. Romans chapter 12 is one of my favorite passages in scriptures and the last time I told it, it took me five weeks to teach. I'm going to try to teach it to you in one session here. So that means we'll be here till 5 and I hope we're all mad, but I'm going to speak very fast. Just one, of course, scriptures that. I just really enjoy so core values for all believers. You see all companies, they leave buy some set of values whether they are written on that guy, they just function in based on some set of values and and everybody knows it, they may not know it, you know specifically but everybody knows he's going to like the politics or the current that going on in that organization, but all the very successful companies, they have very clear set core values that day go by, you know, what does it totally like a big difference when you go to McDonalds? You know, there are a set of values that they go by as opposed to when you go to Chick-fil-A that's totally different set of values that they go by. Like, for example, I remembered this week I don't usually go to McDonald. Bet somebody forced me by the name of a 10 year olds then go. But as I was about to order, waited waited, like 5 minutes, nobody ever greet me or say the high over the PA, I kept saying hello. Hi. My ten-year-old still saying hi anybody. There never minutes then. Even agreed, huh? We don't need to stay. I said Thank God. Then we just, we just drove off as opposed to get a Chick-fil-A, two seconds. You may need to take your order, they'll think we'll be right with you, isn't the inch Gold by certain core values. There's a reason why they always say my pleasure. Instead of saying you welcome old, dad is a built-in into the core values of that company. What they trying to provide and what they trying to stand by. So the same for believers, we need to have a set of core values for our life that whenever people see us that they will know that a that person is different. That person is a Believer. They were really going by some set of core values. That are different from everybody else and don't you realize everything that you do involves other people.

Literally everything that you do involves other people, even when you might be by yourself, guess what? If you go ahead and go in Facebook, does it involve people? Somebody had to write that program and you watching other people? So everything that you do in life involve others, this section here in scripture in Romans 12 is kind of what we call a relation of geology, how we relate to one another. And that's why it is so expensive. That's where our core values come from as Believers that we know how to relate to one another well because if we don't do life will not be as great as we would want it to be. So let's read the text together. From Romans 12:1 to 21. Really essentially? What I'm asking you this morning, is that what do you live by? What do you live by? Father has we said your word now may your word not return void and they do where do exactly what you have purpose for it to do. Here's the message. In one sentence. The way you live will prove what you truly believe. The way you live will prove what you truly believe and there are five essential qualities and all core values that I want to share with you this morning that I believe that all believers should strive for five essential qualities or values that we will see in this text that all of us as Believers. Need to strive for the first one. The first one is that Believers needs to live a life of transformation. Believers need to live a life of transformation and we see this in the first two verses in Romans chapter 12. It says, I appeal to you there, for whenever you see, therefore, you have to ask. Why is it? Therefore, in the Book of Romans in the first part that tells us about the conditions of our sin? That's where it says that, you know, Christ died for us. It says, all of us, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God than there. For now, when we accept Christ, we are Justified, and then God gives us his gift of Salvation, and then it goes on till 11:30, nice. About all the things that God has done for us because we put our faith and trust in Jesus. And now it's saying all those things, not our hours and now it seems I feel to you, therefore, Brothers by the mercies of God. All the things that God has done for you, to present your bodies as a Living Sacrifice. Holy and acceptable to God, which is your Spiritual worship do not be conformed to this world, but be you say the word, but does it say they're transformed by the renewing of your mind and by testing you may discern, what is the will of God? What is good? What is acceptable? And what is what? Perfect perfect. So God here is asking us to be transformed in three areas in our life. The first one, he says that we need to be transformed in our bodies. So if you look in the verse again, it says that I appeal to you by the mercies of God to freezing, what your bodies as a Living Sacrifice. How many of you know that our bodies are important If you did not have a body, you would not be able to bring yourself here. Okay, we need our bodies. Everything that we do. We do it with our bodies. We feed it. We eat. We go places. We go to work because of our bodies. Then I'm able to see you and you were able to see me because I have a body, that's why it says that a I am human k. H bodies are very important and it says, we need to present our bodies to God as a Living. Sacrifice 10 in 1st Corinthians. It says that our bodies are the temple of God. So are our bodies important. So we need to take care of our bodies in every way, so that we are able to have a great body to give to God. That's why. It says, our body is a gift to Gus's to present your bodies as a Living Sacrifice. See, I think the ladies often understand this concept better than others. Most of you guys. How long did it take you to prepare to come to church this morning? Probably two minutes, just put some clothes on it and you just hit the door, right? But some ladies stood in front of a mirror for some time. So so the ladies understand this concept very well. See says, God says we need to present our bodies as a Living Sacrifice to God. This verse doesn't make sense. It says a Living Sacrifice, what do we know about a sacrifice? Another for something to be a sacrifice, it has to be dead. Better. Hear Paul, is saying, we need to give our bodies. We need to present our bodies as a Living Sacrifice. We see the picture in the Old Testament in Genesis 22 when Abraham went to gave his son, Isaac as a sacrifice to God, I remember that. So when he went there to see, Isaac was Living Sacrifice and Villages tells us that Isaac was actually a young men. So most likely you was, you would be able to overpower his father, Abraham and not letting him sacrifice him, but he willingly still went. But as we know the story, God, had another plan got it was just testing Abraham to see whether he's Faith was real in him. See, that's a picture of Christ picture of things to come. Because Christ is the ultimate sacrifice where God gave, what he's body for us, because Jesus went on the cross that the thing I love about Jesus. Jesus does not access to do anything that he has not done himself. Jesus literally gave his body for you and for me so that we can enjoy the life that we have and the bodies that we have in Jesus saying a give it back to me, present your body as a Living Sacrifice. That means I am all yours love and images of qualifiers. What does it say our bodies needs? To be looking to text with me and says, we need to breathe in it. How holy and acceptable? That means God says a, I want your body to worth it. I want your body to be presented to me as holy. That means you walking with God. And God says, Hey, I want that body. You present to me to be acceptable that you would say. Yes. I am proud to give it to you but you love it when you give a gift to somebody and then they smile and then you just waiting to see their reaction, especially if it's somebody that, you know, that you care deeply about and, you know, that what that gift will do to them when you giving it to them. It's like it's giving you much much more joy, giving it, then the ones receiving it because you just waiting to see the joy that is coming from them from giving you. So that's why I got it. Thanks. When you give your body to me, I don't want it to be holy and I wanted to be acceptable and then look at what it says there, which is your spiritual guidance. That just makes sense. Carlos and because of all that I have done for you because I've given my life for you. Now, you are save all that you have is because of me. So this is just the right thing to do. It just makes sense, and it says, do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of what. So, what's the next thing that God wants us to give? We need to give up our mind, God wants us to be transforming our bodies, and he also wants us to be transformed in our mind. Because our mind controls our body, our mind controls our body and God says, hey, I'm not only asking you for for a half. I don't want you to go halfway. I want you to go all in God is saying, I want your body, but that's what I also wants, what controls your body. I also want your mind, Do you think God is done there? Then look for one more thing. It's his dad by testing. You may discern. What is what the will of God's? Oh God is saying, Hey, I want you to give me your will. How many of you just like, you know, you just that strong-willed Child. Since you were little and until now you still very strong will and you will do it your way. Like, I like to tell you about Frank, Sinatra doing it my way, I'm saying, I want you to not only give my give up your body, I want you to give up your mind, but I also want you to give up your. Well, I want you to give up your plans. I want you to embrace my plan and look at what it says, the will of God. What is good, acceptable and perfect. So he's saying that his will is better than y'all will. He says that his will is good. I'm going to have to know that your plans are not always good. Your plans are not always get a lot of your plans lead to failures and a lot of your plans. A lot of your strong will about certain things leads to more problems than you started with any Witness. See, but God is saying God is saying 8. My plans my will for you. It is good. It is acceptable. That means you going to like it. If you remember that only we giving an acceptable body to God With God is saying a, my will that I present to you will also be acceptable to you. That means you go into like it and it will be what Perfect. God is saying you are not losing when you give up your body when you give up your mind and when you give up your will for me, we can go home on this right now. You want me to just go and I'm praying and now let's keep going. See, so the believer needs to live a life of transformation. You cannot come to God and not expect to change. She a lot of us, we are believers but we came in as a caterpillar and somehow we went to stay, a caterpillar, all the rest of our life. Looking for Caterpillar, the next step is what? To become a butterfly to have that process of transformation. I'm taking you back to elementary school, huh? Okay. The caterpillar has to change into a butterfly a caterpillar. That's there's a caterpillar. Did not really get to enjoy a full life because that caterpillar has never been transformed to all Butterfly Fly, never went to that process of metamorphosis. Elementary School is flying here. Some people didn't pay attention in science. Class caterpillars have to be changed to Butterfly. I know a lot of us as Believers. We stay caterpillars for the rest of our lives and never change into that butterfly that God wants us to become. Because it says, the thief comes to steal to kill and to destroy. But Jesus says, I have come so that you Might have life and have it to the full because what will happen to a caterpillar if you try to help it when he's trying to break out of his cocoon?

It will never develop the strength that he needs to really fly. So that's why I see that's where you see testing and suffering is good for us. because if we don't go for some testing for some suffering for some difficult things in life, we never breaks out to be, will we need to become So do we all love suffering now?

Feet. But that's what God is saying to. I've got to say, I want you to be transformed completely. So that you, you, you transform from that caterpillar to the beautiful butterfly that I have for you. In Colossians 1:16, it says, for by him. All things were created in heaven and on Earth, visible, and invisible weather Thrones, or the minions or rulers or authority is, and look at the last part. It says, all things were created and dad for him. So that means you, you were created blue him and then fall for him. So that's why it says, 8 is just your spiritual worth, it worship is just reasonable that you give up your body's you give up your mind and you give up your will for him. CL of a Danish proverb that says, what you are is God's gift to you. But what you do with yourself is Georgia to God, what you are, is your gift from God. But what you do with yourself is your Gear 2. So the bottom line is, if you have been transformed, if you have not been transformed, God can that use you? If you have that being transformed, God can that use you? And you will never get to experience fully all that. God has for you and wants to do flu you Jeremiah 29:11 says, I know the plans I have for you, they are plans to prosper you and not to harm you. There are plans to give you a future and to give you hope God has a plan for you. That's why you need to give up your body. You give up your mind and you give up your own. Will your own plans so that you submit to his plan? The second thing is that Believers need to live a life of humility. Believers, not only needs to live a life of transformation but we also need to live a life of humility. How many of you know that all of us need constantly a dose of humility That's a struggle for all of us. We like, to be prideful. We like to be full of ourselves, and it's always like, my way you and that the other way, but all believers need, a regular dose of humility. It says, for by the grace, given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself how more highly than he ought to think. But to think with sober judgment each, according to the measure of faith that God has a sign. How many of us like to think too? Highly of ourselves?

What does it say that we should not think highly of ourselves because we were made in His image. God created us, but we should not think more highly than we should. But instead God is saying be humble, thank with sober, judgment each, according to the measure of faith that has been assigned to a Philippines. Tells us one thing and verse 328ss, do nothing from selfish and business, do nothing from selfie with me. Please do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. Stop. Right there. How many of you that have been stuff that just like totally selfless.

All the time.

All of us are guilty. I have both my hands up. What the Bible says do? What?

Nothing from selfish ambition or Pride? Berlin humility. You need to count others. How more significant than yourself out. Can you do that? Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. That doesn't mean you don't look for your interest. You do that naturally? But the God is saying, 8. I want you to be other-centered and Anita's have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ. Jesus would do. He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God of things to be grass but he did what and finding himself that means. He humbled himself by taking the form of a servant. So God, became a man being born in the likeness of men just like us and being found in human form. He did what humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. Even death on a crack, the worst kind of death that ever existed. During that time, that was only for criminals, the worst criminals of criminals But that's how Jesus decided to die for us. We have to be humble, James 1:17, every good and perfect gift come from about coming down from the Father of Lights room. There is no variation.

So everything that we have, can we claim met? Can we lay hold of it? Like we got it ourselves. Our degrees. Our money, our good looks all of that. Was a blessing from who. From God. Do you really have control over? How you look?

All dead. We don't have any control over Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from God, and that's why we need to be humble. Militie is a sign that we have come to recognize that whatever abilities skills or resources. We have are simply a result of the grace of God in our life.

You all need to be thankful for Christ. So not only Believers name to leave a life of transformation. A life of humility but also we need to live a life of unity. We need to live a life of unity. Look at the text with me. It's as for as in one body in the first four, we are we have many members and the members do not all have the same function so we do meny are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. While of America we may be very divided as a nation but our document says is striving for this D. Pluribus Unum out of mamey. Won the ideas are great in our country and we should be thankful for them. And as Christians we need to strive for them. And if you look here, that's exactly what it is. So we do many are one body, that's the American creed weed though. Many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. So God wants us to be in unity. God wants us to have that Oneness with one another regardless of our background, regardless of our skin color. Regardless of where we from, regardless God wants us to be United. Why? Because we have a common savior, we have a common Mission and we all belongs to him, we all come from God. Is that one family in Christ? Believers have to live in unity when we live in unity and serving, Jesus prayer. Look at Jesus prayer. In John 17, it says I do not ask for these only. That means not just the disciples, but also you and me but also for those who will believe in me flew their word and we believe included a a word. That they may all be. What one just as you father are in me and I am you that they also may be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me some guys that I want that perfect vertical relationship with them and I want you guys to have that perfect relationship with one another since the glory that you have given me, I have given to them that day. Maybe one even as we are one in them. I in them and you in me that they may become perfectly one. So that the world may know that you sent me and love them even as you loved me. So, whenever you living in unity, not in division, but you seeking one mess with others, with fellow Believers in the family passes. You answering Jesus prayer and you are becoming more like God,

Because I know the scripture for in Revelation 7 verse 9. This is God's heart. It says, after this I look and behold a great multitude that no one could number from every nation from all tribes and peoples, and languages standing Before the Throne, and before the land clove, and white robes with palm branches in their hands. When we get to heaven, there will be people from every where That's what I told you you don't, if you don't have like an Indian friend or a Chinese friend, you better make it one quick because they be Elijah's population on Earth, okay? So you won't be left out to get it.

We need to start living the things that we going to live in heaven and having all of us will be there people from everywhere. Every people group will be there, and this is God's heart and it also needs to be our heart as believer. We need to be people, seeking for Oneness seeking from unity in all in Philippians 1:27. We see the same because only let your manner of Life, be worthy of the Gospel. So that way there I come and see you or am absent. I may hear of you that you are standing firm in what? One spirit with one mind striving side-by-side for the faith of the Gospel in Philippians 2 2 with the same thing. Again, complete my Joy by being of the same mind. Having the Same love being in full Accord. And I have one mine. The God love unity. You bet he does is the bottom line. We are more alike than we realize regardless of our differences and God Wills that we live in unity. So not only God wants us as Believers to live a life of transformation, a life of humility or life of

Unity. But God also wants us to live a life of service. God wants us to live a life of service. Look with me for six to eight having gifts that differ according Did the grace given to us? Let us do. What use them? So God is saying 8, I give you your skills or talents your gifts, it has to be you who's not to be put on the shelf and all of us have gifts, all of us have talents that nobody else has all of us here, every one of us individually, there are some things that we can do that. Nobody else can do like we can do it. And God is saying that we all have him, give the different cording to the grace, given to us. You see why? There's no reason for posting. It has been what? Give it to us. So, whatever GIF we have. We have to be humble because it has been given to us. It says, let us then if prophecy in proportion to our faith, if service in our serving, the one who teaches in his teaching, the one who exhort in his exhortation, the one will country fuse in generosity. The one will lead to hell with Zeal, the one with does acts of Mercy with cheerfulness. God wants us to use our gift. This is not even an exhaustive list. When you get the 1st Corinthians 14 and 16, it gives you more. You go to Ephesians gives you even more gift gifts in the Bible. I've been categorized in three categories. You have the speaking gifts, that's what you have, like a prophecy or preaching you have the teaching, give those are what we call speaking gifts. Then you also have the sign gifts. There's no Miracles. That's what you see. You will see some of that like in 1st Corinthians chapter 12, 14. Then you also have the service gifts that's help when you try to meet like a practical needs. As you saw there that you need to meet those needs. And Peter tells us the same thing as 1st Peter 4, 10 and 11, it says as each received a gift. What do we need to do with it? Use it. To Serve Yourself. To serve one another. So, your gift is not really for you. Your gift is for the benefit of others. Others, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied Grace. See, God has given us very Grace. Very, very gifts that we can use in all of them are coming from God and God gives us if it's if it's going to let God is giving you a little piece of him and gives me a little piece of him and give him a little piece of ham. And God is saying when we have that Unity, we come together then we becoming really like God because we are in unity because all of us are using our gifts. It's like a puzzle. All the pieces fit together just like a mosaic you play it down so that you get that perfect picture. Then it says, you need to use it as good stewards of God's very Grace, wherever speaks, as one, who speaks Oracles of God, wherever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies in other, that in everything, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to him belong, glory and Dominion forever and ever. Amen. Is the bottom-line, the Christian Life is a life of service to one another. The Christian Life is a life of service to one. Another life is not about you and the sooner that you figured that out the better, it will be for you. Life is not about you and the sooner that you figured that out the better, it will be for you. And lastly Believers. Not only need to live a life of transformation or life of humility or life of service or life of unity. But we also need to live a life of selflessness or Selfless Love. We need to live a life of Selfless Love really. The entire passage is wrapped up in love. Really, if we're the big just one core value for the believer, it's it's love everything. You just wrapped around that would love to express in transformation. In humility, expressed in unity expressed in service and then fall ends there with the tax. It says, let love be the genuine. Some translations has let love be without hypocrisies. That just means like in the old days, you know, when people will be doing theater, there will be acting the actors would have multiple masks. It's like, they want to show you a happy face Bill, put on the happy face mask that want to show you a sad face, then they pulled the Sad face mask, the one that's super super excited. They pull that match. That's is super excited. Then I have all the technology that we have today but let love be with Chrissy. You change. They don't put on a mask. Let love be real. Let love be something that you can really look what into this is real. God is testing. Our love needs to be real in this to be referred apocracy. It needs to be genuine. Let love be referred apocracy. Let love be genuine. It says all the horror what is evil? Isn't that strange that you go from love. Now to go to hate, But you know that if you don't hate sin, you cannot love God.

You see our world is kind of like the fight. It's not like him to dichotomies into you do contrast. Got just the war just shouldn't have. Let love be genderbent. It says hate. What is evil? You cannot truly love God. Fully if you don't hate sin, Says you need to hate, was evil holdfast. What is good luck in this section here, it will give us 30 different command, really? I just break it down, like in 23, the first part, as you read it you will see kind of like love in the family, like love in the family of God, then the second part you'll see, love and Society or love in the community, then you'll feel of the best love that we all love love. Our enemies will see. It says hate, what is evil? Hold fast to his good love one, another with brotherly affection. I'll do one another and showing honor do not be slothful. In Zeal, babies, fervent in spirit, serve the Lord rejoicing ho be patient in Tribulation and be constant and freyr Country Butte to the needs of the Saints and seek to show Hospitality to see love in the family year. He's saying, this is how you need to love me and this is how we need to love one another. This is how I need to love you. While I'm trying to always our, do you show me honor to you and you doing the same for one another father saying, hey, when we have a needs, we need to contribute to the needs of one another, we need to be praying for one. Another, it says, don't be slothful in Zeal, but we need to be serving the lord. So that's what he's saying. That's loving the family didn't hear. It moves to love in the community. Your Love in society says, Bless those who persecute you do realize that, you know, people persecute you everyday. Yeah. It may not be looking to so blatant, but it's in subtle ways. People are persecuting you. When they when did Target you a face 0-20-20? You still believe this. So you did see you. You didn't see that. That's persecution blessed and do not trust in the goddess. Say when you're in the community, the people you encounter at your workplace. That's cool. Where ever you go in the supermarket. God says I hate when they are mean to you persecuting you. You do what? Are you good?

We're going to have a lot of peacemakers this week, right? As you're going the community, you just going to be a blessing people. Even in your home, you going to be The Peacemaker because you're going to be passing. It says bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse. Then you see, not only just a blessed as your person. Do you say, let me re-emphasize this. Remember to bless what you tend to do, is to curse them out. If it says no, don't curse them out, but you need to bless them. Kirsten, that means like you, you praying for heel for them but it says, no, no, no, no, no. Say a word, a blessing over them Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep easy to weep with people will weep People who are going through a hard time. We tend to easily just, you know, can identify with the men suffer with them. What about rejoicing with those who Rejoice ever been with that one. Do you realize that this is harder to do? It's easier to weep with those who weep then it is to Rejoice with those who rejoice I had a friend of mine, he was in his office and then as somebody came through, his office was telling him that a, you know, they cut my hair cut my position. So the person got fired and he was talking to him because he was her supervisor telling him, is there anything that he could do to help her and while he's talking to her, if you receive an email, telling him his position is cut. Why I stopped talking to her problems and then all of a sudden that he got the same news that your position has been cut. What would you do in that moment? You know what? My friend did you just got paid? Give me a second. I'll be right back. It might be easier if you come, you been at a job. You've been doing all that you can, you did everything right? And then you hear somebody else, we may not be as great as you are and it just didn't you go out to lunch with me? Plus celebrate with me. I've been waiting for a promotion.

The doctors are not only you reproduce with weed, but you also Rejoice with those who Rejoice, they have been trying to buy a house with the longest. And now you got a house. You telling me? It looks like a warming party. I don't want to be nowhere close to your house.

But that's it, that's not our attitude. When we met only do weep with those who weep. But also, when people have good things going on in their life, we also need to Rejoice with them. Beloved never avenge yourself. Now, we'd go into your enemies. You're ready. You got to love. You says, ain't never ever enjoy ourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God for it is written. Vengeance is mine? I will repay says the Lord. You believe this a lot of us love to retaliate, but God is saying, retaliation is not for us. Retaliation is for him. Says, to the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, what are you do? Feed him.

Lord have mercy. If your enemy is hungry, you stay with me. Feed him if he is thirsty. Give him something to drink by. So doing you will Heap burning coals on his head. That was an Egyptian. Custom when somebody did something, like you got to go for the community kind of, like with fire in your head, not directly on your head but just send the W2. You have something else in your head. It's kind of going, like, showing like the shame, but but isn't that the case that God knows how to avenge us? A lot of time we tried to take revenge, What our own strength and it just backfires. But when you let God, take the revenge for you, it's just you just said that commemorative. He prepares a table before me even in the presence of my enemies. Did a lot of people that have done stuff for you, just leave them alone. God will take care of them. let God take his Vengeance and you will be glad So, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Do not overcome, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good and the same thing pretty much we seeing 1st Corinthians, 13:4 to Aid, the love chapter, it says what love is patient with me and kind love, does not envy or boast. You can read with me. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not exist in its own way. That's the one we struggled with it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice that wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth, love bears. All things believes all things, hopes all things, endures, all things. Never and another for us to live out those core values. We need to depend on God, love remembering in Philippians 2. Verse 3 and 4 says, do stay with me. Nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others, more significant than yourself, Let each of you look not only to his own interests but look to the interest of who Others. Oh man, we're going to have a great week this week. Why don't you come into this two versus two memory this week and live it out. Here is the bottom line. The more you do as you please do that, you'll be pleased with what you do.

The more you do as you, please. The less you'll be pleased with what you do. I'll let that sink in.

The more you do as you pleased, the less, you'll be pleased with what you do. You can play that in your mind with different situations in your life.

God created you to be other centered and to strive for healthy relationships with one another

See, that's why Martin Luther King asked a question and he said be at the end of the day, really what we need to ask ourselves? Is that, what is it that we are doing for others? What is it that we are doing for others? Life is not about us the life.