05-12-2024 AM - "Devoted Service"

INTRODUCTION.

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

MESSAGE.

I. What God has done for you.

Urge -

To “EXHORT” -

In military contexts it is common for encouragement of soldiers. - The theological Dictionary of the New Testament.

To “COMFORT”

from friendly encouragement.

Yet it is noticeable how few and often only tentative are the instances of to comfort.

Mercies -

a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering. - Bible Sense Lexicon.

God chose to Created you.

God chose to designed you.

In His image

Genesis 1:26 NASB95

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

God chose to loved you.

God chose to redeem you.

God chose to be your Shepherd.

God chose to be your Father. (intimate)

God chose to provide for you.

God chose to give you the Holy Spirit.

Lamentations 3:22–23 NASB95

22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

II. What You do for God.

Present your bodies as a sacrifice.

to offer

to make available or accessible. - Bible Sense Lexicon.

Bodies -

whole body

The physical

The mental

The spiritual

“living and holy sacrifice”

Alive

Pure

sacrifice - something of value offered to God.

“acceptable to God”

not just anyway but acceptable to a Holy God.

Worship God.

Spiritual - rational

1 Corinthians 6:20 NASB95

20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Divine service - the act of public worship following prescribed rules. - Bible Sense Lexicon.

III. What this does for you.

CONCLUSION.