Living the Exodus Way

Introduction:

Ex. Way> OUT, THROUGH, INTO [Promise]

First Moses: Out Egy.; Through Sea/wild’ss; Into Prom. Lnd!

Pattern revisited/applied all over scrip.!

Lst wk> Jesus ID’d w/ & ushered in new Exodus!

FIRST, we need a flyover re: one very important msg >>

Jesus [already] Paid it All…

GOSPEL basics. Important! | “Xianity so easy, simple...very deep!”

B4 get to psg. in Romans 12… CONTEXT:

Rom 12:1 begins with a “THEREFORE”… “what’s it there for?” [Connex to first 2/3 of letter!]

AP: just spent 11ch outlining incredible mercy & grace of God

Rom 3: All inherit sin tendency! Rom 4: made right by faith; Rom 5: Despite sin, God rescues!; Rom 6-8: Free’m in X via HS!

Aren’t you glad that it was God’s will that Jesus died on our behalf? &, thru the HS, gave us hope for glory & free’m & life?!

Jesus REALLY lived, really taught, really died, & ACTUALLY rose again!

Your faith is not wispy or shallow, but ROCK SOLID:

Bob Mounce > “Many of the living religions have an ethical code that uplifts and inspires. Only the Christian faith, rooted as it is in a supernatural act that took place in history (the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ), has the ultimate moral authority as well as the effective power to transform human life according to the divine intention.” [NAC “Romans”]

AMEN!

In today’s psg: AP covers practical impl. of YH’s mercy; IOW: "because of all God has done for us… this is how we should respond.”

This decision to walk in & live life diff'y bc of Jesus takes action! choice! >>

…So Coasting isn’t an Option!

Grammar important! ‘times Bible auth use spec. tenses to comm. important truth:

e.g. our psg today. Thot ESV did better job of transl… AP chal’ges:

Romans 12:2a ESV “Do not be conformed to this world…”

‘to be conformed’: συσχηματιζεσθε [soos-keh-ma-tidz`es-thay] could be taken as a passive action; being performed ON/TO you.

You could read the verse as: ‘don’t let the world conform you’ or ‘resist natural worldly conformity’.

IOW, it’s something that just.… happens to us/in us.

AP saying tht going along w/ worldly choices is default setting. OR

Paul calls us to stand in the way of our predisposition to choose the wicked selfish ways of the world.

You all know that, if left unck’d, we’d choose the thing that benefits me 150% of the time. Feels best, gets ahead — despite those around me!

Not only that, AP argu’t: BC of how amaz’g G’s grace is… we owe it to him to at least try; to seek; to resist; to re-prioritize…

TODAY: we're going to explore how God helps us in three key areas:

The Way Out of Old Habits | The Way Through Doubt | The Way Into Peace

Going to talk through >>

Choosing the Exodus Way

Romans 12:1–2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.”

Let’s explore a pivotal hing pt. of Paul’s letter to Roman believers; start’g with…

The Way out of Old Habits

All of us Adopt the way of the world in some way.

It’s not just about blatant sin, but rather a mindset: adopting the world's values/priorities without even realizing it!

FOR INSTANCE:

Constant comparison: “Look what they got. Why don’t I—” Materialism: “That looks new, shiny, fun. I want—”

Seeking approval from others: “If I do enough, maybe get pat on back, ‘atta’boy’? ”

Chasing entertainment & pleasure: “This feels good to me so I want to—” Prioritizing comfort over character!

Consumerist faith: “Wow, got something out… that was weird… not my cup of tea… don’t like worship bc— I want 2get this out of my church & they don’t have it, so.…”

Illustrate?: Think of an ice cube tray [fancy ones]. If you pour liquid into the mold, takes th@ shape.

World is always seek’g to mold us into its img!

Our habits are often the very things that drag us down. Comfortable, familiar, & demand little effort from us.

Paul Calls us "Living Sacrifices"

Romans 12:1 “...in view of God’s mercy, []offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

AP calls to mind ancient sacif. prac. like intent’ly off’g up lamb/ dove/ bull as a sacrifice for YH. [see April series for more]

We need to be consistently giving up that which is important to us so that we can gain purity & life.

“This is just way I am.… couldn’t possibly ever—”; “I’m not good enough for—”; “They hurt me too much to ever let go!”

DL Moody said: “The problem with living sacrifices is: they keep crawling off of their altars!”

"Bodies": Not *just* our spirits or intentions, but our physical lives

Do U sacr. your time?, energy [long day, but wife/kids needs me]?, talents [prior. serv’g @church]; $+resources [my$, but going to give with open hands]; Sex life [phys pleasure w/in G’s stand’rds]

Do U sacr: you hands, feet, eyes, voices? What u watch, listen to, what we say; how u respect/honor spouse?

Sacrifice says, "God, my life is yours. Use it how You see best!"

Practical Ways:

The Way out? Identify worldly molds & set up altars in your life!

Ask: What "patterns of this world" am I conforming to? Really pause & reflect. Convicted @list?

Pause.…… !

MY MOLDS: ___________________ MY ALTARS: ________________

Daily, decide to prioritize "altars":

Morning Devotions: Surrender & scripture. | Intentionality: Prior’g service, giving | Attitude: focus on (+), speak life, forgive [even when it's hard]. | Accountability: Share struggles w/ trusted friend/ group.

Key: Small Steps, Consistent Progress: Breaking habits isn't usually one grand act, but a series of small, consistent acts of surrender.

It takes a progressive conscious decision to lay aside my default programming and stand for the Way of Jesus!

Even as we’re on journ. to/ hv success w/ habits; Life w JC progress’g; doubt can creep in. Jesus helps us on >>

The Way through Doubt

The Battlefield of the Mind:

‘times we’ve been walking w/ Jesus for some time & hit what we feel is a crisis of faith. Something goes wrong, hurt or offense hap’ns, sig. life-change & w’nder if Xianity is all its’ cracked up 2B.

Not just about theological questions [why me? why, God?!]; often takes root in our thinking patterns!

For Inst: "Am I good enough?", "Does God really care?", "Can I actually change?", "Is this sacrifice worth it?", "God's will is probably boring/hard/not for me."

These doubts often keep us conforming to old patterns.

The Great Lie: Satan wants us to doubt God's goodness, His nearness, and His plan for us.

He whispers, "You know better," or "X's Way is too restrictive." “He’s not really FOR you!”

AP offers this cmd./way through…

Romans 12:2b “...Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.…”

Be ‘TRANSFORMED’: “Metamorphoo”: [like a butterfly].

A complete change, from inside-out!. This transformation is not external conformity but internal renewal.

Where does this transf. start?? >>

"By renewing your mind": Our minds are the control center. Gk: ‘nous’/mind could mean mindset…

If our thinking is renewed, our actions will follow.

How does renewal happen? We actively take thoughts captive to Christ: 2 Corinthians 10:5.

2 Corinthians 10:5 “…We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Washing with the Word — Prayer — Meditation— Public Testimony.

Ephesians 5:26 “cleansing [the church] by the washing with water through the word,”

Wash’g w the Word: Time in Scripture… confess doubts, then What does God actually say about H'self? me? about the world?

Replace worldly narratives with biblical truth. Ask: Is this thought from God, from my flesh, or from the enemy?

Prayer: Bringing our doubts and thoughts to God. Asking Him to change our perspective.

Meditation: Not just reading, but dwelling on God's truth. Memorizing scripture.

Testimony in Community: Share your doubts with trusted spiritual mentors or friends who can speak truth into your life.

Counseling - grief demands witness - sitting w someone (profressionals today)

Share about the times God has been faithful! If He's done it before, He can do it again.…

Romans 12:4–5 “For 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, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

On faith journey, God leads us OUT of old habits (old ways, old man). At darkest pts., he walks with us, ultimately desires to lead us us >>

A Way into Peace

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform 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.”

To "Test and approve… God's will" isn't about finding a secret formula. It's about a growing confident in aligning with God's desires.

It's a process, not a one-time revelation.

Long Obedience…

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Eugene Peterson described this process of growing into peace w/ God as: “A long obedience in the same direction.”

The more we align ourselves with God's mind, the clearer His will becomes. "good, pleasing and perfect will"

Elderly couple, serving Jesus whole life, faced chal’ges together, adversity together, always keeping Jesus first.

The Peace of Surrender:

True peace isn't the absence of problems; it's the presence of God in the midst of them, and knowing you are in His will.

Stop fighting God's molding. Let go of your own limited desires & embrace His perfect plan for your life! Philippians 4:7

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The "living sacrifice" isn't about being miserable; it's about finding ultimate fulfillment and peace in God's purpose for us.

When we can lay down our own desires, we’ll find we’re truly ful’ll

Commit yourself to discovering HIS peace:

___________________________________

Practice Obedience: Act on the truth you're learning. Obedience is a pathway to peace.

Gratitude: Cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. It shifts our perspective from what we lack to what God has provided.

Rest in His Power: Trust that God is in control, even when things are uncertain.

Often, our lack of peace comes from trying to control outcomes. Surrender your plans to Him.

Celebrate Small Victories: Acknowledge when you successfully break an old habit or overcome a doubt. This builds momentum and reinforces peace.