Pressure Cooker Christians

Introduction:

A few years ago there was a cooking device that practically changed the face of the home cooking world. Some of you may still be using these devices. It’s called a pressure cooker.

Now, these devices aren’t really new, but they come with a newer safer design. Some of you older folks may remember when the stovetop pressure cookers came out and you were promised that you could cook foods that normally take hours in a matter of minutes.

The new ones work the same as the old ones by using intense pressure to break down the fibers of the meat and make them more tender.

Using pressure to cook your food is great in the culinary world, but sometimes pressure in the Christian life can either cause us to become more like Christ or it can cause us to be squeezed into the mold of the world.

Tonight, we are going to turn to Romans 12 and see what message Paul gave to the church in Rome after 11 chapters of instruction about how our salvation is built upon faith in Christ.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Pray

1. Don’t Be Squeezed By the World (vv.2a)

Greek word means to be formed into the mold of something or to be carved in the likeness of an object

It is a passive word, which means this is something being done to us

When we don’t do anything to grow in our faith, we will be squeezed into the mold of the world.

We are not to be modeled after the world, but instead should be molded into the image of Christ

What ways has the world molded us after it’s image:

In music

In movies

In social media

Friends and influencers

1 Peter 1:14 ESV

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

We used to walk this way, but now we are to live differently

2. Be Transformed By the Word (v. 2b)

We are called to undergo a transformation

The Greek word here is the word we get our English word metamorphosis from

You often here this message preached and a caterpillar used as an example here because a caterpillar will go into a chrysalis in the form of a worm and come out a completely transformed creature

We likewise should go to God as one thing and undergo a transformation from being in His presence

A. By Being In His Word

The Word of God transforms us by several ways

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

It teaches

It reproofs us - rebukes us

It Corrects us and teaches how we ought to walk

It trains us in righteousness for the future

B. By Renewing Our Mind

We are so bombarded by false teaching and by this carnal worldview that we need to be renewed

Illustration: The University of Georgia vs. Southeastern Seminary

C. By Proving What God’s Will Is

To discern means to prove something

Proving the will of God is where we test God’s Word to prove it is valuable and true

Illustration: Geometry proofs that prove facts are true

Proving the will of God trains our powers of discernment

Conclusion

Verse 1 began by staying that if we present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God, we will be offering our spiritual worship.

The worship that God wants is not the blood of bulls and goats but the obedience of His children

Nothing pleases us as parents more than when we overhear our children obeying and repeating our words that we have given them. When given a chance on their own, they obey us and show respect to us.

God desires that His children obey His commands and listen to the instruction that He is giving.

Some of us may need to break up with the world and turn back to God.

Some of us may need to get more serious about what we let influence us.

Some of us may need to trust Christ in order to be saved and believe.