ROMANS 12 | PRACTICAL FAITH

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAY FOR HANNAH

LAST WEEK

We had such a great Sunday

We watched a video and heard from one of the Missionaries we support in Ethiopia

We prayed for Hannah and Kalani as they begin their new life as a family.

We had our baptism, were three of our kids got baptized.

It was such a full day.

We also finished and continued to solidify our beliefs surrounding Israel and their future.

We also looked at the Authority of God in this life.

For the Christian, what He has allowed is an opportunity to grow and trust Him more.

For the unbeliever, what He has allowed in your life, is meant to bring you into His Power.

To know that He is God and we are not.

THIS WEEK

THIS WEEK

I WANT US TO LOOK AT A FEW QUESTIONS:

WHAT SHOULD DIFFERENTIATE THE BELIEVER AND THE UNBELIEVER ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL?

WHAT BEHAVIORS SHOULD BE PRESENT IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN?

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE SEE, AND WANT IN REGARDS TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?

THIS MESSAGE IS ENTITLED “THE QUALITIES OF A CHRISTIAN”

TURN TO

Romans 12 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

PRAY

ROMANS 12:1-

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

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

AFTER TALKING DOCTRINE AND HOW WE SHOULD SEE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

PAUL SHIFTS INTO PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING

I BELIEVE PAUL IS TRYING TO WIDEN THE GAP BETWEEN THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN PRACTICES

I BELIEVE HE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

HE SAYS:

I BESEECH YOU, THEREFORE BRETHREN

He says:

TO BESEECH SOMEONE IS NOT ONLY AN ENCOURAGEMENT, BUT A DECLARATION OF SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT

Come here

Let me talk to you for a second

Let me encourage you to do something

Let me show you something

By the mercies of God

Or because God has been so merciful to you

PRESENT

Your bodies

Your whole being

Physical

Emotional

Spiritual

Mind Body and Soul

A Living Sacrifice

A Life lived sacrificially to the Lord

A Whole life lived out in worship of who God is

Holy

Above reproach

Purified

Transformed

Acceptable to the Lord

Which is our reasonable service

This is the proper way to respond to the Lord

In awe

In worship

In adoration

In action

An acceptable sacrifice

An acceptable form of worship.

One of the ways we can do this, is by preventing ourselves from following the example that the world has left us with.

This is why Paul warns us to not be conformed to this world.

To not follow suit

To not walk and talk in likeness of unbelievers

But in the likeness of Christ

The way that this happens

The way we become more and more like Jesus

Is by allowing God to do a transformative work in our lives.

By allowing the Holy Spirit to renew and transform our minds.

This is a process

A process that takes work

A process that involves grace

A process that demands change

BUT HERE IS THE DEAL

You can’t change what you choose to be ignorant about

You can’t change the end result until you admit your current state

We must begin with self awareness

We must be aware of how sinful we are

We must agree that we have yet to be perfected

We must agree that we aren’t what we used to be, and we’ve yet to accomplish what we will be

Here is a quote from Hamlet

"Lord, we know who we are Yet we know not what we may be"

"Lord, we know who we are Yet we know not what we may be"

Who knows what God will do with our lives

If we allow Him to do a powerful, transformative, and work in our minds

And further more, the changes that this leads to in other areas of our lives.

The Bible says this:

1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

THINK ABOUT A TIME WHERE YOU HAVE ASKED FOR PRAYER IN REGARDS TO GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE

YOU KNEW CHANGE WAS COMING

WHETHER IT WAS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE CHANGE

YOU KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO CHANGE

Though we knew that

They pray and pray

But there is no action

Where there is no action

There is no change

There is no transformation

We didn’t prepare for that

We got lazy

We are scared that God might actually blow our minds

We persevered in prayer

We are worried about what others may think

But never welcomed in the change and the renewing of our mind

We prayed and prayed

But never listened to the Lord

We talked and talked

Made our requests known to the Lord

But didn’t listen to what the Holy Spirit wanted to lead us in.

it is like this:

“God, do this for me, ok”

“Got it, good”

“I’ll catch you on the flipside”

CHURCH, THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED IN OUR LIVES IS BROUGHT TO US BY THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

IT BEGINS IN OUR MINDS

IT TRANSFERS TO OUR HEARTS

WHICH PUMPS THE BLOOD INTO OUR MUSCLES TO ACT

TO DO SOMETHING, AND WELCOME IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE FOUND IN CHRIST JESUS.

THIS CHANGE, CHANGES THINGS

ROMANS 12:3-

Romans 12:3–8 NKJV

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

THE SPIRIT WANTS TO DO A FRESH WORK IN OUR LIVES

THIS WORK BEGINS AND ENDS WITH HUMILITY

THE ONLY CONSTANT IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT IS HUMILITY

If we see ourselves as a work in progress

If we recognize that the only good thing in us, is the power of Christ, something that we could not manufacture or create

We will stay humble

We will not think highly of ourselves

We will stay away from the drunken stupor of PRIDE

NOT ONLY THAT

WE WILL VALUE WHAT EVERYONE BRINGS TO THE TABLE

WE WILL VALUE THE LIFE OF EVERY CHRISTIAN

WE WILL GIVE THANKS FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY

NO MATTER WHAT THEIR FUNCTION IS, WE WILL VALUE THEM AND THEIR CALLING IN CHRIST JESUS

UNTIL THE LAST ONE HEARS AND WE ARE TRANSFORMED AGAIN, INTO THE IMPERISHABLE AND INCORRUPTIBLE.

Church

Each and every one of you is valuable

Each of you has a unique gift that must be used for His glory

Having these gifts, according to grace, let us use them

If prophecy, let us prophecy according to our faith

Many people don’t prophecy because they don’t believe

Their measure of faith is small

If ministry

Then minister to one another

If teaching

Then teach

If exhortation

Then exhort

If its giving

Then give liberally

If leading

Then lead with diligence

If its being merciful

Be merciful in a cheerful manner

Whatever your gift is, if you are not practicing it, you are underestimating the will of God in your life.

You are diminishing the value of your gift

A gift that is unrepented of

Irrevocable in the eyes of God

Given to you according to grace

WHAT ELSE SHOULD BE ALIVE AND WELL IN OUR LIVES?

ROMANS 12:9

Romans 12:9–21 NKJV

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

CHURCH, THE APOSTLE JOHN SPECIFICALLY TOLD US

1 John 4:7 NKJV

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

WHY DID HE SAY THIS?

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE IS O”

AND THINGS THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING

WHERE DID HE GET THIS FROM?

HE WAS FRONT AND CENTER, WHEN JESUS GAVE THE GREATEST IDENTIFIER OF A HEAVENLY CITIZEN.

John 13:35 NKJV

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

THIS LOVE THAT WE HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER MUST BE WITHOUT HYPOCRISY

IT IS NOT A HYPOCRITICAL LOVE

A DOUBLE MINDED LOVE

BUT A LOVE THAT EXEMPLIFIES GOD’S LOVE FOR US

As Christians, we should love people the way God has loved us.

Think about it for a second

God loved us while we were at war with Him

How much more so us, should we love people, when they don’t love us.

ANOTHER IDENTIFYING FACTOR IS THIS:

WE MUST ABHOR EVIL

HATE WHAT IS EVIL

HATE IT VIOLENTLY

BUT DON’T JUST HATE EVIL . . .

CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD

ATTACH YOURSELF TO

BIND YOURSELF WITH

ALL THAT IS GOOD

BE KINDLY AFFECTIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE

IN HONOR, GIVING PREFERENCE TO ONE ANOTHER

NOT LAGGING IN DILIGENCE

FERVENT IN SPIRIT

SERVING THE LORD

REJOICING IN HOPE

PATIENT IN TRIBULATION

CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER

DISTRIBUTING TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS

GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY

These are Paul’s Call to Action

Notice how these calls involve work

A good work

There is nothing passive about these calls

It is our duty and our privilege to welcome in the work of the ministry into our lives.

WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?

THIS WILL SET THE PACE FOR ALL THAT GOD WANTS US TO DO IN THIS WORLD

HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO BLESS THOSE THAT PERSECUTE US?

HOW WILL

IF WE DO THESE THINGS, ALL WILL FALL INTO PLACE

WE WILL BE ABLE TO:

To bless those who persecute us

To Rejoice with those who rejoice

To weep with those who weep

To be in unity with one another

To associate with the humble, and suppress the welling up of pride

To welcome the council of many

For in the multitude of counsel there is wisdom.

Don’t repay evil for evil

Be stoked for good things

If it’s possible, and as much as it depends on you

Be at peace with all men

Do not avenge yourselves

But rather give place for wrath

Let God do His thing

For Vengeance is of the Lord

CHURCH, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN FULL OF MINISTRY

ONE THING THAT I LEARNED IS THIS:

GOD IS BETTER THAN US AT EVERYTHING

God is better at loving others

God is better at judging others

God is better at convicting others

God is better at saving others

GOD IS BETTER AT EVERYTHING

SO WHY TRY TO TAKE HIS ROLE

AS SAVIOR OR AS JUDGE

AS JUDGE

Our job as Christ Followers is to leave the world with an example of what following Christ looks like

If your enemy is hungry, feed them

If your enemy is thirsty, give them a drink

For in doing so, you are setting an example to the world

It will cause them to rethink everything.

Lastly, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with Good.

We must be doer’s of good

Church, I can’t do this alone

I can’t be the only one the church can depend on

It must be all of us