LIVING ON PURPOSE - ROMANS 12: 1-2

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 12) A LIVING SACRIFICE12 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

BIG IDEA: FOLLOW THE FORMULA.

IT’S BECOMING INCREASINGLY EVIDENT THAT MANY BELIEVERS SUFFER FROM UNCERTAINTY:

UNCERTAIN ABOUT ISSUES OF FAITH

UNCERTAIN ABOUT ISSUES OF RELATIONSHIP

UNCERTAIN ABOUT ISSUES OF CAREER & FUTURE / FAMILY & FINANCES…UNCERTAIN.

WE SUFFER FROM UNCERTAINTY.

AND ALL TOO OFTEN, WE TAKE MATTERS OUT OF GOD’S HANDS, AND PLACE THEM IN OUR HANDS...

SOMEHOW, WE’VE MISLED OURSELVES TO BELIEVE THAT GOD’S WILL IS A SECRET OR A HIDDEN TREASURE. INCORRECTLY BELIEVING THAT GOD IS LEADING US ON A SCAVENGER HUNT TO DISCOVER OR UNEARTH OUR PURPOSE AND HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES.

WHEN IN SCRIPTURAL FACT, GOD’S WILL IS REVEALED WHEN WE FAITHFULLY SEEK HIM - WHEN WE HUMBLY LIVE FOR HIM - AND WHEN WE WILLINGLY SURRENDER TO HIM...6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Heb 11:6. - YOU SEE BELOVED, I SUBMIT THAT MANY ARE PURPOSELESS, BECAUSE WE LIVE AS IF GOD ISN’T THE SINGULAR/PRIMARY FACTOR IN OUR LIVES...

Where Does God Fit In?

A schoolteacher in England tells a charming story. At Christmastime she supervised the construction of a manger scene in a corner of the classroom. The children participated happily in the project. They also enjoyed casting characters for the drama depicting the Nativity.

The teacher noticed one boy was particularly enamored by it all and was forever going back and forth to the scene. At last she asked him if there was anything bothering him. He said, “No.” She said, “Are there any questions you would like to ask?” “Yes,” he said, “what I’d like to know is—where does God fit in?”

HE COULD SEE THE SCENE, BUT WITH ALL OF THE CHAOS, HE MISSED THE SAVIOR!

AWWW GOD, IN ALL OF OUR HUSTLING AND BUSTLING. IN ALL OF OUR PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING - WHERE DOES GOD FIT IN?

AWW BELOVED, LET ME BOLDLY CLARIFY & DECLARE: GOD DOESN’T FIT - GOD IS THE FOUNDATION!

GOD ISN’T SEASONING THAT YOU ADD TO SPICE UP YOUR LIFE...

GOD ISN’T ACCENT JEWELRY THAT YOU ATTACH TO YOUR OUTFIT TO MAKE YOU LOOK STUNNING...

GOD ISN’T EXTENSIONS THAT YOU SEW TO YOUR NATURAL HAIR TO MAKE YOU STAND OUT...

GOD DOESN’T FIT -

GOD IS THE FOUNDATION!

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 12) A LIVING SACRIFICE12 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

I’M GOING TO DO SOMETHING I DON’T USUALLY DO.

I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU MY OUTINE (UP FRONT), AND UNPACK IT AS WE GO ALONG…THE OUTLINE IS THE FORMULA. (I’VE BEEN HELPING SIMONE WITH LONG DIVISION. THERE ARE STEPS TO THE PROCESS. IF YOU MISS A STEP, YOU’RE LIKELY TO GET THE INCORRECT ANSWER)!

REMEMBER: FOLLOW THE FORMULA.

GIVING WHAT’S BEST IN US (PLUS)

GUARDING WHAT’S LEFT IN US (EQUALS)

GAINING WHAT’S NEXT FOR US...

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God

AS PAUL PUTS PEN TO PARCHMENT IN ROMANS, HE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE MERCY MOVEMENT...

YES, THE MERCY MOVEMENT IS GOD’S COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY TOWARDS US: GRANTING US ACCESS TO THE GOSPEL THAT SAVED US FROM BEING CONDEMNED.

SO, BECAUSE OF GOD’S COMPASSION /MERCY TOWARDS US, ALTHOUGH WE DESERVED WHAT WE EARNED, WE DIDN’T GET IT…MERCY!

MERCY IS GOD WITHHOLDING WHAT WE DESERVE!

AWWW, YOUNG PEOPLE:

MERCY IS YOU HAVING AN ATTITUDE ALL DAY, YET MOM STILL COOKING YOU DINNER.

MERCY IS YOU GOOFING OFF IN CLASS, YET YOUR TEACHER ALLOWING YOU TO REDO ASSIGNMENTS.

MERCY IS YOU MISTREATING SOMEONE, YET THAT SAME SOMEONE REMEMBERING YOUR BIRTHDAY! MERCY!

PAUL DECLARES, IN VIEW OF THE MERCIES OF GOD, I URGE YOU… (STOP RIGHT THERE)...

URGE.

THIS ISN’T A COMMAND.

IT’S A NUDGE.

IT’S A STRONG RECOMMENDATION...

THEOLOGIANS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT PAUL URGED US IN WHAT FOLLOWS TO ENSURE THAT WE RESPONDED PROPERLY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO, NOT JUST BECAUSE PAUL TOLD US TO…THAT OUR RESPONSE WAS TO THE GOODNESS AND MERCY OF GOD!

I URGE YOU...

TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD; THIS IS YOUR TRUE WORSHIP.

HERE IT IS: GIVING WHAT’S BEST IN US!

IN THIS PASSAGE, WE ARE THE SACRIFICE, WITH OUR LIVING SELVES...

SACRIFICES WERE TRADITIONALLY OFFERED TO GOD BY SOMEONE...

PAUL IS INSTRUCTING US TO OFFER OUR ALIVE SELVES TO GOD...

OUR WHOLE SELVES...

OUR BEST SELVES...

GIVING WHAT’S BEST IN US.

NOT WITHHOLDING, BUT WILLINGLY GIVING...

SINCE WE NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER THROUGH THE SON, WE HAVE BECOME BELIEVER-PRIESTS.

PRIESTS OFFER SACRIFICES TO GOD.

PAUL PIVOTS AND DECLARES, YOU’RE NOW A PRIEST. SO, YOU GIVE TO GOD YOUR BEST. GIVE GOD YOUR WHOLE SELF.

WATCH THIS: WHEN WE OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, WE DON’T TAKE OURSELVES BACK....

IN FACT, IT’S A CONTINUAL OFFERING...

A CONTINUAL SACRIFICING...

A CONTINUAL GIVING...

GIVING WHAT’S BEST IN US.

ALIVE.

HOLY.

PLEASING.

THIS IS WORSHIP.

WORSHIP GOES BEYOND MUSIC.

IF YOUR WORSHIP IS JUST SINGING, BUT NOT OFFERING OF YOURSELF, YOU’RE JUST PERFORMING....

AGAIN, PAUL SAYS, “PRESENT/OFFER/GIVE YOUR BODIES...”

THAT’S OUR PHYSICAL BODIES...

IT’S A SACRIFICE THAT WE BOTH GIVE, BUT ARE STILL ALLOWED TO MANAGE OR STEWARD...

AND THIS IS WHERE WE STRUGGLE...

ILLUS: WE TRY TO GIVE OURSELVES TO GOD (((AFTER))) WE’VE MESSED UP. LORD, I’M SORRY. TAKE ME BACK.

WHAT PLEASES GOD IS AN ALIVE AND HOLY BODY.

REMEMBER TWO WEEKS AGO, FROM ROMANS 13: WE CAN’T BE SLEEPY AND SLOPPY!

A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.

D.L. Moody.

GIVING WHAT’S BEST IN US.....PLUS:

GUARDING WHAT’S LEFT IN US...

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 12)

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

BELOVED, WE BECOME PROPERLY CONFORMED, WHEN WE ARE PROPERLY INFORMED, LEADING US TO BE PROPERLY TRANSFORMED....

DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS AGE...

CONFORMED (IN THIS VS) IS TO BE SUBTLY OR WILLFULLY SHAPED BY & SHAPED INTO CULTURE...

HOW DO WE KEEP FROM BEING CONFORMED TO THIS AGE? BY KEEPING OUR GUARD UP. GUARDING WHAT’S LEFT IN US...

WE’VE OFFERED OUR BODIES...

OUR MINDS ARE WHAT’S LEFT...

GUARD YOUR MIND...

THE BATTLE IS IN OUR MINDS...

ELSEWHERE, PAUL SPEAKS OF BEING CONFORMED:

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 8)

29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

WE’RE OUT HERE BEING CONFORMED TO THIS CULTURE - THIS AGE, WHEN WE ARE TO BE CONFORMED - SHAPED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST!

Y’ALL, MANY OF US ARE SELLING OURSELVES SHORT!

IF WE DON’T GUARD, WE WILL GIVE-IN!

IT’S SUBTLE...

A COMMERCIAL...

AN IMAGE...

A RELATIONSHIP...

AND BEFORE WE KNOW IT, THINGS THAT DISHONOR GOD NO LONGER BOTHER US...

GUARDING WHAT’S LEFT IN US...

AS WE’RE ON OUR WAY TO LIVING ON PURPOSE, WE MUST GO THROUGH THIS KEY STEP...

NOT CONFORMING - EVER TRANSFORMING!

IT’S CALLED PROGRESSIVE TRANSFORMATION...

AS WE GUARD, THE UNIDENTIFIED TRANSFORMER, AS DR. TOM CONSTABLE CALLS HIM, RECREATES US FROM THE INSIDE OUT...

IT’S PROGRESSIVE - IT’S TRANSFORMATIONAL - IT’S SUPERNATURAL!

IN FACT, OUR MIND IS CONTINUALLY RENEWED AS WE COMMIT TO KEEPING OUR MINDS STAYED ON GOD!

THIS AIN’T CORNY! THIS IS HOLY!

WE BECOME PROPERLY CONFORMED, WHEN WE ARE PROPERLY INFORMED, LEADING US TO BE PROPERLY TRANSFORMED...

IT’S A RHYTHM OF RESISTING THE CULTURE WHILE LIVING IN THE CULTURE, BELIEVING SCRIPTURE OVER CULTURE, AND BEING RENEWED BY GOD’S SPIRIT...

OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN....

PROGRESSIVE TRANSFORMATION....

THE FORMULA:

GIVING WHAT’S BEST IN US (PLUS)

GUARDING WHAT’S LEFT IN US (EQUALS)

GAINING WHAT’S NEXT FOR US… YEAH, LIVING ON PURPOSE!

SO THAT YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE GOOD, PLEASING, AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.

GOD’S WILL IS THE GOAL...

GAINING WHAT’S NEXT FOR US...

THIS IS HOW WE ULTIMATELY LIVE ON PURPOSE.

WE ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER BECAUSE WE ARE DISTANT FROM THE LORD...

DISTANCE ISN’T ALWAYS ABOUT SIN. HEBREWS INSTRUCTS US TO LAY ASIDE THE WEIGHT AND THE SIN...

WHAT WEIGHT IN YOUR LIFE HAS YOU DISTRACTED OR DISTANT?

DISTRACTIONS ADVERSE AFFECT OUR DISCERNMENT; SO DOES DISTANCE.

AS WE ARE CONTINUALLY RENEWING OUR MINDS WITH GOD - CONTINUALLY REDEDICATING OURSELVES TO GOD - CONTINUALLY OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD - CONTINUALLY WORSHIPPING GOD - WE WILL KNOW HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES…WE WILL LIVE ON PURPOSE!

MORE OF GOD, AND LESS OF THIS AGE....

MORE OF GOD, AND LESS OF THIS CULTURE...

MORE OF GOD, AND LESS OF THE DISTRACTIONS...

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Revival)

Revival

A man once came to Gipsy Smith, the celebrated English evangelist of an earlier time, and asked him how to have revival. Asked Gipsy, “Do you have a place where you can pray?”“Yes,” was the reply.“

Tell you what to do, you go to that place, and take a piece of chalk along. Kneel down there, and with the chalk draw a complete circle all around you—and pray for God to send revival on everything inside of the circle. Stay there until He answers—and you will have revival.”