06/26/2022 - Part 5 - Our Reasonable Service/The Big Return

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes June 26, 2022 Our Reasonable Service, My Reasonable Response! The Looks and Proof of a Living Sacrifice Life Part 5 Romans 12:9-21 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, patient[c] in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13distributing to the needs of the saints, given[d] to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16Be 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. 19Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20Therefore 1 “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. This morning, our series from the 12th Chapter of Romans continues. As a reminder, our purpose for engaging in this study is so that after being away from a regular gathering for more than two years, we as a church family get a picture of the kind of people and church God says we ought to be toward Him, each other, and our community in the official return. Romans 12 is one of those chapters that provides a concise and complete example of what that looks like . . . of what God wants His church to be about as we reconvene. So far, we have covered the first half of chapter 12 which addressed what our reasonable service, worship of God, and Christian conduct should look like in response to God’s Goodness outlined in the first 11 chapters of Romans. Plus, we have learned about Spiritual Gifts and how important they are in the life of the believer as well as to the Body of Christ. Now, we turn our attention to the last half of Romans 12 which is what I consider the PROOF of whether the first EIGHT verses are really alive and at work in our lives as we claim to be Christians and followers of Christ. 2 These last 13 verses can be rightly labeled: • “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” or • Talk is Cheap, It Takes Money to Buy Land”; or {this sports term . . .} • “Put Up or Shut Up; or • Let your life speak so loudly, that words from your mouth are not necessary. In that regard, I have subtitled this installment: The Looks and Proof a Living Sacrificed Life! What does that mean? It has to do with connecting Paul’s earlier words to the Saints in this chapter to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” to real action. Here Paul is saying in these final 13 verses, “Don’t Just Talk About It, Be About It”. Show proof that you have and are presenting your bodies a living sacrifice. Also, show evidence that you are not “conformed to this world, but {you are} transformed by the renewing of your mind, {so} that you {are proving daily} what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” So, what does a life [in everyday bodily form] that is presented alive to God as a living sacrifice look like? 3 What is the proof that such a life is the look that God has in mind – that is, the look that is representative of: • a transformed, renewed mind? • A life worthy and responsive to His abundant mercies demonstrated in the first 11 chapters of Romans? • A life that is Holy, Acceptable, and Pleasing to God Himself? • A life that is not conformed to this world? • A life that is surrendered and alive to God? • A life that is proof that God’s will is good, acceptable, and pleasing? What does a life that is representative of the conduct and obedience God is calling for and expecting from His children really look like? The answer to all these questions is found in Romans Chapter 12, verses 9-21. In these final verses, the Apostle Paul outlines proper Christian Conduct and Ethics. At first, they may seem to be an impossible achievement. But with the assurance and help of the Holy Spirit and a proper understanding of what God has called us to, and who He has called and equipped us to be, these Saintly Christian Conduct Characteristics stand as evidence and proof of who we worship – Almighty God! 4 Now, let’s look more closely at Conduct Qualities we are called to exemplify in our bodies presented daily to God as living sacrifices. Romans 12: 9-21 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; 13distributing 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. 5 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19Beloved, 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. The most powerful thing about Romans 12 – especially verses 1 and 2, is that they evoke the perfect response that God requires of every believer in meeting the level of conduct representative of His name and church. God is looking for a credible response from all of His children. If we respond in any other way than Romans 12 outlines – other than presenting our bodies a living, holy, acceptable sacrifice …then, we have missed the point. And, if we have missed the point, then nothing that follows will work – not gifts nor Christlike conduct nor proper treatment of one another. Our Reasonable Service, My Reasonable Response! The Looks and Proof of a Living Sacrifice Life 6