Book of Romans - Ch. 12, Vs. 1-21 (08/11/2002)

Justification, the Mercies of God, and Presenting Ourselves as a Living Sacrifice

First of all, I'd like to apologize to everybody for last week. I just wasn't here. I Don't know what happened But it didn't click. So we're going to start chapter 12 today in the book of Romans. I Beseech you therefore brethren By the mercies of God.

That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice Holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. I beseech you therefore. Russell why is the therefore? What is it? Therefore? All right. Because you are justified sanctified and glorified therefore by the mercies of God.

Clarence are the mercies of God ever used up. No. That you present your bodies Dennis when you present something. What do you do? How many people are involved? No, they're Yourself and who Russell. All right.

You cannot present yourself to yourself. You present in this case to God holy a living sacrifice holy. Bill what does the word of holy mean here? That's good. Acceptable unto God. David what does acceptable mean as it is used here?

All right. He does not accept it because of you now reasonable service. Clarence what does it mean? Which is your reasonable service in doing this? The eye is to not look at evil. Russell, what is it to look at?

If the eye cannot look at evil, what does it look at and all good come from where? God. So the eye is to look at God instead of evil. The tongue Shall utter nothing evil. Bill our tongue. What is it to do?

All right we I Don't like for us to even put the possibility in there of it not being good. Greg it says our hand is to work. No evil. What's the mean the hand? All right, the rational worship Springs from where David our Rational service springs from where our reasonable rational, whatever.

Where's it come? This new nature comes from where Roger? Beg pardon. We're talking about the first verse of chapter 12. We got down to rational service or reasonable service. And I want to know where It comes from that's good verse 2 and Be not conformed to this world.

But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. That you may prove. What is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God? David what's the word conformed mean? All right. In this case is made to be like the world.

Russell what world is he talking about? I thought God owned the world but be a transformed. Greg the word transformed means what all right? We have the word methyl methamorti and that's to change from within now bill.

This is all by the renewing of the of your mind the renewing. How often does that take place? Where's it come from? Everything you can think about renewing. That's right. All right. Remember this there is something that takes place On the inside between your heart and your mind.

We cannot explain it. But you don't think like you used to. I'm talking about a Christian it is a feeling between the heart and mind that produces the knowledge. Of being born again Christ appearance was changed.

You remember the Mount of Transfiguration? It was brilliant flashing luxurious breathtaking with divine brightness. On the Mount of Transfiguration. David what happened on that Mount? That's good. Now this change that took place.

Did that come on him from heaven. Yes, that's right. It didn't come on him. The true Christ was revealed. That was he stripped away all of the physical and that's what you saw. Well Moses and Elijah were Viewed by Peter and John.

They were viewed in the physical because they were in the physical to see it but the same Brightness did not come on them. This is Jesus alone. That's right. They they appeared in their natural body the all I can say is appeared because.

That's they appeared normal and I always get in trouble when I assume something. But Jesus alone Was brilliant flashing Rays coming from him at that Mount as this happens the transforming. We will stop doing that which we should not do.

Russell, how do you know? What you what you should not do, how do you know that? All right, that's good. That's right. What I'm getting all right. We have to go ahead and do something though it is our conscience.

When you do something that violates your conscience, you know immediately. Now You may all of a sudden discover that what I was doing was not right. But when I did it, it was right for I say through the grace given unto me Paul was full of grace.

Humility, Faith, and the One Body in Christ

To every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But to think soberly according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. Roger are we Supposed to think of ourselves.

That's right, but we are supposed to think of ourselves. Because he tells us to every man that is among you not to think of himself. More highly than he ought to that that means you do think of yourself.

But not to think more highly than you should. Don't think about being something you're not According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Greg. First of all Every man means what? All right.

Does that include Roger and David? All right. David your faith Has been made just for you. Explain that statement. All right. But your faith is not the same as my faith in this respect. It's made just for you.

It is fitted to you better than any tailor-made suit for for as we have many members in one body and The members have not all the same offices. You know, I believe That the Lord moves people where they can do the most good.

You believe that Greg you believe that he moves them to where that person needs to be. You believe that both for his benefit and the church's benefit? This is what I have named the holy position in the Lord.

So we being many are one body in Christ and every member One of another. Now within this congregation resides the body of Christ. Within the Two churches there remains the body of Christ. Within all of the churches there remains the body of Christ.

We each one. Now this particular church here does not lack anything. The next church doesn't lack anything but put them both together and you have a combination. So we being many. Every Christian is different.

No one can take your place great. So be careful how you treat your body. Don't walk out on the highway four miles, but you belong to us. We belong to you and we're all members one of another. Nobody has work to do.

That you have. Nobody can do just exactly what you can do. You are exclusive in the Lord. You understand that Dennis? Having then gifts differing according to the grace that I have that is given to us whether prosophy.

Prophecy let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith. Every child of God has a gift. Russell you believe that you'll have to say yes or no. I can't see your head you think. There's a difference between gifts and talents.

Russell explain the difference. All right. That's good a gift. You do not learn. It's given to you a Talent. You can learn better how to do it. If I am to please God I must work within the boundaries of the gift and the abilities.

He has given me. Why Greg? Finish your note. If I am to please God I must work within the boundaries of the gift and the abilities. He has given me why? David I Look at it like this. That's the only effectual work that you can do.

Do not brag about your gift and at the same time don't bury it either. The gift given makes possible the good works. The only good works you do and I do Are within the bounds of my gift and your gift.

Whatever we have We have received of God. You believe that Bill. Not for ourselves. You believe that. But for the good of the church body you believe that the best and most useful man in the world Is no better or worse Than the Spirit of God makes him each and every day.

Christian Gifts, Ministry, and Sincere Love

Prophesy. It's not for telling. It is the declaring that which cannot be known by natural means. Seven he goes on and he lists mercy or mercy. Let us wait on our ministering or he that teaches on teaching.

The key word here is wait. So many and that's something that that we cannot do normally. Russell I Get in a hurry sometimes. Now the older I get the less hurried er, I am. I don't know if it's because I'm learning to follow the Lord.

Or whether I'm just too tired to do it. But the key word here is wait. Are he that exhorteth on? Exhortation. He that giveth let him do it with simplicity. What simplicity mean Bill? That's right. He that ruleth with diligence.

He that showeth mercy with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil. Cleave to that which is good. Russell explained dissimulation to us. Well while you're thanking Roger you explain it.

All right, is that right Russell? It means to disguise under the insincere appearance to conceal one's true feelings or intentions. Ten be kindly affectioned. One to another with brotherly love in honor preferring one another.

Clearance. What's the word preferring mean here? All right. To choose or be in the habit of choosing as more desirable or as having more value a Christian man or company 11. Not slothful. Not slothful in business.

Fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Slothfulness means what Greg a Slothful person can never be a Christian in first Corinthians 1031. We have these words. Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatsoever you do do all to the glory of God.

Now Greg, what does that exempt? All right. So everything you do is supposed to be for God 12 rejoicing and hope patient and tribulation continuing instant and prayer. Everything we have Has been given to us by our Lord by patience.

We possess ourselves. By hope. We possess God by prayer. Empowered to do both distributing to the necessity of Saints given to hospitality. God provides and gives to us the need or the necessity. You believe that Russell God provides or gives to us the need or Necessity, but all right.

God provides the necessity. He gives it to us. He gives us the need. Is that from God? You can just say yes. But That's right. Everything's from God. Now some things look evil bad to us, but That in the original state is good.

Now, how do we get? This how do we get this necessity? How does? Why does the necessity I'm not talking about from God, but how do I? Put on David a need that I have. How do you how do we all? Receive needs and necessities.

You're not understanding the question. All right. What is the agency? That's what I want. All right, that's true, but he implement the he Implements it by other people who is the other people. We we is the other people.

That's how God goes about working his will in this life 14 bless them which persecute you bless and curse not. Now what's the reason. To bless somebody that just cussed me out by their cursing me proves.

I belong to the Lord 15 rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. Did you know joy? That nobody can hurt you except yourself. You didn't know that. Yes, it's hard. But it's true.

I Cannot give you a nervous breakdown. How many of you have heard the expression? Have a nice day. It's like saying hi. No, no meaning in it at all. In order to be able to do this one has to be sensitive to others.

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things but condon sin to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits for a person. To be at ease with another person takes what David? All right, you are the most alike.

That think alike. Condon sin. Here means to descend to the level of one. Consecrated one inferior one of lower state. Lower than you you're to get down on their level and never let them know it. Recompense to no man.

Evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. The word recompense $10 word Greg. What's it mean? All right. Payment in return for something. Abraham was called an honest man. He was just in his dealings 18 if it be possible.

And I'm glad he put that in there as much as life in you. Live peaceably with all men. My own interpretation that is live peaceably with all men as much as they will allow you to 19 dearly beloved. Avenge.

Not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath for it is written vengeance is mine. I will repay. Saith the Lord. Now this is a place where I fall down. Give place to wrath. David what's that mean? Oh, it's really not that hard it means.

To give place let God work. Don't jump ahead of it. Yes, that's right. That's right. One little word in that verse that we probably overlook a lot. He says I will repay. Repay. Greg what's that mean? Well, what does the word repay mean?

All right, that's what it means here. It shows that he will pay Them for that which they bought you see. Say we don't even know what it's worth. We can't set a price on it. He can. Therefore if thine enemy hunger.

Feed him if he thirst. Give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Look at what we're saying when we try to get even we are saying that God meant it for evil or bad. If we accept all things as good and comes from God.

We will grow spiritually and thereby increase in stature of the Lord in our thinking. When you're a kind to those who are finding fault with you. Takes all the fun out of it. They'll move on someplace else.

Overcoming Evil with Good and Walking by the Spirit

21 be not overcome of evil. But overcome evil with good. In other words stop being overcome with evil. Overcome evil. Overcome evil by means of good sometimes this requires That which we don't like to do as the believer walks through this evil world with this Satanic system, he cannot fight it.

If you attempt to fight this satanic system, you don't whoop up on you. You cannot fight it. You cannot adopt the same worldly tactics of hate and revenge. If you do You can be assured of defeat. Overcome evil with good.

God has given the believer the good. Which is the Holy Spirit. He is to walk in the spirit. This I say then in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill lusts of the flesh. This cannot be done by ourself. Why Greg?

Right. Yes, it didn't say not to do that. Didn't it? That's right. All of this is done by the Holy Spirit, which will enable us to Accomplish it. Any of you have any questions? That's right. We may prove we may prove.

Well to whom do we prove it? To whom do we reprove it? Do we prove it? That's right. You don't prove it to God. All right anything else? Well, that's right. I Too looked it up. Found the same thing. Anything else.

I Believe it. So what I think it's not. That's right. If they had in God's eyes in that I think that We start.

That's right, my main purpose was get you to study.