Everything for Christ
Series: Romans
Speaker: Chris Jones
Date: 16th September 2012
Passage: Romans 12:1-8
00:00:00 --> 00:00:08 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
00:00:09 --> 00:00:14 holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:22 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
00:00:22 --> 00:00:35 mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect
00:00:35 --> 00:00:44 will. For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you, do not think of yourself more highly
00:00:44 --> 00:00:50 than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of
00:00:50 --> 00:00:59 faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not
00:00:59 --> 00:01:09 all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to
00:01:09 --> 00:01:19 all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying,
00:01:19 --> 00:01:27 let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve. If it is teaching,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:36 let him teach. If it is encouraging, let him encourage. If it is contributing to the needs of
00:01:36 --> 00:01:45 others, let him give generously. If it is leadership, let him govern diligently. If it is showing mercy,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:49 let him do it cheerfully. This is the word of the Lord.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 Thank you, Lord.
00:01:50 --> 00:02:02 Lord Jesus, we thank you that you have come amongst us as a man, the creator God of the universe,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:08 and we thank you that you have laid down your life for our sins, and we thank you that in power your
00:02:08 --> 00:02:15 Father has raised you to life, never to die again. And we pray, Lord, that as we come to your word now,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:21 that we would sit under your lordship, that we would marvel at who you are, that we would be in
00:02:21 --> 00:02:25 submission to you, and that each one of us, Lord, that you would be leading us in your truth and
00:02:25 --> 00:02:32 growing us in Christ from the place where we are. Meet us in your word now, speak to us powerfully by
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 your spirit, and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:44 Some of you will have seen Peter Jensen, our Archbishop on Q&A on the ABC last Monday night. You can see it
00:02:44 --> 00:02:50 online if you missed it. He engaged in a very difficult debate with one woman in particular who
00:02:50 --> 00:03:00 unashamedly declared herself atheist. And it was an intimidating struggle between outspoken unbelief and
00:03:00 --> 00:03:09 unapologetic faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And it wasn't merely a battle of intellect and reason, it was a
00:03:09 --> 00:03:16 spiritual battle that required considerable grace and wisdom in seeking a hearing on issues where people were
00:03:16 --> 00:03:27 not eager to listen. Sam preached on Romans 1 a few weeks ago, and he showed us that when we reject God, we choose a
00:03:27 --> 00:03:33 miserable path which is deathly. So Romans chapter 128 says,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:41 furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a
00:03:41 --> 00:03:50 depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed,
00:03:50 --> 00:04:00 and depravity. They're full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:09 insolent, arrogant, boastful. And they invent ways of doing evil. They disobey their parents. They're senseless,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:16 faithless, heartless, heartless, ruthless. And although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such
00:04:16 --> 00:04:24 things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but also to approve of those who
00:04:24 --> 00:04:37 practice them. And it defies reason. People will choose death over life. And in this bizarre manifestation of
00:04:37 --> 00:04:43 evil, that people actually get comfort of taking other people to death with them.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:58 We've had a great time in Romans. It explains God's gospel in the most magnificent way, and it's God's
00:04:58 --> 00:05:06 response to our deathly situation. The first eight chapters address many issues, God's anger with people,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:14 with men and women, why his judgment is just, why trying to keep the Ten Commandments and the rest of
00:05:14 --> 00:05:21 the Old Testament law can't make us good enough for God. It tells us why faith pleases God and how true
00:05:21 --> 00:05:29 peace and joy come through faith in Jesus Christ. Helps us to make sense of our ongoing struggle with sin.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:39 And then in chapter 8, verse 1, this magnificent expression of God's mercy, that there is now no
00:05:39 --> 00:05:47 condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And at the end of chapter 8, verse 39, that nothing,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:52 nothing at all in the entire universe is able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.
00:05:52 --> 00:06:00 And so in Christ, we have received extraordinary mercy from God.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:09 Chapters 9 to 11, they're a bit different, they're really substantial, but they're like an excursus or an
00:06:09 --> 00:06:17 excursion into the place of the Jews in God's plan of salvation. But chapter 12 brings us to where I'm
00:06:17 --> 00:06:22 preaching today and it begins with these words. And I'm not going to get past these two verses.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:31 Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:39 holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the
00:06:39 --> 00:06:45 pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and then you will be able to
00:06:45 --> 00:06:52 test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will. I heard the great
00:06:52 --> 00:06:57 British Bible teacher, John Stott, preach on this passage. In my early days of being a believer,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:01 he spoke to an Easter service at the University of New South Wales just before the Billy Graham
00:07:01 --> 00:07:09 crusade in 1979. And he explained that the therefore is a terribly important little word,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:15 it's a turning point in the letter, it is a hinge. Everything that's gone before in Romans links now to
00:07:15 --> 00:07:21 what follows. It's where the rubber hits the road. We move from theory to practice, from what the good
00:07:21 --> 00:07:27 news is to how the good news transforms the lives of people who believe the gospel.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:35 God's action brings transformation. And so he says,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:41 therefore I urge you, brethren, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:47 holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. That's the NIV.
00:07:47 --> 00:08:00 God's disposition towards us, God's disposition towards people is one of mercy. And it's a particular
00:08:00 --> 00:08:07 type of mercy, it's gut-wrenching pity and compassion. God knows the predicament that we're in,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:14 he knows our predicament better than we see it for ourselves and he responds to it with his gut-wrenching
00:08:14 --> 00:08:24 pity and compassion. I actually think chapter 12 verse 1 picks up from Romans 8, 38, 39.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:33 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present
00:08:33 --> 00:08:40 nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation will be able
00:08:40 --> 00:08:48 to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So the first eight chapters
00:08:48 --> 00:08:58 of Romans reach this crescendo in the unquenchable love of God which is shown to his people.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:06 And it's the most amazing thing that God loves his creation and his heart goes out in pity
00:09:06 --> 00:09:21 and compassion to his people. And then he says to us, in view of God's love, in view of God's mercy,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:29 in view of God's compassion, offer yourselves, offer your bodies as living sacrifices.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:37 Now the people he's writing to are very familiar with animal sacrifices. They wouldn't have been
00:09:37 --> 00:09:42 shocked by some of the animal videos on our television when animals are slaughtered in Indonesia
00:09:42 --> 00:09:49 and other places. Whether it was the temple in Jerusalem or the meat markets in Rome, animals
00:09:49 --> 00:09:57 were slaughtered ritually and in the name of their God all the time. People saw animals killed,
00:09:57 --> 00:10:05 they saw where their food came from. And people were also used to the idea of substitution,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:18 an animal sacrificed in place of you. Not a bad deal. Not such a great life to be a sacrificial
00:10:18 --> 00:10:27 animal. You don't choose to be a sacrifice. Someone chooses you. Your body is put on the line
00:10:27 --> 00:10:34 for others. Your throat is cut and your body is burnt. The animal dies a death representative
00:10:34 --> 00:10:44 of the death that we deserve. Romans chapter 5 and 8 speak about Jesus' death as a sacrifice.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 In chapter 8 verse 3 it says,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:53 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did
00:10:53 --> 00:11:00 by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:08 And Romans 12 verse 1 tells us that the only appropriate response to what God has done
00:11:08 --> 00:11:21 is to become a sacrifice. Fortunately for us it's a living sacrifice. It's a whole of life commitment.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:31 I urge you brothers in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and
00:11:31 --> 00:11:36 pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 When I became a believer I was 18, about to turn 19.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 And I was already attending church.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:52 And within a few months of coming to Christ I joined a group that met in a friend's house.
00:11:52 --> 00:12:19 two-bedroom cottage, fibro cottage.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 Hardly a small group.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 And we worked through Luke's gospel verse by verse for a year.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 The groove was quite a contrast to church.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 We had a loving pastor
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 dressed in black, just like Brian was this morning.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 See Brian this morning?
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 Full collar, boy.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 And
00:12:43 --> 00:12:48 he smoked a pipe
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 He was known as Puffing Billy.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 But he was absolutely committed to seeing people saved.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 And at the same time he was very stern.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 He was formal.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 He was a pretty lousy preacher.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 We had a sung robed choir.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:14 Members walked in every Sunday night at 7.15
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 wearing their academic hoods.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 We had boring sermons.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 Chanted responses.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 I liked going
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 but I grew
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 and was nurtured in the house church.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 The leaders loved Jesus
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 and his word.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 And they were
00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 really careful to try to teach it truthfully.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 and they worked hard at submitting
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 to what they were learning.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 And so for me
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 in the same place
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 two very different
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 experiences of Christians
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 gathering to worship.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 In the house church
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 we began to study
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 this passage in Romans.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 This is year two.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 Year one was Luke.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 Year two was Romans.
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 Took us all year.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:03 And we got to chapter 12
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 verse 1
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 Therefore I urge you brethren
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 in view of God's mercy
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 to offer your bodies
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 as living sacrifices
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 holy and pleasing to God
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 this is your spiritual act of worship.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 And it was really difficult for me
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 because I had been taught
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 that worship was what you did on Sunday
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 and you might have been taught that too.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 Some of our younger people
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 may well just think
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 that worship is singing
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 because it's used like that as well.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 But this passage
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 that we are in this morning
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 talks about the whole of life
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 as worship.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 Everything that we do
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 whether we're here in church
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 this morning
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 or outside somewhere
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 through the week
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 everything that we do
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 is a response
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 to who God is.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 And I remember
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 going to the rector
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 to talk about it
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 because I was confused
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 and it threw it up for me
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 and he said to me
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 don't worry about it my boy
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 church on Sunday
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 is true worship.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 All these other groups
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 well they're
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 then things
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 they're okay
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 but they're not true worship.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 Church on Sunday
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 is where you need to be.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 Well of course you need to be
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 at church on Sunday
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 it's a great place
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 to gather with God's people
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 and encourage one another.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 And I've spent a lot of time
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 wrestling with that
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 over the years.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 I gave you verbatim
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 of what he said.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 I loved him
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 and he's with the Lord now
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 but I think he was wrong
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 and I think he was wrong
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 in two ways.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 Both those gatherings
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 of Christ's church
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 were true
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 and valid expressions
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 of devotion
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 to Jesus.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 One of them
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 was very formal
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 and the other
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 was very informal.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 Both involved
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 believers
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 coming together
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 to encourage
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 each other
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 in Christ
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 and learn from his word
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 both involved
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 worship
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 or service.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 And the second error
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 is to define
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 worship narrowly
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 as merely
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 coming to church
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 on Sunday.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:22 and a group
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 or two
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 through the week.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 Romans chapter 12
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 verse 1
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 says it is
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 a whole of life
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 commitment
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 a whole of life
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 response to Christ
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 a whole of life
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 response to the gospel.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 And listen to the force
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 of these words
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 I urge you
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 I implore you
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 the great apostle
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 pushes his point
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 to the max
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 in view of God's mercy
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 in view of God's gospel
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 in view of Romans
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 chapter 1
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 to Romans chapter 11
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 in view of what God
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 has done
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 we must respond.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 He has brought us
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 from death to life
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 if we have put
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 our faith
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 in the Lord Jesus Christ
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 he has forgiven
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 everything.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 He's wiped away
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 sexual indiscretion
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 he's taken our lies
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 he's taken our
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 unfaithfulness
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 he's dealt with
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 our dishonest
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 dealings
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 he's working
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 on our hate
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 everything that
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 gets in the way
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 of us relating
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 to him
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 Christ has dealt
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 with at the cross
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 and you see
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 that this
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 mercy of God
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 is just enormous
00:17:30 --> 00:17:34 and so in Christ
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 we have a new
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 beginning
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 this is God's
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 momentous news
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and it's great news
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 for anybody
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 who is humble
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 enough to listen
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 and to respond
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 absolutely liberating
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 God deals with
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 our sins
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 he sets us free.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 Twelve chapters
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 of Romans
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 is summarised
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 by three verses
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 in Ephesians
00:17:58 --> 00:18:01 so if you want
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 to learn
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Romans chapter
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 1 to 12
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 off by heart
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 go to Ephesians
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 chapter 2
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 8 to 10
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 for it is by
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 grace you have
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 been saved
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 through faith
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 and this not
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 from yourselves
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 it is the gift
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 of God
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 not by works
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 so that no one
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 can boast
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 for we are
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 God's workmanship
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 created in Christ
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 Jesus to do
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 good works
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 which God
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 prepared in advance
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 for us to do
00:18:26 --> 00:18:31 so God saved
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 us
00:18:31 --> 00:18:34 and now there is
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 much that we can
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 do for him
00:18:35 --> 00:18:39 we enter
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 into the
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 king's service
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 we are his
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 Romans chapter
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 6 describes
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 this as becoming
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 a slave
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 to a new
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 master
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 we're all
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 slaves
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 the issue
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 is who
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 is your
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 master
00:18:50 --> 00:18:55 and so
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 our spiritual
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 act of worship
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 that's the
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 NIV again
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 or service
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 is total
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 it's whole
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 of life
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 it's nothing
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 more
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 it's nothing
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 less
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 it's not
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 about bottoms
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 on seats
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 on Sunday
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 it's about
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 living for
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Jesus
00:19:07 --> 00:19:10 choosing to
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 live Jesus
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 way
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 making conscious
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 decisions
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 day by day
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 moment by
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 moment
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 to do and
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 respond to
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 what Jesus
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 wants and not
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 what we are
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 naturally inclined
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 to do
00:19:19 --> 00:19:24 we will have
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 all carry
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 different burdens
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 and struggles
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 to this
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 morning
00:19:28 --> 00:19:32 how do we
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 honour Christ
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 in the midst
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 of those
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 struggles
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 what does it
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 mean to
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 trust him
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 what does it
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 mean to be
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 faithful to
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 him
00:19:39 --> 00:19:43 therefore I
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 urge you
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 brothers and
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 sisters
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 in view of
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 God's mercy
00:19:46 --> 00:19:49 to offer your
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 bodies as
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 living sacrifices
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 holy and
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 pleasing to God
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 this is your
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 spiritual act
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 of worship
00:19:54 --> 00:19:57 and I want
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 to come back
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 to that
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 I want to
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 say to you
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 that spiritual
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 act of
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 service
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 which is
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 what the
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 NIV has
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 is a very
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 unhelpful
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 translation
00:20:04 --> 00:20:07 because it
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 actually says
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 this is your
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 logical act
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 of worship
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 this is your
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 reasonable act
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 of worship
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 it is the
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 most reasonable
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 it is the
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 most rational
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 thing to do
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 and it's
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 really interesting
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 because I
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 think we
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 ought to be
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 about feelings
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 and emotions
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 it ought to be
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 part of our
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 worship and
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 who we are
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 in Christ
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 but it is
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 really clear
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 that this is
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 much more than
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 feeling good
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 about the
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 gospel
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 Paul has
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 taken pages
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 and pages
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 and chapters
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 and chapters
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 to explain
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 his gospel
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 and now in
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 one verse he
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 calls us to
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 good thinking
00:20:39 --> 00:20:43 God does not
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 ask us to
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 throw away our
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 minds to
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 believe in him
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 we are to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 use our minds
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 and to see
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 that the
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 most logical
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 response to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 what God
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 has done
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 is to give
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 ourselves to
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 him
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 he's proved
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 his love
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 respond to
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 it it defies
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 logic not to
00:20:59 --> 00:21:04 atheism works
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 furiously to
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 deny God
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 and do you
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 know what
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 they have to
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 because if
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 God is as
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 good as the
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 scriptures say
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 he is
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 then we are
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 absolute fools
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 to reject
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 him
00:21:18 --> 00:21:25 the other
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 part of this
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 passage says
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 do not
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 conform any
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 longer to the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 pattern of
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 this world
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 but be
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 transformed by
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 the renewing
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 of your
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 mind
00:21:31 --> 00:21:34 and then you
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 will be able
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 to test and
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 approve what
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 God's will is
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 his good
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 perfect and
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 pleasing will
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 see the minds
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 are still in
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 action in the
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 second verse as
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 well
00:21:42 --> 00:21:46 conformed or
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 transformed
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 the words
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 presume that
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 the usual
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 ways conformity
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 to be pressed
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 or moulded into
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 the ways of the
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 world
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 the word is
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 age it's not
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 world
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 conformed to
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 the ways of
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 this age
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 there's a
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 contrast between
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 this age in
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 which we live
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 in the age
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 which is yet
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 to come
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 when Christ
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 will be seen
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 as king
00:22:10 --> 00:22:13 and the
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 bible's very
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 clear that we
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 live in an
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 age which is
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 coming to an
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 end it is
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 temporary we
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 become resident
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 aliens with
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 visitor permits
00:22:21 --> 00:22:24 old christian song
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 is right when
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 it says that
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 this world is
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 not our home
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 we are only
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 visiting this
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 planet
00:22:29 --> 00:22:33 we are temporary
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 residents of
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 this age
00:22:35 --> 00:22:38 and we are
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 heirs of the
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 age to come
00:22:40 --> 00:22:43 we still live
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 with the
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 pressure of
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 life here
00:22:45 --> 00:22:48 we see the
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 same media
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 we're subject
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 to the same
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 temptations as
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 everybody else
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 is subject
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 to
00:22:53 --> 00:22:57 I think it's
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 foolish to
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 pretend that
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 we're not
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 drawn by
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 sin and
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 affected by
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 sin
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 it's better to
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 be honest than
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 not to hide our
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 struggles
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 and too many
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 christians get
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 caught out saying
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 one thing and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 living completely
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 differently
00:23:11 --> 00:23:14 it's hypocrisy
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 which brings
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 shame on the
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 name of the
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 lord jesus
00:23:18 --> 00:23:22 so the gospel
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 calls us to
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 break with our
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 past to
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 reject conformity
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 to be
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 transformed in
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 our minds to
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 be transformed in
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 our thinking to
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 think differently
00:23:32 --> 00:23:35 the ongoing
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 transformation is
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 envisaged it's
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 not like we just
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 arrived we don't
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 have to do
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 anything anymore
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 this is ongoing
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 the work of
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 christy spirit in
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 our lives
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 the christian life
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 is a journey where
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 we are constantly
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 learning how to
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 think differently
00:23:48 --> 00:23:52 romans chapter 8
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 talks about
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 mindset
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 verse 5
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 those who live
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 according to the
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 sinful nature have
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 their minds set
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 on what that
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 nature desires
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 but those who
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 live in accordance
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 with the spirit
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 have their minds
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 set on what the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 spirit desires
00:24:08 --> 00:24:13 transformed is a
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 wonderful word in
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 the original language
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 it's the word that
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 we get metamorphosis
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 from
00:24:18 --> 00:24:21 so to be
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 transformed is to
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 be metamorphosed
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26 the caterpillar spins
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 its cocoon
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 goes to sleep
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 and it goes through
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 the process of
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 metamorphosis
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 it changes
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 it emerges from
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 the cocoon
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 transformed
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 into the most
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 magnificent moths
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 and butterflies
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 it's changed from
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 a creature
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 that crawls on
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 its belly to a
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 creature that
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 flies
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 it goes through
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 radical regeneration
00:24:49 --> 00:24:55 same word is used
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 of the lord jesus
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 when he's
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 transfigured in
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 his heavenly
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 form
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 the disciples
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 get a glimpse
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 of his heavenly
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 glory
00:25:02 --> 00:25:06 when we become
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 christians
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 the change
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 begins
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 it begins
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 in our minds
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 it begins
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 with a change
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 in thought
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 a change
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 in thinking
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 a change
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 in attitude
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 towards god
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 and towards
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 his son
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 the lord
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 jesus christ
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 but it moves
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 beyond that
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 and paul
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 urges us
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 to allow
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 our minds
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 to dwell
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 in good
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 places
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 so philippians
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 chapter 4
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 finally brothers
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 and sisters
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 whatever is
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 true
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 whatever is
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 noble
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 whatever is
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 right
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 whatever is
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 pure
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 whatever is
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 lovely
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 whatever is
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 admirable
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 if anything
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 is excellent
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 or praiseworthy
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 think about
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 such things
00:25:46 --> 00:25:51 our minds
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 are renewed
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 as we let
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 them dwell
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 in healthy
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 places
00:25:55 --> 00:25:58 and as our
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 minds
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 change
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 we too
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 change
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 from people
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 crawling
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 through the
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 mud of life
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 into beautiful
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 new creatures
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 beginning to
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 learn to
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 fly
00:26:05 --> 00:26:10 I experienced
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 distorted
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 thinking yesterday
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 probably in
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 a fairly
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 insubstantial way
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 but it was just
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 on my mind
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 in terms of the
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 message for this
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 morning
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 but we had a
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 wonderful day
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 here yesterday
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 with community
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 group leader
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 training
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 we were here
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 a lot of the
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 morning
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 the afternoon
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 and I went
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 home
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 after what felt
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 like a big day
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 and it felt like
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 a really good
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 day
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 and a God
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 blessed day
00:26:33 --> 00:26:36 and I thought
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 I'll watch a movie
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 and relax for a
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 while
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 you've earned a
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 break
00:26:39 --> 00:26:43 but the movie
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 affected my
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 mood
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 and my thinking
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 in a really
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 unhelpful way
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 and it wasn't
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 sex or drugs
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 or alcohol
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 or anything
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 awful
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 it was just
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 awful
00:26:53 --> 00:26:58 and by the
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 time I finished
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 watching
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 which was a
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 mistake
00:27:00 --> 00:27:02 you know
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 my feelings
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 were affected
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 by what
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 I'd given
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 my mind
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 to
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 in a way
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 that made
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 the whole
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 day feel
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 terrible
00:27:09 --> 00:27:15 still don't
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 understand
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 it
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 I'll tell you
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 afterwards
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 what it was
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 so you don't
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 watch it
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 probably
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 probably if I
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 tell you what
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 it was
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 you all
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 sit there
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 nodding
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 yeah
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 did that
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 to me
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 too
00:27:24 --> 00:27:29 tell you
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 later
00:27:30 --> 00:27:35 really dear
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 brother
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 challenged me
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 the other
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 day from
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 his own
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 life
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 and he
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 said he's
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 been
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 recognizing
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 similar
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 things in
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 himself
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 he's actually
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 been recognizing
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 that when he
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 thinks in
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 particular ways
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 it has an
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 impact on
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 relationships
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 around him
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 and his
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 whole disposition
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 and this is
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 not just about
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 positive thinking
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 stuff
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 this is about
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 trying to be
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 and live in
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 submission to
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 Christ
00:27:54 --> 00:27:57 and so he is
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 consciously working
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 to recognize that
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 when he starts to
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 think negatively
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 especially in his
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 marriage and with
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 issues towards his
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 wife
00:28:03 --> 00:28:06 he prays in that
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 moment that God
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 would take it from
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 him
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 he prays that God
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 would take it from
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 him
00:28:11 --> 00:28:14 and in Christ
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 he is striving to
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 think differently and
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 it is helping his
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 relationships
00:28:19 --> 00:28:21 another friend once
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 said to me think
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 the best about
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 someone before you
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 presume the worst
00:28:25 --> 00:28:28 I think I know it
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 for myself and you
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 will too
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 you know you can
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 actually go into a
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 brain spiral can't
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 you can think
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 something terrible
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 like just take your
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 spouse or your kids
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 or something and
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 you go all negative
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 on it and it goes
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 down and down and
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 down and by the time
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 you're finished you
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 are in a real mess
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 and the way that
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 you got yourself
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 into that mess was
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 by the way you
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 thought
00:28:50 --> 00:28:53 your thoughts took
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 you there
00:28:54 --> 00:28:57 your mind affected
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 your whole body's
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 disposition
00:28:59 --> 00:29:07 those who live in
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 accordance with the
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 spirit have their
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 mind set on what
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 the spirit desires
00:29:11 --> 00:29:15 be transformed by
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 the renewing of
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 your mind and
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 then you will be
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 able to test and
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 approve what God's
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 will is his good
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 pleasing and perfect
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 will
00:29:23 --> 00:29:27 so coming to
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 Christ is the
00:29:28 --> 00:29:31 beginning but now
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 that we are his
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 and I hope that
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 that's many of us
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 sitting here in
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 church this morning
00:29:35 --> 00:29:38 the change continues
00:29:38 --> 00:29:40 as we are prepared
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 for life in the
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 age to come
00:29:42 --> 00:29:46 and much of the
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 change and the
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 transformation begins
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 with our minds what
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 we think
00:29:50 --> 00:29:54 heard a lovely little
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 story about a little
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 girl I still don't
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 know if this is true
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 or not but church
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 service one Sunday
00:29:58 --> 00:30:01 the collection plate
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 went around and it
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 came to the little
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 girl and she took
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 it in her hand she
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 put it on the floor
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 and she stood in
00:30:07 --> 00:30:10 it and when the
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 sides person said
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 what's she doing
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 she said well in
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 Sunday school I
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 learned that I was
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 supposed to give
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 myself to God
00:30:16 --> 00:30:20 got the point of
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 the passage
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 applied it maybe a
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 little too concretely
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 but got the point
00:30:26 --> 00:30:30 therefore I urge you
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 brothers and
00:30:30 --> 00:30:33 sisters in view of
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 God's mercy to
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 offer your bodies
00:30:35 --> 00:30:37 as living sacrifices
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 holy and pleasing to
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 God this is your
00:30:40 --> 00:30:42 logical act of
00:30:42 --> 00:30:45 worship do not
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 conform any longer
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 to the pattern of
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 this world but be
00:30:49 --> 00:30:51 transformed by the
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 renewing of your
00:30:51 --> 00:30:54 mind and then you
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 will be able to test
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 and approve what
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 God's will is his
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 good pleasing and
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 perfect will
00:30:58 --> 00:31:01 God's will is his
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 God's will is his
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 God's will is his
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 God's will is his
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 God's will is his
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 services that where
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 John and Leslie
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 Hicks live down the
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 road and a few
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 others and I think
00:31:11 --> 00:31:13 there's a huge link
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 between what we've
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 been doing in Romans
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 8 1 and what we've
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 been looking at this
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 morning in Romans 12
00:31:18 --> 00:31:21 1 because in Romans
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 8 1 and then at the
00:31:22 --> 00:31:24 end the gospel declares
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 there is therefore now
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 no condemnation for
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 those who are in
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 Christ Jesus and what
00:31:29 --> 00:31:31 that means is we stand
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 under the mercy of God
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 the judge of all the
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 earth has taken
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 condemnation right away
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 from us and we have
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 this magnificent
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 experience of his
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 mercy and we are told
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 that nothing can
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 separate us from the
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 love of Christ which is
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 in Christ Jesus our
00:31:45 --> 00:31:49 Lord we are
00:31:49 --> 00:31:51 recipients of
00:31:51 --> 00:31:53 phenomenal mercy
00:31:53 --> 00:31:56 mercy and so you get
00:31:56 --> 00:31:58 the 12 one in view of
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 this mercy in view of
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02 God's mercy live for
00:32:02 --> 00:32:06 Christ your whole life
00:32:06 --> 00:32:08 everywhere you go
00:32:08 --> 00:32:10 everything you do
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 everything you think
00:32:11 --> 00:32:15 and we applied it the
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 other day and we
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 thought you know renewed
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 minds leads to renewed
00:32:17 --> 00:32:20 relationships and one of
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 the greatest things that
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 we've received is this
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 experience of mercy from
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 God's hand towards
00:32:25 --> 00:32:28 ourselves and he has
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 put in our hands the
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 ability to extend
00:32:31 --> 00:32:34 undeserved mercy in all
00:32:34 --> 00:32:36 sorts of relationships that
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 we find ourselves in and
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 I want to say let's begin
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 at home
00:32:40 --> 00:32:43 in the relationships which
00:32:43 --> 00:32:46 are closest to us but
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 move out from there
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 because we know that in
00:32:47 --> 00:32:50 our families sometimes we
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 carry deep hurt and
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 wounds whether it be our
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 immediate family or
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 families which are a bit
00:32:54 --> 00:32:56 further out God has
00:32:56 --> 00:32:58 given us in Christ the
00:32:58 --> 00:33:00 tools to be full of
00:33:00 --> 00:33:03 mercy to one another just
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 as we have received it for
00:33:04 --> 00:33:06 ourselves in Christ
00:33:06 --> 00:33:11 let's pray Lord Jesus we
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 pray that you would help
00:33:12 --> 00:33:16 help us to see our whole
00:33:16 --> 00:33:22 life as yours and we do
00:33:22 --> 00:33:25 struggle with sin in this
00:33:25 --> 00:33:28 age with weakness and
00:33:28 --> 00:33:31 failure and sometimes grave
00:33:31 --> 00:33:35 error in our own lives but we
00:33:35 --> 00:33:37 experience it Lord in the hope
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 of the enormous mercy that you
00:33:39 --> 00:33:42 have shown us in Christ and we
00:33:42 --> 00:33:44 pray that just as you are
00:33:44 --> 00:33:46 transforming us that we would
00:33:46 --> 00:33:49 be transformed in the way that
00:33:49 --> 00:33:51 we relate to those around us
00:33:51 --> 00:33:55 especially to those who are near
00:33:55 --> 00:33:57 us in Christ even within our own
00:33:57 --> 00:34:01 families please transform us Lord
00:34:01 --> 00:34:03 Jesus individually and corporately
00:34:03 --> 00:34:06 as the people of God that your
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 name would be glorified in
00:34:08 --> 00:34:11 everything we do and we pray
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 this in Jesus precious name
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 Amen