Getting You Body Ready For "the Body" Text: Romans 12:1-8
When the pilot of a giant airline is speeding down the runway, there is a certain point where staying on the ground is no longer an option. When he crosses that line, he is committed to the air, he will take off or a disastrous crash is imminent. At that point the pilot can no longer change his mind. He is committed. Unfortunately churches are filled with members who have never got off the ground. They have been sitting there gunning their engines, making noise but getting nowhere. They have been planning on it, meaning to, wanting to, trying to, going to, aiming to, hoping to. But the tragedy is, they have never got off the ground.
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.
Romans 12:1 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.
The word “present” is a technical Greek word used for offering a sacrifice. This is a voluntary act, it does not say “I command you,” it says “I beseech you or I beg you.” This is something that is completely up to you. He says the motivation is to be, remembering “the mercies of God.” Close you eyes for just a moment think of all that God has done in your life. Think of the “mercies of God” based on what you have received can you really say that you owe him nothing. When we reflect on the goodness of God how can we be anything other than committed.
Verse 1 says, ...a living sacrifice. One who desires to grow and be anointed within the body of Christ can’t find their place in ministry until they become a living sacrifice.
Paul goes on to say that it is our “reasonable service.” Based on what we have received it is “logical” that we would commit ourselves to God. Therefore, as the Apostle Paul address’ the people of Rome he tells them that God doesn’t want lifeless sacrifices anymore. He hungers for one that will lay their life down, and really live God’s way. Moreover, God’s way of Christian living can’t be experienced or expressed without sacrifice.
The body of Christ has an abundance of people who think their gifted because of intelligence or other carnal reasons. However the only way a person can be used in the body is for them to become totally obedient to Christ and His way of doing things.
Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We are to become a humble servant unto the Lord Jesus Christ that’s all. Anything more and most people start thinking of themselves too highly. 1. Keeping our eyes solely on Christ. 2. Our minds on Him. 3. Our eyes upon Him.
Romans 12: 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.
Three ways to be conformed unto God: 1. Stay in His love letter. 2. Pray God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3. Do His word-help others!
As you are being transformed you will...prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Listen to verse 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.
When a person doesn’t use their measure of faith given to them they go down the wrong road. To allow faith to kick in a person has to walk with a measure of faith.
Romans 12: 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
Matthew Henry said, “In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly to improve them, it would humble us.”
Romans 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Each gift or gifts working together form the body of Christ. (When the gifts aren’t functioning that body is stunted or crippled.) It doesn’t grow.
5b ...and individually members of one another. Each person in the body of Christ compliment each other.
Romans 12: 6-8 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.
Whatever our gifts or situations may be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, and in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.
It’s so easy to work in these gifts without grace. Looking around, taking the credit. The only way to work in the gifts and calling God has bestowed upon us is to keep our eyes on Christ Jesus!
