Love Reigns Over Our Present. Week 3.
Romans 12:1-2
Last week, I gave three points in being new creations:
POINT #1 – Out With the Old, and in with the New!
POINT #2 – God’s Love For Us, and God’s Love Through Us.
POINT # 3 – Our Wrongness Is Replaced By God’s Righteousness.
Here’s a Fact- God’s great mercy became a transforming reality through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This mercy is a result of God’s love for us, and this love invites us to live differently in the present.
As a believer you are to be a living sacrifice that no longer conform to the patterns of the world. The world around us is deceptive, selfish, angry, and foolish. These cannot be the patterns we live by today.
Rather, we must renew the way we think, and in doing so, we will discover God’s will for us in the present. This is not easy however. -A living sacrifice is always tempted to crawl back off the altar.
Romans 12:1-2AMP Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
This I know, the decisions I make today determines who I will be tomorrow.
“We are so glad you have chosen to worship with us today. We believe God has you here for a reason, and we pray that you experience Him in a fresh and new way today.” P.H
We are in the middle of a sermon series called “Love Reigns.”
We began on Easter, when we discovered that though Jesus was mocked by being called King of the Jews, the clearest proof of His authority was not in avoiding the cross, but in defeating the cross and resurrecting from the dead.
Last week we were encouraged to know that when we are united with Christ through faith in Him, we become a new creation. Our past no longer defines us.
It is ‘the love of God’ that caused Jesus to endure the cross, and it is ‘the love of God’ that forgives us our past.
Today we continue this series by taking a look at how love reigns over our present.
Illustration: When we were kids, we all used to play the game Simon Says.
If you do not remember, let me quickly refresh your memory. When I say “Simon Says”, you respond by doing that thing.
Let’s give it a try. Simon Says – clap your hands. Simon says – stop. Simon Says – blink your eyes. Simon says – stop. Simon Says – stomp your feet. Simon says – stop. Simon Says – look up and down. Stop.
Oh no. Some of you stopped, and I did not say Simon Says. But you remember the game, right?
Actually ‘Simon Says’ was a test of your willingness to listen to instruction, or to decide to ignore it all together.
It is a test, because we all have been given a will of our own. This I know, as we live day to day, we make thousands of decisions. We are constantly having to weigh out options and choose what we think is best. Sometimes our decisions are influenced by things that we are told to do. We find ourselves being obedient to voices around us that do not have our best interests in mind.
However, God’s love for us gives us another option. That is, we should listen for God’s help, listen for the Holy Ghost to speak.
POINT #1 – My Choices Reveal Who Reigns In My Life.
The things we choose to do or not do, show who we’re listening to. Our lives are largely made up of the decisions we make, and that can be a painful test to whom or what has our allegiance.
Therefore, Our past is a collection of wise or unwise choices that we made along the way.
If we look back on those past decisions, who would we conclude was in charge?
Two questions:
How many of those past decisions were a result of an obedience to God?
How many of those choices were a result of obedience to our sinful desires or the voice of the world?
The Apostle Paul has a lot to say about living lives under the influence of God rather than the influence of the world.
God’s love desires to reign in our lives and rule over our decisions!
Again, hear the apostle Paul’s plea:
Romans 12:1TPT Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.
Paul begins by saying that every instruction he is about to give must be seen through a specific lens.
We haven’t been to Tallulah Gorge State Park in several years, but one thing I remember, there was a big metal contraption that you could look through, put two quarters in and get a better view!
It was amazing how looking through the lens could bring you up close to the beautiful mountains, cliffs and rivers. It changed everything and all because of changing your point of view.
This is Paul’s goal in this passage as well. He wants to change the way you see your life. He wants to reorient the way you see your present situation.
So, he says, “In view of God’s mercy.”
This is the lens, God’s mercy. Just this one thing could change your life.
How many of us walk around grumbling and complaining over our present circumstances?
We often are not satisfied with our lot in life and so we try and do things on our own.
We try to be in control and do things to please ourselves.
Paul invites us to see things differently through the lens of mercy.
God has been so merciful to you and to me. He sent His one and only Son to die on a cross because of His mercy. He has offered us a fresh start to repentance because of mercy. He loves us unconditionally because of mercy.
The weeping prophet, Jeremiah in, Lamentations 3:22-24KJV It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
This should help us to move our focus from what we want to have done for us, to the things that God has already done.
This concept of sacrifice is rich with imagery and history for the audience that Paul is speaking to.
You see, a sacrifice involved taking the life of an animal, whether goat, sheep, bird, etc., and that animal’s blood would atone for the sins of the people. That life would cover the life of the one performing the sacrifice. It involved death and it offered life.
This is why Jesus’ death was considered the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity. His life, for ours.
So why is Paul using this imagery for us and why a living sacrifice?
I think we get a glimpse of the meaning in Psalm 51:16-17TPT For the source of your pleasure is not in my performance
or the sacrifices I might offer to you.
17The fountain of your pleasure is found
in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you. You will not despise my tenderness
as I bow down humbly at your feet.
The author of Psalm 51 is shedding light on the real reason for the sacrificial system that the Jews had in place. It was not about the sacrifice itself; it was about the heart behind the sacrifice.
The true sacrifice of a follower of Jesus is a contrite heart and an obedient spirit.
Paul calls us to be living sacrifices. That is actually more difficult than a dead one. A dead sacrifice does not have a choice in the matter. It has to stay on the altar. But a living sacrifice can crawl back off whenever it wants to.
Paul states in Romans 12:1 In view of God’s mercies, be a living sacrifice. Live a life, right now in the present, under the rule and reign of love and be repentant and obedient to God.
Paul goes on in the passage from Romans to give us the ultimate outcome of living the sacrificial life:
Romans 12:2TPT Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.
The world around us has patterns that lead to a broken life. The world is marked by patterns of greed, selfishness, pride, envy, and gossip.
These patterns are easy to fall into and can be difficult to transform.
They are called patterns because they are routine and often done mindlessly, but also because these patterns can be identified and changed.
POINT #2 – Changing Your Patterns Will Change Your Life.
With a little attention, patterns can be easily identified. It is a skill that we have been learning from childhood.
Illustration: (On screen show a pattern of shapes, colors, images, etc. for the audience to see.) -On the screen you will notice a series of patterns.
At the end of the pattern can you tell what should be the next shape, color, image etc.
Once you know the pattern what happens next should become obvious to us.
The same can be true in our lives as well. If we pay attention to our patterns, we can begin to anticipate or understand what comes next. Then, we can change them.
To identify patterns, sometimes we have to change our perspective.
Paul tells us, “to see life in view of God’s mercy“.
When we understand God’s love and mercy for us, we find the reason to transform our lives and renew our minds.
* Maybe you have developed a pattern of talking down to yourself whenever you make a mistake. It always leads to feeling depressed and anxious. Break the pattern. Do not conform to it any longer.
Maybe you notice the pattern of telling lies to people around you. It always leads to more lies and a deceptive lifestyle. Do not conform to it any longer.
Maybe you have seen a pattern of laziness in your life. It has produced a spirit of apathy toward your work, family, and dreams. In view of God’s mercy, do not continue that pattern. Break it and experience a new life.
POINT # 3 – Trade Your Will For God’s Will.
The ultimate outcome of a sacrificial life and a renewed mind is the ability to distinguish the will of God for your present life.
Paul states that the best way to the will of God is by trading our own will in, and creating better patterns for our lives. -Romans 12:1-2.
What would happen if you were to trade in the time and energy that you used to spend on the old patterns in your life and created new patterns with better outcomes?
CECC, We are a people of Love, Prayer and Grace.
Under the reign of love and mercy in your life, spend time in prayer, read scripture, serve others, and listen to the voice of God.
God promises to lead us and show us His will for our lives when we submit to His leadership in our lives.
The book of Proverbs speaks to this truth as well. Proverbs 3:5-6AMP Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart?And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
Trust is a hard thing to teach and even harder thing to learn. But if we are going to live the full life God has for us, we must trust His love for us and let that love reign in our lives and over our present.
Benediction. I want to invite you to pray with me today in a specific way. Trade patterns!
I want to ask you to offer up to God the old patterns that you have noticed in your life. I want to invite you then to receive better patterns into your life and trust God’s love to lead you forward.
