Driven Out Of The Shallows

Driven Out Of The Shallows

Romans 12:1-2KJV

When it comes to our ancestors generations ago, many of the things we hold near and dear are just hearsay.

Many times we fill in the blanks with our minds, seemingly making it real.

Finally, we believe it.

However, before you put too much stock in this ask yourself this one question, “Is it eternity worthy?” Is it God’s sharp word?

Annie Dillard in her book- The Writing Life, says, “Be careful what you learn, for that is what you will know."

In other words, If you learn half truths, you’ll only live half a life. What do you believe that’s hearsay?

Paul’s passion was for the church in Rome to re-learn some important truths:

Romans 12, transitions from teaching about what God has done for his people, to what God expects from his people.

How are the new people of God (the true Israel) supposed to live out their faith in the world?

It appears that the first two verses of Romans 12, are the general commands on how to live- out our faith in the world. The rest of chapter 12, along with chapters 13-15, are the details as to how to obey the exhortation given in, Romans 12:1-2.

Therefore, Romans 12:1-2, is the remedy.

Romans 12:1-2KJV “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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

This presenting of our bodies as living sacrifices changes everything.

Why?

A full submission changes our thinking, our walk, our talk. It changes our behavior and even our actions.

The old sacrifices were at best, Temporary; however, this new sacrifice is eternal.

Why is it eternal? We learn who we really are.

Romans 8:31KJV What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

The apostle Paul makes an appeal in view of all these wonderful doctrines of Romans chapter 1-8, and of God’s dispensational dealings with Jews and Gentiles in chapter 9–11.

Paul comes now to the practical application of the gospel for all mankind.

Here it is, “Gods not looking for more animal sacrifices, He’s looking for, soul surrender.”

Maybe Jesus is moving you out of the shallows, so He can take you into the deep.

Testimony: While on vacation I did some open-water-swimming. Once while swimming, the current took me to a buoy, This buoy was positioned in such away that it cautioned the swimmer not to go out any further, so I didn’t.

My body rubbed up against this, algae laced buoy. It really Frightened me, so I swam as fast as I could to the shore with no time to waste.

In the deep, you can’t find the bottom, you lose control. In the deep, your view changes. In the deep, you sense how small you really are. In the deep, you’re usually all alone. In the deep, the creatures of the sea are bigger.

Jesus accomplished much of His best work through humility in the deep.

Mark 4:35-41 & Mark 6:45-51, speak of Jesus sleeping on a pillow while the sea was troubled. It speaks of Jesus’ prayer life. It speaks of Jesus walking on the sea. It speaks of the disciples anxieties and lack of faith.

Here’s a fact, to get to the other side you have to be willing to cross unfamiliar territories.

In the last week I’ve heard and read, Joshua 1:7 several times. Joshua 1:9KJV  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

In Mark 6, when Jesus gets to the other side a man named Legion met him and Jesus cast out demons. Legion had a new name, with a new testimony!

Once again, Romans 12:1AMP “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.”

Bob Goff- And unexamined life is a fog of distraction that obscures our whole identity; only the brutally honest are willing to see a newer, better, bigger picture.

This I know, “You’ll never regret whole (Full), surrender to Jesus.”

I had this guy come up to me a while back. He said, “Howard, I’m trying to figure out what I can do for the rest of my life.’ ‘Can you help me?”

I ask how long he had been doing the job he just left? He stated right out of high school. And he said, and I was pretty good at it.