Obstacles to Growth
Romans 12:1-2
August 5, 2007
East Mt. Zion United Methodist Church
Graceville, FL
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
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. 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.
Growth is a natural thing. Babies do it, adults even do it – anyone need a haircut? We all grow in one way or another, but often times there are obstacles to healthy Christian growth.
What is your obstacle? The most common answer to this is “I’m too busy” or “I don’t have the time.” These answers were most likely what many of you thought of a few seconds ago. It is true that as Americans go, we work harder, play harder and do everything to the extreme. When we do this, we don’t leave time for much else.
Look at me as an example. My family and I haven’t had a week long vacation in many years now. We have managed to take a few days here and maybe a weekend there but a serious vacation hasn’t been realized (yet). Why? Too busy? Too much going on? Too many irons in the fire? All of these are valid answers if only they were true. What is the truth?
According to a recent poll conducted by Mike Zigarelli, associate professor of management at Charleston University’s School of Business, 40% of Christians worldwide say that they often or always run from task to task. It is the studies finding that their hectic lifestyle is what is keeping them from going deeper in their walk with God.
Mr. Zigarelli stated in his own response to the poll results that covered 20,000 Christians from nearly 140 countries, that the answer to the disturbing yet revealing reality of our society will be found in the twelfth chapter of Romans;
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
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. 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.
When we choose sleep over God, television over Bible study, work over prayer, and family over church is we are telling God that He isn’t as important than what we have going on in our lives! Would you stand up and lift your eyes heavenward and tell God that He is not as important as your life, your schedule, your job, your family, your friends, or your career to His face? That would be ludicrous wouldn’t it? That is exactly what we are doing when we don’t put Him first!
Sometimes I find myself like the little boy reasoned in his prayer to God. He told God that “Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it. I’m having a real good time like I am.” We get so caught up in realizing accomplishments that we see rewards of our efforts that are only temporary. How about that house? What about that car, your family, your career? It is ALL temporary! None will stand the test of time. We MUST realize that we cannot simply settle for temporary accomplishments when we should be about “laying up treasures in heaven.”
In our responsive reading this morning, we heard from God in Matthew chapter six, verse thirty-three; “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.” That one scripture verse puts our lives into the proper perspective. We should seek God first – make Him #1 in our lives! If we can do that, everything else will be taken care of – no worries! The real question this morning is do you have enough faith to trust completely in Him? Do you have enough faith and courage to take a leap of faith RIGHT NOW and tell God that you are going to try something different today – TRUSTING HIM WITH COMPLETE RECKLESS ABANDONMENT THROUGH AN ABUNDANCE OF FAITH!
Robert Joseph (RJ) ate supper with us last night. He originally declined my special fried okra. I asked him if he had ever tried it before and he said he hadn’t. I encouraged him to try just one piece and if he didn’t like it he didn’t have to eat anymore. He tried it and most surprisingly, especially to himself, he liked it! He said it tasted like the crackling parts off of a piece of fried chicken. I’m not sure if that was a compliment or not, but nonetheless, he liked it.
Sometimes we have to set aside our pre-conceived notions of what a decision is going to produce. We are limited to what we can see, hear and touch to determine what the outcome will be. We cannot see for ourselves God doing something that would require a miracle in our lives if we were to truly put Him first in everything; starting today.
God doesn’t live in the natural world. He lives and operates in the supernatural realm. Nothing is impossible with Him. He can take a virgin girl and conceive a Savior through the Holy Spirit. He can stop gravity and allow an exploring disciple to walk on water. He can take a few loaves of bread and a small catch of fish and feed over 5,000 people! THAT IS THE KIND OF LIVING GOD THAT IS CALLING FOR YOUR DECISION TODAY!
Is your life too busy? Do you find yourself running out of time? In trying to tie up loose ends this week in preparation for going on vacation, I have been frustrated to the point I wanted to pull out my hair. I finally realized that I had a limited amount of that particular resource and that pulling it out wasn’t the answer (I am past due for a haircut – not enough time:)). What I realized that preparing for a time of renewal, I got to see a snapshot of my life in a week. It didn’t look pretty. Things that would have made eternal differences in the Kingdom didn’t happen while trivial things like going to the bank did. My life didn’t make sense!
Is your life making any sense? I believe that Mr. Zigarelli is right in part when he stated it will take a renewing of our minds. But I also believe that before renewal comes, we must first realize that something is not right. It took a week of preparation for a family vacation for me to see it. What is it going to take for you?
God has a track record with me of doing things that have a profound impact on my health when I don’t take time for Him. Multiple automobile accidents can be attributed to my stubborn self-reliant attempts at “doing life” on my own. A most impressive series of six cardiac stents now line one of my major arteries in the heart from what I can in part attribute to my stubborn, prideful, vain attempts at giving out the water of life without returning to the well when I needed to so very desperately.
The Psalmist in chapter 46 says it best;
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
We need to slow down, no make that a complete STOP and simply put EVERYTHING else on hold. Then and only then can we realize that He IS GOD! That He exists, that He is alive, that He loves us, that He wants what is best for us!
When you try to do this, don’t be surprised if the busyness if your life interrupts you somewhere in the process. For we must also realize that when we take the direction of putting God first, reordering our life priorities, then Satan will step in and mess with us. Paul wrote this as a warning to the church in Ephesus; Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
It is the same warning to us today. We must realize who the enemy is. It isn’t the watch on your wrist or the calendar on your wall. It isn’t the upcoming vacation or the reunion that is around the corner. It is Satan!
But hear the Good News! Satan has already been defeated! When Jesus was in the dessert and tempted by Satan, He persevered. When Jesus was on the cross and died for our sins, three days later Satan was ultimately defeated when the grave cloths were laid aside and the resurrected Lord of Lord and King of Kings announced to His disciples and even through us here this morning, that He is alive!
We MUST remember this sacrifice in order to be renewed in our minds. We must remember His victory over Satan if we are to be still and know that He is God. We must remember that the victory has already been won if we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Today we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. This is a special act of worship whereby we take the body of Christ and His blood “in remembrance” of Him.
As you come for Holy Communion this morning, don’t let this be the same communion as before. Make your mind up RIGHT NOW that you are going to put God first, that you are not going to allow Satan to rob you of a life that is ordered around God instead of the business of your life. You have this opportunity to seal your commitment to Him at this special time of closing our morning worship together. The twelfth chapter of Romans, Paul encourages his reader to present themselves as a holy and living sacrifice to God.
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
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.
As we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, let us present ourselves unto Him this morning with our decisions to “seek Him first.”
Will you pray with me…
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