How to Living Right
Romans 12:1-3
6-28-09
I begin this message today with an assumption. My assumption is this: Deep in the heart of every Christian is the desire to live right before God. I can’t imagine someone who is truly born again not wanting to please God. When the cry “Abba Father” comes into our hearts bearing witness that we are the children of God —there comes with that cry a desire for holiness—a cry for being absolutely and completely right with our Heavenly Father. If there is no desire for righteousness I have to wonder if there has been a genuine new birth. Those of you who have been born again, do you desire—do you long—to please God with everything in you? I do. Paul said in 2 Cor. 5:9 “...we make it our goal to please him.... (NIV)”
But in Romans 7 we find this same Paul in a struggle to actually live that out. In verse 18 he says, “...for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” Paul then says that the good he wants to do, he often fails to do; and the wrong that he intends to avoid he sometimes falls into. Rom 7:21-24 “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Some people say that is the cry of an unsaved man. I don’t think so; I don’t think unsaved people “delight in the law of God according to the inward man.” That delight in righteousness comes with knowing Christ. It comes with being born again with a divine nature. The ungodly are not lamenting their sin. They’re like pigs wallowing in the mire. They feel perfectly comfortable in that environment. The difference between a sinning unbeliever and a sinning Christian can be described this way this way. It’s the unsaved person’s nature to sin. Just like its pig’s nature to wallow in slop. He can live there quite comfortably. But put a sheep or a lamb in that same slop and he’s out of his element. That sheep will be crying “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me....?” I think today I’m mostly talking to sheep; and some may be crying out like Paul did, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
In the next breath Paul answered his own question, Rom 7:25 “I thank God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord!” There is deliverance in Christ. There is victory out of the struggle you may be experiencing in your life right now. This morning I want to talk about how that happens.
Turn with me to Romans 12:1-3
“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.” We were in Romans 7 when we talked about Paul’s struggle to do right. Romans 8 gives a lot of information about the victory that is ours in Christ. We will revisit Romans 8 in a few minutes. Between the end of Romans 8 and the beginning of Romans 12 is a big parenthesis. In Romans 9-11 Paul digresses and talks extensively about God’s dealings with the nation of Israel. Now he comes back to his subject. Romans 12 is not disconnected with Romans 7 and 8. How do we live pleasing to God as His dear children?
There is a double instruction for us in Romans 12:2.
On one side of the coin, we are to not allow ourselves to be conformed to this world. The world in which we live has a way of thinking and a way of living that is contrary to the will of God. The god of this world, Satan, has blinded the minds of the ungodly (2 Cor. 4:4) so that they think wrong and live wrong. Many of them may live perfectly fine according to the standards of this world; but they are living in opposition to God’s will.
I was amazed at the honor the liberal media gave Dr. George Tiller when he was killed last month. Tiller was the late-term abortionist in Wichita, Kansas who was shot and killed May 31st. The Associated Press article wrote, “The family said its loss ‘is also a loss for the city of Wichita and women across America. George dedicated his life to providing women with high-quality health care despite frequent threats and violence.’” I’m not defending the man who shot him; but this abortionist was no hero. He was a greedy man making lots of money off of slaughtering innocent, unborn babies. By the world’s standards he was an upstanding citizen. There are greedy businessmen making all kinds of crooked deals in this country who are highly esteemed in our society. The world has its standards. And if we’re not careful we will buy into to those standards. If we don’t know what the Bible says—if we don’t know what God thinks, we can easily be deceived along with the whole society.
I was shocked recently when I heard our President talking about his Health Care Plan. While explaining how they would reduce costs and make the program financially viable he said, “We may have to tell grandma instead of having her surgery, take these pain pills instead.” The purpose of pain is to tell us something is wrong that needs to be fixed. Our President’s statement sounded to me like a subtle step toward euthanasia. Once you get society accepting the murder of weak unborn babies, it’s not a very big step toward killing weak old people by simply withholding medical treatment for them. Once you abandon the sacredness of human life taught in Scripture then the decision becomes utilitarian. If we can not use grandma, then let’s not inconvenience ourselves by keeping her alive. What am I saying? I’m saying the world has a way of thinking that is contrary to God and we must reject it. “...do not be conformed to this world.” Ungodliness is exactly what the word implies: un (without) god. It simply leaves God out of the equation and does what it wants to.
Here is God’s description of the unbelieving world. Rom 1:18-32
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man -- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
Christians cannot go along with all that junk and still be right with God. So one side of the coin is that we do not embrace the standards of the world, we do not accept the world’s value system, and we reject their way of thinking.
Last week I watched a documentary on the economic bust. A system was in play in which loan officers made lots of money making loans they knew could not be paid back. They sold the loans to Wall Street investors who bundled the loans into financial packages which they knew were padded with bogus loans. Rating agencies like Standards & Poors rated the packages as AAA knowing they really weren’t that quality. Then the Wall Street agents were making millions selling the AAA packages to unsuspecting buyers. Everyone in the system knew they were doing wrong. But when confronted with what they had done, their justification was that if they didn’t do it someone else would. And since they were only part of the process, they were just doing their jobs. That’s the way the world thinks. That’s the way Hitler’s Gestapo troops thought; “I’m just following orders.” There is a rationalism that goes on in the world that can justify almost anything. We can not and will not do that. “...do not be conformed to this world.”
The others side of the coin in Romans 12:2 is more positive. “...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Here is the real key to our spiritual victory.
Be transformed. The Greek word is "metamorfousthe". Our English word metamorphosis comes from this word. When a tadpole becomes a butterfly a metamorphosis has occurred. When a grub becomes a butterfly a transformation has occurred. We are being transformed from self-centered, carnal people to loving, mature Christians who are like Jesus. A major change is to be taking place in our character, our thinking, and our lives. If we think and behave just like the unbelieving world something very seriously is wrong. Something is not happening that is supposed to be happening. Be transformed. Paul is talking to Christians.
How is that transformation to happen? It’s to happen “...by the renewing of your mind.” This is a fundamental key to your success as a Christian. What does it mean for your mind to be renewed? The Greek word translated “renewing” is anakainwsei (“anakainosei”). It’s talking about a complete renovation in the way we think. Amplified Bible says, “...but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitudes]....”
Our thinking needs to change—old thought patterns need to be replaced with new thoughts. Subtle lies that we once believed have to be exposed and replaced with truth. Our behavior is always driven by our beliefs. If I believe I can drive 15 mph above the speed limit and get away with it, I will probably do that. The policeman is there to correct my belief system. After I have paid a couple of tickets and am threatened with losing my driver’s license, I no longer believe I can speed without consequence. My behavior changes and I slow down. That’s a weak illustration because I may still speed when I think the police are not around. But the point is this: My behavior is driven by my beliefs. Now if I believe God holds me accountable for every idle word—if I really, really believe that in my heart, you probably won’t find me gossiping. But for me to stop gossiping, I have to become convinced that it is not in my best interest to do so. If you have a habit of gossiping then you believe that’s going to do something for you. You may not be very aware of what belief it is driving your behavior; but its there. Perhaps there is a script—a belief in your mind—that says, “I will feel better about myself and my shortcomings if I can point out others’ failures.” That lie has to be exposed and rejected if I am going to stop my addiction to gossip.
There is a little insanity behind every sin. If God is omniscient and holds me accountable for my disobedience, then it’s crazy to ever disobey. But the devil plants lies in our mind just like he did to Adam and Eve. Gen 3:1-7 “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, ’You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ’You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’" 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”
How does this sin come about? The devil plants a lie in Eve’s mind. God had said that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die. The serpent plants this script in her thinking: "You will not surely die.” In fact, you’re going to get something by crossing that line. It’ll be a real eye-opener. You’re going to experience some things you would never get to experience otherwise. The devil was smart enough to know this. “Before I can get her to behave wrong, I’ve got to get her thinking wrong.”
Do you see that important concept? It was wrong thinking that led to wrong behavior. That’s why it’s relatively ineffective for me to simply stand up here and tell you to be good. It’s probably not going to bring any lasting change for me to simply make you feel guilty because you’re doing something wrong. The solution has to go deeper than that. You have to see the lie; you have to recognize the deception you have been under. God has to open the eyes of your understanding in that particular area.
Is it enough for me to tell an anorexic to eat more? Before she will do that, the deception that holds her in that bondage has to be exposed and rejected. Is there a fear in her heart that she will be rejected if she’s fat? Is there a fear she will be fat if she eats? Is there deception of what weight looks best on her? If you’re in a bondage that leaves you screaming “O wretched man that I am” and you’ve tried to change the behavior without success, you may have to look a little deeper at what lie may be driving the behavior.
Let me tell you about Mr. C. He was a pathological liar. His lies always made him out to be successful in business. He told his wife he had made a bundle of money one day and wanted to go out to a fancy restaurant. The truth was he had just been fired. If his friends wanted to do something with him and his wife that he couldn’t afford, he would borrow the money, tell his wife he had earned it, and go out for a good time. Our temptation is to simply say to Mr. C, “That’s just plain crazy; now you stop doing that.” But what is going on with this man? He had a wrong assumption about what he needed in order to be someone who is acceptable. He had to prove his success because he believed that defined who he is. As a result he protected his self-esteem at all costs—even by lying about his financial failures. One the surface this man’s problem was his lying. He needed to stop being a liar. But behind that compulsion was a deception that told him he had to perform well and succeed financially or he would be rejected. The Bible doesn’t say that. In fact, that is in direct contradiction to what the Bible teaches. But Mr. C needs to see that. He needs God to show him the real basis of his acceptance. He needs to find his acceptance in Christ. Breaking the habit of lying will then be a whole lot easier.
In 2 Cor 10:3-5 Paul wrote, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
The battle begins in the thought life. What if Eve had cast down the suggestions of the devil? That’s what Jesus did in his temptation and He defeated the devil by doing that. We cannot keep wrong thoughts from being suggested to us by our enemy; but we can reject them when they come. A stronghold is a network of lies the enemy has built up in a person’s mind. One lie reinforces another until it all sounds so very true. Your father left you. So the devil tells you it was your fault. Then he adds there must be something wrong and unlovable about you. Then he suggests you’re too skinny or too fact and nobody really likes you. You will never amount to anything. You’re a real failure, etc., etc. You get enough lies like that going on in a person’s head and you can get some pretty bizarre behavior as a result.
Our goal is not just behavior modification. We don’t want to deal with just the surface problem. We want to cast down every vain, deceiving lie the devil has tried to plant in the person’s mind. We want to establish that person in truth. Not just a set of doctrines but we want the person believing what is true according to what God says. You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. The mind needs to be fortified with truth. We want nothing short of a transformation by the renewing of the mind.
What are some practical things we can do toward the renewing of our minds?
(1) Read and study the Bible. This book is like no other book. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will use it to get your thinking straight. It’s not enough to just get a superficial idea about what it says. You have to get into it and hide it in your heart. The Psalmist said to the Lord, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Ps 119:11). Read all of Psalm 119 and see the importance of the word for our walk with God.
(2) Meditate on the Word of God. Prayerfully ponder what it says; and let it speak into your life. God told Joshua (1:8) “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Why does meditating on the Word bring success? It’s not magic. When you meditate on the Word day and night, you get it into your heart. You start thinking the way God thinks. When you think like God thinks you make wise choices in life. When you make wise choices in life you experience success.
Now if a person spends four hours in front of the TV every day and four minutes in the Word—who and what is he going to think like? His thinking is probably going to be more conformed to the world than to God’s way of thinking. There’s an old song that says, “Take time to be holy.” The truth is it does take time to get the Word in your heart and get your mind renewed by the Holy Spirit through the influence of the Word.
(3) Ask God for wisdom. Ask God to give you an understanding heart. Tell God that you will live according to His Word if He will help you understand it. Some intelligent people can’t understand the Bible because God is not showing them what it means. God is not showing them what it means because they have no intention of doing it anyway. The Bible is a book for living. It’s not just an academic endeavor.
(4) Ask God to show you where you’re thinking wrong. Then be open to correction. Listen for the correction. It may come while I’m preaching. It may come during a song. It may come when you’re just talking with a friend. It may come through the stress of a difficult situation. Be willing to grow. Be willing to change.
(5) Guard your heart with all diligence. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to do that because out of the heart springs the issues of life. The thoughts and attitudes and beliefs in the heart drive our decisions and our actions. The NIV states it this way, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” So how do I guard my heart? I am careful about what I allow to enter my heart in the first place. I don’t open my mind to junk. Have you heard the old computer saying, “Garbage in; Garbage out”? There is some truth in all that. You may be able to filter out some of it; but some of it will get through if you open your eye gate and your ear gate to trash. The media is throwing trash at us all the time and calling it entertainment. Jeanie used to sing to our daughters, “Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear.” There are a lot of adults who need to hear that song every now and then.
(6) Set your mind on godly things. I want to go back to Romans 8 and talk about how Jesus delivers us from our struggles with sin. Rom 8:5-6 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” The key to victorious living is walking in the Spirit. The key to walking in the Spirit is to “set your mind” on the right thing. Get focused on God and His will for your life. Rejoice in His all-sufficiency for you. Rest in His love. The world pushes God out of their thinking; Romans 1 tells us that. The world sets its mind on material gain; the world sets its mind on carnal pleasure; the world harbors offenses; the world sets its mind on gaining personal power and advantage. When a Christian is carnally minded he or she is thinking like the world and pursuing the same things the world is pursuing. But to be spiritually minded brings life and joy and peace.
The more we set our mind on something, the more established it gets in our thinking. Phil. 4 gives a pretty good summary of what we need to set our minds on. Phil 4:6-8
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds.
Pray
For FOOTNOTES/SOURCES go to WWW.GatewayNixa.org
Richard Tow
Gateway Foursquare Church
Nixa, MO 65714
