PRESENTING OURSELVES For SERVICE-I—Romans 12:1-2
Attention:
MEMORIAL DAY celebrations tomorrow...
Parades...
Speeches made...
Family get-togethers...
Visits to the cemetery...
Remembrance...
All of these events will help us to remember & respect those who presented themselves for the service of this country to maintain the freedoms of its civilians.
As our soldiers gave their very lives in the service of their country, so, believers must Present Themselves for the Service of their God.
Need:
Paul informed the Roman Christians of their need to properly live out God’s will.
We must properly offer our bodies for God’s service.
How are we to best offer/present ourselves for God’s service?
8 considerations effecting our usefulness to God.
1—Those used of God habitually...
Consider GOD’s MANIFOLD MERCIES(:1a)
Explanation: (:1a) Mercies
: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.”
Because of the unsearchable riches attending the perfection of God’s Providence, Paul now calls his fellow Christians to himself in exhortation.
Taking stock of the apparent & manifold “mercies of God,” the Christian is to consider the grave importance of presenting their own “bodies” for God’s use.
This presentation of our bodies is the bare minimum by which the blood-bought child of salvation by faith should respond in honor of his/her God.
What are some of the “mercies of God” toward us?
We are...
Undeservedly chosen.
Undeservedly chosen By faith.
Undeservedly chosen by faith In Jesus.
Undeservedly chosen by faith in Jesus, Who is the Messiah/Christ.
Undeservedly chosen by faith in Jesus, who is the Messiah/Christ, God’s chosen instrument to accomplish our salvation.
Undeservedly chosen by faith in Jesus, who is the Messiah/Christ—God’s chosen instrument to accomplish our salvation, From the wages of sin(eternal death).
Undeservedly chosen by faith in Jesus, who is the Messiah/Christ—God’s chosen instrument to accomplish our salvation, From the wages of sin(eternal death), To the place of grace(eternal life).
God uniquely gifts each one of us with an ability to serve Him as He chooses.
God blesses us with family—brothers & sisters in Christ.
“Beseech/Urge”—parakalew—V.—1)To call to one's side, call for, summon; 2) To address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc. Strong—To call near, i.e. Invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation).
“Mercies”—oiktirmov—1) Compassion, pity, mercy—1a) Bowels in which compassion resides, a heart of compassion, 1b) Emotions, longings, manifestations of pity. Denotes the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart. A criminal begs eleew of his judge; but hopeless suffering is often the object of oiktirmov. Both words denote sympathy, fellow-feeling with misery, mercy, compassion. Eleov, however, manifests itself chiefly in acts rather than words, while oiktirmov is used rather of the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart. Hopeless suffering may be the object of oiktirmov, Compassion. Strong—Pity. Used 5X.
“Present/Offer”—paristhmi—V.—1) To place beside or near; 2) To stand beside, stand by or near, to be at hand, be present. Strong—to stand beside, i.e. transitively--To exhibit, proffer; specifically--Recommend; figuratively--Substantiate; or intransitively--To be at hand(or ready), aid.
“Bodies”—swma—1) The body both of men or animals; 2) The bodies of planets & of stars (heavenly bodies); 3) is used of A (large or small) number of men closely united into one society, or family as it were; a social, ethical, mystical body; 4) That which casts a shadow as distinguished from the shadow itself. Strong—The body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.
Argumentation:
Rom. 3:23-26—“for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just & the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Gen. 32:9-10—“Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham & God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country & to your family, & I will deal well with you’: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies & of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, & now I have become two companies.”
2Sam. 24:10-14—“And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go & tell David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.”’” So Gad came to David & told him; & he said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ plague in your land? Now consider & see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.” And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.””
2Cor. 1:2-3—[Paul & Timothy to Corinthian church]“Grace to you & peace from God our Father & the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies & God of all comfort,”
Col. 3:12-15—“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy & beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, & forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; & be thankful.”
Why should Christians “put on tender mercies”? Because we are empowered in the image of God, & by the Spirit of God thru faith, to live as we have received.
Mat. 18:23-35—““Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife & children & all that he had, & that payment be made. “The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, & I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, & forgave him the debt. But that servant went out & found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; & he laid hands on him & took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet & begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, & I will pay you all.’ “And he would not, but went & threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, & came & told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ “And his master was angry, & delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.””
Illustration:
Not all military men & women are Christians but they all recognize—in a very personal way(unlike most)—that our country is entirely blessed!/They may disagree on the source of those blessings, but the ones in Christ know that we are entirely blessed in Christ!/It is because we rightly Consider GOD’s MANIFOLD MERCIES
Application:
?You habitually Consider God’s MANIFOLD MERCIES in asking Him to use you?
?How do you present yourself for God’s use?
2—Those used of God habitually...
Consider The COST(:1a)
Explanation: (:1a) Sacrifice/Price
: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.”
Sacrifice can be chosen for me, but in order for it to accomplish its purpose it must be chosen in my heart of hearts.
Taking stock of the apparent & manifold “mercies of God,” the Christian is to consider the grave importance of presenting their own “bodies” for God’s use.
Our very “bodies” are to be willingly offered to God in “sacrificial” fashion.
Christian “sacrifice” is “living” in contradistinction from a point-in-time, outward & possessional sacrifice which does not touch or emanate from the heart.
Christian sacrifice is to be as ‘living water’ which is constantly flowing, fresh & desirable versus that which is obtained via sporadic collection & retention such as from a cistern.
“Living”—zaw—1) To live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead); 2) To enjoy real life; 3) To live i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living & acting; 4) Living water, having vital power in itself & exerting the same upon the soul; 5) metaph. To be in full vigor. Strong—To live (literally or figuratively).
“Sacrifice”—yusia—N. f.—1) A sacrifice, victim. Strong–Sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively).
Argumentation:
Lk. 14:25-33—“Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned & said to them, “If anyone comes to Me & does not hate his father & mother, wife & children, brothers & sisters, yes, & his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross & come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first & count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- lest, after he has laid the foundation, & is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build & was not able to finish.’ “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first & consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation & asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
Mat. 13:2-9—“And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat & sat; & the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; & the birds came & devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; & they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, & because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, & the thorns sprang up & choked them. But others fell on good ground & yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!””.....““Therefore hear the parable of the sower: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, & does not understand it, then the wicked one comes & snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word & immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, & the cares of this world & the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, & he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word & understands it, who indeed bears fruit & produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.””
All these counted the cost—some incorrectly— & invested what they determined was right.
Jesus gave His life moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, & year-by-year. It Cost Him much! yet He did it because the gain was immense...almost beyond measure!
Lk. 9:23-26—“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, & take up his cross daily, & follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, & is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me & My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, & in His Father’s, & of the holy angels.”
Illustration:
“Freedom isn’t Free”/Lives given/Memorial Day
Soldiers enlist for military service knowing that they are putting their very lives on the line/They live by the ideal that America is the Land of Opportunity/However, it is only a ‘Land of Opportunity’ as long as the Sacrifice is made to maintain her honor by God!/Consider the COST
Application:
?You habitually Consider The COST in asking God to use you?
?How do you present yourself for God’s use?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
MEMORIAL DAY celebrations tomorrow...
Action:
Those used of God habitually...
1. Consider GOD’s MANIFOLD MERCIES(:1a)
2. Consider The COST(:1a)
Presented 05/27/2012am
MEMORIAL DAY 2012 to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
