Before we get started this morning let's say together our current memory Scripture ...
Romans 12:4-5
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
And then Galatians 2:20 which is one of our memory review Scriptures ...
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Now, please open your Bibles to Romans 12:1-8 which we will read in a few minutes.
In the society in which we live independence, individuality and self-sufficiency are highly regarded traits.
Phrases such as:
- I’m a self-made man
- Control your own destiny or someone else will …
- Above all, be the hero of your life, not the victim …
- “Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.”
- “I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior ....”
This “it’s all about me” concept has ravaged the church in America.
And, thankfully, may the Lord in heaven be praised; this is NOT an attitude that is prevalent here at Crossroads.
Have I ever told you what a great benefit and guide Pastor Karenlee is to me?
Well, she is!
This past week she asked me about the sermon so I gave her a brief outline and when I got to this point about the “me attitude” invading the church she suggested that this is not a problem here, and I have to agree and she also suggested that I take the time to recognize this wonderful trait in you.
Do you know what a blessing that is to us?
The “me attitude” causes all kinds of envy and strife and gossip and backbiting and quarrels.
One of the activities of a church grounded in Jesus is the activity of love for one another displayed in encouragement and care for each other.
This in itself is a HUGE blessing and a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in us and through us as a body of believers.
With that in mind let’s go ahead and read Romans 12:1-8
OK, so our new memory Scripture says,
Romans 12:4-5
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
As I was thinking about this it occurred to me that Paul isn’t, like, doing some yoga thing where he’s humming and then comes out with this little piece of wisdom that says, “Yeah, man … the church is like the human body with many parts that all work together, man. Like is that deep or what?”
He doesn't just drop it on us without telling us how to get there, right?
So, how do we get to the point where there is such a deep sense of belonging that we are indeed one body in Christ and that each member belongs to all the others?
Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us clear and concise directions!
- Step 1 - Live every moment as an offering of worship to God!
Romans 12:1
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.
The Lord has been merciful to us, hasn’t He?
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us?
We think of heroes, right?
The soldier who throws his body on a grenade to shield his fellow soldiers from the blast
The man who jumped into the icy water in order to save the drowning woman while others just stood watching knowing that he could very well die as well
We think of the pregnant Mom who found out she had cancer and chose to carry her daughter to term rather than to abort her child and receive cancer treatment; she died six weeks after giving birth to her daughter …
These are heroes, right?
Jesus Christ died for us so that we might have eternal life instead of an eternal conscious death.
Out of God’s great mercy we sacrifice our lives, not to death but to death of self and we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God which is our “reasonable service” or our true and proper worship.
If we want to live lives in the Body of Christ as if we are all members of one body and each member belongs to all the others, that is the first step; to live every moment as an offering of worship to the Lord!
- Step 2 - Have your minds transformed!
In the old Star Trek IV movie where Dr. Gillian Taylor asks Spock, “Are you sure you won’t change your mind?” and Spock responds by asking, “Is there something wrong with the one I have?”
In that case the answer was no; Spock did not understand the question …
In our case it is yes before we yield ourselves totally to Christ; our minds must be transformed.
Why?
Romans 8:5-8 NLT says;
“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
“For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”
That is exactly why Paul gave us the second step of having our minds transformed!
Romans 12:2 says.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Before we allow the Lord to transform and renew our minds we are not able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.
So, what is our goal in this new memory Scripture?
Romans 12:4-5
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
We cannot possibly form one body in Christ where each member belongs to all the others unless we are transformed by the renewing of our minds!
- Step 1 - Live every moment as an offering of worship to God!
- Step 2 - Have your mind transformed
OK, so, what is the third step?
- Step 3 - Humble yourself
Romans 12:3 says,
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
Humble yourself; “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment ….”
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you encountered yourself in a disagreement? What would it be like if I had a discussion with someone who reacts the same way I do?
Such a thought was a great turning point in my life and in our marriage when I decided to step back after a disagreement with Karenlee and thought about how I would feel if someone spoke to me the way I had just spoken to her.
Wow! What a jerk I had been! I had been thinking of myself more highly than I should and I was certainly not pleasant to be around. As a matter of fact I was a great cause of division in our relationship, not that we ever spoke of the “d” word because it was not allowed in our conversation, but my attitude was a cause of keeping our relationship from the closeness that the Lord intended for marriage.
That was a period of sober judgment and it sowed the seed of self humility.
The apostle Paul knew that this was a problem as it had been a problem in his life and he could see it in the various churches as well.
Maybe that phrase, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment ….” Would be a good one for me and perhaps others to put up where we could see it every day!
OK, so now that we have been instructed to:
- Step 1 - Live every moment as an offering of worship to God!
- Step 2 - Have your mind transformed
- Step 3 - Humble yourself
As the Lord bring maturity into our lives through these three steps, maybe, just maybe we can come to the place where we can be one body with many members … each member belonging to all the others!
Romans 12:4-5
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Belonging implies responsibility to each other and for each other, right?
Next week we will be taking a look at why it is critical to the spiritual life of each person to be a functional part of the body of Christ
One thing we can do for all the others in the body of Christ here at Crossroads starting today is to faithfully pray for each other.
If that is not a daily practice for you let’s strive to make it so this week and on into the future.
Benediction:
I Thessalonians 3:12-13
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.”
