10/30/19
Do you see what I see???
Romans 12:1-2
SERIES RECAP: SEEING WHAT GOD SEES, SO I CAN DO WHAT GOD SAYS
What do I see when I look at me??? (Introductory statement)
ME: That question is normally answered by what others say, not what I see.
1:Easily influenced
Looking at self I see everything that everyone else has that I don’t have
I see every imperfection that’s ever been pointed out by someone else
That type of influence creates a desire and hunger in me that drives me to fit in and be like everyone else or make myself invisible
Application: I just want to fit, I just want to be accepted, I want their approval and love. Because when I look at me this is what I see… NOT ENOUGH!!! What you see when you look at yourself sets the boundary lines for how you live your life...
WE: We live in a world of social media and ultra 4k high def filters.
2: Nothing is what it seems to be
We consume more information than every generation combined since the beginning of creation
We have access and ease that allows us to connect and share
7.7 billion voices all speaking at the same time, competing for likes and views (New notification on our screen)
Application: We log in and consume, and in the process, we become devoured by the very thing that we’re consuming. BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, but we allow this world to tell us what’s good and acceptable and perfect.
YOU: You see what everyone else sees but what you miss is that you were meant to see what God sees.
3: Present your bodies a living sacrifice
Everything you are
Everything you have
The problem with that for you is YOU can’t unsee the things you saw!!! When you focus on what everyone else says you can’t unsee what everyone else says...
Application: Devoted to the call and cause of Jesus Christ, what you have is more than good, what you are is more than enough. But you’ll struggle with that because you still see what others say. Christ sees THE REAL YOU, and HE LOVES YOU!!!
How can you be so sure Pastor Jeff???
HOW??? Because Christ died for the REAL YOU, HE rose for the REAL YOU, and you’re meant to live as the REAL YOU as a testimony and a light for others who may be where you were when HE found you!!!!! Romans 5:8 While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...
GOD: God’s word says be transformed
4: Transform
The word means to change
God wants us to be constantly changing
Every day becoming more and more like Christ
Application: Most Christians only ever conform to what religion says or looks like when you’re transformed by the renewing of your mind. You're allowing God to change you, to grow you, DAILY!!!
YOU: You're supposed to PROVE what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God
5: You WON’T with the same old mindset
If CAN’T is a word you use to describe yourself
If what others say about you has more power than what God says
If you accept that it will never be better for you because of this/that, etc.
Application: Transformation comes through renewal, renewal is a process that takes place over a period of time. When you begin to renew your mind it takes time for the voices of everyone else to be shut out.
WE: So what do we do???
6: We start by being consistent (Devotion)
We finally commit and dedicate who we are and what we do to Christ
We work on getting consistent in devotion and prayer
When we do this HE begins to renew and transform our hearts and minds
Application: This is how we see what God sees when we see what God sees we’ll do what God says…
Consistency is the glue to any good thing we have in our lives.
When we talk to God daily and we read God’s Word daily our minds are renewed and our lives are transformed…
Illustration: Cup of water, blue food coloring, 2 extra gallons of water
Prayer and devotion changes things
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.
SO WHAT: Devotion can begin right where you are, and it can go anywhere life takes you… Personal story of being devoted
Personal Application (Have you ever done this on your own)
