In View of God’s Mercy
On June 30, 1859, one of the greatest tightrope walkers in history, Charles Blondin, became the first man in history to walk a rope over Niagara Falls. Approximately 25,000 people watched him walk a 1,000-foot line suspended above the raging falls without any safety nets. When he safely reached the Canadian side, the crowd cheered with thunderous applause. A short time later, he again was to attempt to cross The Falls. This time, he was to walk behind a wheelbarrow. The crowd gasped as he carefully loaded the front wheel of the wheelbarrow on the tightrope. He turned to a reporter and asked this question, "Do you believe I can walk this tightrope pushing a wheelbarrow over Niagara Falls?" Without blinking, the reporter yelled out, "Yes, I do! I know you can do it! I believe." Blondin then said, "If you believe, Get in the wheelbarrow."
In Romans 12:1-8, Paul asked if you believe God’s word, get in the wheelbarrow, offer yourself to God. "1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
Last Sunday, I mentioned a survey that showed how church attendance is falling; George Gallup conducted what I believe is a more important survey. Gallup said, "We find there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously. The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups. Only about half of them [church goers] could identify the person who delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and fewer still could recall five of the Ten Commandments. Only two in ten said they would be willing to suffer for their faith.” With so little committeemen, is it any wonder that America is in a mess.
That makes me understand how Mrs. Smartt felt one Sunday: As she fumbled through her purse for her offering, a large television remote fell out and loudly clattered into the aisle. The usher bent over to retrieve the remote for her and whispered, “Do you always carry your TV remote to church?” “No,” she replied, “Just when my husband refuses to come to church with me.” Far too many Americans need a wife like that.
I. Verses 1-2 tell us that God has a great life planned for us, and that plan deservers our maximum attention. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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.”
A. Based on all that God has done, he has saved your soul, Paul says, “I urge you, brothers ….” Paul urges you, he calls on you and he invites you to let God make a difference in your life.
B. At the age of 23, John D. Rockefeller had become a millionaire, by the age of 50 a billionaire. He tailored every decision, attitude, and relationship to create his personal power and wealth. Only three years later, he became ill. Racked with pain he even lost all the hair on his head. In complete agony, the world’s only billionaire could buy anything he wanted, but he could only digest milk and crackers. An associate wrote, “He could not sleep, would not smile and nothing in life meant anything to him.” As death approached, he vaguely remembered a dream. He would not be able to take any of his successes with him into the next world. He called his attorneys, accountants, and managers and announced that he wanted to channel his assets to hospitals, research, and mission work. On that day, John D. Rockefeller established his foundation. His new life direction eventually led to the discovery of penicillin, cures for current strains of malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria. Most amazing part of Rockefeller’s story is that the moment he began to give back a portion of all that he had earned, his joy altered his body’s chemistry so significantly that he got better. Rockefeller experienced God’s mercy, got well and lived be 98.
C. Paul makes this plea “in view of God’s mercy.” The original word used here for “mercy” is actually plural and refers to God’s multitude of mercies. God is not merciful just once but repeatedly. He is consistently and constantly demonstrates so much mercy to us that we cannot help but respond by fully surrendering our lives to Him.
II. Paul then gives us three ways to express fully our surrender to God.
A. He urges us, in view of the many mercies of God, “to offer our bodies as living sacrifices.”
1. In the Old Testament, worship included sacrifice. The law given by God through Moses gave elaborate directions for animal sacrifices. A sinner brought a live unblemished animal to the priest and the sinner would lay hands on the animal that was about to be sacrificed saying, “This animal takes my place.” The priests then killed the animal and sprinkled its blood upon the altar.
2. God calls us to present our “bodies” to the Lord, we are exhorted to offer our total being to Him, not just bits and pieces. God does not just want to be a part of our lives; He wants us to be completely committed to Him.
3. Paul continues by saying that our life offering is to be “holy and pleasing to God.” Hence, sacrifices were to be without blemish or defect. In like manner, we are to offer to God our best and then he will be pleasing and agreeable to Him. This is then our “spiritual act of worship.”
4. A Swiss evangelist preached at Charlotte Elliot’s church one Sunday and asked, “Are you at peace with God?” The question stuck in her mind. When she saw the evangelist a few weeks later, she mentioned that she could not shake his question. How could she have peace with God? He replied, “You need only comment yourself.” That day, she accepted Christ. Some twelve years later, in 1835, crippled by illness and constant fatigue, she felt saddened by her inability to help work at her church. Remembering her conversion, she took out pen and paper and wrote a poem to encourage others who felt they too had nothing to give. … "Just As I Am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, Oh, Lamb of God, I come ...." That is how we are to come to God.
B. Verse 1 calls for a decisive commitment to surrender fully. Verse 2 tells us how we can maintain that commitment by renewing our mind and not following the fashion and pattern of the world. Selfishness is the world’s way of doing things. Our way is to be selflessness.
1. The tense of this verse indicates that we must stop conforming, implying that this is something that we are doing. If we are serious about surrendering fully to Christ, we will work no longer conforming to those things of the world. Rather, we will focus on the Holy Spirit transforming us to Christ-likeness.
2. The word Greek word for “conformed” is Metamorphousthe. Metamorphousthe is the word from which we get our English word, metamorphosis. The example of metamorphosis that comes to mind is the caterpillar, which is transformed into a butterfly. For a time, it is one thing, but then it becomes, by the grace of God, a wholly different thing. The caterpillar is not beautiful, but the butterfly is. The caterpillar crawls, but the butterfly flies on beautiful wings.
C. Notice the last part of verse 2, “Then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Is not it wonderful that God allows us to test and approve His will for us? God will not force us into anything. He does not dominate our wills, but allows us to choose His will.
III. The way to knowing God’s will also involve having a proper estimate of ourselves. Look at verses 3, “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 measure of faith God has given you.”
A. Thinking more highly of ourselves than we should is one of the greatest problems in serving God. Roman culture was about ego, self-importance; Christianity was and is about humility.
1. That reminds me of the man who was driving down the Interstate 81 in rush hour traffic when he received a call from his wife on his cell phone, “Honey, you need to be careful driving home because I just heard on the news that there’s an idiot driving in the wrong direction on I 81.” To which the husband responded, “It’s not just one; there are hundreds of them!”
B. Have you ever been around an individual who always thinks they are right? How does it feel to be around someone who boasts and brags about his or her abilities? It is not a good feeling, is it? Never forget this truth; God uses us because He wants to. We are to avoid thinking too highly of ourselves. Everything we are and everything we have is by the grace of God. Let us skewer our superior attitudes.
IV. Romans 12: 4-5, "4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
A. We must also remember that just as the different parts of our bodies have different functions, so too, in the body of Christ, each of us have been given different gifts and roles. We cannot do it alone. If we are to accomplish God’s purposes and help make His church, every one of us is important. Everybody is somebody in the Body of Christ. While no one can do everything, everyone can do something.
1. There are so many ways that we are different from each other. That is how God designed us. A fully devoted follower of Christ understands and celebrates this variety in the Body of Christ.
2. We each have different spiritual gifts, different abilities, different personalities, different experiences and each is at a different level in becoming more Christ-like.
B. Each of us belongs to one another. I might be strong in the area of my gift, but I am weak in the areas where God has given others gifts. Thus, I must minister to others out of my strength, and be dependent upon the ministry of the other parts of the church in my areas of weakness.
1. I read that in the workplace, interpersonal relationships determine the success of people. Bad attitudes hinder good relationships. Some of the most gifted people in the world struggle to get along with others. Let us determine to follow the example of Christ by serving people and by considering others better than we are.
V. We need to express our surrender to God cultivating a proper estimate of ourselves. Further, we are to engage in service. We see this in verses 6-8, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
A. Paul is making two points.
1. God has given gifts to us. Paul calls them graces, and we have different gifts, according to the specific gift of grace that God has given us. I like that term for gifts because it indicates something about them. Gifts are grace filled. Something graceful is a delight to watch in action.
2. God want very much for you to use these gifts. If you have first given yourself to God, and you are seeking to obey Him in the strength He supplies, you will know what He has given you to do, and you will have the faith and the grace necessary to do it; never doubt that.
VI. There are at least three benefits to being mobilized for your particular ministry.
A. You will be fruitful. John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.” As you discover, develop and deploy your spiritual gifts, you will see fruit. It is a guarantee.
B. God will fulfill his purpose for you. Psalm 138:7, “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.” There is nothing more satisfying than letting God use you. God wants to do some amazing things in and through us. When He does, you experience fulfillment beyond your wildest dreams.
C. God will fortify his Church. Ephesians 4:12 teaches that spiritual gifts are given “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” A strong church is one where many use their spiritual gifts. It will be even stronger when even more of us put our gifts into action. A church that does not value gift-based ministry will not grow to maturity.
Conclusion: When Mother Teresa visited Australia many years ago, the Roman Catholic Church assigned a young man to be her guide. He was thrilled at the prospect of being so close to such a godly woman but he became frustrated over time because even though he was constantly near her, he never had the opportunity to talk with her because there were always other people around.
When her tour was over in Australia was over, New Guinea was Mother Teresa next stop. In desperation, this young man came up with a plan and said to Mother Teresa, “If I pay my own fare to New Guinea, can I sit next to you on the plane so I can talk and learn from you?” Mother Teresa looked at him and asked, “You have enough money to pay airfare to New Guinea?” “Oh, yes,” he replied eagerly. “Then give that money to the poor,” she said. “You’ll learn more from that than I anything I can tell you.” So it is, make your life a living sacrifice holy pleasing to God. You will learn more and appreciate more than you can possibly imagine.
