Disclaimer:
Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
CONFORMER OR TRANSFORMER
Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
God is always looking for those who will give God their best. He isn’t looking for those who will only talk about Him. He isn’t looking for only those who will mimic Him or mock Him. God is looking for those who will serve Him with all their heart.
There are far too many half-hearted, uncommitted Christians. God is much like the U.S. Marine Corps whose recruiting motto is, “We are looking for a few good men!”
I can hear Paul as he speaks out to the church at Rome, and to us also, I beg you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Give your best to the Lord. He deserves only your best and nothing less will do.
In the Old Testament, Israel was commanded to bring their sacrifices into the tabernacle to be placed upon the altar of God. That sacrifice had to be perfect, without spot or blemish, and it had to be given by the willing heart of man for it to be acceptable. That sacrifice was offered as atonement for their sin.
When that lamb, or bullock was given to the temple priests to be prepared for the sacrifice, the owner relinquished all rights to the animal. From that moment forth, it became the property of God. No part of the sacrificial animal was ever used for any other purpose than as a sacrifice unto God. It was sacred and dedicated. The owner could not take it back. The priests could not use its flesh for meat. Every part of it was consumed upon the altar or poured out upon the altar for the cleansing of the sin of Israel.
How can we, as Christians, think that God will require anything less from us? Thank God we don’t have to offer up sacrificial lambs, goats, and bulls anymore but God still requires a sacrifice of us. We are not required to offer ourselves upon the cross; Jesus has already paid our debts. We are not required to bring sacrifices into the church every week to place upon a fiery altar and then sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice upon the corners of the altar. None of these things are necessary for we live under a different dispensation of Grace instead of the dispensation of Law. Jesus Christ paid the price once for all sin and now we have a different sacrifice that we must offer to God.
Paul tells us that the sacrifice we must offer is a reasonable one. God is not demanding some impossible thing from us. God knows our limitations, our weaknesses and our frailties. Yet God requires us to give an offering that is entirely possible for us to give.
That offering is our life and our body in faithful service to Him.
The Jews of the Old Testament had to kill their sacrifice before placing it upon the altar for it would have been terrible to have to burn an animal while it was still alive. God takes no pleasure in suffering. He takes no pleasure in pain and sickness. God loves man so why would God want man to suffer? Anyone who thinks that God doesn’t care should remember that Jesus went to the cross and died when we didn’t deserve His love and He did it because He loved us anyway. Why would our God desire to see us suffer and yet pay such a terrible price because the He loved us?
God wants a living sacrifice from us. He wants a living, breathing, energetic body to work through to accomplish the ministry that He wants to accomplish in us.
God will always require a sacrifice without spot or blemish. He will never accept second best.
We can’t come to church only when we feel like it and expect God to accept that as a sacrificial service to Him.
We can’t come to church only when it’s convenient and expect God to accept our sacrifice.
We can’t come to church or serve God because we are forced to do so and think that God will be pleased with us.
We can’t come to church or serve God just because it’s the right thing to do. That’s not the reason that God will accept.
We can’t offer the sacrifice of our lives to God’s service and expect God to accept that sacrifice unless we are giving ourselves willingly and completely to him.
God is sick and tired of Christians who play around with the world and still claim to be living for Him. Either we are living for Him or we aren’t – there is no fence!
God is tired of those who claim to love Him and yet they love the things of the world.
God is tired of those who say they love Him and will not spend time in prayer with Him.
God is tired of those who come to His house on Sunday and get into the party life every other day of the week.
God is tired of those who praise Him in the church and use His name in vain every chance they get.
God hates hypocrites and He says that He will spew them out of His mouth. They leave a bad taste.
There is nothing worse, in the sight of God, than those who claim to love Him, say they want to serve Him and yet will not surrender their heart and life to Him completely.
God will draw a sinner to Him by the wooing of the Holy Spirit. He will reach out to them in every manner possible through the preaching of the gospel, the working of miracles, the witness of a friend, even through the music of a song.
God will ever reach out to His own children to meet their every need.
But God cannot reach the hypocrite. They are deceived into believing that they are all right when God says that they aren’t.
Too many people are “Conformists”. They will morph, or change, into whatever crowd they are around. They don’t have enough personal conviction and backbone to save an insect. Whatever anyone else says they will do. Wherever their friends go that’s where they will go. They want to be accepted. They just want to have their “fun” no matter what God thinks.
These folks are like a chameleon in the wilds of nature. If a chameleon is around green leaves, he blends in and turns green. If he is around any other color he will change to match that color too. That makes him hard to spot so that he can hide from his enemies.
People of God you need to understand and never forget this; God knows where you are, what you are, what you are doing and the condition of your heart at all times. His eyes are never closed. His ears are always open. He knows all and sees all. He is everywhere and in all places at the same time. You can’t hide from Him no matter how good you may be at blending with the crowd. You can’t fool Him, EVER!
God wants you to be a Transformer. God wants you to be changed into the image of Christ. He wants you to have the attitude of Jesus, the heart of Jesus, the Love of Jesus, the vision of Jesus, the mind of Jesus and in every other way, to be like Jesus.
Philippians 2:5-9, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"
That’s the kind of thinking that God wants from each of us who would serve Him and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice unto Him.
You that you are an heir and joint heir with Jesus Christ and that our Father in Heaven has greater things in mind for us than for those who choose not to serve the Lord.
God has lifted you up to a position that is higher than the things of this world. He has set you upon a high place in Christ for your light to shine that men may see your good works. God has given you a new life, a new future and you are not destined to be a part of this terrestrial ball called earth. God wants your mind to be transformed from the worlds way of thinking to Heaven’ way of thinking. God wants you to lift up your eyes and behold the glory and majesty that is yours as an inheritance and get your eyes off of the world around you!
God lifts you up above the shadows, plants your feet on higher ground. That’s where He wants you to be. Praising Him, loving Him, serving Him with all that is in you. That’s your reasonable service to God, giving yourself to Him willingly and completely.
Not only does God want you to be transformed but He also wants you to be a Transformer!
John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
Just as a transformer can be placed in an electrical circuit to relay and increase the power of the electricity that flows through it, God wants you to do greater works in this world than even Jesus did while He walked the earth. That’s what He has promised and His promises are true if we will only step out by faith and believe Him.
God wants you to be a Transformer that will reach out to the lost around you. God wants to allow His Light to shine through you into a dark and sinful world. God wants to step up the power that you already have and make it even greater.
If you are plugged into the power source of the Holy Spirit, there is a limitless source to draw from.
You can change the world one person at a time. You can make a difference. You can be a dynamo for the Kingdom of God if you are only willing to commit your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.
You can make a difference for that one who is going through some hard times because you know the Master of all things and your prayer and witness can help them get through to victory.
You can make a difference in a brother or sister in the church who needs a word of encouragement or a helping hand.
You can make a difference in your community where kids and adults are going to bed hungry and in need every night.
You can be a conduit of the Love of God that emanates from the throne room in Heaven. God can use you to show love to others so that they can see the Love of God through You!
Give yourself to God wholly and completely. Make your life count for something! Jesus is waiting for your answer right now!
All of the angels in Heaven are standing, ready to cheer you on!
Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father pleading your case and protecting you by His own precious blood! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
