#2 in a series
“Finding Your Worship Language”
WITNESS AS WORSHIP
Romans 12:1-2
Rev. Rick Pendleton
North Dunedin Baptist Church
Dunedin, Fl
revrick3@hotmail.com
Last week I began a series of sermons on Different Worship Languages. We began by looking at Martha as an example of Service as Worship.
Today we look at Lazarus as an example of Witness as Worship.
Just imagine that house that day with Jesus sitting teaching… Martha in the kitchen serving… Mary sitting reverently at Jesus’ feet… disciples filling every square foot of the room… and Lazarus. Lazarus is not even mentioned in the passage. But… we know that Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha… the man of the house. Where is he? In a position of honor, right at the right hand of Jesus. And what is he doing? WITNESSING to the power of Jesus to raise us from death to life.
Does he speak? We don’t know. Probably, as the host, he introduces Jesus to any other guests. He welcomes Jesus to his home and asks him teach. Then he sits down, says nothing… but he is a screaming, beaming, undeniable witness.
Can you imagine the people there listening to Jesus teaching. They can’t take their ears off Jesus… because no man ever spoke like this… but they can’t take their eyes of Lazarus… because no man ever came back to life like this. They look in amazement at Lazarus and shake their heads thinking, “This man was dead… three days… and now he is alive and well!”
Everywhere Lazarus goes the people point and whisper and stare… he is a living marvel… a walking miracle… a walking, breathing witness to the power of God.
>>>>>It reminds me of the little boy who asked his mother…”If God is bigger than us and lives inside of us… shouldn’t he stick out?”
HE SHOULD… IF he is really in there.
If your God does not stick out… Your God is too small
Pocket-sized God won’t demand much…. Or help much
In Lazarus’ life JESUS STUCK OUT.
Everywhere he went they talked about Jesus, Jesus was an unseen presence in every place Lazarus went.
Can you imagine the power of Lazarus’ testimony, his witness.
As Lazarus sat in his home that day, beside Jesus, he was worshipping Jesus through his witness… with his life.
And that is how we should all worship Jesus… one way.
Our life should be a living, breathing, walking, talking witness to the power of Jesus to give life to the dead… sight to the blind… healing to the broken… and peace to the troubled.
If it does… then our life is not only a witness to others… it is worship.
That is what Paul was talking about in Romans 12:1-2 when he said,
I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. NAB
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE IS TO BE WORSHIP.
More than that it is our REASONABLE … only makes sense to see it as… worship.
Today, in the age of the Church, as believers, we are not called to offer burnt offerings of animals. We are not to bring a sacrifice—but now WE ARE the sacrifice.
We now offer ourselves, our lives as sacrifices unto God.
In doing so, there is a pleasing aroma that reaches the throne of God far greater than any animal sacrifice.
This aroma is lifted up through believers who will allow their total life to be an offering of worship; whose lives are on God’s altar and consumed with holy fire.
They cry out from their innermost being: MAY MY LIFE BE WORSHIP TO YOU LORD! MAY MY LIFE BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME!!!
Through the life of Lazarus we will learn about the Pleasing Aroma of Living Worship.
Where does this “pleasing aroma” come from? How does it come?
I. The pleasing aroma of living worship comes from the life completely offered up to God.
Paul says in verse 1 “I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to OFFER your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…”
In view of the mercy they received from God, Paul calls them to offer their bodies-their lives-their all to God as a LIVING SACRIFICE.
Dead animals won’t do it anymore. WHY? The Perfect Sacrifice—the Lamb of God—Jesus was offered on the cross.
Our sacrifice is living—it is to be constant, moment by moment—every day—not some days, some months or certain holidays.
God demands a life that is fully consecrated—fully separated to Him for His pleasure and purpose.
He demands a life that is totally given over to Him—offered up to Him in surrender and obedience to His will an His way.
God is calling for lives that will be lived as a daily expression of worship to Him.
This means a life that will worship Him in all of our actions, our attitudes, our motives, our words, our thoughts—everything.
Across our heart and life should read the words: “TO THE GLORY OF GOD”!
Our bodies—our lives –are to be offered as “holy and pleasing to God..”
Paul spoke in a day when immorality and perversion was all around. He spoke in a day of loose morals and ungodliness—not only in the world—but also in the Church.
Paul preached a message of complete commitment to God and His holiness.
Paul boldly called for bodies and lives to be given over to the will of God—not the ways of this evil age.
LISTEN TO THIS CALL IN ROMANS 6:11-13
Notice, Paul says “Count yourselves dead to sin…do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies…Do not offer the parts of your body to sin..”
Then what does he say in verse 19: “..Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and ever-increasing wickedness, SO NOW OFFER THEM IN SLAVERY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADING TO HOLINESS”.
He was saying “Just as you used to live your life for sin and wickedness-and offered your body and life to ungodly ways—NOW offer your life completely to God—be a slave to righteousness—being made holy before God.”
This goes beyond the physical body—it goes beyond the outward parts. God calls us to offer every part of us in worship and obedience to Him.
Paul said “this is your spiritual act of worship”.
Worship is not just a Sunday and Wednesday activity—it is not a song and dance. It is more than singers, drums and tambourines.
WORSHIP IS LIVING LIFE ABANDONED TO GOD EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! THIS IS THE ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP!!
As we offer ourselves completely to follow Him, love Him and do His will—our lives release a sweet aroma that brings God pleasure and glory!!!
II. The pleasing aroma of living worship comes from the life that is divorced from the world.
To be divorced means to be “separated, severed, or broke away from”.
To live for Christ and to live a live of living worship unto God—one must be divorced (separated) from the ways, the desires and passions of this world.
WE CANNOT BE A LOVER OF GOD AND A LOVER OF THE WORLD!!
WE MUST CLING TO THE ONE AND RENOUNCE THE OTHER!!
In verse 2 Paul commands “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
First, he calls us to not “conform to the pattern of this world”.
We are not to play the game of the world, or buy in to its ways and thoughts and ungodly philosophies. WE MUST NOT RESEMBLE THE WORLD IN OUR LIVES!!!
Believers in Christ must not make the world the pattern for living and lifestyle.
>>>>>The world wants to squeeze you into its mold and make you conform… take on its shape.
The ways of God and the ways of the world are in complete opposition.
The mold of the world despises all that is godly and holy.
The mold of the world is to compromise with sin.
The pleasing aroma will never come from a life compromised with sin.
We are called to be conformed to a greater glory: Romans 8:29 “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of HIS SON”!!
The Church, all followers of Jesus, are called to resemble the likeness of Christ. THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR THE CHRISTIAN!!!
As we grow closer to Christ,
the world will begin to become less and less attractive.
We will begin to lose the desire for worldly ways.
We will hunger for holiness—hunger to become more and more like the Master.
He is to be our pattern—our model—our blueprint.
We are to not only conform to the world but also “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
>>>>>>Before you can be transformed… take on a new shape… you must get out of the mold.
As long as you are in the mold… you are locked in.
How do we break out? IN OUR MINDS.
Before Christ became Lord, our minds were stained and ruled by all that is sinful, wrong and worldly. It was a mind controlled by the sin nature.
But now in Christ, our minds must be renewed. This comes as we consistently pour ourselves into the Word of God—hiding the Word in our heart and seeking His Presence and will in prayer.
The Holy Spirit in us begins to change our thinking and mindsets and transforms our lives toward godliness and righteousness.
We will live in the manner in which our mind is influenced.
NOTHING HAPPENS WITH THE HAND UNTIL IT FIRST COMES FROM THE MIND.
If our mind is set on the things of God—we will offer a life dedicated to God.
If our mind is set on sin—we will be devoted to sin.
Romans 8:6 “The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace”.
A life of living worship will be separated from the influence and ways of an ungodly society—and fully bound to the ways of Jesus Christ.
III. The pleasing aroma of living worship comes from the life that knows and obeys the will of God.
Verse 2 “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will”.
Notice Paul says “Then”. Only after one has offered himself as a living sacrifice, refused to conform to the pattern of this world and being transformed in their mind can he/she know the perfect will of God.
You cannot know God’s will and plan until your life has been given into His hands and under His Lordship.
“To test and approve” is to discern and know what His will is—what He requires.
Ephesians 5:17 “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is”.
As our life is conformed to the likeness of Christ and our minds are being renewed—particularly through the Word and prayer—we will be able to discern what He requires and humbly obey it.
We can know His will by studying and obeying His Word and seeking Him in prayer.
OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WILL IS NOT OPTIONAL FOR THE BELIEVER. IT IS A MANDATE. HEAVEN WILL BE HAD ONLY BY THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND WHO LOVE TO DO HIS WILL.
The true servant of Christ will offer living worship and a pleasing aroma to the Lord as they wholeheartedly commit to His will and His ways.
ANY WORSHIP TO GOD THAT IS OFFERED WITHOUT OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL IS LIKE A ROTTEN STENCH IN HIS NOSTRILS AND REJECTED BY HIM!!!
Our lives release a sweet aroma that brings God pleasure and glory as we…
>offer ourselves completely to follow Him…
>become separated from the influence and ways of an ungodly society—and fully bound to the ways of Jesus Christ.
>wholeheartedly commit to do His will
What kind of aroma is rising from the sacrifice you are offering
The kind of life you are living
The kind of worship you are offering.
This sermon incorporates material from “The Pleasing Aroma of Living Worship” by Scott Bresee, www.sermoncentral.com,
