Intro:
Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize. He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time. Michelangelo was only 14 years old when he came to Bertoldo, but it was already obvious that he was enormously gifted. Bertoldo was wise enough to realize that gifted people are often tempted to coast rather than to grow, and therefore he kept trying to pressure his young prodigy to work seriously at his art. One day he came into the studio to find Michelangelo toying with a piece of sculpture far beneath his abilities. Bertoldo grabbed a hammer, stomped across the room, and smashed the work into tiny pieces, shouting this unforgettable message, "Michelangelo, talent is cheap; dedication is costly!"
Dedication is Costly. The Dedication of this building has been costly to some of us. Physically, mentally, emotionally, it hasn’t been necessarily an easy ride, but we are finally here.
The high cost of dedication takes me back to Solomon’s dedication of the first Temple that was constructed.
I. Background Information
A) Concept
1) What do most think of when we say dedication?
a) A boat that someone christens with a champagne bottle
b) A building that someone opens with a ribbon cutting.
2) What does a dedication to God look like?
a) Definitions
1) Set apart for a special purpose
2) Commit oneself to a course of action.
b) Solomon’s Dedication
1) Spectacular (beyond compare)
1 Kings 8.5 When the ark of the covenant was brought into the temple they sacrificed “so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted.”
2) Sacred
1 Kings 8.63 “Solomon offered for the sacrifice peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, 22,000 oxen and 120, 000 sheep, so the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord.” (Verse 64 more sacrifice than the altar could hold)
Peace offering. This offering represented the communion or peace between the Lord and His people when they lived conformed to their covenant obligations.
a) Intercession 1 Kings 23-50 Prayer of Solomon
b) Intent Summarized in 50
“Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, ad when you hear, forgive.”
1) A place for them to pray and have God hear. Upon hearing forgive His people.
If they went to this much expense, and had this much concern for a temple made of stone, wood, and other materials. In order to pray and have God hear them. How much more should we do this with our bodies!
2 Corinthians 6.16 “Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.
Ephesians 2.22 “in whom you also are being built together a dwelling of God in the spirit. (A dwelling place for God.)
1 Peter 2.5 “You also as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
B) Context (Romans 12.1-2)
It would have been written to a group of people that understood building dedications as well as sacrifices.
Romans speaking to Jews Ro 2.17, 4.12
Romans speaking to gentiles Ro 11, 15.1-16
II. Dedication (Romans 12.1)
Based on the background of sacrifice Paul in Romans 12.1 calls for a response to all that Jesus Christ did.
Paul calls it our reasonable service.
In the RSV service is translated as Worship.
The original usage for service meant to work as a laboring man who gives his strength to an employer in return for pay.
It does not mean slavery, but a voluntary understanding of work
The word eventually came to generally mean to serve.
And later to that which a man gives his whole life.
In the Bible it is never used to speak of human service, it instead always is the word of service to and worship of God.
Another word we learned about worship not long ago was Shachah(Shaw-Khaw)
To bow, to bow down, prostrate one self.
So it is an offering or sacrifice of oneself before God.
True dedicated worship is the offering of ones’ body to God.
Dedication to God is more than just today then. It would be a living sacrifice. And every day ongoing surrender of life and lifestyle.
Many today give God leftovers and second best. They mean little to the giver and even less the recipient.
Our reasonable service is based upon what Paul has discussed in the preceding Chapters.
According to His immeasurable mercies it causes us to ask how shall we who have been justified (made innocent) by grace respond in our everyday lives?
This passage is a clarion call to dedication, commitment and consecration.
Unwavering Dedication
A. Sacrifice
“Present your bodies a living sacrifice.”
1) “Present once for all; commands a definite commitment of the body to the Lord.”
2) Why should we do this it is our reasonable response to all that God has done.
Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.”
Philippians 1.20 “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or death.”
In the temple God had a dwelling place, In his son a body, and now with Jesus’ ascension we are the body!
Dr Johnny Hunt, “It is as though the Lord Jesus is saying, “I need the body, for that is the vehicle through which I show forth my life.”
(What kind of life, eternal, and abundant.)
So it is a divine call to sacrifice our bodies for the service of God for the purpose of showing eternal and abundant life!!
(We need to answer this call because most people see temporal and empty life in Christians today)
B. Service (Obedience)
In the OT as well as the new the word translated service can be translated worship
1) Old awbad’ to work to serve.
2) New lat-ri’-ah service rendered for hire
any service or ministration: the service of God the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law
3) Acceptable
Euarestos—Well pleasing acceptable
4) Reasonable
Logical outcome of acceptance of God’s immeasurable mercies.
Rational –
In our irrational world based on self it would be something for us to truly serve god with all our hearts
It would make God rational and logical to those around us.
C. Ceremony (Praise)
(too much focus on form and not function)
1) Paul knew there would be people that would take part in the ceremony but not take part in God!
2 Timothy 3.5 “holding to a form of Godlines although they have denied it’s power; avoid such men as these.”
a) Power of Gospel to save Romans 1.16
b) Power of Gospel to transform Romans 12.2 (supernatural
power)
Thus Ceremony without Sacrifice and service is simply sacrilegious!!!!
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination. How much more when he brings it with an evil intent.
What intent or motivation do you bring to this service today.
If it is anything other than sacrifice, service and praise of God then that is an abomination to God.
Dedication is not merely a service for Christians it ougt to be a lifestyle.
Robert Murray McCheyne wrote to Dan Edwards after the latter’s ordination as a missionary, “In great measure according to the purity and perfections of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.”
Our success in this life is dependent on our dedication and devotion to The Lord Jesus Christ.
We will be AUG, UTG, it will be based on our dedication, sacrifice, and service.
Conclusion: God can take us not because we have the best preacher, not because the most talented people instead because of His mercies, and grace as we offer ourselves as a living and acceptable/ pleasing sacrifice.
He will do supernatural things with the natural.
There is a bright future ahead for this church, but it will only be realized in proportion to the Dedication we have to God.!
