WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.379 Does it matter how someone lives in the world today? 00:00:08.140 --> 00:00:09.140 Think about it. 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:12.060 Does it really matter how you live? 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:17.839 Generally speaking, you know, there are people who think in today's world, 00:00:18.539 --> 00:00:21.440 we're not like we used to be. 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:23.839 Everybody just sort of does what they want to do. 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:26.440 So just do what you want to do. 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:28.980 Don't worry about it. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.000 There shouldn't be a problem doing that. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:37.179 Well, if you think that way, I don't know where you've been. 00:00:39.019 --> 00:00:44.179 You certainly have not read or listened to any news. 00:00:46.019 --> 00:00:51.799 It seems that almost every week, a politician, a business executive, 00:00:51.799 --> 00:01:06.420 a TV personality, or an athlete is caught saying or doing something that just ruins their life. 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:11.180 Some of you most probably in here know some of this. 00:01:12.099 --> 00:01:19.140 A state senator in Florida forced to resign this past week for his outburst. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:26.280 Some of his colleagues, racial slurs, just hard, tough things he said. 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:29.040 And the outcry was such. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:29.980 It mattered. 00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:32.900 He's no longer a state senator. 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:36.240 Bill O'Reilly, number one show on Fox. 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:38.579 Forced out. 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:41.040 No more the O'Reilly factor. 00:01:42.099 --> 00:01:45.359 Accusations of sexual immorality. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:48.599 The list can go on and on. 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:51.120 Politicians. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:52.939 Business leaders. 00:01:54.780 --> 00:01:55.840 Church leaders. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:01.680 And on lower levels, not so much in the big headlines, 00:02:01.960 --> 00:02:06.359 but situations that we're familiar with. 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:14.199 People say things, they do things, and it misrepresents, 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:23.460 or it causes the wrong kind of attention to their company, 00:02:23.939 --> 00:02:29.579 or their colleagues, or their school, or their team. 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:32.300 And they pay for it. 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:34.819 They suffer for it. 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:38.759 Now, many people who this happens to, 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:41.859 they'll come out and they'll apologize. 00:02:43.019 --> 00:02:48.759 They'll apologize for the way they have reflected so poorly 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:56.060 on certain people or organizations that they represent. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:01.019 University of Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield 00:03:01.020 --> 00:03:04.820 has been a very public example of this. 00:03:04.820 --> 00:03:08.560 He was arrested back in February 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:14.960 for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:19.340 and a few other infractions, the story goes. 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:25.180 Three days later, he issued a very lengthy apology 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:28.379 that demonstrates his awareness 00:03:28.379 --> 00:03:31.120 that it matters how you live. 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:33.659 It matters a lot 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:39.580 how you represent certain people, organizations. 00:03:39.580 --> 00:03:42.380 I want you to look at part of his statement. 00:03:43.260 --> 00:03:43.660 He said, 00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:47.300 I sincerely apologize for my actions early Saturday morning. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:52.600 I apologize to President Boren, Coach Stoops, and Coach Riley 00:03:52.600 --> 00:03:57.320 for conducting myself in a manner that does not correctly represent 00:03:57.320 --> 00:04:00.500 the way the University of Oklahoma should be represented. 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:05.080 I know better than to bring bad attention and scrutiny 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:07.900 to the school and people that I love. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:12.159 Next, I apologize to my family and close friends. 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:13.960 To my parents and brother, 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:17.720 I am extremely sorry for bringing this embarrassment 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:20.300 to the Mayfield name. 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:23.620 I was raised better. 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:26.040 I want you to think. 00:04:29.100 --> 00:04:34.060 If it matters how athletes and politicians 00:04:34.060 --> 00:04:38.079 and business executives and go on and on, 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:40.959 if it matters how they live, 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:45.420 if it matters how they represent their company 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:47.620 or organization or whatever, 00:04:48.620 --> 00:04:51.280 how much more should it matter 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:55.599 how we as Christians live 00:04:55.599 --> 00:05:00.939 and reflect on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:05:02.739 --> 00:05:04.500 Today and for the next four weeks, 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:07.659 I want us to turn to Romans chapter 12 00:05:07.659 --> 00:05:11.619 and look at how God calls us to live in this world 00:05:11.619 --> 00:05:14.079 as his children. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:17.399 And I want us to understand he calls us to do this 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:19.259 because it matters. 00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:21.680 It matters how we live. 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:23.879 It matters how we represent him, 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:25.800 how we represent the Lord Jesus. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:29.039 What we're going to do 00:05:29.039 --> 00:05:31.459 is we're going to do a study 00:05:31.459 --> 00:05:33.839 of the entire chapter of Romans 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:36.139 or the 12th chapter of Romans. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:38.639 The whole thing is going to be called 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:39.699 Living Like a Christian. 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:42.800 And we're going to break it down into five studies, 00:05:42.939 --> 00:05:43.899 possibly six. 00:05:44.939 --> 00:05:46.240 Here's the goal. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.240 Today, Living Like a Christian 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:50.819 in Our Relationship with God, Part 1. 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:53.579 We're really just going to look at verse 1 00:05:53.579 --> 00:05:55.860 and come back next week and look at verse 2. 00:05:56.939 --> 00:05:58.180 Then Living Like a Christian 00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:00.900 in Our Understanding of Ourselves, 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:04.560 beginning in verse 3 through verse 8. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:07.500 And then we'll spend the last two weeks, 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:08.560 possibly three, 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:10.019 Living Like a Christian 00:06:10.019 --> 00:06:12.019 in Our Relationships with Others. 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:16.259 Romans 12, verses 9 through 21. 00:06:17.539 --> 00:06:19.899 Today, I want us to begin by reading Romans 1, 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:22.539 or Romans 12, verses 1 and 2. 00:06:23.299 --> 00:06:24.599 And as we read this, 00:06:25.719 --> 00:06:27.899 if you've been in church anywhere, 00:06:27.899 --> 00:06:28.939 I'm going to guess, 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:30.740 for any length of time, 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.939 these two verses are very familiar. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:35.659 Romans 12, 1 and 2 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:37.900 is one of the most important passages 00:06:37.900 --> 00:06:39.700 in the entire Bible. 00:06:41.320 --> 00:06:43.100 Certainly one of the most well-known 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:44.620 in the book of Romans. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.240 If you've been a member of this church 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:49.520 for any length of time, 00:06:49.640 --> 00:06:51.100 for a few years at least, 00:06:52.100 --> 00:06:54.000 as we read this, 00:06:54.080 --> 00:06:55.360 if they don't sound familiar, 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:57.300 don't tell me. 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:00.340 Please don't tell me 00:07:00.340 --> 00:07:02.540 that you're not familiar 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:05.500 with Romans 12, 1 and 2. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:06.720 Let's read it. 00:07:08.080 --> 00:07:10.360 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.120 It could be translated 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:13.360 brothers and sisters. 00:07:14.580 --> 00:07:15.720 It includes both. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.580 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, 00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:21.080 by the mercies of God, 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:23.340 to present your bodies 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:25.620 as a living sacrifice, 00:07:26.420 --> 00:07:29.080 holy and acceptable to God, 00:07:29.420 --> 00:07:31.720 which is your spiritual worship. 00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:34.580 Do not be conformed to this world, 00:07:35.280 --> 00:07:36.620 but be transformed 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:39.040 by the renewal of your mind, 00:07:39.420 --> 00:07:40.560 that by testing 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.020 you may discern 00:07:42.020 --> 00:07:43.560 what is the will of God, 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:44.920 what is good 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:46.100 and acceptable 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:47.540 and perfect. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:50.660 Paul wrote this letter 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:53.080 to the church at Rome. 00:07:54.080 --> 00:07:55.620 He wrote this letter 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:56.720 to Christians. 00:07:57.640 --> 00:07:59.420 And the first 11 chapters, 00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:02.759 he is explaining to them 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:05.220 how all people are sinners 00:08:05.220 --> 00:08:06.280 in need of a Savior 00:08:06.280 --> 00:08:09.759 and that God graciously provided 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:11.640 the Savior we need 00:08:11.640 --> 00:08:13.700 in the person of His Son, 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:14.600 Jesus. 00:08:16.280 --> 00:08:18.860 Paul explained in great detail 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:22.379 how salvation is by the grace of God 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:24.920 through faith in Jesus, 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:27.680 through faith alone 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:28.620 in Jesus. 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:30.800 Now, 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:32.700 in chapter 12, 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:35.920 he starts applying 00:08:35.920 --> 00:08:37.720 what he's taught. 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:40.820 You could put it this way. 00:08:42.259 --> 00:08:44.379 In chapters 1 through 11, 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:47.159 Paul explains a lot 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:48.019 in great detail, 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:49.200 answers questions, 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:50.379 objections even, 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:53.279 to what God has done 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:54.240 for us in Christ 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:55.500 and how we should respond 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.799 by repentance and faith. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:01.480 And it could be 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:02.360 that you get to the end 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:03.259 of chapter 11 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:04.500 and you think about 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:05.360 all he's said 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.980 and you ask the question, 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.139 so what? 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:09.299 Well, 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:10.019 in chapter 12, 00:09:10.059 --> 00:09:10.539 verse 1, 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:11.740 Paul starts answering, 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:12.919 so what? 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:14.639 He explains, 00:09:15.019 --> 00:09:16.100 he applies 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:18.039 what he's been teaching. 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:20.799 What he's going to do 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:22.699 is tell us 00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:24.039 how we need to respond 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:26.819 to what God 00:09:26.819 --> 00:09:27.039 has graciously 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:28.759 and mercifully 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:29.039 done 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:31.019 in our lives. 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:32.679 And he's going to say 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:33.839 that we need to respond 00:09:33.839 --> 00:09:37.199 by making a commitment 00:09:37.199 --> 00:09:39.459 of our whole lives 00:09:39.459 --> 00:09:41.379 to God. 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:43.379 That's how we demonstrate 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:44.579 we're God's children. 00:09:45.319 --> 00:09:46.339 That's how we express 00:09:46.339 --> 00:09:47.519 our love and appreciation 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:47.960 to God 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:48.679 for what he's done 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:49.120 for us 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:50.639 by making a great 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:51.579 commitment, 00:09:51.819 --> 00:09:52.439 a real, 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:54.279 wholehearted commitment. 00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:55.799 But I want you 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:56.279 to understand, 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:58.079 that word commitment 00:09:58.079 --> 00:10:01.319 is falling on hard times. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:03.019 We live in a day 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:03.799 where we don't like 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:04.899 to make commitments. 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.100 A lot of people 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:08.460 won't make a commitment 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:10.460 to somebody 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:11.179 or something 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:12.639 next week. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.080 commitment. 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:14.840 But commitment 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:16.240 is not 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:17.559 a bad word. 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:19.399 Now sometimes 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:22.539 it's just not 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:22.879 everything 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:24.019 that is cracked up 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:24.439 to be. 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:25.259 For example, 00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:26.919 there's a such thing 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:28.720 as a try your hardest 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.759 because you've got 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:30.340 to do it 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.519 kind of commitment. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:33.819 That's the kind 00:10:33.819 --> 00:10:34.220 of commitment 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:34.639 where 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.360 you go to the doctor 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.139 and he tells you 00:10:38.139 --> 00:10:38.460 you've got 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:39.300 high blood pressure. 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:42.060 Your blood sugar 00:10:42.060 --> 00:10:43.419 levels are too high. 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:46.340 And what you've got 00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:46.700 to do 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:47.519 in order to avoid 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.399 going on medication, 00:10:48.800 --> 00:10:49.379 what you've got 00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:49.680 to do 00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:50.580 maybe to avoid 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:51.440 becoming a diabetic 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:52.520 or having a stroke, 00:10:52.940 --> 00:10:53.560 you've got 00:10:53.560 --> 00:10:54.440 to lose 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:55.700 30 pounds. 00:10:57.880 --> 00:10:58.560 And so you think 00:10:58.560 --> 00:10:58.960 to yourself, 00:10:59.080 --> 00:10:59.420 well I don't want 00:10:59.420 --> 00:11:00.000 to have a stroke, 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:00.420 I don't want 00:11:00.420 --> 00:11:01.060 to be a diabetic, 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:02.120 I don't want 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:02.560 to have to take 00:11:02.560 --> 00:11:03.240 medication, 00:11:04.560 --> 00:11:05.060 so I'm going 00:11:05.060 --> 00:11:06.100 to lose the weight 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:07.800 and I'm going 00:11:07.800 --> 00:11:08.880 to make a commitment 00:11:08.880 --> 00:11:11.200 but I absolutely 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.040 hate the thought 00:11:13.040 --> 00:11:14.240 of dieting, 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:15.500 of exercising, 00:11:15.900 --> 00:11:16.640 of doing all 00:11:16.640 --> 00:11:17.440 I've got to do 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:18.460 to lose that weight. 00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:18.780 Yes, 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:19.400 I want to do it, 00:11:19.640 --> 00:11:19.840 yes, 00:11:19.880 --> 00:11:20.260 I want to make 00:11:20.260 --> 00:11:20.880 a commitment 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:21.679 but I'm going 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:22.259 to hate 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.879 every single day 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:24.340 that I don't get 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:25.100 to eat what I want 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:25.419 to eat 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:26.679 and every single day 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:27.840 that I have to run 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:28.879 where I don't want 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:29.200 to run, 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:29.759 do what I've got 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:30.519 to do that way. 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:34.279 That is not 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:36.379 the kind of commitment 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.679 that God is calling 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:39.779 us to make 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:41.320 in verse 1. 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:43.279 I want you to get 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.200 out of your mind 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:46.120 any kind of 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.740 coerced, 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:49.740 do your best 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.340 even though you 00:11:50.340 --> 00:11:50.940 don't want to 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:52.259 kind of commitment. 00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:53.960 I want you to look 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:54.399 at what kind 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:54.740 it is. 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:55.420 Number 1, 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.379 our commitment 00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:56.920 to God 00:11:56.920 --> 00:11:58.019 is based on 00:11:58.019 --> 00:11:58.680 a loving 00:11:58.680 --> 00:11:59.399 relationship 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:00.180 with Him. 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:02.379 The first place 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:02.860 that we begin 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:03.420 as we think 00:12:03.420 --> 00:12:04.060 about the commitment 00:12:04.060 --> 00:12:04.680 He's calling us 00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:04.960 to make, 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:05.940 it is based 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:06.620 on a loving 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:07.139 relationship 00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:07.639 with Him. 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:08.519 Look at verse 1, 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:09.399 the first phrase. 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:10.840 I appeal 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:11.500 to you 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:12.340 therefore 00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:13.540 brothers 00:12:13.539 --> 00:12:15.179 by the mercies 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:15.639 of God. 00:12:15.819 --> 00:12:16.579 This is not 00:12:16.579 --> 00:12:17.679 really a 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:18.959 command 00:12:18.959 --> 00:12:19.740 command. 00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:22.319 Paul is 00:12:22.319 --> 00:12:23.459 urging, 00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:25.639 strongly 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.759 encouraging 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.919 these people 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:28.620 that he calls 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:29.559 brothers and 00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:30.099 sisters. 00:12:32.339 --> 00:12:33.299 It's like he's 00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:34.000 saying to them, 00:12:34.219 --> 00:12:34.899 I'm urging you, 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.819 I'm encouraging you. 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:36.939 It's strong. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.699 He's an apostle. 00:12:37.839 --> 00:12:38.599 He has the authority 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:39.139 to do that. 00:12:39.300 --> 00:12:39.800 It's the Word 00:12:39.800 --> 00:12:40.139 of God. 00:12:40.420 --> 00:12:41.120 We ought to do it, 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:41.820 but Paul is 00:12:41.820 --> 00:12:43.159 making the appeal 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.779 because it's 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:47.740 something based 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.840 on the mercy 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:49.879 of God, 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:50.840 the mercies 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.759 of God. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.240 Look at the word 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.040 therefore for a 00:12:54.040 --> 00:12:54.240 moment. 00:12:54.920 --> 00:12:55.659 That recalls 00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:56.139 what Paul has 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:56.720 been describing 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:57.540 verses 1 through 00:12:57.540 --> 00:12:57.940 11, 00:12:58.940 --> 00:12:59.980 which can be 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:01.040 summarized 00:13:01.040 --> 00:13:03.139 the mercies 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.660 of God 00:13:03.660 --> 00:13:05.279 or the 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.480 merciful acts 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:07.300 of God 00:13:07.299 --> 00:13:08.819 in providing 00:13:08.819 --> 00:13:09.279 for our 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:09.799 salvation. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:10.979 Paul is 00:13:10.979 --> 00:13:11.479 trying to 00:13:11.479 --> 00:13:12.359 motivate us, 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:12.819 trying to 00:13:12.819 --> 00:13:13.559 motivate those 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:14.479 people originally 00:13:14.479 --> 00:13:15.379 and us today 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:16.639 to commit 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.240 ourselves 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.279 wholeheartedly 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:18.799 to God 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:19.779 by pointing 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.779 out to us 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.859 what God 00:13:21.859 --> 00:13:22.379 has so 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.199 mercifully 00:13:23.199 --> 00:13:24.459 and graciously 00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:25.859 and lovingly 00:13:25.859 --> 00:13:27.240 done for us. 00:13:27.319 --> 00:13:27.699 This is 00:13:27.699 --> 00:13:28.259 positive 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:28.939 motivation. 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:31.159 Paul's already 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:31.659 pointed out 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:32.299 in this letter, 00:13:34.079 --> 00:13:34.620 first 11 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.179 chapters, 00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:37.159 how God 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:37.539 has, 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:39.139 from His 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:39.879 own initiative, 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.759 from His 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.699 own love, 00:13:42.839 --> 00:13:43.099 from His 00:13:43.099 --> 00:13:44.059 own grace, 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:47.319 chose us 00:13:47.319 --> 00:13:48.699 to be His 00:13:48.699 --> 00:13:49.359 children 00:13:49.359 --> 00:13:50.659 through faith 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.099 in Jesus. 00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:52.579 Paul has 00:13:52.579 --> 00:13:53.659 explained how 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.099 God has 00:13:54.099 --> 00:13:54.839 called us 00:13:54.839 --> 00:13:55.459 by His 00:13:55.459 --> 00:13:55.979 grace 00:13:55.979 --> 00:13:57.899 to enjoy 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.959 the privileges 00:13:58.959 --> 00:14:00.659 of being 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:02.019 His children, 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.240 being able to 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.600 call Him 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.460 Heavenly Father. 00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:08.500 God has 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.299 shown us, 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:10.639 or Paul 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.139 has written 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:11.659 here about 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:12.120 what God 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.700 has done 00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:14.460 in offering 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:14.919 us, 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:15.740 giving us 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:16.399 salvation 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:17.379 as a 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:17.820 gift 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:19.000 that we 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:19.560 receive 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:19.980 through 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.799 faith in 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:21.259 Jesus. 00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:22.700 Paul has 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.279 explained 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:24.139 while that 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:24.820 gift is 00:14:24.820 --> 00:14:25.539 free to us, 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.000 it was very 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:26.600 costly to 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:26.840 Him. 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.159 He sent 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.879 His Son 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.240 into this 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.139 world to 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:31.940 actually die 00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:33.039 a horrible 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.480 death. 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.620 on a cross, 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:35.800 but to die 00:14:35.800 --> 00:14:36.759 as our 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.460 substitute, 00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:39.100 suffering the 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.379 punishment that 00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:41.000 our sins 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.420 deserve, 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:41.879 that we 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.399 deserve. 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:45.039 God offers 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:46.279 forgiveness, 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:48.899 wiping the 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:49.600 slate clean, 00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:50.460 a new start, 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.960 a new life. 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:54.399 God offers 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.440 eternal life 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.480 as a gift 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:58.840 through faith 00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.519 in His Son, 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:00.279 Jesus. 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:00.459 forgiveness. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:01.579 Now, 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:02.579 if you 00:15:02.579 --> 00:15:03.120 have 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.399 received 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:04.919 that gift, 00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:06.579 if you 00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:07.019 truly know 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:07.559 Christ as 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:07.939 your Lord 00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:08.419 and Savior, 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:10.100 I want you 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:10.500 to think 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:10.879 about what 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.500 God has 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:11.959 done for 00:15:11.959 --> 00:15:12.179 you, 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:12.500 and He 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:12.959 didn't have 00:15:12.959 --> 00:15:13.179 to. 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.579 He was 00:15:15.579 --> 00:15:15.899 under no 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.459 obligation. 00:15:18.459 --> 00:15:19.079 But I want 00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:19.419 you to know 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:20.079 that God 00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:20.779 has forgiven 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.079 you. 00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:23.779 God has, 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.079 in His sight, 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.000 made you 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.500 new. 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:28.659 God has 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.159 put His 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.559 Spirit in 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:30.860 you. 00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.000 God now 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.600 thinks of 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.000 you as 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.019 His son 00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:35.440 or His 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:35.799 daughter. 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:36.320 You are 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:37.360 His child. 00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:40.320 And God 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:42.179 promises to 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:42.799 be with you 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.379 and take care 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:43.879 of you every 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.279 step of the 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:44.759 way in this 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.139 world. 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:45.620 That doesn't 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.120 mean life's 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.419 going to be 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:47.500 easy by no 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.259 means. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.059 But God 00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:50.659 promises to 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:51.259 be with us, 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:51.879 to never leave 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.639 us nor forsake 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:52.960 us. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:55.460 sometimes He'll 00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:55.980 just have to 00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:56.660 carry us 00:15:56.660 --> 00:15:56.960 through a 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.460 situation. 00:15:59.900 --> 00:16:00.540 God promises 00:16:00.540 --> 00:16:01.060 not only to be 00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:01.440 with us in 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.000 this life, 00:16:02.800 --> 00:16:03.320 but to bring 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.180 us into His 00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:05.519 real presence 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.040 after death 00:16:08.040 --> 00:16:09.320 where we 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:10.080 will enjoy 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.740 eternity 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:13.820 in heaven 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:15.220 with Him 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:16.340 and with 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.000 all of His 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.740 people. 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:19.980 So the idea 00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:20.660 is, when Paul 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:21.620 says, I appeal 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:21.940 to you, 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:22.280 therefore, 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:22.740 brothers, 00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.080 by the 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.639 mercies of 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.500 God, the 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.360 idea is, in 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.240 light of God's 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.220 great mercy 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:28.019 and grace 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:28.580 and love, 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.320 all this, 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.200 He is calling 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:32.840 us to 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.539 willingly 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:34.720 commit 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.720 ourselves to 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:37.799 Him and 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.259 live the 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.139 kind of life 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:39.980 that will 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:40.840 honor Him, 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:41.440 that will 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.440 please Him. 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:43.740 And there's 00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.299 other things 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:44.840 in Romans that 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.700 tell us it'll 00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:46.120 be the most 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.139 satisfying life 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.600 that we could 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.820 live as well. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.700 It matters how 00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.340 we live in this 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:52.680 world. 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:54.820 God really 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.539 wants us to 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.419 live like 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.560 His children, 00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:58.200 to have a 00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:58.720 right kind of 00:16:58.720 --> 00:16:59.460 relationship with 00:16:59.460 --> 00:16:59.620 Him. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.320 And to have a 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:00.960 right kind of 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.519 relationship with 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.039 Him day by 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:03.100 day, it requires 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:03.700 that we commit 00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.319 ourselves to 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:04.519 Him. 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.299 But understand, 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.480 He's calling us 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.079 to commit 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:07.700 ourselves to 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:10.200 Him because 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.819 He's the one 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.380 who loves us 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:11.839 more than anyone 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.160 could. 00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:13.480 He's the one 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:13.980 who's already 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.700 done for us 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.359 what no one 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.180 else could do 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:17.019 and will for 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.599 all eternity 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:19.039 do for us. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.059 there is no 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:24.119 greater one 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:26.480 than Almighty 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:28.059 God and His 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:28.639 Son Jesus 00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:31.279 Christ who is 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.579 for us, who 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.759 is with us. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.480 There's no 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.119 greater one, 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.039 greater thing that 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.279 should motivate us 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:40.119 to want to say, 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:42.000 Lord, I am 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.480 yours. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:44.579 I am committed 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:46.140 to you, to 00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:47.400 your way, to 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:48.019 your will. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:49.900 The motivation 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:51.880 should come from 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:52.500 the relationship 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.180 we have with 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:53.920 God based on 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.539 His mercy. 00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:56.099 Number two, our 00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:56.799 commitment to God 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.880 is to be a 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:59.319 total life 00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.940 commitment. 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:00.660 God's not 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.339 playing around. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.259 It is a 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:07.900 great, a 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.680 great urging. 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.920 He wants us to 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:11.700 be motivated from 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.120 within. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.599 Spirit of God 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.920 Himself motivates 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:16.500 us from love 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.099 and gratitude. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.079 But God is 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:19.960 calling us to 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.960 make, make no 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.500 mistake, a 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.980 total, 100% 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:24.860 commitment to 00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.099 Him. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:25.980 He says, look 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:26.420 at it. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:27.740 I appeal to you 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.259 therefore, brothers, 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:28.860 by the mercies of 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:30.019 God, to present 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.860 your bodies as a 00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:32.980 living sacrifice, 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:34.599 holy and 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:35.579 acceptable to 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:35.900 God. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.420 Look at the 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:36.880 first phrase, 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.420 present your 00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:37.799 bodies. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.380 On one hand, 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:39.920 that refers to 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.400 everything that 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:40.960 you are. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:45.220 you, your 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:46.059 life. 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.140 But He uses 00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:48.779 that word 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:51.279 body for a 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.319 purpose. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.860 That literally 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:56.559 means use 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.279 your body 00:18:58.279 --> 00:19:01.340 in sacrificial 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:02.100 service to the 00:19:02.100 --> 00:19:02.340 Lord. 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:04.640 Use your eyes, 00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:06.680 use your mouth, 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:09.680 hands, use your 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:11.440 feet, use your 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:14.360 mind to 00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.299 please God 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:16.940 instead of 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.880 pleasing yourself 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:19.360 or fulfilling 00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:20.220 your sinful 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.299 desires. 00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:22.799 Paul talks about 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.519 that earlier in 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.180 Romans in chapter 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:24.580 6. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.100 I want you to 00:19:25.100 --> 00:19:25.600 look at one 00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:26.220 verse where he 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.039 sort of explains 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:27.600 this. 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:29.059 He says, 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:29.740 do not offer 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.500 any part of 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:33.079 yourself to 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:34.179 sin as an 00:19:34.179 --> 00:19:34.959 instrument of 00:19:34.959 --> 00:19:36.399 wickedness, but 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:37.259 rather offer 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:39.359 yourselves, some 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.079 translations say 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:41.240 your members, 00:19:41.699 --> 00:19:42.199 members of your 00:19:42.199 --> 00:19:44.000 body, but rather 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.039 offer yourselves to 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:46.179 God as those who 00:19:46.179 --> 00:19:46.899 have been brought 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.799 from death to 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.980 life and offer 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.839 every part of 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:51.399 yourself to Him as 00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:53.419 an instrument of 00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:53.959 righteousness. 00:19:55.699 --> 00:19:56.139 And I want you to 00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:56.679 think about what he's 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.120 saying here. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.640 He's calling us to 00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.000 make a total 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.600 commitment of 00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:00.900 ourselves, of 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.779 our bodies. 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.560 God wants us to 00:20:04.560 --> 00:20:05.500 commit to using 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:08.019 our mouth to 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:10.539 speak truth, not 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.160 lies. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.799 God wants us to 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.840 use our mouth to 00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:14.980 speak encouraging 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:16.039 words to people, 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.960 not put-downs. 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:20.299 God wants us to 00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:22.700 use our mouth to 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:24.320 speak words of 00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:25.259 the gospel, of 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:27.579 life, of hope to 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:29.720 people, not just 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.759 talk about just the 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.299 things of this 00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:31.660 world. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.200 God wants us to 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:36.240 use our hands in 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.680 serving people, 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.819 meeting needs, 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.920 actually touching 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:43.279 people's lives, not 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:45.220 just taking care of 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:47.259 ourselves, meeting 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.940 our own needs. 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.039 sacrifice. 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.480 This verse 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.759 specifically says to 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.840 present your bodies 00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:54.279 as a living sacrifice. 00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:55.340 And when Paul wrote 00:20:55.340 --> 00:20:56.480 that, everybody 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.480 understood the idea 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.820 of animal sacrifice. 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:02.820 Not just Jews, it was 00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:04.259 just the way of the 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.880 times. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.279 Pagans, everybody 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:09.200 worships, always have, 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.120 always will. 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:12.059 And there was animal 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:13.400 sacrifices in the pagan 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:13.920 temples. 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.440 In the most extreme 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.720 abuses of the system, 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.519 there were human 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.539 sacrifices offered. 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.440 But as Paul wrote 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.120 this, there was a 00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:23.960 Jewish element in the 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:25.600 church, and for sure 00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:27.519 it brought to mind the 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.880 animal sacrifices that 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.680 were killed, blood 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:32.740 spilt, as an atonement 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.579 for their sins. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.480 Problem was, in the 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.740 Old Testament, it had to 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.640 be done over and over 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.160 and over again. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.500 It really was not, it 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:43.059 was God's plan, it was 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:44.019 part of the law, but it 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:46.819 wasn't God's final word. 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:49.819 It wasn't the fulfilled 00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.319 plan. 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:53.039 If you read in Hebrews 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.159 chapter 8, 9, and 10, 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:56.740 for example, those animal 00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:58.179 sacrifices are no longer, 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.019 they're obsolete. 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:03.279 Jesus Christ, all those 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.220 sacrifices, they actually 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.879 pointed to Him. 00:22:04.939 --> 00:22:08.139 He is the Lamb of God, who 00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:09.899 by His death, by the 00:22:09.899 --> 00:22:12.619 shedding of His blood, that 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:15.259 really removed sin, that 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:18.719 really atoned for our 00:22:18.719 --> 00:22:20.339 sins, the sins of those 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:22.719 who trust in Him, the 00:22:22.719 --> 00:22:25.119 sins of His people. 00:22:26.659 --> 00:22:29.659 Well, now, God calls us, 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.419 forget the animal 00:22:30.419 --> 00:22:32.059 sacrifices, present 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:33.959 yourself, present your 00:22:33.959 --> 00:22:36.399 life, present your body as 00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:38.619 a living sacrifice. 00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.099 sacrifice. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.859 And look what He says, how 00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:41.259 to do it. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:44.079 As holy and acceptable to 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:44.439 God. 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.699 We're to present ourselves 00:22:45.699 --> 00:22:46.179 to God. 00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.159 The word holy here is 00:22:47.159 --> 00:22:47.899 talking about being set 00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:48.199 apart. 00:22:49.479 --> 00:22:50.559 We're to present ourselves 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:52.179 to God as a living 00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:52.639 sacrifice. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.459 We're holy. 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.299 We're set apart. 00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.379 We're not like the world. 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.439 We'll get into that next 00:22:56.439 --> 00:22:56.819 week. 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:59.199 We're to be God's unique 00:22:59.199 --> 00:22:59.779 people. 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.500 And as we present 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:03.119 ourselves to God as a 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:04.879 living sacrifice, holy, set 00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.919 apart, not like everybody 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:08.360 else, it will be 00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:09.420 acceptable to Him. 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.759 Or some translations say 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:13.160 it'll be pleasing to Him. 00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:15.180 That's another positive 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.720 motivation. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:16.980 I want you to think 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.500 about this. 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.860 There's some people you 00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:21.600 know that no matter what 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.759 you do, you cannot please 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.039 them. 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.600 Some of you, you may be 00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:28.440 thinking, that's my mama, 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.120 that's my daddy. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.480 Some of you may be 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.560 thinking, that's my husband, 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.340 that's my wife. 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:35.659 Or my boss. 00:23:36.699 --> 00:23:38.199 Or someone in my life. 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.199 They just cannot be 00:23:39.199 --> 00:23:39.639 pleased. 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.639 And some people would 00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:41.619 have the idea, you can 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.539 never please God, but 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.099 that's not true. 00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:47.399 We can be pleasing to 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:47.639 God. 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:49.000 We can be acceptable to 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.179 Him. 00:23:49.459 --> 00:23:50.240 In fact, if you want to 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.959 do some more reading on 00:23:50.959 --> 00:23:52.619 that, 1 Thessalonians 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.919 chapter 4, beginning in 00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:55.720 verse 1, talks about 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.519 living a life that 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.199 pleases God. 00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:58.179 In fact, a few years 00:23:58.179 --> 00:23:58.919 ago, a couple of years 00:23:58.919 --> 00:24:00.939 ago, we did a little 00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:02.439 short series on pleasing 00:24:02.439 --> 00:24:02.879 God. 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:05.059 I want you to 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:06.659 understand what Paul is 00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:07.419 saying here about 00:24:07.419 --> 00:24:08.939 committing ourselves to 00:24:08.939 --> 00:24:11.519 Him because we love 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.220 Him, because we're 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.000 appreciative of what 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.799 He's done for us, 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:15.059 committing ourselves to 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.659 Him wholeheartedly as a 00:24:16.659 --> 00:24:18.619 living sacrifice, that 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:20.139 pleases God. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.899 You can leave here this 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:27.059 morning as one in whom 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.339 God is pleased. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.480 A smile comes across 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.459 His face because you are 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:34.940 trusting in His Son for 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.660 your salvation. 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.279 That means the penalty 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.259 for your sins paid. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:40.240 That means God credits the 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.620 righteousness of Jesus to 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.019 you. 00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:44.100 And if you're trusting in 00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:47.279 Jesus this way, and you 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.940 want to express your love 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:50.360 and thanks to God by 00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:51.680 committing yourself to 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.319 Him 100% as a living 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:55.180 sacrifice, separated from 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:58.140 this world, you will leave 00:24:58.140 --> 00:25:00.180 here pleasing God. 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:03.280 Now, this kind of commitment 00:25:03.280 --> 00:25:05.980 to God requires that we 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:08.180 have to be intentional in 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.220 how we live in this world. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.940 We have to be intentional 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:16.220 about what we do as we do 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.560 what we do at home and work 00:25:17.560 --> 00:25:18.800 and school and on the ball 00:25:18.800 --> 00:25:19.680 field and everywhere else. 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.120 We've got to be intentional 00:25:21.120 --> 00:25:23.300 about, I am seeking to please 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:25.419 God in the way that I am 00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:28.819 committed to Him in just 00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:30.659 doing what I've got to do 00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:32.259 wherever I am and go in 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.579 life. 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.599 We've got to be intentional. 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:39.059 Our goal has to be more 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:40.919 than just trying to be good. 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:44.919 Just trying to be good 00:25:44.919 --> 00:25:46.819 citizens, good Americans, 00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:49.619 morally upright, or even good 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.359 church members. 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:53.159 Jerry Bridges, the Christian 00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.719 author, written a lot of 00:25:54.719 --> 00:25:55.679 books on living Christian 00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:55.959 life. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.479 Great, great guy. 00:25:58.139 --> 00:25:58.899 Lots of help. 00:26:00.479 --> 00:26:02.139 He talks about, in one of his 00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:04.559 books, there's a lot of people 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:06.919 who are committed to doing 00:26:06.919 --> 00:26:07.459 good. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.819 They're, what you might call, 00:26:10.179 --> 00:26:11.500 they're committed to moral 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.179 values. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:14.259 They're committed to morality. 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.599 Or they're committed to the 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.000 church. 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.319 church. 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:20.259 I want you to know that you 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:22.279 can be an atheist. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.160 And you can be committed to 00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.720 doing good. 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.559 There's a lot of people who 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.740 don't believe in God, who 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.839 don't care about God, and 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:30.059 they're basically good, 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:32.299 morally upright people. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.440 What the Scripture is calling 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.440 us to do is not be committed 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.859 to some vague sense of 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:43.160 goodness and moral values, or 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.720 even being committed to the 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:47.759 church, standing alone. 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:50.299 We're supposed to be committed 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:53.720 to God, to Him, in a 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.279 relationship. 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:55.500 And if we are, we'll be 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.559 committed to His Word. 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.839 We'll be committed to the 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:00.940 moral teachings and truth 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.559 that He reveals in His Word. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.980 We'll be committed to His 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.539 church. 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.140 But the commitment is really 00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:06.559 to Him. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.740 It's really to the Lord Jesus. 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:11.779 And we just live it out by 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.819 obeying the moral principles. 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:16.819 By participating in worship 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:19.059 and study and fellowship that 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:20.159 we do in church. 00:27:21.919 --> 00:27:23.299 Now this commitment to honor 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.259 God and please Him. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:29.059 You know this kind of 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:31.899 devotion cannot be forced. 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:37.060 You can't just decide, 00:27:38.060 --> 00:27:40.980 I'm just going to do the best 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:43.960 I can and be committed to God 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.440 this way. 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:47.900 You can't make yourself 00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:52.920 have this inner love and 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:56.860 gratitude, appreciation to God 00:27:56.859 --> 00:28:00.839 for what He has done for you 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.779 and saving you. 00:28:03.199 --> 00:28:04.179 You can't do it. 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:09.000 This will only come from a 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.079 heart that has been changed, 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:10.919 from a person who's been 00:28:10.919 --> 00:28:12.500 changed by the Spirit of God. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.419 This can only happen in the 00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:15.399 life of a real Christian. 00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:18.779 This is one way to tell if you 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.959 have a real relationship with 00:28:19.959 --> 00:28:20.240 God. 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:22.139 If you think to yourself, 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:24.120 I don't really have a clue 00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:25.160 what you're talking about 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:25.700 this morning. 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:29.340 This idea of having a 00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:30.140 relationship with God, 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:32.120 having this inward motivation 00:28:32.120 --> 00:28:34.060 to love Him and show thanks 00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:35.320 to Him because of what He's 00:28:35.320 --> 00:28:35.720 done for me. 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.440 If you say, 00:28:36.520 --> 00:28:37.180 I don't understand that, 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.100 I want you to understand, 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:40.320 I just don't see that you 00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:41.100 could be a Christian 00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:41.140 possibly. 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:44.520 Because if you're a Christian, 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.340 the Spirit of God lives 00:28:45.340 --> 00:28:45.800 within you. 00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.840 If you're a Christian, 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:49.220 you understand what God has 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.580 done for you in sending 00:28:50.580 --> 00:28:51.000 Jesus. 00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:52.360 You understand the 00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:52.740 forgiveness. 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:54.120 You understand the freedom. 00:28:54.320 --> 00:28:55.900 You understand His love. 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:57.140 You've experienced it. 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:00.140 And there's something within 00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:01.580 you that causes you to want 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:03.180 to express your love back 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:05.080 and show Him your gratitude 00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:06.460 by the way that you live. 00:29:06.600 --> 00:29:07.560 Now, you don't always do 00:29:07.560 --> 00:29:09.060 that and no one does. 00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:12.720 We still have this sinful 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:14.060 nature that we have to 00:29:14.060 --> 00:29:14.520 battle. 00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:16.880 Some days I just want to 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:18.140 please me more than God. 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.960 You know that. 00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:21.460 But you also know if the 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.360 Spirit of God lives within 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:27.700 you, that it's He who gives 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:29.340 us the desire, the ability 00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:32.600 to want to be committed to 00:29:32.600 --> 00:29:34.540 our Heavenly Father for these 00:29:34.540 --> 00:29:35.500 right reasons. 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.500 Let's look at one more 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:37.820 thing. 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.960 Our commitment to God makes 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.700 sense. 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:43.500 If we are His children. 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.640 This whole, this call to 00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.480 wholehearted commitment to 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:48.240 God is not something 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:50.020 fanatical, unrealistic that 00:29:50.020 --> 00:29:51.600 Paul just made up because 00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:54.640 he was a fanatical, unreal 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.420 kind of guy. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:56.740 No. 00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.900 It makes sense. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.120 Look at the last phrase 00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:01.400 here. 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.960 He says, which is your 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:05.540 spiritual worship. 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:05.659 worship. 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:09.359 Or, in the footnote of the 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.720 ESV, which I'm reading from, 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:12.379 it says, it is your rational 00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:12.960 service. 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.519 New American Standard says, 00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:16.539 which is your spiritual service 00:30:17.139 --> 00:30:17.779 of worship. 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.599 The Net Bible, the New English 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.700 translation, says, which is your 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:23.680 reasonable service. 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:23.880 service. 00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:27.460 What Paul is saying here that 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:30.700 this call to commit yourself to 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:32.420 God as a living sacrifice 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:35.299 wholeheartedly, because God's 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.560 shown His mercy to you and you 00:30:36.560 --> 00:30:37.640 love Him and you just want to do 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.500 this because you know it will 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.019 please Him. 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:42.360 Paul is saying that this is 00:30:42.360 --> 00:30:45.100 reasonable service. 00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:53.019 This is rational worship. 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:57.619 It just makes sense if you know 00:30:57.619 --> 00:30:59.199 who God is and what He's done. 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.939 It's not fanatical. 00:31:03.399 --> 00:31:04.699 It's not over the top. 00:31:05.939 --> 00:31:08.240 It's not crazy at all. 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:12.299 Now, I want you to think with me. 00:31:12.679 --> 00:31:13.619 This call to commitment. 00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:17.019 It's a call to, it says here, 00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:20.279 to worship God, which is your 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:22.359 spiritual worship, which is your 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:25.119 reasonable service, service of 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:26.099 worship, whatever you want to say. 00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:28.419 I want you to look with me at what 00:31:28.419 --> 00:31:29.659 Doug Moo, New Testament 00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:32.579 commentator, how he explains this 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:34.579 idea of our commitment to God 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:36.699 being an act of worship or 00:31:36.699 --> 00:31:37.879 worshipful service. 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.559 Look at it. 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:41.619 He says, worship is the way we 00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:44.239 live, not what we do on Sunday 00:31:44.239 --> 00:31:44.559 morning. 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.699 Now, he goes on. 00:31:45.739 --> 00:31:46.619 I'm not going to do it because we 00:31:46.619 --> 00:31:47.239 don't have time. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.279 He talks about what we do on Sunday 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:52.279 morning is corporate worship and it 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.779 matters how we worship. 00:31:54.219 --> 00:31:56.259 So he's not discounting God's people 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.099 gathering for worship. 00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:59.159 He's not discounting us having a 00:31:59.159 --> 00:32:00.839 devotional life where we worship God 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.459 and praise Him. 00:32:02.159 --> 00:32:02.719 Look at it. 00:32:03.459 --> 00:32:06.259 Worship in this context is the way we 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:08.219 live, not what we do on Sunday 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:08.480 morning. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:11.240 We worship God, says Paul, by 00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:13.240 giving ourselves in sacrificial 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.980 service to our Lord. 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:17.660 We are to serve Him every day, every 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:18.539 hour, every minute. 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:21.360 Paul deliberately uses the word 00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:23.660 body to describe what we are to 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.620 offer to God. 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.960 He gives some examples. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.460 Look at it. 00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:29.579 As we eat our food, we worship God 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:31.519 by thanking Him for what He has 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:34.380 given us, honoring Him with our 00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:37.440 conversation and providing for the 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:39.260 bodies He has given us. 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:42.220 As we sweat on the treadmill, we 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:44.520 worship God by seeking to be good 00:32:44.520 --> 00:32:47.280 stewards of the body He has given 00:32:47.280 --> 00:32:47.700 us. 00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:50.540 This next one is for me, but I know 00:32:50.540 --> 00:32:51.600 it's for some of you as well. 00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:55.300 As we seek to avoid driving with the 00:32:55.300 --> 00:32:58.120 same egotistical aggressiveness as 00:32:58.120 --> 00:33:01.620 others, we worship God by displaying 00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:03.539 the fruit of His Spirit. 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:07.119 We do our work to the best of our 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:09.979 ability, worshiping God by giving our 00:33:09.979 --> 00:33:11.659 best to our employers. 00:33:12.919 --> 00:33:14.759 All of our life is to be a 00:33:14.759 --> 00:33:18.219 continuous worship of the God who 00:33:18.219 --> 00:33:20.719 created and redeemed us. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:25.739 The commitment that God calls us to 00:33:25.739 --> 00:33:27.259 make in order to live like His 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:30.220 children in this world is a total 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:31.400 commitment. 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:34.400 Touches every aspect of our lives 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:35.539 every day. 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:40.980 And no one can force you or 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:44.859 manipulate you to make this kind of 00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:47.240 wholehearted, willing commitment. 00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:51.980 This kind of commitment calls on you 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:54.360 to look within. 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:57.360 Think about your relationship with 00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:58.680 God, what He's done for you. 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.660 Think about how much He loves you and 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:03.200 has shown His mercy to you. 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:07.819 And when you do, that's when you'll 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.760 make that kind of commitment. 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.240 So I just want to ask you here as we 00:34:11.240 --> 00:34:13.760 wind down, is this the kind of 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:14.980 relationship you have with God? 00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:18.740 If it is, you just thank Him. 00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:21.959 If you understand fully what I'm 00:34:21.959 --> 00:34:22.939 talking about this morning and 00:34:22.939 --> 00:34:25.239 there's just that within you that 00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:26.500 understands God has been so 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:29.079 merciful and loving and kind and 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:31.459 gracious to you and you appreciate 00:34:31.459 --> 00:34:33.119 it, you know that your salvation, 00:34:33.299 --> 00:34:34.979 your trust in Jesus is because of 00:34:34.979 --> 00:34:36.519 what God's done in you to enable 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:38.039 you to understand that and believe 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:40.459 that and because of what God's done 00:34:40.459 --> 00:34:41.679 to forgive you and make you His 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:44.779 child and always be with you, you do 00:34:44.779 --> 00:34:46.759 love Him and you want to be committed 00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:47.179 to Him. 00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:48.139 You want to serve Him. 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:49.440 You know you don't do it perfectly 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.759 by any means. 00:34:51.819 --> 00:34:53.500 But if you understand this, this is 00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:55.460 your heartfelt desire, you just thank 00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:58.819 Him for what He's done, what He's 00:34:58.819 --> 00:35:00.940 doing and keep on. 00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:03.279 If you understand what I'm talking 00:35:03.279 --> 00:35:04.839 about this morning and that 00:35:04.839 --> 00:35:06.379 commitment used to be true about you 00:35:06.379 --> 00:35:08.159 but you've let other things or 00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:10.539 people or something get in the way, 00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.819 your priorities aren't what they 00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:13.420 used to be. 00:35:14.779 --> 00:35:16.819 Your level of commitment has just 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:20.200 fallen off drastically to what it 00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:20.760 used to be. 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:23.120 What you know right now, you really 00:35:23.120 --> 00:35:26.320 want it to be because you know God 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.460 wants it to rise. 00:35:29.140 --> 00:35:31.300 I want you to search your life. 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:34.280 If there's sin, confess it. 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.059 Repent of it. 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:37.180 If there's some wrong priorities, even 00:35:37.180 --> 00:35:40.920 wrong relationships, abandon them. 00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:44.860 Ask God to give you the wisdom to know how 00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:48.019 you need to rearrange your life and make 00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:51.700 the commitment that by His grace, you're 00:35:51.700 --> 00:35:53.900 going to seek to show Him your love and 00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:54.460 your gratitude. 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:58.139 By the way, you are committed to being a 00:35:58.139 --> 00:36:01.400 living sacrifice in every aspect of your 00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:04.079 life every day. 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:09.079 Now, if none of this is true about you but you 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:14.659 want it to be, humble yourself before God and 00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:16.059 admit that it's not. 00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:18.000 Even if you're a church member, admit that 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:18.719 it's not. 00:36:20.779 --> 00:36:24.099 Admit your sin, your failure, your rebellion, 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:25.159 whatever it is. 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.679 Change your mind. 00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:30.860 Turn from this way of life, this sinful way of 00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.119 life. 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:33.139 Put your trust in Jesus. 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:36.819 Call upon Him to save you. 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:40.380 Surrender your life to Him as Lord. 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:44.599 If you do that, the Scripture says, 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.940 whoever calls on the name of the Lord will 00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.480 be saved. 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:49.159 God will change you and He will so work in 00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:53.019 you that you will want to be committed because 00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:56.779 of the love you have for Him, His grace and 00:36:56.779 --> 00:36:57.059 mercy. 00:36:57.059 --> 00:37:00.759 It really does matter how we live as God's 00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:01.060 children. 00:37:02.060 --> 00:37:03.840 We represent our Heavenly Father. 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:06.600 We represent the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:37:08.040 --> 00:37:10.360 If you want to live a life that pleases Him, 00:37:11.640 --> 00:37:15.780 make sure you leave here today wholeheartedly 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:21.440 committed to Him now because you love Him and you 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.380 want to please Him. 00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:24.519 make that kind of commitment. 00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:26.079 Would you pray with me? 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:27.099 Dear God, 00:37:27.640 --> 00:37:31.000 help us to see how we should respond to You, 00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:34.720 to what You've said to us this morning about how we live 00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:37.000 and the necessity of 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:40.039 a commitment from our heart 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:42.460 to You out of love 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:44.440 for Your great mercy and grace. 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:45.139 show us, 00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:48.079 show us, 00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:49.099 help us 00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:51.800 to make the kind of commitment You want us to make. 00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:53.519 And in an attitude of prayer, 00:37:53.659 --> 00:37:54.119 do that. 00:37:55.320 --> 00:37:56.420 If I could pray with you, 00:37:56.599 --> 00:37:58.380 I'm happy to do that here at the front. 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:00.519 But let's just listen to the Lord 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:02.240 and obey Him as He speaks to us 00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:03.920 from His Word and Spirit this morning. 00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:33.900 Thank you.