Scripture Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Do you know what God’s will is?
What is God’s will? Look in the rear-view mirror and you might see God’s will. But this says:
12:2c You will be able to test and approve what God's will is —
his good, pleasing and perfect will.
12:2a Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
12:2b but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Ps 105:4
Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
Ps 105:1-4
Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
In the chin you see the nativity with the star of Bethlehem above on his nose. Up the right you see an angel announcing the birth of Christ and another who would tend to Jesus in his times of need. On the forehead you see Jesus kneeling and praying in Gethsemane and down the left side you see Jesus being crucified on the cross. There is one subtle thing left that you only see by careful study. The Bethlehem star on the nose is also the cross of Christ in the center of the other two crosses seen in his eyes.
As I was working on this message I was experiencing dryness. I knew Romans 12:2 was where we should look but nothing seemed to be sparking life - there was no spirit in my spiritual act of worship. I simply prayed for the Holy Spirit to be engaged in the process and in prayer I looked up and saw that picture on my wall and immediately knew what God wanted this message to be. The only way to become a Romans 12:1 person of people is to also become Romans 12:2 people as well.
The first part is easily understood yet hard to carry out: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. What is the pattern of this world? Simply stated - it is anything that is contrary to the kingdom of God. OK that is seeing it in the negative and still doesn’t say what it is.
Quote: Tim LaHaye in His book, The Battle for the Mind writes, “Humanism assumes that man is innately good and capable of solving his problems independently of any Supreme being”. “Today’s philosophy of education is obsessed with self-actualization, self-image, self-love, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, self-satisfaction-self, self, self”.
The apostle Paul also knew that the Roman world with its human centered -unspiritual, godless and idolatrous thinking would lead to self-destruction. Paul might have reflected on what David wrote in Psalms 1:1-3 which says: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”
We live by the pattern of this world when that is all we see. The only way to change that is by renewing our mind when we focus our attention on the face and person of Jesus.
The Maters’ Face
Leslie Dunkin told about a dog he had when he was a boy. His father would occasionally test the dog's obedience. He would place a tempting piece of meat on the floor and give the command, "No!" The dog, who must have had a strong urge to go for the meat, was placed in a most difficult situation—to obey or disobey his master's command.
Dunkin said, "The dog never looked at the meat. He seemed to feel that if he did, the temptation to disobey would be too great. So, he looked steadily at my father's face." Dunkin then made this spiritual application: "There is a lesson for us all. Always look up to the Master's face."
When we look consistently into the face of Jesus (the reason our Milestone #1 is 40 Days of worship - to get us to look consistently at Jesus, we become more like him. It is like using Format painter in word. How many know what I mean by that?
VIDEO
FORMAT PAINTER
1 Timothy 1:15-17
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
CONCLUSION
That is how you use the format painter in Microsoft word. Actually, we can do the same in our spiritual life. Click somewhere in the face of Jesus - click on God’s format painter icon in his Word, then drag that icon over the bad pattern in your life to be transformed to have a new pattern that is the same as that of Christ Jesus.
TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
O soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free
Turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace
Turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace
ALTAR CALL - “Take me to your sanctuary”
How does renewing the mind connect us to worship?
BREATHE ON ME
Speak to me, voice of God
Soft and still, inside my heart
Speak to me, word of God
Comfort, heal, restore with light
Teach my heart and heal my soul
Speak the mind that in Christ we know
Take me to Your sanctuary
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