Title: How Do You Overcome the Squeeze of the World?
Text:
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, 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 renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Observation:
There are two things that believers need to overcome the squeeze of the world. First we look at what God does for us.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
The Lord does the heavy lifting by transforming our life by renewing our minds. This happens when we are born again by the Spirit of God.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Now there is a part that we must do, and Paul mentions what we must do in our text. Let's look at it again.
Romans 12:1 (AMP)
I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
I read something a few days ago that fits in well as we think about the sacrifice of our bodies. This was what Oswald Chambers said, "The only way in which we can offer a spiritual sacrifice to God is by presenting our bodies a living sacrifice. We go wrong because we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves physically, morally, or mentally". Father God, this is my goal:
Philippians 3:7-11 (ESV)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that each of us will be willing to dedicate our bodies; all of our members, as a sacrifice to You; that we would be willing to pay whatever it may cost. Father, what I give up of this world is nothing when compared to what I gain for eternity. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
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Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
4 But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
8 Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.
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