Sermon Notes 04-26-09

Stand In the Gap 04-26-09 Jeff Kerley
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 “Do not be conformed”
to give the same shape, outline, or contour to
to be similar or identical ; also : to be in agreement or harmony
to be obedient or compliant
to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs

Some years ago, musicians noted that errand boys in a certain part of London all whistled out of tune as they went about their work. It was talked about and someone suggested that it was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune. Something had gone wrong with the chimes and they were discordant. The boys did not know there was anything wrong with the peals, and quite unconsciously they had copied their pitch. So we tend to copy the people with whom we associate; we borrow thoughts from the books we read and the programs to which we listen, almost without knowing it. God has given us His Word which is the absolute pitch of life and living. If we learn to sing by it, we shall easily detect the false in all of the music of the world. Donald Grey Barnhouse.
In music you need to have something with which you can tune yourself or your instrument.

Piano tuners may use a tuning fork whichresonates with perfect pitch.
Vocalists sometimes use a pitch pipe (Demo) or a piano.
Without a single source of pitch, vocalists or musicians would begin to “conform” to the pitch of those around them. The music would be out of tune and it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable an experience as it would have been if it was performed as the composer intended.
Just as with music, we need to be “tuned-in” to a single source or a single purpose to keep from mimicking the world around us.
Being transformed by the renewing of our minds begins with having singleness of purpose.
The Bible is full of instructions for believers but Jesus Himself broke it all down to a single commandment.

Matthew 22:37-3837 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.” (Also Duet. 6:5)
This is our single most important purpose in God’s eyes.
It’s not enough to love God as the ‘world’ defines love.
This is the first way we are not to conform to the world.

Romans 12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Let love be without hypocrisy.
This world we live in tells us to love the lovely….to love those who love us. Love who/what makes you feel good. “If anyone doesn’t love me for who I am then forget ‘em.”
It’s the old ‘WIIFM’ mentality.
The world says, “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?”

God says, “Love the Lord your God.”
God’s saying, “It’s not about you”

Look beyond love for people. This passage is about not conforming to this world but being transformed in Christ.
Are you hypocritical in your love for God?

Not ‘are you perfect?’….Where’s your heart?
Sure, you tell Him you love Him on Sunday morning, but when you leave here, what do your actions say about what you REALLY love?
It’s not a fleeting emotion, but a committed lifestyle.
How can we know that our love for God meets His expectation?
How can we know that our love for God is not fake or fleeting or hypocritical?

Romans 12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
What is “evil?” – God gave us a basic set of ‘do’s and ‘don’t’s with the Ten Commandments.
John 15:14“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
John 14:15“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
To really understand God’s expectations it takes diving into the Scriptures and praying and becoming a His close friend. (Acts 17:11)
“Abhor what is evil”
to regard with extreme repugnance
loathe

Synonyms see HATE
Important Note – We are to abhor what is evil, not those who do evil
Tall order? That’s what God does for you!
How hard is it to abhor or loathe or hate evil?
We are surrounded by it! It’s on every TV channel, every movie, every news stand and magazine rack. It comes out in the words and the actions of almost everyone around us and too often out of our own mouths and our own actions!
How can we possibly keep from conforming to the world when it seeps Godlessness from every pore?
The answer is…. You Can’t

Romans 12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
“Cling to what is good”
to adhere as if glued firmly
to hold or hold on tightly or tenaciously
to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence
Sincere love for God requires me to:
Abhor what is evil andCling to what is good.
You can’t have one without the other…..you can’t simply avoid evil and ‘call it a day.’
There’s a good reason for the prevalence of ‘evil’ in this world we live in.
We conform to this world because we are trying to fill a personal need... acceptance, comfort, companionship, peace
We can’t just eliminate those vices without addressing the underlying needs
No one can be a spiritual island or a lone spiritual ‘coal.’
When we cling to what is good and the Christian brothers and sisters who help to motivate us toward Christ, GOD fills those needs.

(comfort, peace, wisdom, direction, companionship, etc.)
We have to come to Christ, desiring to be transformed, with all sincerity. We have to do OUR part to keep our slates clean before God. A guilty conscience is devastating in your relationship to God.

1 Timothy 1:5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith…
How else can we be transformed instead of conformed?

Sincere love for God comes from a pure heart, from a good conscience and from sincere faith.
Romans 12:10-1310 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
The world says, “Look out for number one.”

God says, “Give preference to one another in honor.”
The world says, “Just do enough to get by.”

God says, “Diligently and fervently serve the Lord.”
The world says, “Life stinks, then you die.”

God says, “Rejoice in hope.”
The world says, “I want it NOW!”

God says, “Be patient in tribulation.”
The world says, “If you don’t see any results, just quit.”

God says, “Continue steadfastly in prayer.”
The world says, “It’s MINE!”

God says, “Distribute to the needs of the saints.”
Romans 12:14-1614 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
The world says, “You have every right to be bitter.”

God says, “Bless those who persecute you.”
The world says, “That’s their problem, not mine.”

God says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
The world says, “I’m better than you.”

God says, “Associate with the humble.”
The world says, “I know it all!”

God says, “Don’t be wise in your own opinion.”
Romans 12:17-1917 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
The world says, “You’re going to pay for that.”

God says, “Repay no one evil for evil.”
The world says, “You’ll never believe what I just heard.”

God says, “Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.”
The world says, “You don’t like the way I do things? Tough!”

God says, “If it is possible, live peaceably with all men.”
The world says, “Payback will make you feel better.”

God says, “Do not avenge yourself; put anger in it’s place.”
Romans 12:20-2120 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”[b]21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
You can’t play for both teams. Either you are conformed to the world or you are transformed in Christ.
Which of those statements would you say best define you?
Which of those statements would your friends say best define you?