Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / An All-in Sacrifice
Transcript
- 0:00Well, if we can turn back to our reading in Romans 12, we're going to look this evening at the beginning of this chapter, verse 1 and 2.
- 0:10Romans 12, you can read again verse 1 and 2.
- 0:14I 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.
- 0:26Do 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.
- 0:41We're continuing our theme of sacrifice that we've had last night and this morning already, and coming to think more tonight about how that shows itself in our lives going forward from today.
- 0:57As we acknowledge today, we have much to give thanks for and what the Lord has done for us, but it doesn't end now.
- 1:06We take the Lord with us into the week ahead and in all our days ahead, seeking to live for him.
- 1:13But how are we living for him?
- 1:15We saw this morning as we were looking in Leviticus chapter 16 in the Day of Atonement that the people were together in that sacrifice.
- 1:26It was not an individual sacrifice.
- 1:29The congregation gave that sacrifice as one seeking the Lord's blessing, seeking the forgiveness of their sin.
- 1:39And that's the idea I want to carry on this evening, that idea of congregation, that idea of being one together.
- 1:48Because when we think about church, that is what church is.
- 1:53What is your idea of what church is?
- 1:58It's been defined maybe in different ways.
- 2:01Someone put it like this.
- 2:02Church can be broadly defined as a community of believers who gather together to worship God, study the Bible, and practice their faith.
- 2:13The church is considered the body of Christ with Jesus as its head.
- 2:18You see there some of the themes that you read here in Romans 12.
- 2:22The idea of many members, one body with Christ as the head.
- 2:27But we think too of what it is for believers, what it is for the people of God.
- 2:33We gather together to worship God, to study his word, but to practice their faith.
- 2:40In other words, to live out our faith.
- 2:44But how does that look?
- 2:46How do you view church?
- 2:48How do we do church?
- 2:51Sometimes church can be viewed as an order, a hierarchy,
- 2:56where it's looked at kind of from a top-down idea.
- 3:01But another way of viewing it is that it's a body.
- 3:04And that's what we have in Romans 12.
- 3:07A body made up of different parts.
- 3:12And the difference can be subtle,
- 3:15but it can make all the difference for us as a congregation of God's people.
- 3:21Because if we look at it the first way, where there's hierarchy,
- 3:24we end up with a system of, well, there's something for others to do, but not for me.
- 3:32I just go along, and I don't actually maybe feel a part of it.
- 3:38But when we view it as a body, a body with many members,
- 3:43one body, and Christ as its head,
- 3:46then you can begin to realize that everybody has a part to play.
- 3:52That everybody is involved,
- 3:54from the youngest to the oldest.
- 3:59You look at the sporting world,
- 4:01and there can be people who are to the fore in the sporting world.
- 4:05For example, you take golf.
- 4:09You may have heard of Rory McIlroy,
- 4:11one of the best golfers in the world at this moment.
- 4:14You hear his name, you maybe automatically know who he is, what he's won.
- 4:20But who's this caddy?
- 4:22Do you know his name?
- 4:24Not many people would.
- 4:26This caddy's called Harry Diamond.
- 4:29But he's not to the fore, and yet he's just as important.
- 4:32He's there to help and advise Rory McIlroy.
- 4:35He's making his way around the course
- 4:37to encourage him, to keep him focused.
- 4:40He's just as important.
- 4:42You think of Formula One.
- 4:45You think of Lando Norris, the current world champion.
- 4:48His name can be to the fore.
- 4:51But who are all his engineers?
- 4:54Who's his team in the background?
- 4:57Maybe you know none of their names,
- 4:58but there are many.
- 5:00And they're there, and without that team,
- 5:02without his team of engineers,
- 5:04and everybody involved in the background,
- 5:05he wouldn't be a world champion.
- 5:07And so you see, it's important that,
- 5:11although you can see that there are people sometimes to the fore,
- 5:15to be successful is about everyone being involved,
- 5:19everyone being together.
- 5:21And that's the same when it comes to church as well.
- 5:25There can be those people who have specific roles.
- 5:30You'll know these roles when I mention them.
- 5:32The minister, the elders, the deacons, the clerks, the treasurer,
- 5:36church officer, the presenters.
- 5:38You know, they all have a title and a role,
- 5:42but it doesn't mean they have a greater sense of importance.
- 5:46It doesn't mean that they are more important than anybody else.
- 5:49Because the church is the people coming together,
- 5:54one in Christ.
- 5:57Yes, we are individuals with different roles to play,
- 6:00but we recognize that everyone has a part to play.
- 6:04And as we've been looking this weekend at the theme of sacrifice,
- 6:10we've seen it in Leviticus.
- 6:12And last night we were looking at the chapter 2,
- 6:15where we saw the grain offering,
- 6:17and it was that sense of a sacrifice of adoration,
- 6:21a worship given to God.
- 6:24Then this morning we were looking at chapter 16 in Leviticus,
- 6:27where we saw the day of atonement,
- 6:30an atoning sacrifice made for us,
- 6:32especially as we see it in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 6:37Well, we're continuing that idea of sacrifice this evening,
- 6:40but seeing how it applies to ourselves.
- 6:45And here in verse 1 and 2 of Romans is where we find it.
- 6:49I appeal to you, therefore, brothers,
- 6:50by the mercies of God,
- 6:52to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
- 6:56holy and acceptable to God,
- 6:58which is your spiritual worship.
- 7:00To present your bodies as a living sacrifice.
- 7:06When you look at Romans,
- 7:08you see that much of the teaching up until this point,
- 7:12up to chapter 11,
- 7:14a lot of it has been about teaching about
- 7:18the depth of what the Lord has done.
- 7:21But what does that lead to?
- 7:26What is our remembrance of the Lord's death today?
- 7:30Where does it take us tonight?
- 7:32Where does it take us tomorrow?
- 7:34How do we live out our lives in light of that?
- 7:39Romans has a great sense of giving us knowledge up to this point.
- 7:44Paul's great teaching in Romans.
- 7:47He said,
- 7:47you can have all the knowledge,
- 7:48but now he's saying,
- 7:49therefore,
- 7:51in light of all this knowledge,
- 7:52how are we,
- 7:53what are you going to do?
- 7:54How are you going to live?
- 7:55It is to present your bodies as a living sacrifice.
- 8:00To live for the Lord.
- 8:04Somebody wants to pray like this,
- 8:05knowledge is having the facts,
- 8:08but wisdom is applying those facts to your life.
- 8:13And so we are to apply all that we've looked at
- 8:16over these services this weekend,
- 8:19and again tonight,
- 8:20apply it to us,
- 8:21and ask,
- 8:22how are we going to live?
- 8:25How are we going to go forward?
- 8:27And there's three things in these verses
- 8:29that I want us to see.
- 8:30Verse 1 and 2 of Romans.
- 8:32First of all,
- 8:32we have the worship of God.
- 8:34So we continue that theme that we had last night.
- 8:38We see then there is the wisdom of God.
- 8:41This is what we need to live,
- 8:43lives that are sacrificed to God.
- 8:45And then we see finally the will of God
- 8:48that we are to seek as we live in this way.
- 8:52So the first thing is the wisdom,
- 8:55the worship of God, sorry.
- 8:57And you see that in the first verse.
- 8:59The chapter begins with,
- 9:04therefore,
- 9:04I appeal to you,
- 9:05therefore, brothers.
- 9:06And so,
- 9:07there's something important here
- 9:09that we are to see.
- 9:11So it's not just a case of,
- 9:14now,
- 9:14well,
- 9:15here's what you are to do.
- 9:18But it's in light of what has been said
- 9:20up to this point.
- 9:21Here is what is important
- 9:23in light of what you've learned.
- 9:25And up to this point,
- 9:27it's been about what God has done for us.
- 9:31What God has done for us.
- 9:34For example,
- 9:34in Romans 5,
- 9:35verse 6,
- 9:36There's so much teaching in that.
- 9:48While we were still weak,
- 9:49while we were still in our sin,
- 9:51at the right time,
- 9:53in God's time,
- 9:55Christ died for the ungodly.
- 9:58God was in control of it all.
- 10:01Even as he gave his son
- 10:02to die for our sin,
- 10:04it was at the right time,
- 10:05God's time,
- 10:07his way.
- 10:08And that's what we've remembered today.
- 10:12What we've been part of
- 10:13if you were sitting at the Lord's table
- 10:16or if you were observing the Lord's table,
- 10:18remembering the Lord's death
- 10:20until he come.
- 10:22But now we're asking,
- 10:24how are we going to live going forward
- 10:26from here?
- 10:28How are we going to live going forward?
- 10:31And it's like Paul is here,
- 10:33a survey of what was done.
- 10:36When he says,
- 10:37I appeal to you therefore,
- 10:38brothers,
- 10:39in light of the mercies of God.
- 10:43Looking at the mercies of God,
- 10:46as we survey the mercies of God,
- 10:48how are we going to go forward?
- 10:50What difference is that going to make
- 10:52in your life?
- 10:52What difference is it going to make
- 10:54in my life?
- 10:56The hymn writer said,
- 10:57When I survey the wondrous cross
- 11:00on which the prince of glory died,
- 11:02my riches gain,
- 11:03I count but loss
- 11:05and pour contempt
- 11:06on all my pride.
- 11:10Maybe you came here this morning
- 11:12with that pride in your heart,
- 11:16boasting in self,
- 11:18confident in self.
- 11:20But when we survey the cross,
- 11:24the wondrous cross,
- 11:25when we survey all that the Lord
- 11:27has done for us,
- 11:28that pours contempt.
- 11:30That puts our pride down.
- 11:32That humbles us
- 11:34because we realize
- 11:35that we owe everything to him.
- 11:38So it's in light
- 11:40by the mercies of God.
- 11:43And as you're reading through
- 11:45the book of Romans,
- 11:46you see the mercies of God
- 11:49that are so many.
- 11:51That God's mercies
- 11:52is from eternity
- 11:53and to eternity
- 11:54without beginning
- 11:56and without end.
- 11:58You see it
- 11:59in his electing his people,
- 12:01his choosing of his people,
- 12:03in his saving of his people,
- 12:06in his transforming of his people,
- 12:08in his justifying of his people,
- 12:10in his keeping of his people.
- 12:12You see it so many ways
- 12:14as you're reading through Romans.
- 12:16The mercies of God.
- 12:18Even as we think back to Leviticus,
- 12:21you see the mercies of God there,
- 12:23that he didn't give them
- 12:24what their sin deserved.
- 12:27But there was mercy.
- 12:29There was hope given to them
- 12:31through sacrificing to God.
- 12:34And his mercy is more
- 12:35than we could ever imagine.
- 12:39And so therefore,
- 12:40as Paul is saying here,
- 12:42I appeal to you,
- 12:43brothers,
- 12:43by the mercies of God
- 12:45to present your bodies
- 12:47as a living sacrifice,
- 12:49your spiritual worship,
- 12:52to live for him.
- 12:56And there's a subtle difference
- 12:57I want you to see here as well
- 13:00between Leviticus
- 13:01and how Paul writes here.
- 13:03When you're looking in Leviticus,
- 13:05we were seeing
- 13:05Moses giving commands,
- 13:08God's commands
- 13:09coming through Moses.
- 13:12And it was very much
- 13:13a sense of the law.
- 13:16This is what you are to do.
- 13:19You must do this.
- 13:23There is a danger in that
- 13:25where it becomes
- 13:27a sense of legalism.
- 13:29And we can easily
- 13:31fall into that trap.
- 13:33Well, if we do this,
- 13:35we'll be right.
- 13:36With no idea
- 13:37why we're doing it
- 13:38or how we're doing it.
- 13:40We're just doing it
- 13:41for the sake of doing it.
- 13:45But as Paul says,
- 13:47he says,
- 13:47I appeal to you.
- 13:49I urge you.
- 13:51I encourage you.
- 13:52It's no less important.
- 13:55But there's a subtle difference.
- 13:59It's to be done
- 13:59in light of the mercies of God.
- 14:02In light of the grace of God.
- 14:06In recognition of all
- 14:08that has been done.
- 14:10So it's not just
- 14:11a sense of obligation
- 14:12or duty
- 14:14that you present your body
- 14:16as a living sacrifice.
- 14:18This is what I have to do.
- 14:21It's more,
- 14:21this is what I want to do.
- 14:24This is what I long to do.
- 14:26This is what I love to do.
- 14:27Because of the mercies of God.
- 14:30Because of all that
- 14:31he has done for me.
- 14:33As we look at the cross.
- 14:34As we see what Christ has done.
- 14:37Does that not lead us
- 14:38to worship?
- 14:40To lead us to present
- 14:42our bodies
- 14:42as a living sacrifice.
- 14:44To do all for him.
- 14:48Are we worshipping
- 14:50as we should?
- 14:52What is worship?
- 14:55Well, you see it
- 14:56at the end of chapter 11
- 14:57in verse 33 to 36.
- 15:01And it's there speaking about
- 15:03to him be glory forever.
- 15:07But at the last verse there,
- 15:09verse 36.
- 15:10It's a sense of giving glory
- 15:12to God.
- 15:13Giving praise.
- 15:15Giving worship to God.
- 15:16But then as you come into
- 15:18chapter 12,
- 15:19verse 1.
- 15:21This worship requires
- 15:23service.
- 15:26The worship that he speaks of there,
- 15:28your spiritual worship,
- 15:30is acts of service.
- 15:33Presenting your bodies
- 15:34as living sacrifices
- 15:36is acts of service.
- 15:40It's very much tied in
- 15:41that idea with
- 15:42the priests in Leviticus,
- 15:44how they were serving
- 15:45God at the altar.
- 15:47We are to be a people
- 15:48who are serving God
- 15:49in our lives.
- 15:53And presenting our bodies
- 15:55as a living sacrifice,
- 15:56it maybe makes you think
- 15:57there must be pain
- 15:58involved in this.
- 16:00Because we've looked at
- 16:01sacrifice last night
- 16:03and this morning.
- 16:05And it so often means
- 16:06death.
- 16:09Dying in sacrifice.
- 16:11Blood is shed.
- 16:12the flesh is burnt.
- 16:16But then you notice
- 16:17the difference here
- 16:18between what Paul
- 16:19is saying here
- 16:20and what we have
- 16:21in the Old Testament.
- 16:22The difference is
- 16:23that in the Old Testament
- 16:24the people were called
- 16:25to give their sacrifice
- 16:27to give it over to death.
- 16:31But we are to offer up
- 16:32our bodies
- 16:33as a living sacrifice.
- 16:37So it's ongoing.
- 16:39Now there is that sense
- 16:42of this sacrifice
- 16:43is costly.
- 16:45The sacrifice
- 16:46is painful.
- 16:47There's challenges
- 16:48in it.
- 16:49It's personal.
- 16:50It's necessary.
- 16:51And all of these things
- 16:53it'll be hard.
- 16:56But we should love
- 16:57to do it
- 16:58in light of the
- 16:59mercies
- 17:00of God.
- 17:03We are to give
- 17:04ourselves
- 17:05over to Him.
- 17:07Our worship
- 17:08is not just
- 17:09a few hours
- 17:10in here
- 17:11on a Sunday.
- 17:13Our worship
- 17:13goes on
- 17:15as a living sacrifice
- 17:16tomorrow
- 17:17Tuesday
- 17:18Wednesday
- 17:19Thursday
- 17:20every day
- 17:21of the week.
- 17:23We love Him
- 17:24so we are to serve Him.
- 17:27We love Him
- 17:28so we are to live
- 17:28our lives
- 17:29in that way
- 17:30of honouring Him
- 17:32in all
- 17:33that we do.
- 17:34Our lives
- 17:35are to be a living sacrifice
- 17:37in the sense of
- 17:38our worship
- 17:39goes on
- 17:40day
- 17:41after day.
- 17:44And the second thing
- 17:45we see
- 17:45goes on in the light
- 17:46of the wisdom
- 17:47of God.
- 17:50Because you look at it
- 17:51here in verse 2
- 17:52where it says
- 17:53do not be conformed
- 17:55to this world
- 17:56but be transformed
- 17:58by the renewal
- 17:59of your mind.
- 18:00So there's to be
- 18:01a change
- 18:02and to be
- 18:05a living sacrifice
- 18:06we need
- 18:08this change
- 18:09we need
- 18:09this wisdom
- 18:10of God.
- 18:12Where does
- 18:13your wisdom
- 18:15come from
- 18:15tonight?
- 18:17What are you
- 18:18basing
- 18:18your life
- 18:19upon?
- 18:20What wisdom
- 18:21is it from
- 18:22the world
- 18:23and the thoughts
- 18:25that are around you
- 18:26within this world?
- 18:28Well how is that
- 18:29working out
- 18:30for you?
- 18:32Are you happy?
- 18:34Are you happy
- 18:35being conformed
- 18:37to the ways
- 18:38of this world?
- 18:41When you're
- 18:42conformed
- 18:43to the ways
- 18:44of the world
- 18:45what does it mean?
- 18:48When you're young
- 18:49there's so much
- 18:50pressure
- 18:51to be conformed
- 18:53to the ways
- 18:54of the world.
- 18:56To be those
- 18:57who go out
- 18:57for a drink.
- 18:58to be those
- 19:00who take
- 19:00this drug.
- 19:02To be those
- 19:03who turn away
- 19:04from God.
- 19:05You don't need
- 19:05him.
- 19:06You don't need
- 19:06church.
- 19:08There's all
- 19:09of these ideas
- 19:09that will be
- 19:10thrown at you
- 19:11to be conformed
- 19:12to the ways
- 19:13of the world.
- 19:16But what Paul
- 19:17is saying here
- 19:18is
- 19:18wisdom is found
- 19:20not there.
- 19:22Do not be
- 19:23conformed
- 19:23to the world
- 19:25but be
- 19:26transformed
- 19:27by the renewal
- 19:28of your mind.
- 19:32To allow
- 19:32God in.
- 19:34To see the
- 19:35wisdom of God
- 19:36in his word.
- 19:37To see that this
- 19:38is not something
- 19:39for old people
- 19:40or something
- 19:40for a past
- 19:41generation.
- 19:42That this word
- 19:43is for every
- 19:44one of us
- 19:45today
- 19:45and every
- 19:46day.
- 19:48Have you
- 19:49made mistakes?
- 19:51Of course
- 19:52you have.
- 19:52I have.
- 19:54You have.
- 19:55We all have.
- 19:56But have we
- 19:57learned from
- 19:58our mistakes?
- 19:59Or are we
- 19:59continuing to
- 20:00be conformed
- 20:01in the ways
- 20:02of the world?
- 20:04As we go
- 20:05on in life
- 20:06we gain
- 20:06experience in
- 20:08life in many
- 20:08different ways.
- 20:10And experience
- 20:11comes in
- 20:12what we have
- 20:13done.
- 20:14In what we've
- 20:14maybe achieved
- 20:16but also
- 20:16sometimes in
- 20:17what we've
- 20:17failed in
- 20:19as well.
- 20:20Wisdom
- 20:20comes from
- 20:21learning from
- 20:22what we have
- 20:22done badly
- 20:23often.
- 20:25From what we
- 20:26know is wrong.
- 20:28But if we
- 20:28keep on doing
- 20:29it that's not
- 20:30wisdom.
- 20:32That's what
- 20:33Paul is saying
- 20:33do not be
- 20:34conformed to
- 20:35this world.
- 20:36Do not carry
- 20:37on in this
- 20:38way.
- 20:39Instead find
- 20:39your wisdom
- 20:40with God.
- 20:43As Proverbs
- 20:443 says
- 20:45verse 5 to
- 20:467
- 20:46trust in the
- 20:47Lord with
- 20:48all your
- 20:48heart.
- 20:49Do not
- 20:49lean on
- 20:50your own
- 20:50understanding.
- 20:52In all
- 20:52your ways
- 20:52acknowledge
- 20:53him and
- 20:53he will
- 20:54make
- 20:54straight
- 20:54your
- 20:55paths.
- 20:56Be not
- 20:56wise in
- 20:57your own
- 20:58eyes.
- 20:58Fear the
- 20:59Lord and
- 21:00turn away
- 21:01from evil.
- 21:03It is a
- 21:03challenge to
- 21:04us.
- 21:05Where are we
- 21:06finding our
- 21:07wisdom?
- 21:09We're to
- 21:09find our
- 21:10wisdom in
- 21:11God and
- 21:12in his
- 21:12word and
- 21:13to search
- 21:13after that.
- 21:15Be wise
- 21:16not in
- 21:16your own
- 21:16eyes.
- 21:17Fear the
- 21:18Lord and
- 21:19turn away
- 21:19from evil.
- 21:22We live in
- 21:23a world that
- 21:23is always
- 21:24trying to
- 21:25shape us.
- 21:27To mold
- 21:27us.
- 21:29That's what
- 21:29the word
- 21:29there conformed
- 21:31means.
- 21:31It's talking
- 21:32about molding
- 21:33us.
- 21:35A mold is
- 21:35something that
- 21:36can mass
- 21:36produce the
- 21:37same thing
- 21:38again and
- 21:39again and
- 21:40again.
- 21:42And that
- 21:42is what the
- 21:43world does.
- 21:43It molds
- 21:45us.
- 21:46It shapes
- 21:46us into
- 21:47our sin
- 21:48over and
- 21:49over and
- 21:50over again
- 21:52because it
- 21:53leads us
- 21:54away from
- 21:55God.
- 21:56It molds
- 21:57us into
- 21:57thinking in
- 21:58a particular
- 21:59way that
- 22:00goes against
- 22:00everything that
- 22:02God is
- 22:02saying.
- 22:04But we
- 22:05are to be
- 22:06different.
- 22:07We are to
- 22:08present our
- 22:09lives as
- 22:09living sacrifices,
- 22:11not being
- 22:11conformed to
- 22:13this world,
- 22:14but by
- 22:15being
- 22:15transformed,
- 22:17transformed by
- 22:19the renewal
- 22:19of your
- 22:20minds.
- 22:21So don't
- 22:21allow the
- 22:22world to
- 22:23squeeze you
- 22:24into a
- 22:24particular way,
- 22:26a particular
- 22:27way of
- 22:27living that
- 22:28is apart
- 22:29from him,
- 22:30but instead
- 22:31come and
- 22:32see the
- 22:32importance of
- 22:34the word of
- 22:35God and be
- 22:36transformed by
- 22:38it.
- 22:38in 2
- 22:40Corinthians
- 22:41chapter 3,
- 22:42Paul uses
- 22:42that image
- 22:44again of
- 22:44being
- 22:44transformed.
- 22:47How does
- 22:48renewal take
- 22:49place?
- 22:49We are all
- 22:49with unveiled
- 22:50faces beholding
- 22:52the glory of
- 22:53the Lord and
- 22:54are being
- 22:54transformed into
- 22:55the same image
- 22:56from one
- 22:57degree of
- 22:57glory to
- 22:58another.
- 22:59How do you
- 23:01get transformed?
- 23:02you gaze
- 23:05longingly
- 23:06on the
- 23:07loveliness of
- 23:08Christ,
- 23:09on the
- 23:10beauty of
- 23:11Christ.
- 23:13You make
- 23:13him your
- 23:14study.
- 23:15You make
- 23:16him your
- 23:17delight.
- 23:18You make
- 23:18him that
- 23:19point of
- 23:20worship
- 23:20constantly
- 23:21going forward
- 23:22day by
- 23:23day loving
- 23:24him.
- 23:27And the
- 23:27word here
- 23:28for transformed
- 23:29is about a
- 23:31complete change
- 23:32taking place.
- 23:34It's a word
- 23:34used for when
- 23:35a caterpillar
- 23:36becomes a
- 23:37butterfly.
- 23:39That
- 23:39transformation
- 23:39takes place
- 23:41the same
- 23:42creature but
- 23:42in a very
- 23:43different way
- 23:44being seen.
- 23:46The
- 23:46caterpillar
- 23:47goes into
- 23:47the cocoon
- 23:48and it
- 23:49emerges then
- 23:50as a
- 23:50butterfly.
- 23:53Completely
- 23:54transformed.
- 23:56And we
- 23:57have that
- 23:57image of
- 23:58God in
- 23:58us.
- 23:59because we
- 24:00are made
- 24:00in his
- 24:01image.
- 24:03But we
- 24:04so often
- 24:04shun that.
- 24:06We don't
- 24:06live for
- 24:07him.
- 24:08But we
- 24:09are to be
- 24:09transformed
- 24:09by the
- 24:10renewal
- 24:10of our
- 24:11minds.
- 24:13By allowing
- 24:13Christ into
- 24:14our hearts.
- 24:16As Paul
- 24:16again says
- 24:17in Philippians
- 24:18have this
- 24:19mind among
- 24:20yourselves
- 24:20which is
- 24:21yours in
- 24:22Christ Jesus
- 24:23who though
- 24:23he was in
- 24:24the form
- 24:24of God
- 24:25did not
- 24:26count equality
- 24:27with God
- 24:27a thing
- 24:28to be
- 24:28grasped
- 24:28but made
- 24:30himself
- 24:31nothing.
- 24:31Taking the
- 24:32form of
- 24:33a servant
- 24:33being born
- 24:35in the
- 24:35likeness of
- 24:36men and
- 24:36being found
- 24:37in human
- 24:37form he
- 24:38humbled
- 24:39himself by
- 24:40becoming
- 24:40obedient to
- 24:41the point
- 24:42of death
- 24:42even death
- 24:43on a
- 24:45cross.
- 24:49He gave
- 24:50himself
- 24:50and we
- 24:53are to be
- 24:53transformed
- 24:54by him
- 24:56and for
- 24:56him.
- 24:58By
- 24:58surrendering
- 24:59ourselves
- 25:00to God
- 25:01by filling
- 25:02our mind
- 25:03with the
- 25:03word of
- 25:04God
- 25:04by finding
- 25:04the wisdom
- 25:05of God.
- 25:07That is
- 25:08how we
- 25:08are to
- 25:08live
- 25:09as a
- 25:10people
- 25:10who are
- 25:11living
- 25:11presenting
- 25:13our bodies
- 25:14as a
- 25:14living
- 25:14sacrifice
- 25:16through the
- 25:17wisdom
- 25:18of God.
- 25:19So we
- 25:22have the
- 25:22worship
- 25:23of God
- 25:24we have
- 25:24the wisdom
- 25:25of God
- 25:26and it
- 25:26leads there
- 25:26to the
- 25:27third thing
- 25:27that we
- 25:28have
- 25:28the will
- 25:29of God
- 25:30that by
- 25:33testing you
- 25:34may discern
- 25:34what is
- 25:35the will
- 25:35of God
- 25:36what is
- 25:36good
- 25:37and
- 25:37acceptable
- 25:38and
- 25:39perfect.
- 25:41When it
- 25:41comes to
- 25:42the will
- 25:42of God
- 25:43where do
- 25:44you start?
- 25:46What do
- 25:46you think
- 25:47of the
- 25:47will
- 25:48of God?
- 25:50Are you
- 25:50saying to
- 25:51yourself
- 25:51well I
- 25:51want to
- 25:52know
- 25:52the will
- 25:53of God
- 25:54in my
- 25:54life?
- 25:56Well
- 25:56this is
- 25:58point number
- 25:58three
- 25:59but it's
- 26:01probably
- 26:01the place
- 26:02where most
- 26:02would start
- 26:03but what
- 26:05you find
- 26:05is that
- 26:06when there
- 26:06is no
- 26:07worship
- 26:07when there
- 26:09is no
- 26:09seeking
- 26:10the wisdom
- 26:11of God
- 26:11then we
- 26:13cannot really
- 26:13know the
- 26:14will
- 26:14of God
- 26:15because
- 26:17the more
- 26:18we worship
- 26:19God
- 26:19aright
- 26:20the more
- 26:22we are
- 26:22unable
- 26:22to know
- 26:23the wisdom
- 26:23of God
- 26:24the more
- 26:25we will
- 26:26see the
- 26:26will
- 26:27of God
- 26:28in our
- 26:29lives.
- 26:31Too often
- 26:32maybe our
- 26:32worship
- 26:33is like a
- 26:34car
- 26:34that's
- 26:35misfiring.
- 26:37If you've
- 26:38ever driven
- 26:38a car
- 26:39and you know
- 26:39there's
- 26:39something
- 26:40wrong
- 26:40with the
- 26:41engine
- 26:41it starts
- 26:42sputtering
- 26:43and just
- 26:44stalling
- 26:45now and
- 26:45again
- 26:45you know
- 26:46it's not
- 26:47right.
- 26:48There's a
- 26:49misfire
- 26:49in it
- 26:49there's
- 26:50something
- 26:50wrong
- 26:50it needs
- 26:51to be
- 26:51fixed.
- 26:54That's
- 26:54very often
- 26:55maybe the
- 26:55way our
- 26:55worship
- 26:56is.
- 26:57It's
- 26:58spluttering
- 26:58it's
- 26:59misfiring
- 26:59it's
- 27:00not running
- 27:01as it
- 27:02should
- 27:02and instead
- 27:03of worship
- 27:04taking us
- 27:05where we're
- 27:05meant to
- 27:06be
- 27:06we're
- 27:07breaking
- 27:07down
- 27:08somewhere
- 27:08along
- 27:09the way
- 27:09but when
- 27:11our worship
- 27:11is right
- 27:12it leads
- 27:14us in the
- 27:14right way
- 27:15it's
- 27:16like the
- 27:16car that
- 27:17is running
- 27:17smoothly
- 27:18we're
- 27:19making good
- 27:20progress
- 27:20we're going
- 27:21along
- 27:22the way
- 27:22and when
- 27:24our worship
- 27:25is right
- 27:26it leads
- 27:27us into
- 27:28the will
- 27:28of God
- 27:29and seeking
- 27:31after the
- 27:32will of
- 27:32God
- 27:33what is
- 27:33good
- 27:34and
- 27:34acceptable
- 27:35and
- 27:36perfect
- 27:36all of
- 27:38these things
- 27:39that we see
- 27:39working out
- 27:40when we are
- 27:41living a life
- 27:42right
- 27:42with God
- 27:44but what
- 27:45is your
- 27:45prayer
- 27:46when it
- 27:46comes
- 27:46to the
- 27:47will
- 27:48of
- 27:48God
- 27:48we were
- 27:49just
- 27:50talking
- 27:51briefly
- 27:51in the
- 27:51table
- 27:52in the
- 27:53manse
- 27:53earlier
- 27:54on
- 27:54how
- 27:56when it
- 27:57comes to
- 27:57the will
- 27:58of God
- 27:58sometimes
- 27:58our prayer
- 27:59could be
- 27:59along the
- 28:00lines of
- 28:00let my
- 28:01will
- 28:02be done
- 28:03instead
- 28:05of Lord
- 28:06let your
- 28:07will
- 28:07be done
- 28:08too
- 28:10often
- 28:10we
- 28:10may
- 28:10come
- 28:11to
- 28:11God
- 28:11saying
- 28:11this
- 28:12is
- 28:12what
- 28:12I
- 28:12want
- 28:12you
- 28:13to
- 28:13do
- 28:14instead
- 28:16of
- 28:16Lord
- 28:16what
- 28:17will
- 28:17you
- 28:17have
- 28:17me
- 28:18to
- 28:18do
- 28:19and
- 28:20presenting
- 28:20our
- 28:20lives
- 28:21as a
- 28:21living
- 28:21sacrifice
- 28:22it's
- 28:22not
- 28:23coming
- 28:23to
- 28:23God
- 28:24saying
- 28:24this
- 28:25is
- 28:25what
- 28:25I'll
- 28:26do
- 28:26for
- 28:26you
- 28:26but
- 28:28it's
- 28:28to
- 28:28be
- 28:28a
- 28:29sense
- 28:29of
- 28:29what
- 28:29you
- 28:30want
- 28:30me
- 28:30to
- 28:31do
- 28:31for
- 28:31you
- 28:32show
- 28:34me
- 28:34your
- 28:34will
- 28:35show
- 28:36me
- 28:36your
- 28:37ways
- 28:37but
- 28:41when
- 28:41our
- 28:41worship
- 28:42is
- 28:42right
- 28:42we
- 28:42find
- 28:43that
- 28:44we
- 28:44fall
- 28:44into
- 28:44the
- 28:45will
- 28:45of
- 28:45God
- 28:45more
- 28:46readily
- 28:46and
- 28:48we
- 28:48see
- 28:48the
- 28:48will
- 28:48of
- 28:48God
- 28:49as
- 28:49a
- 28:49precious
- 28:50thing
- 28:50although
- 28:52it
- 28:52can
- 28:52be
- 28:53hard
- 28:53at
- 28:54times
- 28:54the
- 28:55will
- 28:55of
- 28:55God
- 28:55for
- 28:56us
- 28:56in
- 28:57the
- 28:57places
- 28:57that
- 28:57he
- 28:58takes
- 28:58us
- 28:58in
- 28:58the
- 28:58situations
- 28:59in
- 29:01personal
- 29:01circumstances
- 29:02in
- 29:02all
- 29:03of
- 29:03these
- 29:03ways
- 29:03the
- 29:04will
- 29:04of
- 29:04God
- 29:04can
- 29:05be
- 29:05hard
- 29:05but
- 29:07yet
- 29:07when
- 29:07you
- 29:07are
- 29:08in
- 29:08the
- 29:08will
- 29:08of
- 29:08God
- 29:09and
- 29:10you
- 29:10know
- 29:11that
- 29:11you
- 29:11are
- 29:11there
- 29:11with
- 29:12him
- 29:12with
- 29:12you
- 29:12it
- 29:13is
- 29:14precious
- 29:14because
- 29:16anywhere
- 29:16else
- 29:17would
- 29:17not
- 29:17be
- 29:18right
- 29:18so
- 29:20have
- 29:20you
- 29:21come
- 29:21in
- 29:22your
- 29:22life
- 29:22to
- 29:22that
- 29:22place
- 29:23where
- 29:23you
- 29:23are
- 29:23able
- 29:24to
- 29:24say
- 29:24take
- 29:26my
- 29:26life
- 29:27and
- 29:28let
- 29:28it
- 29:28be
- 29:29consecrated
- 29:30Lord
- 29:31to
- 29:32thee
- 29:32take
- 29:33my
- 29:34life
- 29:34take
- 29:35my
- 29:36all
- 29:36take
- 29:36everything
- 29:37and let
- 29:38it be
- 29:38consecrated
- 29:39let it
- 29:39be
- 29:40given
- 29:40to
- 29:41you
- 29:41let it
- 29:41be
- 29:41yours
- 29:42Lord
- 29:42to
- 29:43do
- 29:43as
- 29:43you
- 29:44please
- 29:44that
- 29:46is
- 29:46what
- 29:46it
- 29:46means
- 29:47to
- 29:47give
- 29:47our
- 29:47bodies
- 29:48as
- 29:48a
- 29:48living
- 29:49sacrifice
- 30:50God
- 30:50God
- 30:50we
- 30:53surrender
- 30:54ourselves
- 30:54to
- 30:55the
- 30:55will
- 30:55of
- 30:55God
- 30:56or
- 30:57else
- 30:57we
- 30:58suffer
- 30:58or
- 31:00else
- 31:00we
- 31:00are
- 31:00going
- 31:00in
- 31:01our
- 31:01own
- 31:01wisdom
- 31:02and
- 31:04that
- 31:04is
- 31:04not
- 31:04how
- 31:04we
- 31:04are
- 31:05to
- 31:05live
- 31:05a
- 31:06life
- 31:06that's
- 31:07a
- 31:07living
- 31:07sacrifice
- 31:08to
- 31:09God
- 31:09we
- 31:11also
- 31:11have
- 31:12to
- 31:12see
- 31:12that
- 31:12the
- 31:12will
- 31:12of
- 31:12God
- 31:13is
- 31:13perfect
- 31:14somebody
- 31:17put it
- 31:17like
- 31:17this
- 31:17nothing
- 31:18we
- 31:19could
- 31:19add
- 31:20to
- 31:20God's
- 31:20plan
- 31:21would
- 31:21improve
- 31:22it
- 31:22when
- 31:23he
- 31:23reveals
- 31:24his
- 31:24will
- 31:25to
- 31:25us
- 31:25we
- 31:26need
- 31:26to
- 31:26realize
- 31:26that
- 31:27God
- 31:27sees
- 31:28the
- 31:28end
- 31:28of
- 31:28the
- 31:28matter
- 31:29before
- 31:30the
- 31:30matter
- 31:30begins
- 31:31he
- 31:32knows
- 31:32the
- 31:32path
- 31:33we
- 31:33will
- 31:33take
- 31:34he
- 31:34knows
- 31:34the
- 31:35obstacles
- 31:35and
- 31:35valleys
- 31:36we
- 31:36will
- 31:36pass
- 31:37through
- 31:37as
- 31:37we
- 31:37go
- 31:38he
- 31:38knows
- 31:38where
- 31:39the
- 31:39provisions
- 31:39are
- 31:40that
- 31:40he
- 31:40has
- 31:40already
- 31:41placed
- 31:41along
- 31:42the
- 31:42way
- 31:42his
- 31:43plan
- 31:43cannot
- 31:44be
- 31:44improved
- 31:45upon
- 31:45but
- 31:46it
- 31:46must
- 31:47be
- 31:47followed
- 31:47for
- 31:49there
- 31:49to
- 31:49be
- 31:49victory
- 31:50and
- 31:50blessing
- 31:51we
- 31:52can
- 31:52be
- 31:52in
- 31:53no
- 31:53better
- 31:53place
- 31:54than
- 31:55the
- 31:55perfect
- 31:56will
- 31:56of
- 31:57God
- 31:57for
- 31:58our
- 31:58lives
- 31:59there
- 32:00is
- 32:01nothing
- 32:01better
- 32:02than
- 32:02to
- 32:02be
- 32:02in
- 32:03the
- 32:03will
- 32:03of
- 32:04God
- 32:04and
- 32:05to
- 32:06find
- 32:06ourselves
- 32:07in
- 32:07the
- 32:07will
- 32:07of
- 32:08God
- 32:08is
- 32:09to
- 32:09worship
- 32:09God
- 32:10aright
- 32:11and
- 32:12to
- 32:12seek
- 32:13his
- 32:14wisdom
- 32:15and
- 32:16then
- 32:17these
- 32:17other
- 32:18things
- 32:18will
- 32:18fall
- 32:18into
- 32:19place
- 32:19the
- 32:19will
- 32:20of
- 32:20God
- 32:20that
- 32:21is
- 32:21good
- 32:21and
- 32:22acceptable
- 32:23and
- 32:24perfect
- 32:24and
- 32:26we
- 32:26will
- 32:26be
- 32:27content
- 32:27when
- 32:29we
- 32:30are
- 32:30with
- 32:30him
- 32:30because
- 32:32out
- 32:32of
- 32:32God's
- 32:33will
- 32:33is
- 32:34an
- 32:34awful
- 32:34place
- 32:35to
- 32:35be
- 32:36away
- 32:37from
- 32:38God
- 32:38is
- 32:39an
- 32:39awful
- 32:39place
- 32:40to
- 32:40be
- 32:40that's
- 32:40what
- 32:40we
- 32:40were
- 32:41thinking
- 32:41of
- 32:41this
- 32:41morning
- 32:42with
- 32:42the
- 32:42scapegoat
- 32:43our
- 32:44sins
- 32:45are
- 32:45taken
- 32:45into
- 32:46the
- 32:46wilderness
- 32:46what
- 32:48we
- 32:48deserve
- 32:49that
- 32:50away
- 32:51from
- 32:51God
- 32:52but
- 32:53as
- 32:53we
- 32:54worship
- 32:54as
- 32:55we
- 32:55seek
- 32:56his
- 32:56wisdom
- 32:56as
- 32:57we
- 32:57look
- 32:58to
- 32:58his
- 32:58will
- 32:59we
- 32:59find
- 33:00a
- 33:00God
- 33:00who
- 33:01is
- 33:01with
- 33:01us
- 33:01a
- 33:02God
- 33:03who
- 33:03never
- 33:03leaves
- 33:04us
- 33:04or
- 33:05forsakes
- 33:05us
- 33:06that
- 33:07was a
- 33:07hope
- 33:08they
- 33:08had
- 33:08in
- 33:09Leviticus
- 33:10that
- 33:10as
- 33:10they
- 33:11worshipped
- 33:11God
- 33:12as
- 33:12they
- 33:12offered
- 33:13up
- 33:13their
- 33:13sacrifice
- 33:14that
- 33:14God
- 33:15would
- 33:15be
- 33:15in
- 33:16the
- 33:16midst
- 33:16to
- 33:17bless
- 33:17what
- 33:19of
- 33:19ourselves
- 33:20this
- 33:20evening
- 33:21as
- 33:21we
- 33:21come
- 33:21away
- 33:22as
- 33:22a
- 33:23congregation
- 33:23of
- 33:24God's
- 33:25people
- 33:25are we
- 33:27seeing
- 33:27that we
- 33:27are members
- 33:28of
- 33:29one
- 33:29body
- 33:30with
- 33:31Christ
- 33:31as
- 33:32the
- 33:33head
- 33:33and
- 33:34are we
- 33:35seeking
- 33:35to present
- 33:36our
- 33:37bodies
- 33:37as a
- 33:38living
- 33:38sacrifice
- 33:39to
- 33:40him
- 33:40in
- 33:41light
- 33:42of
- 33:42his
- 33:42mercies
- 33:43in
- 33:44light
- 33:44of
- 33:44all
- 33:45that
- 33:45he
- 33:45has
- 33:45done
- 33:46for
- 33:46us
- 33:47how
- 33:48are we
- 33:48going
- 33:49from
- 33:49here
- 33:49this
- 33:50evening
- 33:50will
- 33:51we
- 33:51not
- 33:52go
- 33:52in
- 33:52that
- 33:53way
- 33:53the
- 33:54sacrifice
- 33:55that
- 33:55he
- 33:55has
- 33:55made
- 33:56for
- 33:56us
- 33:56should
- 33:58lead
- 33:58for
- 33:58us
- 33:59to
- 34:00give
- 34:00an
- 34:00all
- 34:00in
- 34:00sacrifice
- 34:01for
- 34:02him
- 34:03that
- 34:04we
- 34:04would
- 34:04go
- 34:04on
- 34:05in
- 34:06his
- 34:06strength
- 34:06that
- 34:07we
- 34:07would
- 34:07go
- 34:07forward
- 34:08seeking
- 34:08his
- 34:09blessing
- 34:09worshipping
- 34:10our
- 34:10right
- 34:11living
- 34:12by
- 34:12his
- 34:12wisdom
- 34:13not
- 34:14conformed
- 34:14to
- 34:14the
- 34:15ways
- 34:15of
- 34:15this
- 34:15world
- 34:16but
- 34:16transformed
- 34:17and
- 34:18seeking
- 34:19his
- 34:20will
- 34:20which
- 34:21is
- 34:21good
- 34:22and
- 34:23acceptable
- 34:23and
- 34:25perfect
- 34:25let
- 34:27us
- 34:27pray
- 34:27Lord
- 34:30our
- 34:30gracious
- 34:31God
- 34:31we
- 34:31do
- 34:32thank
- 34:32you
- 34:32that
- 34:33you
- 34:33are
- 34:33a
- 34:33God
- 34:34who
- 34:34is
- 34:34with
- 34:34us
- 34:35at
- 34:35all
- 34:35times
- 34:35you
- 34:36are
- 34:36one
- 34:36who
- 34:36never
- 34:36leaves
- 34:37or
- 34:37forsakes
- 34:38his
- 34:38people
- 34:39though
- 34:40you
- 34:40can
- 34:40rebuke
- 34:40us
- 34:41Lord
- 34:41you
- 34:41do
- 34:41not
- 34:41cast
- 34:42us
- 34:42away
- 34:42and
- 34:43we
- 34:43thank
- 34:44you
- 34:44Lord
- 34:44that
- 34:45you
- 34:45give
- 34:45us
- 34:45your
- 34:46word
- 34:46you
- 34:46give
- 34:46us
- 34:47your
- 34:47truth
- 34:47you
- 34:48give
- 34:49it
- 34:49for
- 34:49our
- 34:49instruction
- 34:50for
- 34:51our
- 34:51knowledge
- 34:52of
- 34:52who
- 34:52you
- 34:52are
- 34:53but
- 34:53you
- 34:54give
- 34:54it
- 34:54for
- 34:54our
- 34:54living
- 34:55as
- 34:55well
- 34:55and
- 34:56how
- 34:56we
- 34:57are
- 34:57to
- 34:57live
- 34:57for
- 34:57you
- 34:58and
- 34:58by
- 35:05of
- 35:05the
- 35:06mercies
- 35:06that
- 35:06you
- 35:06have
- 35:07shown
- 35:07to
- 35:07us
- 35:08may
- 35:09you
- 35:09enrich
- 35:09us
- 35:10through
- 35:10all
- 35:10of
- 35:10these
- 35:11things
- 35:11may
- 35:11you
- 35:11build
- 35:12us
- 35:12up
- 35:12may
- 35:13you
- 35:13go
- 35:13with
- 35:13us
- 35:14in
- 35:14all
- 35:14the
- 35:14days
- 35:14ahead
- 35:15that
- 35:16we
- 35:16would
- 35:16know
- 35:16your
- 35:17peace
- 35:17upon
- 35:18us
- 35:18we
- 35:19ask
- 35:19it
- 35:19all
- 35:19with
- 35:19the
- 35:20forgiveness
- 35:20of
- 35:20our
- 35:20sin
- 35:21in
- 35:21Jesus
- 35:21name
- 35:22Amen
- 35:23we're
- 35:29going to
- 35:30conclude
- 35:30by
- 35:31singing
- 35:31to
- 35:31God's
- 35:32praise
- 35:32in
- 35:32Psalm
- 35:3385
- 35:33sing
- 35:38psalm's
- 35:39version
- 35:39on
- 35:39page
- 35:40113
- 35:41we're
- 35:44going to
- 35:45sing
- 35:45from
- 35:45verse
- 35:451
- 35:45to
- 35:46verse
- 35:467
- 35:47in
- 35:50times
- 35:50past
- 35:51Lord
- 35:51you
- 35:51showed
- 35:52favour
- 35:52to
- 35:52your
- 35:53own
- 35:53beloved
- 35:53land
- 35:54the
- 35:54prosperity
- 35:55of
- 35:55Jacob
- 35:55you
- 35:56restored
- 35:57by
- 35:57your
- 35:57strong
- 35:58hand
- 35:58you
- 35:59forgave
- 35:59your
- 36:00people's
- 36:00trespass
- 36:01you
- 36:01were
- 36:01pleased
- 36:02their
- 36:02sins
- 36:03to
- 36:03hide
- 36:03you
- 36:04withdrew
- 36:04all
- 36:04their
- 36:05displeasure
- 36:05from
- 36:06your
- 36:06wrath
- 36:07you
- 36:07turned
- 36:08aside
- 36:08we can
- 36:09reflect
- 36:09these
- 36:10words
- 36:10in light
- 36:10of what
- 36:11we were
- 36:11looking at
- 36:11this
- 36:12morning
- 36:12the way
- 36:13the
- 36:13Lord
- 36:13forgives
- 36:14and
- 36:15hides
- 36:15sin
- 36:16but
- 36:17then we
- 36:17come
- 36:18into
- 36:18verse
- 36:184
- 36:18God
- 36:19our
- 36:19Saviour
- 36:20now
- 36:20restore
- 36:21us
- 36:21from
- 36:21us
- 36:21turn
- 36:22away
- 36:22your
- 36:23rage
- 36:23will
- 36:23your
- 36:23anger
- 36:24burn
- 36:24against
- 36:24us
- 36:25will
- 36:25it
- 36:25last
- 36:26from
- 36:26age
- 36:26to
- 36:27age
- 36:27will
- 36:27you
- 36:27not
- 36:28again
- 36:29revive
- 36:33mercy
- 36:34your
- 36:35salvation
- 36:35grant
- 36:37anew
- 36:37that these
- 36:38words
- 36:38would take
- 36:39us forward
- 36:40as well
- 36:40looking to
- 36:41God
- 36:42to restore
- 36:43us
- 36:43to bless
- 36:44us
- 36:44to revive
- 36:45us
- 36:45in all
- 36:46of our
- 36:46ways
- 36:47psalm
- 36:4785
- 36:48verse
- 36:481
- 36:48to
- 36:497
- 36:49we
- 36:49stand
- 36:50to
- 36:50sing
- 36:50to
- 36:51God's
- 36:51praise
- 36:51!
- 36:52Amen
- 37:21!
- 38:21that we may rejoice in you.
- 38:29Show us, Lord, your cup and mercy,
- 38:36your salvation grant anew.
- 38:44After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
- 38:47We'll close with a benediction.
- 38:48Now may grace, mercy and peace from God,
- 38:52Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all
- 38:56now and forevermore.
- 38:58Amen.