Gifts Differing
Romans 12:1-16
February 13, 2000

Introduction:

A. I don't know how God could have setup a more appropriate beginning for the next two weeks on Wednesday nights and next Sunday night. I did not plan the convergence of this passage with the messages of Wednesday evenings and next Sunday, but they are Divinely set. February 14… Valentine's Day… a commercial opportunity and a time to refocus on what is really important. Loving God and one another.
B. By the end of chapter 11 of Romans, Paul is ready to instruct the Romans about how to apply this grace which they have been given by God.
C. After explaining how we need God's grace, how God has given us his grace, how we can apply his grace to our lives, how His grace is seen in His work with Israel, Paul exclaims:" Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, 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." (Romans 11:33-12:1)

I. Spiritual Act of Worship (NIV)

A. This Worship is a response to who God is

1. Depth of… wisdom and knowledge of God (11:34)
2. His judgments and His ways…
3. His transcendence (11:34-35)
4. His sovereignty (11:36)
5. "Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all." IWhen I Survey The Wondrous Cross

B. This Worship is reasonable and spiritual

1. How can I love God more?
John 14:15 "If you love me you will obey what I have commanded you."
What is it that Jesus has commanded us to do?
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

2. This is the same type of an application to the lavishing of His Grace upon us… be an instrument of God's grace to someone else today!
3. "Acceptable" to us means marginally allowed. That is not what is meant here. It means "fully agreeable" or "wellpleasing."
4. "your" is from the Greek word "humon"… where we get our word human. It is our part of the worship.
5. "reasonable" is from the Greek "logikos"… where we get our word logic… which means it is of the word, or in other words it is something that has words, it can be understood, it is logical.

C. This Worship is costly

1. Present our bodies

a. It actually would be easier to present a little money or to say "I'll be there in spirit" or to sit at home and just feel good about thinking about doing something nice.
b. Many relationships suffer gravely because their relationships are too introverted. Even extraverts keep too many nice thoughts to themselves
c. The body… all its powers… physical, emotional, personal, psychological… etc.
d. Aeroist tense: i.e. do it was for all time

2. Present a sacrifice

a. It is not a presentation that takes place when things are convenient.
b. It is not a presentation that takes place when you feel like it.
c. This is a sacrificial giving of oneself to others on behalf of God
d. A warning about what hinders worship

1. Being conformed to this world's way of thinking:

a. present tense -- i.e. a continuing process
b. literally it is the schemes of this world… awh… schemes: excuse to manipulate, get my way, any excuse to not love, to not give, to not present your bodies, to not being experiencing His grace, to not be expressing His grace… any excuse we can get, we grab.

2. Renewing your mind: through the constant exposure to HIS grace and HIS word

a. again a present tense

3. This is the way to KNOW His will… it flows out of right BEING more than right information gathering

II. Variety Spiritual Acts of Worship: Our Songs

A. Warning: don't think your song is the only one that is spiritual (3)
B. We are many but one body: We do not have the same function (4-5)
C. Gifts differing (12:6)

  1. prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
  2. ministry, let us wait on our ministering:
  3. he that teacheth, on teaching;
  4. he that exhorteth, on exhortation:
  5. he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity;
  6. he that ruleth, with diligence;
  7. he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.

i.e. maximize your gifting, exploit it for Jesus' sake& sing it with all you have

III. Observation on Grace (12:9-21)

A. Grace is required
B. Grace is more (14, 21)