In Romans 12, Paul sets the standard for us to live by:
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.
We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice. As you study the Laws of sacrifice in the Old Testament you find that the lamb should be without blemish. The Blood of Christ insured that we are seen without blemish. A living sacrifice denotes that our presentation of ourselves should be on going. “Holy” is a pure and cherished walk and “acceptable” is well pleasing. This walk is attainable because it is described as being reasonable. If it weren’t reasonable then we would not be expected to achieve its goal. So… set the expectation!
Presenting yourself is an action and this is the most basic way to serve Our Heavenly Father. Are you focused on “you” or others? Are your actions holy by all accounts? Do you attempt to control of manipulate others for your own gain? Sometimes its tough but we must look into the mirror and do a personal assessment. Only then will we change. Review your words from the last few days. Were those words of life or death? Were they uplifting or destructive? We have a reasonable service to promote and pursue life in ourselves and others. This must be an ongoing pursuit, not just on Sunday. When we are in the trenches of life and being tested, that is the time to see what our character really reflects.
Be not conformed to this world. Peer pressure attempts to manipulate us into accepting the current state of affairs, submitting to the current system. If you look around, the current system isn’t doing well so why should you conform to this world. Heaven, on the other hand, is doing quite well and is without scarcity, wars, sickness, etc. Our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom is one of life and fruitfulness, not death and destruction. The current system is designed to stroke your ego and create problems to be fixed. It dangles a carrot in front of you to lead you to a life of subjection and slavery. To be conformed is to take on another’s pattern, fashion or way of life. When you do this you move away from your calling. Your calling has a unique anointing that empowers it from On High. When you move away from your unique calling, you lose that power. At the same time you subject yourself to the risks and challenges associated with the calling that is not yours. Without the anointing or empowerment, you will not be properly equipped to deal with those challenges. Thus you will fail.
The three levels of Our Heavenly Father’s will is progressive, just like the three feast of the year- Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. HIS “good” will is of of good constitution or nature. When Our Heavenly Father spoke for creation, HE said it is good. Life begets life thus seedtime and harvest perpetuate life. This is akin to a thirty-fold return. Next we have the “acceptable” will of Our Heavenly Father. It is well pleasing and denotes progress. The alternative is unacceptable or no fruit. The judgment seat of Christ will objectively differentiate between the two:
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.
Don’t you think we ought to deal with what is acceptable now rather than later? It is better to take your pain early.
“Be transformed” indicates that we are not destined to live in the muck and mire of our current situation. It is a command to change. If we weren’t able to change, the Most Holy Spirit would not have placed those words there. The disciples changed from a rag-tag group of guys to an empowered staff that spread the Gospel with signs and wonders. We should expect change as we renew our minds.
The biggest enemy to the renewing of your mind is the acceptance of your current understanding being the final and complete belief system you need. If you assume that your current actions and beliefs require no further study or assessment then you will not renew your mind. How does your fruit stack up to Romans 12? Are you serving your brother, your community, your country, the globe? Instead, are you serving yourself? Do you wake up everyday with a renewed strength and anticipation to what life will bring you or to another day of drudgery? If there is anything certain, things are constantly changing. If you have had no new revelation in the last week, month, year, or decade, then you are your own worst enemy. One of the primary reasons we have our Bible study is to pursue the unfolding revelation of Our Heavenly Father for this specific time in history. I look back over the last four decades and see many revelations appropriate for the time. I have read or listened to many who prophesied the imminent return of Christ. 1986, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2000, etc. Our Heavenly Father will transition us in HIS time, not ours. Our daily focus should be to move to HIS perfect will. Acceptable or pleasing denotes the sixty-fold increase whereas walking in HIS perfect will denotes a hundred-fold increase.
How can I walk in HIS perfect will? By walking in the fullness of HIS Love, the bond of perfection. As we pursue the fullness of Love, our mind is transformed. It becomes good ground for a greater revelation of Love. As we Love more, we produce more fruit. Our calling is empowered from On High. We become reliable to be used for Kingdom business rather than consume Kingdom resources for selfish purposes.
Our Bible study is all about the pursuit of walking in HIS perfect will, not just HIS good and acceptable will. I urge you to join us on this path to a greater understanding which leads to greater fruitfulness. I also urge you to ask others to join in on the broadcasts whether live or recorded for later viewing. Your contacts list reflects your sphere of influence. Why not promote the Kingdom instead of just sending emails complaining about the current system. Take a position of growth rather than stagnation.
Our Bible study broadcasts are at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-baptism-of-love We welcome your participation.