Romans
Chapter 12
How to serve God acceptably
Introduction
Chapters
1-11 : New Life in Christ
12-16 : Service for
Christ
Chapter 12 - Continuation of Chapter 11
"God
is great" (11:33-36)
"Therefore"
we are to serve Him acceptably 12:1
"Service" (v 1)
"Function" (v 4)
"Serving" (v 11)
HOW
TO SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY:
1.
Surrender your body to the Lord [v 1]
1
Cor 6:19-20 - Body is the Temple; Service in the Temple.
Rom
6:16,19,22 - Slave of God; Surrendered organs.
2.
Be transformed in your thinking [v 2]
·
Change your attitude towards the world (v 2a)
Jn
15:18,19; Js 4:4,5
·
Make God's will your sole aim in life (v 2c)
Jn
5:30; 8:28-30; Acts 9:6
·
Don't have a high estimation of yourself (v 3a)
Jn
1:21-23
· Don't set your mind on things too high for you (v 14)
Psa 131:1-3
3.
Use your gifts faithfully [vv 4-8]
·
Identify your gift (v 6a)
·
Don't bury your gift (v 6a)
·
Don't exceed the limits (v 6b)
·
Beautify with Christian virtues (v 8)
·
Respect the other gifts (vv4,5)
4. Live in love [vv 9-21]
·
No hypocrisy or outward show
·
Honour others (v 10)
·
Share with the needy (v 13)
·
Love the opposers and enemies (vv14,17-21)
·
Identify with others in their sorrows (v 15)
5.
Be Steadfast in prayer [vv 11,12]
·
"diligence" - alertness, watchfulness
·
"fervency" - Spirit-fullness
·
"serving" - Active and zealous in the Lord's things
·
"rejoicing" - Joy, praise, worship
·
"patience" - no worry but prayer and thanksgiving