Romans
Text: Romans 12:1. Theme:
Yielding to God.
“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.”
We need to yield daily to the Holy
Spirit. Confession of sin in itself is not enough to enable the believer to
automatically walk in the Spirit. He or she must then become a yielded
instrument for God’s service.
1. WHAT IS TO BE YIELDED?
The simple answer is you are! “Present yourselves to God as being alive
from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” Romans
6:13; “Therefore submit to God” James
This yielding to God involves both:
1.
The body, Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians
6:20. “Glorify God in your body.”
2.
The mind, Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by
the renewing of your mind.”
Since it is with the body that actions
conceived in the mind are conducted. Or it may be said, “which is conceived in
the mind is carried out in the body;” thus, one’s whole being must be presented
by a decisive act of the will, too God for His service.
Yielding must not be thought of simply
as a willingness to do some special thing for God. Rather, it consists of the
dedication by a person to do whatever God commands.
Yielding leads not only to dedication,
but also can result in separation; “Do
not be conformed to this world” Romans 12:2. Since the world is fixed in
purpose to oppose God, one cannot follow its standards, values etc.
The word translated “conformed” here, is translated “fashioned” in 1 Peter 1:14.
So the concept of separation in values being “unfashionable” in spirit thought
values and actions according to the world’s standards.
Yielding includes transformation of
the mind. This work is said to be accomplished through a lifetime of “renewing” of the mind. And at the same
time do the will of God. “Do not love
the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of
the father is not in him” 1 John 2:15.
2. WHY A LIFETIME?
Because man’s mind has been darkened
by sin. “Because the carnal (fleshly)
mind is enmity AGAINST God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed
can be” Romans 8:7. The mind of man must be brought to the place when it
thinks as God thinks, “Be renewed in the
spirit of your mind” Ephesians
This renewing can only come by PRAYER
to God in everything, “Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication” Philippians 4:6. And
through constant meditation on the Word of God, Psalm 119:1.
This transformation is a lifelong
process that will not be completed until we are with Christ Himself, Philippians 1:6 “He who has begun a
decent work in you will complete it when we see Jesus.”
