NOW THAT WE KNOW
Romans 12:1-2
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Having known how we got here, how we are grafted branches, adopted as children of the Lord.
https://ikthewatcher.blogspot.com/2020/07/before-you-boast.html?m=1
We are warned not to take it for granted, we should not repeat the errors of the branches that were cut off.
What next?
*John chapter 15 is a good read, at this time*
What next?
This is the essence of follow-up and discipleship:
1. Offering our bodies as a living sacrifice:
see the way the Amplified version put it -
Romans 12:1
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
2. Be transformed in your thinking:
Yes we all have a certain background, there are cultures and traditions we may have known before we were saved, also there are many other cultures that are around us. We must transform our minds to God's own reasoning. We must not conform to the system of the world.
Romans 12:2
Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
We should not get carried away thinking so highly of ourselves, no, we are not the ones that does the work, it is God that has done the work. He does not owe us, we owe Him. We must thus evaluate ourselves wisely, walking by faith.
We remember that we are a branch. Being part of a family means we function, you cannot be part of a family and do nothing, no, you contribute, you function, if you are in Christ family you must have a role. (YOU ARE NOT A PEST!)
Romans 12:6-8
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
*What do you do for the Lord, what is your role?*
Your character must be God's character and that is Love. You cannot pretend it or fake it, it is from the heart:
Romans 12:9-10
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Look at verse 9, again!
You must hate(run from it) what is wrong and hold tightly to what is good. IT IS A MUST!
Laziness and mediocrity has no place in God's kingdom. No place!
Romans 12:11
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Look at all the great people of old, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel etc, they were achievers they excelled in their works and thus prospered, they did not beg.
Look at the disciples, none of them were idle men, they had a vocation, they worked, even before they were called into ministry. See Paul he had his job.
Even as a bishop Paul still worked sometimes to take care of upcoming churches. These are good examples.
Acts 18:3
Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
1 Corinthians 9:6
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
Never loose hope, keep on praying. Praying is the lifestyle of the believer, He must always be in communication with the Lord.
Romans 12:11-12
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
For we must keep rejoicing, and build our patience.
We must be ready to help others in need, starting from our brethren in faith, we must live at peace with others, don't just look to associate with highly placed people, relate with ordinary people.
Revenge is not for us. God says it is His exclusive right. Help us good Lord.
Romans 12:19-20
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the lord.
Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
We understand that there is good and evil, it was the knowledge of this that brought upon man the option of erring when man fell. Thus we must not let evil conquer us, for it creeps in and becomes a habit and a nature. Christ has sacrificed for us we must embrace the new life He has given us.
Romans 12:21
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Help us Good Lord.
To you Dear Father be all the glory, honour and praise as we follow your path and do your will.
He calls us blessed.
Love
@the watcher
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Having known how we got here, how we are grafted branches, adopted as children of the Lord.
https://ikthewatcher.blogspot.com/2020/07/before-you-boast.html?m=1
We are warned not to take it for granted, we should not repeat the errors of the branches that were cut off.
What next?
*John chapter 15 is a good read, at this time*
What next?
This is the essence of follow-up and discipleship:
1. Offering our bodies as a living sacrifice:
see the way the Amplified version put it -
Romans 12:1
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
2. Be transformed in your thinking:
Yes we all have a certain background, there are cultures and traditions we may have known before we were saved, also there are many other cultures that are around us. We must transform our minds to God's own reasoning. We must not conform to the system of the world.
Romans 12:2
Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
We should not get carried away thinking so highly of ourselves, no, we are not the ones that does the work, it is God that has done the work. He does not owe us, we owe Him. We must thus evaluate ourselves wisely, walking by faith.
We remember that we are a branch. Being part of a family means we function, you cannot be part of a family and do nothing, no, you contribute, you function, if you are in Christ family you must have a role. (YOU ARE NOT A PEST!)
Romans 12:6-8
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
*What do you do for the Lord, what is your role?*
Your character must be God's character and that is Love. You cannot pretend it or fake it, it is from the heart:
Romans 12:9-10
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Look at verse 9, again!
You must hate(run from it) what is wrong and hold tightly to what is good. IT IS A MUST!
Laziness and mediocrity has no place in God's kingdom. No place!
Romans 12:11
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Look at all the great people of old, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel etc, they were achievers they excelled in their works and thus prospered, they did not beg.
Look at the disciples, none of them were idle men, they had a vocation, they worked, even before they were called into ministry. See Paul he had his job.
Even as a bishop Paul still worked sometimes to take care of upcoming churches. These are good examples.
Acts 18:3
Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
1 Corinthians 9:6
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
Never loose hope, keep on praying. Praying is the lifestyle of the believer, He must always be in communication with the Lord.
Romans 12:11-12
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
For we must keep rejoicing, and build our patience.
We must be ready to help others in need, starting from our brethren in faith, we must live at peace with others, don't just look to associate with highly placed people, relate with ordinary people.
Revenge is not for us. God says it is His exclusive right. Help us good Lord.
Romans 12:19-20
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the lord.
Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
We understand that there is good and evil, it was the knowledge of this that brought upon man the option of erring when man fell. Thus we must not let evil conquer us, for it creeps in and becomes a habit and a nature. Christ has sacrificed for us we must embrace the new life He has given us.
Romans 12:21
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Help us Good Lord.
To you Dear Father be all the glory, honour and praise as we follow your path and do your will.
He calls us blessed.
Love
@the watcher
God bless you sir
ReplyDeleteMay the Lord inspire us through His Holy Spirit
ReplyDelete