Sermon by Ps Joshua
Romans 12: 1 NIV
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12: 1 MSG
1-2 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.
Renewing needs to be done from time to time. Our mind keeps getting distracted and need to be renewed continuously.
God has called us in the midst of our life out of our life. Called us for a purpose to the work that we need to do in our life.
God’s purpose can be fulfilled only by you! You are irreplaceable.
Your mission field is your workplace and your life. This is what God has given us. Taking the mundane things that we do, we perform our mission
Every day is an opportunity to be a witness. There is a base of good works that needs to be done and seen by people.
Matt 5:16 NIV
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Romans 12: 1 MSG
Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Philippians 2: 14
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing
God has our best in mind and knows the beginning from the end. Even with the beginning that you’ve had, God does not take your end lightly.
God is the master builder & grand artist. Rather than grumbling, embrace what God is given us. We ought to be in Gods perfect plan.
God has asked us to embrace what we have.
If you are facing a challenge, lets watch our attitude. While Its easy to get disappointed, God has asked us to find out what we have to learn.
Your attitude determines your altitude.
Today’s topic:
Rom 12:2 NIV
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
What is conforming to the pattern of the world?
- Trying to imitate the person beside and accepting their definition of the world.
- Our minds being influenced by the traditions or patters of the world.
The worlds patterns are subtle. We are tuned to follow people, patterns. We don’t seem to know that we are following it.
The world does not want God in their lives. They want to be God. But, we acknowledge that God is our source.
Acts 17:28 NIV
28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being
Additionally, the idea of God in the world is skewed – unhealthy fear of God. They think God is a tyrant. A despot. But, our God is loving and with mercy & through the cross has accepted us as we are. He accepts us were we are at!
Consider our view of money: do we hoard it? Do we share or give? The worlds idea of money is different from what God’s idea of it.
Romans 12:2 MSG
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.
Renewing our minds is a process. To change and to think how God thinks is a transforming process. It takes time.
How do we renew our minds?
- Pray and as God for the source
We start by recognizing the origin of the thought. We all face confusion, anxiety, worry and fear. However, we shouldn’t remain on it! Let it not captivate our lives. Let it not paralyze it. We overcome by asking God to show the source. When we spend time in God’s presence & with His word, we perform an exchange.
- By Speaking Gods word into & over our lives & minds.
Seeing is believing in the world. But, God has called us to speak into our lives. Speak into our future.
We replace the negative thought or speak toward a situation and allow Gods word and perspective to fill us.
- Replace our thoughts with Gods truth.
No matter what the world names us, God has a name for you. Replace that negative report with what Gods speaks about you.
When we are in tune with the world, we choose the worlds report. Spending time with God causes us to replace everything with Gods view.
Gal 2:20 NIV
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
When we speak the word in our lives – Christ lives in me, we become victors. It’s not sufficient to stop thinking but, to replace! Replace everything with Gods truth.
Replace the overwhelming thoughts by Gods truth!
- To have accountability.
When we are struggling and it’s out of control, let your mentor or accountable partner speak into our lives.
We have Gods word & His people around us. Let Gods people speak healing & life into our lives.
Summary:
God has placed His word (which is light) & His people around us!
God wants to make us whole. To renew our minds.
Psalm 23:1
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing
When we say the Lord is our shepherd, it means God is leading our lives! If God is not leading, then the world is leading our lives!
If we lead our lives, then “we shall always want“.
God asks to invite Jesus to be our shepherd! Let’s ensure that God is our shepherd & that we are following Him.