All In This Year, Part 1

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.

He said I urge you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy, holy isn't really whole. As we think of it means set apart how Diaz made a set of illegally set apart will see in a moment from the world to be set apart to be set apart from the world, you better be set apart from sin, you better be sent to me to be holy to say hey I'm here for you and and did nothing about me. That's hardly at all for joining us today on this additional fellowship in the world Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us God's word meets here on this time we mark time. That way every year at this time we mark time and you notice that it's always optimistic. We are always thinking maybe next you'll be happy.

The truth is it to be a lot like last year, but in much the same, but it's a time and we look forward with that sort of great expectation and we realize the past is past good old days are now good old days and fries. Often it's a time for resolutions and we make all kinds of when you read all the top list of resolutions. It is amazing bye-bye enlarge more than almost any other resolution Americans make resolutions every year not to be as fat as a worthier before and yet standing where I am, just like we did last year so I know what the resolutions were, how they work out with this year. I have a resolution that I want to have for all of us.

My resolution is my most important resolutions for your life you can possibly imagine. My resolution for you and for me this year is that we are all in with Jesus Christ that we are all in. Now I'm not talking about the we go to church once a week. I'm not talking about having daily devotions. I'm not talking about fasting during Lent.

I'm not talking by keeping the 10 Commandments are not talking about sharing your faith, your friends, I'm not talking about volunteering for ministry and I'm not talking about going on mission trips.

Those are all good things but someone talking about what I'm talking about is are you all in when it comes to Jesus Christ. You see the reality of my resolution is that it's not mine is not my resolution for you. It's God's resolution for you. He has this resolution for you to be all in Jesus Christ and reveals it to the apostle Paul in Romans chapter 12. So, if you will open your Bibles to Romans chapter 12 we assume we can look at the first two verses. These are clearly two of the most significant verses written an entire Bible. In fact, there's probably nothing in your life that could change your life as much as these two verses if you're already a believer in Jesus Christ. That's the importance of these two verses and how I want approaching the day as I'm going to approach him with four questions and have four questions for these two verses listen as I read pulses. Therefore, I urge you, brother, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what the will of God is that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

The first question I have is look at these verses is why should we be all in. See, why should we be all and to Jesus Christ. Notice the first word is therefore and you've heard me say this, over all the years when you see a therefore in the Bible you always have to ask yourself what's it therefore see that's the point. It goes back and most of the commentators think it goes back to verse 36 and that is this doxology appalling. But in chapter 11 when he says for from him and threw him into him are all things to him be the glory forever. Amen. And I'm sure it does go back to that to a degree, but my understanding of it is. This goes back to Romans one through 11. This goes back all the way back I want you to think back to everything I've said so far. He said that's what's important here. All that I have covered. He says therefore I urge you. One interesting word, urge is not what you think the Greek word here is the word para-collateral is an interesting word is a general word for urging. It can be translated that way, but not normally it means one who comes beside someone to help that's literally what the word para-collateral means. In fact, if you remember when Jesus Christ was talking to his disciples. He said when I leave.

I'm going to send the Holy Spirit back to you. And guess what he called the Paraclete, the para-collateral. The same word the Holy Spirit will come and be beside you and so Paul just says here, I urge you, he said to what he says. First, I urge you, brother. Not a believer in Jesus Christ. These verses will help you all. There's nothing you can do about it. This isn't a human will situation I can't just will myself to do this I have to be controlled and filled by the spirit of God. He says I urge you, brother, analogous to the point, why should we be all in. He said, by the mercies of God, by the mercies of God, might my reason.

I urge you, he said, brethren, by the mercies of God, interesting.

He spent 11 chapters telling us what the mercies of God are.

That's Romans.

I know you realize this but you realize it. Everything that's good in your life is because of what God is done for you every single thing.

Everything in your life is because what God is done for you.

Everything is going to happen to you in the future. Your destiny is because what God's country and not deserving of any of it was like God's a while that's really impressive person. I'm gonna there are no impressive people. He says at the moment there is none who seeks God. All sin and fall short of the glory of God.

He said they're not but I'm going to give you all these things he said I love you so much. Also my son for you. He loves you so much go to the cross for you.

He said I'm to bestow my grace on you unmerited favor of God getting what I don't deserve bestow my mercy on you. I'm not going to get what I do deserve. He said no to forgive you. I'm to reconcile you a sinner to me a holy God. He said I am going to set your destiny would give you the surety of heaven. These are all the mercies of God, everything in our life that we have as a believer is because it was a gift that God gave us.

He said that's the reason. By the way, we should be all in. See, when you understand and come to a conference or what God is done for you. You should be all and that's his point. He said the better you comprehend how much God is done for you, the more committed.

You should be to God. This is a growing thing is not a one time thing I'm more aware of what God has done for me. Now that I was 30 years ago. 20 years ago 10 years ago. You continue to understand this.

This is the basis of what God has done for us. He said I urge you, brother, by the mercies of God, the second question, what must I do to be all in. If I'm only what you do what you need for all women see that it's an interesting thing. So often Christians are so misguided with this. I need to attend more often I need. I probably need to get more money I need. I need to do some other kind a minute. None of that's true. Some is talking about here, always has nothing to do with religious activities all he said. Here's what I want from you to present your bodies to present your bodies while now the word body there means your life means everything you are.

He said I want you to present your life and that were present is an unusual word in the Greek language because revealing it. He's a Pharisee here. The word is parent is to me and what makes this word so important is it's a technical term for when the priest in the Old Testament would make an offering to God whenever they translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek, called the Septuagint whenever the priest would make an offering to God. This is the word that they used. This is the word para-is to me.

He said I want you to make an offering to God. I want you to do this now some of you depending on your background with think yeah but that's not a good analogy because what that was a priest in the Old Testament someone to hold replacer for just a moment. Go with me by way of reminder two's first Peter chapter 2 first Peter chapter 2 in verse five Peter is trying to fire up the people that he's writing to any does a wonderful thing here. He wants to tell you who you are.

He wants you and I do have some sense of what is it mean I'm not just a believer in Jesus Christ.

There something more to it than that. And so here's what Peter writes. He says in verse five you also. That's all of us as living stones, are being built up to a spiritual house. Is it your all living stones, you're all being built into the body of Christ. All of us together. That's a nice thing but notice the next thing he says for a holy priesthood is not talking about Levites is talking about you is talking about me coming vertebral holy priesthood.

What a priest doing x-rays to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ as a peters. Now we know from Romans 12 what is that spiritual sacrifice that you please not done verse nine Peter says this, but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession so that you can proclaim the excellency of the hymn is called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light. Peter says here you're a royal priest see you.

Not even a Levitical priest your Melchizedek in priest Melchizedek is the king priest of the Old Testament is only one of them shows up remembering the book of Genesis is the king of Salem or Jerusalem, but is also a priest. Abraham paid tithes to him. He should get better. You are your royal priest your Melchizedek and the reason is you and I are in Melchizedek in Christ is what he is saying now back to Romans, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present to offer your lives as a living. What does that tell us God no longer accepts dead sacrifices is no more dead sacrifices. You don't give a juncture when animal and in God's is Eric someone asked me to die masculinity and offer yourself as a living sacrifice, and as I said before many years ago. I'm not exactly sure who it was a really not that sure.

So let me just say this but I remember an old radio commentator St. and the problem with living sacrifices they keep climbing off the altar, and are you get up you get time you get up you get time to get up you get down and there's some truth to that, but he says look I want your life.

I want you to be a living sacrifice, but it's more than that. This isn't this is a mental assent. This is in this idea that you can say today I got a moment there I got it were fixed.

Gotchas don't mock me that way it has to be sincere. He said I urge you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice more holy isn't really holy. As we think of what we mean, set apart how Diaz means to set apart. You need to be set apart will see in a moment from the world, you better be set apart to be set apart from the world, you better be set apart from sin, you better be sent to me you better be holy. Don't just say hey I'm here for you and and does nothing about me that's holy at all. Again, hold replacer and go with me to Malachi last book of the Old Testament chapter 1, I just want illustrate this. Malachi chapter 1 in verse six and he resorted get the heart of God gotchas.

This God is speaking, he said, a son honors his father and a servant his master. Then if I'm the father was my honor if I'm a master worth my respect. He sits as the Lord of host you owe priest who despise my name and he said you will see how we despise your name. We went through the motions. Wonder what it gotchas you are presenting defiled food on my altar and you see how we defiled it. He said how we defiled you in that you say the tables. The Lord is to be despised nursing when you me were going for the religious rituals. He said when you present at the blind for sacrifice is not evil when you present the lame and sick is not evil. Why not offer to your governor. Would he be pleased with you.

Would he receive you kindly says the Lord of hosts, you will not.

He said, and treat the Lord's favor in this remembering about the sacrifices the Old Testament had to be the best ahead it to be without blemish, he said. By this time notice with the giving the Lord blind sheep lame sheep and care just give it to him. He'll be fine will give the good shape. Ourselves gotchas that's evil the sacrifices you make the offering, you make has to have some sense of holiness do it in Romans 12. He said that you is a living sacrifice. But there has to be a sense I'm set apart to God, I'm all in.

Back to Romans, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God. That's a really interesting phrase and it so often in our Christian walk. Whatever we do as Christians we think were okay as long as is acceptable to us.

If it is acceptable to us were fine with them. You know that will never matter has to be acceptable to God said whenever you live your life in it for me. I'm the one asking the judge know you so whenever you and I are complacent a week ago I got done enough. I think, be very careful with that is acceptable to God or not. He said, which is your spiritual service of worship. Now that's a really bad translation.

Notice it says, which is your spiritual service of worship. The word spiritual.

There is not the word spiritual is regrettable to me that it was put in the New Testament the word spiritual was Newman toss spirit. How Diaz Newman toss Holy Spirit. This isn't that what all this is the word logger costs logger costs is the word you when I get the English word logic if logic notice. It means reasonable.

It means keeping in the nature of a thing, he says, which is your logical service of worship receipt being all winter God from God's point of view, isn't this logical. I went out first with talk about what I did for you what I done for you. Everything whatever given you. Ephesians 1 every blessing in heavenly places have given all of her giving her said I'm patient with you, I'm kind of you. I go and prepare a place for you. I give you everything wouldn't be logical then that you would be all in with me when Debbie logical see it makes sense. God said I'm not asking you something makes no sense at all.

This makes a great deal of sense. He sit at your spiritual service of worship were worship there is word of the trio can be translated service.

I will paraphrase and that's a this way are you a child of God.

If you nod your head yes that I'm telling you act like one your child of God. You act like a child of God is a God saying here you say your child of God, then act like a child of God is. That's the whole point of this and it is only logical that you would and it's not only the all the God did for us in the past because he's done everything for us is that everything for present Jesus in a mug to leave you alone. I'm gonna send the Holy Spirit to host personnel not to be in the Temple in Jerusalem is going to be in you, you're now the temple of God, the Holy Spirit will teach you my truce. Holy Spirit can forgive your sins and the Holy Spirit will empower you to live your life. So I even provide for everything you need now all I need for you is to present yourself as a living and holy sacrifice. See, I need you to say I'm all in. That's what I need from you. That's apart the chores. I'll do the rest of this. So why should we be owing because what is done for us what must I do, I need to offer myself. Third question, how do we know overall and is there any way of knowing if your owing yes first two he says in verse two, two things.

First, the negative and then a positive and do not be conformed to this world, do not be conformed to this world. That's the first negative is an interesting word that that word there conformed is the word Sue gave Mike to so we can we get the word scheme from it.

It means don't be put into the world pattern, JB Phillips, the great Greek scholar will paraphrase the new testimony came to this verse said don't let the world squeeze you into its mold that happened. Unfortunately, it has happened in just enormous numbers. If you read George Barna or anyone like that is taken. Surveys of the evangelical Christian in America today. He comes the conclusions that are shocking and he says when you look at the life of Christians, the day evangelical Christians and you look at the life of the unsaved are identical.

Everything they do. We do we divorce at the rate we abuse our children. We do everything they do. We live for money, just like they do are values of their values is easy. Don't let that happen. Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold because it will see those are extremely important things to us not to allow that to happen. The world world there is not the word cosmos, which is normally the word for the organized world is a world I non-and I-9 means the age. It means the spirit of the age that you and I live in the value of the spirit of the age. Second Timothy chapter 3, the apostle Paul writing to Timothy said look Timothy were in the last days and you know what it's gonna be like in the last days. He said okay what is to be like men are going to be lovers of themselves will be narcissist. He said to be lovers of money will be materialist in the be lovers of pleasure will be hedonists that sort of a description of our culture that's a description of the culture in which we live is is all about us.

We just think of it in my books for the last 50 years. You look out for number one that you when used in the greatest love of all was the love of me is just that's what our culture teaches.

We end up embracing it. Culture teaches is a book there's nothing better than more, nothing better than more, you need more you need more stuff, you need more.

That's how we measure how good we are as people. How much do we get doesn't come the word of God. The consumer culture because we were not culture if it feels good to me, that's the world, squeezing you in its mold. That's why the first thing you said look of your owing for God. You know all the world to squeeze you into that mode.

If the world has squeeze doing that mold I can tell you this, you're not owing to God. That's the point you're not always comfortable on the radio ministry of fellowship in the if you ever missed one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember that you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the Fellowship in the Word online event website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as well at Fellowship in the Word.

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