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Sermon
Outline
Prepared
by Joseph
P. Metoyer, Jr, D.D., Pastor/Teacher April
28, 2002
Text:
Romans 12:1-2 “How Are You Programmed?”
Introduction: We can connect with God only when His Holy Spirit programs us. I. How Our Thoughts Affect Us Just as our glands are regulated by our
central nervous system, so also are our emotions a product of our thoughts. It is not the circumstances of life that
determine how we feel. Rather, how
we feel is basically determined by how we interpret the events of life.
Between the external stimulus (the event) and our emotional response is
our brain (the receiver) and our mind (the interpreter).
That is, our brain and mind assess the world around us, and our emotions
respond to that information. A.
Our response will be based upon how
we are programmed. B.
We have control over what we think, and we can decide
to believe that what God says is true. C.
We all face pressures of deadlines, schedules,
trauma, and
temptations.
The major
difference is in software – that is, how we mentally interpret the external
world and process the data our brain is receiving. When we encounter a
difficulty, our mind can choose to respond by trusting God with the assurance of
victory or by viewing ourselves as the helpless victim of circumstances. The Israelite soldiers saw Goliath in
reference to themselves and became stressed out. Young David saw the same giant in reference to God and
triumphed in the same situation that had left experienced soldiers in defeat. D. Faith
in God greatly affects how we interpret and respond to
the pressures of this world.
No matter what
happens in life, we can always rest in the assurance that “in
all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called
according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). II.
How Can I Be Programmed For
Service (12:1-2) True Christian service and living must begin
with personal dedication to the Lord. The
Christian who fails in life is the one who has first failed at the altar,
refusing to surrender completely to Christ. A.
King Saul failed at the altar (I Sam. 13:8ff and 15: 10ff) and it cost
him his kingdom. B.
The motive for dedication is Love.
Paul does not say, “I command you”, but he says, “I beseech you,
because of what God has already done for you.”
We do not serve Christ in
order to receive His mercies, because we already have them (3:21-8:39).
We serve Him out of love and appreciation. C.
True dedication is the presenting of 1.
Body 2. Mind and 3. Will to God day by day.
It is daily yielding the body to Him, having the mind renewed by the
Word, and surrendering the will through prayer and obedience. D.
Every Christian is either a conformer, living for and like
the world, or a Transformer, daily becoming more like Christ. III.
The Programming Process As priest we are to present “spiritual sacrifices”
to God (I Peter 2:1-5), and the first sacrifice He wants each day is our body,
mind, and will in total surrender to Him. A. Renew
your mind simply means to renovate.
Paul says (2 Cor.4: 16) day by day…
David says (Psa.1) moment by moment.
Joshua says don’t just meditate on it but do it (1:8). B. Be
transformed the Greek word used for transform is the same as the one used
for transfigure in (Matt.17:2)
He was transfigured before them.
(2 Cor. 3:18ff)… Application: In
every tempting situation we have choice. We
can respond according to the flesh (the way we learned to respond before we came
to Christ), or we can respond according to the Spirit.
(Gal. 5:17) tells us the two are in opposition to each other because the
flesh is programmed to live independent of God and the Holy Spirit is dependent
upon God the Father. The deeds of the flesh are evident (Gal. 5:19-21)… And so is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22-23). Our countenance and behavior reveal the choices that
we have made. |
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