THE REASON RIGHTEOUSNESS WORKS

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

JOHN 8.31-32

When we try to do what is right and good, we immediately find internal and external resistances show up. Change faces all kinds of previously unknown problems. Efforts to change known problems reveal other, unknown problems that are the causes of our known problems. Like the peeling of an onion, each layer of problems reveals underlying layers to be removed. The great, good news is that we will soon reach pure, clean, healthy tissue that will produce love, joy, peace, goodness, righteousness, holiness, purity........... for ever and ever!

Honesty and truth about resistances and conflicts will produce right attitudes and behaviors. The more resistances are exposed and resolved, the more stability and balance, peace and fulfillment, effectiveness and accomplishment take place.

Resistances and conflicts expose conflicting, impure, selfish motives and thoughts that have caused the problems we face. Unconscious and subconscious disorders of pain, fear, shame, and anger are revealed in the resistance and conflict that occur.

As these disorders are resolved, order, peace, and harmony increase and flourish. Growing confidence and effectiveness develop credibility and integrity, called "righteousness" and "holiness" in Scripture--Ephesians 4.22-24. Peace, satisfaction and joy the become dominant characteristics of our lives.

Once we become stable and trustworthy, our attention naturally moves toward healing influences on others. We become salt and light, fishers and disciplers of men, for the glory of Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives for the coming ages of eternity.

The Big Fisherman's last words were, "Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.." 2 Petrer 3.18.

WORTHY OF AND PLEASING TO OUR LORD

You then, my son, be strong in the grace

that is in Christ Jesus.

And the things you have heard me say...

entrust to reliable men

who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 Timothy 2.1-2

Romans 12.1-21 tells us how to carry out Paul's intructions to Timothy:

1. Be strong in Grace.

2. Entrust your knowledge, understanding, and wisdom to others.

BE STRONG IN GRACE

V.1--Offer our bodies to God. This is just common sense. There is no way to serve God oor do anything else without our bodies. Bible reading/study/teaching, etc. means our body is in a place where we can focus on Scripture. While we can pray anywhere, we are always in our body when we pray. To present our bodies to God means we devote time and attention to seek God and serve others.

V. 2--We must develop knowledge and understanding of God's will for our lives. We must study, meditate, and learn the application of God's words to our specific life experiences day by day. As we focus on what the Holy Spirit has to say to us, we will experience freedom from our past failures and mistakes. We will also be freed from the negative effects of the failures and auses of others toward us. We will be empowered to live out the truth we are learning. We will begin to see His will worked into our day to day experiences in good, pleasing, and perfect ways.

As we grow in our understanding and experience of God's good pleasing, and perfect will, we will understand Paul's admonition to Timothy--"Be strong in the grace that is in our Lord." We will also understand and be eager to heed Peter's words: "Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"--2 Peter 3.18.

ENTRUST GIFTS TO OTHERS

V. 3-8--At this point the Apostle simply lists examples of the kinds of things the Holy Spirit imparts, develops, and empowers in our lives. These "gifts," talents, or abilities are to be invested in bringing strength, encouragement, and comfort to others.

In vv. 9-21,Paul goes on the list the attiudes and applications that the Holy Spirit produces in us as we spend time seeking to know more and more about the Person of our Lord Jesus and His will for our lives.

The emphasis on our "bodies" being made available to God is simply the practical reality that if we do not take the time and discipline to put our bodies in the places necessary to know and obey the will of God., then we are not going to know or carry out God's will for us. If we do not "show up" in our bodies, we wont "be there" where God can develop and use our lives for His glory in this world. Furthermore, to serve God means we take our bodies to the places where others need our presence and ministry to their needs.

The emphasis on our bodies is to help us not decieve ourselves about pretending to serve God in our minds while we do nothing about real and true service for Christ and others.

To be strong in the grace of God and invest grace in the lives of others will result in lives of significance and influence upon others for the eternal kingdom of God. Jesus says this is how we become fishers of men, light, and salt in and for this world.

He also said, "Wise men do what I say."

TO PLEASE GOD

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy,

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God--

this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12.1

The idea of pleasing God occurs about 25 times in the New Testament. Here are a few of the ideas:

Colossians 1.9-10--Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way.....

The rest of Colosssians tells us about the things that please God.

Romans 12.2 tells us that as the Lord renews our mind more and more, we discover that the will of God for us is good, pleasing, and perfect.

2 Corinthians 5.9 tells us that our goal is to please God as long as we are in this body here on Earth.

Ephesians 5.10 urges us to find out what pleases God. He has given us light to see the goodness, righteousness and truth that will please Him in all ways. At any moment we can stop whatever we are about to do and ask, "What can I do to please You at this moment, Lord?" The Holy Sprit will direct us at that moment in what is the good, right, truthful think to say and or/do.

Philippians 4.18 tells us special monetary gifts are sacrifices that are "fragrant, acceptable, and pleasing" to God.

Colossians 3.20 says that obedient children are pleasing to God.

Titus 2.9 tells us that God wants employees to make genuine efforts to please their boss/manager/superivisor.

Hebrews 13.21 tells us that God equips us with knowledge and understanding of good things for us to do all day long that please Him.