ROMANS 12:1-10
- 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
- 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
- 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
- 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
- 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
- 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
- 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
- 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
- 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
As we enter the new year, God is reminding us that because His mercies are over us and His showers of blessing pours upon us everyday, and He wants this to continue, we also must reciprocate by rendering acceptable service to Him. We present our bodies, and everything we have as a living sacrifice unto God. We must ensure that God does not see our services as peanuts (worthless) this year.
vs 2. And be not conformed to this world. He is talking about a reasonable service, which He expects from us. Just as we want our food to be served to us properly in restaurants, so also God wants the best from us as we serve Him. He has not offended us, so, we will give Him our best service this year in Jesus name.
vs 3. The message of God comes to everyone of us in the congregation, both old and new comers, that no one should think of himself more highly than he ought to think. And, turning to the scriptures,
- Let not Aaron think of himself more highly than Moses. God decided that Moses will be as a God to Aaron, while Aaron will be to him as a mouthpiece.
- Koran, Dathan, and Abiram must not think they are better than Aaron
- Phillip who went to Samaria and preached, and multitude became born again must not think he is better than Peter and John. There are still a lot of things that are to happen after that great event.
- Apollos must not think that he is higher than Aquila and Priscilla, though they may sit quietly in the congregation while he preached.
- Let not Silas think he is higher than Paul, even though he sang together with him in the prison
Just as a stopwatch that is desiring to be lifted to the position of the town clock in the center of the town will disappear from view because of its tiny size when lifted high, whereas, same will be exceptionally useful when placed in the hand or on the table. Find your position of value and keep to it, and you will be fruitful this year in Jesus name.
There should not be any false sense of superiority, false attitude, vain glory. On the other hand, let not Paul rate himself lower than he ought to while Moses must not have false feeling of inferiority. Moses had the power of God working in him, which God had bestowed on his life and ministry. None must think that he cannot do the work of God assigned to him.
God has given us diverse ministries as itemized in (vs 12). You should do the work which God has given to you with:
- Simplicity. Be simple and easy to deal with, do not be complicated or difficult.
- Diligence, (vs 7) Apply all your intellect and be hardworking.
- With cheerfulness, (vs 😎. Do not do the work of God frowning. Be cheerful while at it.
- With love, without dissimulation (vs 9) Not with pretense.
- In honour preferring one another, without any form of competition (vs 10).
- Without self conceit, ego, pride, arrogance, (vs 16).
- Without retaliation, vengeance is of God (vs19).
Our God is a covenant keeping God. He will fulfill all the promises He made to you. All those things that pulled and dragged you back are taking out of the way. This year, you will serve God without fear, you will do everything you have to do without fear, but in holiness and righteousness (Luke 1:70-75). Begin to rejoice for a greater, higher and more spiritual life this year.
If you are going to write an exam, and fear overwhelms you, the fear will lock off your brain. If you are going to get a contract and you entertain fear in your heart, to succeed will be difficult. This year, do away with fear so that you can do all those things that have hitherto been difficult.
If holiness was difficult for you last year, this year, it will be easier for you. This is a year of HOLINESS MADE EASY.
A. THE PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE FROM ALL OUR FOES. Luke 1:74
Luke 1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
God made this promise many years ago, and now that you are in the kingdom, He will fulfill and deliver you from every fear, big and small. Every rope tying you down, and drawing you back when you want to make progress is shattered.
Exodus 23:22-24. If you will obey Him and keep His commandments, God will be enemies to your enemies, and adversary to your adversaries. He said His angels shall go before you, subduing all your enemies.
vs 25. You shall serve the Lord your God and He will bless your bread and water, and take sicknesses away from you. You need to serve the Lord. You need to be regular in the Bible study and other church programmes this year (vs 26).
** Recently, as our pastor was walking on the road, someone met him, greeting and smiling. Pastor responded to his greeting, asking to know who he is. The man responded that he got a miraculous healing and solution to all of his life’s challenges during a Monday bible study session recently. He said he got his healing even before Pastor prayed.
- You are therefore, encouraged to ensure that you attend every bible study this year, and you will not only get your healing, but solution to all life’s problems and challenges in Jesus name.
Psalm 34:7-19
No lack, no famine, no scarcity for them that love the Lord this year. Success for all students in Jesus name. Trouble, oppression, fear, danger, bad dreams gone. God delivers you out of them all.
ch 81:13-16. Obedience to the Lord brings you victory and dominion over all your enemies and adversaries. So, this year, you will live your life devoid of fear from the enemies because they are all defeated and will not be able to do anything.
Jeremiah 15:20-21
- 20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
- 21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.
Everywhere you go this year, rest, assured that the mighty angel of the Lord goes before you and will clear Mr Terrible and Madam Terror out of your way (II Peter 2:9). The Lord will deliver you from every temptation this year.
You have a Three-fold deliverance from the Lord: (II Corinthians 1:10)
- “who DELIVERED us” so all the past events in your life that will mar your present and future are wiped away completely. Every evil that eluded you last year you will not come across this year.
- “and doth DELIVER ” He is presently delivering you from all evil,
- “and He will yet DELIVER us” from all future problems and challenges.
II Timothy 4:17-18
The Lord will deliver you from the mouth of the lion, whether other people are with you or you are all alone – even if you are already in his mouth, the Lord will pull you out – and from every evil work. The Lord will stand by you wherever you are.
Get this message so that when the days are weary, and the nights are long, when there are troubles and challenges, you will play and listen to it and be strengthened.
After the Congress last year, a leader who could not attend because he was bedridden, sent a message to his group pastor, telling him his condition. The group pastor sent a CD of the message THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD to him. He listened to it over and over, and in no time, he received strength and got up from the bed, receiving total healing.
You are also admonished this year to play and listen to today’s message when the challenges of life overwhelms you.
B. OUR PRIVILEGE OF SACRIFICIAL SERVICE WITHOUT FEAR. Luke 1:74
As you go about doing the work of God: going out early in the morning to preach, preaching in the buses, to members of your family and others this year, the Lord is with you.
Romans 8:15.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Fear brings you into bondage, it puts you down. But from now on, no fear in you, you will not be afraid of your wife, husband or children, your pastor or other members, you will not fear anything or anyone. Look up boldly and be strong. All the grounds you have lost before because of fear you will recover this year. Everything you should have done but failed to do in the last twenty, thirty years you will do this year. The grace of God will be multiplied in your life, thus, it shall be a year of great achievements.
II Timothy 1:6-7. This year, you must stir up the gifts of God in you. The Spirit of God in you is enough to shatter every power of the enemies. Every contrary spirit is knocked down. God is watching whether you are sleeping or awake.
YOU WILL NOT OPEN ANY PARCEL THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU. Defeat, poverty, failure, dejection, depression, fear, etc. You will send it back because the name on the package is not yours. You will not acknowledge any message that was not sent to you by God. You will not fear.
Jeremiah 1:17. You are to gird your loins, tighten your belt and get ready to make a journey this year. If you act weak, God will make you weak, but you should be strong because God Himself has sent you.
vs 18. God will make you defended cities, iron pillars, brazen walls against all our enemies. They shall fight against you but will not prevail against you, because the Lord is with you to deliver you (vs 19).
C. OUR PASSION FOR HOLINESS BEFORE THE HEAVENLY FATHER. Luke 1:74-75
As God gives you the assignment, He also gives you the equipments. If He gives you grass to cut, He provides a sharp cutlass to cut it; if He wants you to remove a mountain, He gives us the equipment that is fit to remove the mountain, If He wants you to wash anything, He will give the washing machine to do it effortlessly. You will not struggle to do anything this year in Jesus name. He will supply all that you do not have. You will be well equipped for life and ministry this year in Jesus name.
I Thessalonians 4:7
- For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
The Lord has called you to holiness this year, He will give you the grace and all you need to be holy. In the public, in the home, offices, in the church you shall all be holy.
Obadiah 1:17
17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
The privilege of possession is yours today. The passion and power for holiness is yours. Rise up and possess in Jesus name.
Prayer:
- May we have grace to have a new life and offer acceptable and renewed service to God in Jesus name.
- May God keep blessing and strengthening our father in the Lord. May God continue to confirm and establish his ministry with more signs and wonders in Jesus name. Amen.
Kemisola Omoyiola
(CSWS17012021(008)
