罗马书［第12章］
Book of Romans 12
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罗马书［第12章|Book of Romans 12【同心合一的活祭+活祭的美好服事】
10/12/2021
引言:
教会就像是耶稣的身体一样，而你我就是身体的一部分。无论你在职场，或是全职服事，我们都是教会的肢体。而这一个身体，就是要献上给神作为活祭的。所以我们是一起被献上，同心合一的活祭。
一、献上身体当作活祭（V1-2）
保罗就像是一个过来人，以神的属性‘慈悲’来劝勉我们。这里‘慈悲’，原文是指‘神的怜悯’。
1.神所喜悦（V1）
将身体献上，这里身体原文有带出‘团结的一群人’身体的意思。而且这身体是要作活祭的。是要活的，是有生命的祭。有生命的祭是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的。
2.理所当然（V1）
将身体献上当作活祭，这样的事奉是理所当然。
3.心意更新（V2）
不要效法这世界。意思说，不要模仿世界的事物来塑造自己。只要心意更新而变化，就是我们思考的能力要变化，去明白查验神的旨意。
我以前没能理解这段经文，现在我可以更深体会这一段经文。过去我会觉得同性恋、婚前性行为、自由性生活等都是世界在流行和认可的，我看见既然是这样，我也觉得是可以接纳的。并且觉得不接纳的人都是老古板过时了。但是当我自己开始从学习中，明白真理的时候，我知道这是神不喜悦的。我知道过去我是以世界的价值观来看事情，所以总是觉得是合理。
现在，我以属神的眼光看事物，就思想我是神的殿，是与神合一的身体。神所不喜悦，我也会觉得不喜悦的。那时候，就没有什么流不流行、迷信、约束等等之类的字眼可以控告我了。因为，我们是属神的，所以要心意更新献上与神对齐，以圣洁的身体成为活祭。
二、合一成为基督身体（V3-8）
1.建立团队（V3-5）
V3 我凭着所赐我的恩对你们各人说：不要看自己过於所当看的，要照着神所分给各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道。4正如我们一个身子上有好些肢体，肢体也不都是一样的用处。
保罗在这里，以一个出于神的恩慈来对个人说，要彼此如同一个身体建立团队，不要过于看自己而已。
最直接的例子，我们可以看见一个主日崇拜。我们有崇拜部的各个团队，一起来服事神。我们有敬拜团，团队里有主领、伴唱、乐手、音控电脑操作、灯光、导播和拍摄等等。现在还有安全大使、冠病检验员、记录员、招待和场地人员。不可或缺的有聚会负责人、讲员、翻译员、主席、带祷告的、领圣餐的等等。
2.里外合一（V5-8）
当然聚会还有少不了的就是会众，都是一起敬拜神的一个身体！在GK611，我也看见，不只是同工，而是在职场的弟兄姐妹们，也一起参与服事，甚至是带领团队，各尽其职，里外合一。每一个人都是教会的肢体，我们一定有可以服事神的一部分。大家可以在自己当作的，尽心专一。这就是大家一起合一结为基督的身体！
三、提升生命以善胜恶（V9-21）
既然我们是一个身体，我们就要彼此合一，好让我们的手脚可以协调，不会打架。而且不是手顾手，脚顾脚而已。而是彼此帮助，彼此协调。保罗在这里给了我们十大守则。让我们可以在其中也来鉴察我们自己，是否有在以下十个层面，可以更多突破提升自己：
• 爱弟兄的心（V9-10）
• 殷勤不懒惰（V11）
• 盼望中有喜乐（V12）
• 款待互助（V13）
• 正面祝福（V14）
• 同理心（V15）
• 谦卑彼此同心（V16-17）
• 与众人和睦（V18）
• 听凭主怒（V19）
• 爱敌人（V20-21）
总结：同心合一建立基督的身体，献上活祭，成为圣洁。
活祭的美好服事
引言：
星期一带着李牧师一家去动物园，其中看到鸟儿的表演，虽然简单，但是也蛮惊讶。一大群不同的鸟，有鸽子有鹦鹉，这些飞禽竟然可以按照牠们的主人的指示作有队形的花式飞翔。因为主人照顾牠们，供养牠们。就像狗儿认定主人也是如此；是因为主人照顾牠，侍养牠。牠就忠心的认定主人，主人一旦发生什么危险，例如掉进水里，狗会奋不顾身的跳下去拯救主人。因为牠的一生只是一个目标，就是为牠的主人而活。
今天蒙神重价所救赎的人又如何呢？
一、活祭属神不属世（V1-2）
12:1 所以弟兄们，我以 神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是 神所喜悦的，你们如此侍奉，乃是理所当然的。
12:2 不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为 神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。
什么是献上身体作活祭？神不是真要我们以牺牲性命、摆上身体，放在祭坛上焚烧，那是某些外邦异教献活人为祭物才这样做。经文说这是一种理所当然的事奉，而且是神喜悦我们这样摆上来做。活祭到底是什么？
腓立比书 2:17 我以你们的信心为供献的祭物，我若被浇奠在其上，也是喜乐，并且与你们众人一同喜乐；
活祭指的是我们有一颗活泼有力的信心，这颗心为神分别为圣，不随从世界，而是一心寻求神的旨意，一生为神而活。活祭不是放下工作，留在教会事奉神。活祭不是只有祷告读经敬拜神，活祭是在你的生活中成为基督美好的见证人。无论你有多少种身份，是老板是员工、是父母是儿女···，为神成为活祭，活出最荣耀丰盛的生命见证。我们在世界而不属世界。
二、基督肢体相服事（V3-8）
12:3 我凭着所赐我的恩，对你们各人说：不要看自己过于所当看的，要照着 神所分给各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道。
12:4 正如我们一个身子上有好些肢体，肢体也不都是一样的用处。
12:5 我们这许多人，在基督里成为一身，互相联络作肢体，也是如此。
12:6 按我们所得的恩赐，各有不同。或说预言，就当照着信心的程度说预言；
12:7 或作执事，就当专一执事；或作教导的，就当专一教导；
12:8 或作劝化的，就当专一劝化；施舍的，就当诚实；治理的，就当殷勤；怜悯人的，就当甘心。
我们要适当的看待自己，我们每个人都是彼此的肢体。想象一个人的肢体部位，从头到脚，相互连接，不正是为了彼此服事吗？人的身体没有一个肢体是自私自利，不顾对方的。而且是非常自然的相互照应。例如肚子饿了，头脑发出想吃东西的讯号，眼睛就自然启动扫描功能，看看那里有食物，看到了脚就以行动走去，手就自然去拿，再把食物精准的送到嘴巴，牙齿就开始工作，口水就启动分泌，舌头就分辨食物味道，喉咙就预备下咽，胃部就准备分解食物···等等。
这是很自然、合作无间的各尽其职。保罗要说的是教会的肢体也当如此。只是事实上教会还有许多功课要学，因为基督徒还有许多血气和软弱、有斗争、自我、分门结党等问题。教会肢体中拥有各种不同的恩赐，目的就是要彼此服事，互相造就。
我们每个人的恩赐强项都很不同，我作牧师就比别人更强吗？论理财韵珩传道、Dione姐妹就比我强多了。论种花养鱼，Robeen弟兄就远比我强。论科技媒体电脑的操作，Asher就远比我强。其实每个人都一样，我们当如何看自己呢？就按着个人信心的大小而定，看得合乎中道，既是不要偏激，我们都是作基督的肢体就是要彼此服事。最终目的是大家都得到造就。
三、爱中生活行美事（V9-21）
12:9 爱人不可虚假，恶要厌恶，善要亲近。
12:10 爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。
12:11 殷勤不可懒惰。要心里火热，常常服侍主。
12:12 在指望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告要恒切。
12:13 圣徒缺乏要帮补，客要一味地款待。
12:14 逼迫你们的，要给他们祝福，只要祝福，不可咒诅。
12:15 与喜乐的人要同乐，与哀哭的人要同哭。
12:16 要彼此同心，不要志气高大，倒要俯就卑微的人（“人”或作“事”）。不要自以为聪明。
12:17 不要以恶报恶。众人以为美的事，要留心去作。
12:18 若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。
12:19 亲爱的弟兄，不要自己伸冤，宁可让步，听凭主怒（或作“让人发怒”）。因为经上记着：“主说，伸冤在我，我必报应。”
12:20 所以，“你的仇敌若饿了，就给他吃；若渴了，就给他喝。因为你这样行，就是把炭火堆在他的头上。”
12:21 你不可为恶所胜，反要以善胜恶。
为主而活的活祭就是要分别为圣事奉神；然而事奉神的具体行动就是在肢体生活中作美事！17节说众人以为美的事，要留心去做。这当然不是指世上众人以为美的事，而是在基督里的众人。凡是合乎真理的，效法基督的、顺从圣灵的都是美事。经文中说了许多事情，刚才同工伟健也说了，我就不再重复。原来我们的生活就是要活出种种效法基督的美事。
总结：活祭就是要起来服事
为什么基督徒都理当成为活祭，因为只有起来服事神，生命才活起来，才是摆上事奉神。你不要把为神而做的工当着重担，看为麻烦？因为是神的拣选，给我们机会服事祂，透过服事让自己更成熟和蒙福。
起来服事，成为活祭！
所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是 神所喜悦的，你们如此侍奉，乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为 神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。
Romans 12: The Living Sacrifice of Unity +The Beautiful Service of the Living Sacrifice
GK611 Morning Devotion
10/12/2021
Speaker: Asher Chang + Rev. David Tan
The Living Sacrifice of Unity
Introduction:
The church is like the body of Jesus Christ, you and I are part of the body. Whether you are in the workplace, or in full-time ministry, we are all members of the church. And this one body is to be offered to God as a living sacrifice. So we are offered together as a living sacrifice in unity.
1. Offering the Body as a Living Sacrifice (V1-2)
Paul is like a man who came to exhort us with the attribute of God, 'mercy'. Here 'mercy', in the original language, means 'the mercy of God'.
(1) Pleasing to God (v1)
Offering the body, here the body in the original language has the meaning of the body of 'a united group'. And this body is to be a living sacrifice. It was to be a living, sacrifice with life. A living sacrifice is holy and pleasing to God.
(2) As a matter of course (v1)
It is a matter of course to offer the body as a living sacrifice.
(3) Renewal of mind (v2)
Do not be conformed to this world, It means, do not imitate the things of the world to shape yourself. Just be renewed and changed, that is, our ability to think should be changed to understand and examine the will of God.
I was not able to understand this passage before, but now I can experience this passage more deeply. I used to think that homosexuality, premarital sex, free sex life, etc were all popular and accepted in the world, and I saw that since they were, I also thought they were acceptable. And I thought that people who didn't accept it were old-fashioned and outdated. But when I began to understand the truth from the study, I knew that this was not pleasing to God. I knew that I used to see things with the values of the world, so I always thought it was reasonable.
Now, when I look at things with Godly eyes, I think that I am the temple of God, a body that is one with God. What is displeasing to God, I will also feel displeased. At that time, there will be no more words like "popular", "superstition", "restraint", and so on, to charge me. Because we are of God, we need to renew ourselves and offer ourselves in alignment with God, and become a living sacrifice with a holy body.
2. Unity and Become the Body of Christ (V3-8)
(1) Building the Team (V3-5)
V3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function.
Paul says here, in a kindness from God, to individuals, to build up one another as one body, and not to look too much on themselves.
The most direct example we can see is a Sunday service. We have teams of worship ministries that come together to serve God. We have worship teams with worship leaders, backup singers, musicians, Public Address controlled and computer operators, lighting, producer and filming, etc. Now there are also safety officers, FET testers, recorders, ushers and floor crew. Indispensable are the in charge of the service, speakers, interpreters, emcee, prayer leaders, holy communion, etc.
(2) Unity inside and outside (V5-8)
Of course there is also the congregation, all together as one body worshipping God! In GK611, I also saw that not only co-workers, but brothers and sisters in the workplace, also participate in the ministry together, and even lead the team, each doing their part, united inside and out. Each one of us is a member of the church, and we have a part to serve God. We can all be dedicated to what we do. This is the unity of all together as the body of Christ!
3. Enhancing Life to Overcome Evil with Good (V9-21)
Since we are one body, we need to be one with each other so that our hands and feet can coordinate and not fight. And it is not just a matter of hands caring for hands and feet caring for feet. Rather, we are to help each other and coordinate with each other. Paul gives us ten rules here. Let us examine ourselves with them, whether we can have more breakthroughs to improve ourselves in the following ten areas.
- Love of the brotherhood (V9-10)
- Attentiveness and not laziness (V11)
- Joy in hope (V12)
- Hospitality to help each other (V13)
- Positive blessing (V14)
- Empathy (V15)
- Humility with one another (V16-17)
- Harmony with all men (V18)
- Listen to the Lord's anger (V19)
- Love enemies (V20-21)
Conclusion: Building up the body of Christ in unity, offering a living sacrifice and becoming holy.
The Beautiful Service of the Living Sacrifice
Introduction:
A dog identifies its master because the master takes care of it and feeds it. It recognises the master and is faithful to him, once the master is in danger, such as falling into the water, the dog will jump in to save the master. Because he has only one goal in life, to live for his master.
What about those who are redeemed by God today?
1. Living Sacrifices are of God and Not of the World (V1-2)
What is a living sacrifice? God does not really want us to sacrifice our lives, lay out our bodies, and burn them on the altar, that is what the pagans do when they offer a living sacrifice. The scriptures say that this is a natural service, and that it is God's pleasure for us to give ourselves to God. What exactly is a living sacrifice? Philippians 2:17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
A living sacrifice means that we have a living and powerful faith, a heart that is set apart for God, that does not follow the world, but seeks God's will with one heart and lives for God all the days of our lives. A living sacrifice is not a laying down of work and remaining in the church to serve God. A living sacrifice is not just praying and reading the Bible and worshiping God, but a living sacrifice is being a witness to the goodness of Christ in your life. No matter how many identities you have, whether you are a boss or an employee, a parent or a child --- be a living sacrifice for God and live the most glorious and abundant testimony of your life.
2. The Body of Christ Serves Each Other (V3-8)
We need to see ourselves appropriately, each of us is a member of one another. Imagine the parts of a person's body, from head to toe, interconnected, aren't they meant to serve one another? No member of the human body is selfish and self-serving and does not care about each other. And it is very natural to take care of each other. For example, when one is hungry, the mind sends out a signal that one wants to eat, the eyes naturally activate the scanning function to see where there is food, and when they see it, the feet go with action, the hands naturally go to take it, and then the food is sent to the mouth with precision, the teeth start to work, the saliva starts to secrete, the tongue discerns the taste of food, the throat prepares to swallow, the stomach prepares to break down the food --- and so on.
This is a very natural and cooperative way of doing one's job. Paul is saying that the members of the church should do the same. But the truth is that the church still has many lessons to learn, for Christians still have many problems of the flesh and weakness, struggles, ego, divisions, etc. The church has a variety of gifts among its members for the purpose of serving and building each other up.
Each of us has different strengths in our gifts, so am I stronger as a pastor than others? In terms of financial management, Ps. Wun Hing and sister Dione are much better than me. Brother Robeen is far better than me when it comes to planting flowers and raising fish. In terms of media, technology and computer operation, Asher is far better than me. In fact, everyone's the same, how should we see ourselves? Let it be according to the size of one's faith, and let it be according to the righteous way, and let it not be partial, for we are all members of the body of Christ to serve one another. The ultimate goal is that we are all edified.
3. Living and Doing Beautiful Things in Love (V9-21)
The living sacrifice for the Lord is to serve God in a separate and holy way; however, the concrete action of serving God is to do beautiful things in the life of the members! Verse 17 says have[e] regard for good things in the sight of all men. This of course does not refer to what is considered beautiful by all people in the world, but by all people in Christ. Whatever is in the truth, imitating Christ and obeying the Holy Spirit, is beautiful. The scriptures say many things, and I will not repeat them as my co-worker Asher has just said. It turns out that our life is to live all kinds of beautiful things after the example of Christ.
Conclusion: A living sacrifice is to rise up and serve
The reason why all Christians should be living sacrifices is that only when they rise to serve God does their life come alive and they are set apart to serve God. Don't you think of your work for God as a burden or as a problem? Because it is God's choice to give us the opportunity to serve Him, and to make ourselves more mature and blessed through our serving. Rise up and serve as a living sacrifice! Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in the mercy of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, and it is only right that you serve in this way. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may see what is the good, pure, and pleasing will of God.
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