God's gifts and our commitment are bonded by love (Romans 12:1-21)

AIM: Discover spiritual gifts, motivated by love brings life change
Romans 12:1-8
A) God's mercy seen creates a devoted life in His will
1) See God's mercy, give self fully to God is worship
2) Not pattern world, transformed/renewing mind, able do God's will
Illustration: Cain (Look what I brought God) and Abel (look what you did God)
Cain couldn't see God's mercy and took LIFE into his own hands, killing his brother. God's mercy was then revealed in Cain, God protected Cain (Gen 4) - Lemech didn't get it (70 times 7 REVENGE). Jesus said 70 times 7 Forgive (Matthew 18:21-22).
Many in the church struggle with self-deception:

• Lying to yourself, that you aren't sinning (Romans 14:23; Proverbs 30:20; James 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:3;1 John 1:8-10;2:4)
• Thinking your "Christian" when you don't live a Christian lifestyle (Luke 6:46; James 1:26; 1 John 2:4;1:6; 3:9-10)
• Thinking "I'll get away with it" (Galatians 6:7; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Proverbs 28:13)

Application: Debug your heart, Let the Holy Spirit and God's word expose and judge the intentions of your heart.

 Ephesians 4:23-24 and Colossians 3:10 says, "...let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." and "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator."
Heb 4:12 says, "the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]...penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Ephesians 5:10,17 says, "Test and prove what pleases the Lord" and Don't be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is"

Application: Is my sacrifice pleasing to God, where am I focusing on worldly patterns rather than the Godly pattern in his Word?

B) God's gracious gifts used in humble, united service (3-8)
3) Grace given me, not better in self, by faith God distributed to us
4-5) body many parts, function in Christ, belongs to each other
6) different gifts (1 Cor 7:7), according grace given (empowerment): 
 - Same LORD and Spirit, God at work (1 Cor 12:4-6)
 - Gift to equip others, reach unity (Eph 4:11-13, John 14-17)
 - We are stewards of these gifts, purpose is God's glory in Christ (1 Peter 4:10-11)
7-8) Gifts according to grace: Prophesy/faith, serving, teaching, encourage, give/generously, lead/diligently, mercy/cheerfully
Illustration: Lot is an example of not using gift faithfully. (Lord) rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (2 Peter 2:7). Jesus sends us out, says Listen! Don't miss it! You'll be judge, wrong intentions in your heart need to be cast out in the name of Jesus! (Luke 10:12-17). Jesus was reminding the 72 about Lot (Luke 10:1-12) and what happens when people don't come out (Gen 19:14,15). So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. (Gen 19:29) but
Lot used his freedom to be an unaware, incestuous drunk (Gen 19:32-35). Why didn't Lot go back to Abraham for humble help in this matter?
Principle: Two things make a Christian miserable, 1) unrepentant sin and 2) not using your gifts to serve the Church.
Application: Spiritual gifts inventory, what gift haven't you opened yet? Consider serving in an unfamiliar way (test and approve).
Also:lot
Romans 12:3; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:1-6 ; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 7:7b ;1 Corinthians 12:4-6 ;Ephesians 4:11-13 ;1 Peter 4:10-11

C) Love enthusiastically, sacrificially serving and trusting the Lord (9-21)
9-10) Love sincere, hate evil, cling good, devoted/honor one-another in love
11-13) spiritual fervor, serving the Lord: joyful/hope, patient/affliction, faithful/prayer, share/people/need, practice/hospitality
14-15) Bless (no curse)/persecutors, empathy: celebrate/rejoicing, comfort/mourning
16) Live/harmony/each other, not proud/conceited, associate with low positions
17-21) Not evil for evil, careful/right eyes of all, possible depends on you: live/peace not revenge, trust God's plan: overcome evil with good