Sermon: Think Soberly (Part One)

The Other Side of the Coin
#1783B
Mark Schindler
Given 28-Sep-24; 43 minutes 2024-09-28

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Recently, I had the privilege to give a series of sermons under the title of “Sifted Like Wheat” that were intended to help encourage us all as we endure the trials of life that cause us to be sifted like wheat for our perfecting.

I purposely tried to show that there is a great deal of difference between what the Father and Son expect from the sifting process for those called (Their “mansions,” filled with the light of the presence of the God’s Holy Spirit) as opposed to the dark world outside. I not only hoped to encourage us in our walk together through this world, but to help us fully appreciate and live the life of light God expects from those on the inside of the light of truth. We need to always recognize and appreciate just who and what we have been set apart to be, and rejoice with this precious gift from God with great joy.

Today we need to look at the dangerous flipside of that coin as clearly stated by the apostle Paul in Romans 12 and specifically in verse 3.

Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 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.

As I said, the last series of sermons was an attempt to help us really appreciate the incredible gift that God has given us while in the wear and tear of this world. This must never be far from our minds—that we have the privilege of not only remaining in the presence of the light, but to actually have that very light dwelling in us. As Christ clearly indicated to Peter, He is going to make sure what we faithfully endure will be to our benefit because He is with us all along the way. But here the apostle Paul is elucidating our part of the process to make sure we are staying properly focused on who it is that really is doing the work and who deserves all the credit.

Always think soberly, not being filled with ourselves, so that you will show forth that gift God has given you.

The Message Bible in Contemporary English has an interesting paraphrase of these first three verses that we may find helpful as it points to Who is doing the work in our small (but necessary for us) part in it with humility.

Romans 12:1-3 (MBCE) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

I want us to keep in mind here that although it is up to us to bring this sacrificial offering to God, it is only Jesus Christ as our High Priest who can make us presentable to the Father.

Always keep in mind Christ’s words to Peter—Satan desired to have him and sift him like wheat. But when Christ had prayed for him, and Peter came through the trials because of it, he would be fit to serve. And remember that this statement from Christ came in response to a very presumptuous statement from Peter. That he, Peter, was a man who would never betray Him!

This attitude of self-describing presumption is important to this sermon, as well as the one that will follow next week.

We see the reality here that Christ was already showing us His perfecting work as High Priest in bringing Peter to the point he needed to be, just like He does with us.

Again, let us consider God’s direction to us in Romans 12:3, as written in the Amplified Bible:

Romans 12:3 (AMP) For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].

Paul begins this vital instruction here by humbly pointing out the reality under which his own sacrificial work was being done. It was only by the grace of God that Paul could do what he was doing in faithful service for the glory of God and not himself.

This is why Paul says in the preceding verses (again from the Amplified Bible):

Romans 12:1-2 (AMP) I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Brethren, these first three verses are critical to what Paul has to tell us in the rest of the chapter about behavior as followers of Jesus Christ. However, these verses can only be appreciated when seen as the linchpin between physical and spiritual Israel, and what will prove to be the success of both as God brings His plan for all men to fruition—a plan that is totally driven by Him placing who He wants where He wants, when He wants!

We therefore need to back up into Romans 11 before moving on.

Romans 11 is the chapter where Paul explains that although God has rejected physical Israel because of their faithlessness, physical Israel’s rejection is not final and is ultimately an intricate part of His plan (for all He is creating in His image, according to His likeness).

Despite faithlessness on the part of presumptuous men, God is showing His faithful work for all who He declares to be holy. This is His perfect plan from beginning to end for all men.

Romans 11:17-22 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Romans 11:25-36 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?" "Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?" For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

This, then, is a clear example to us of God’s incredible patient work to bring all men to repentance, salvation, and knowledge of the truth, as we are reminded by Peter and Paul in II Peter 3:9 and I Timothy 2:4.

This is an awesome extolling of the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of our Great God, whose ways are beyond the thinking of mere men. But it is also a severe warning to those set apart to live by faith (firmly attached to the trunk of the tree through the security of the indwelling of the Father and the Son).

It is from this point that Paul begins the 3-verse bridge of Romans 12:1-3 between set apart physical Israel and set apart spiritual Israel, with a plea not to get caught up in our own self-centered importance (because of what he is about to say to all who have been very purposefully placed invaluably in the Body of Christ).

We are His mansions grafted into the trunk of the natural tree to do what the natural physical branches could not do. We have the incredible gift of the very nature of God dwelling within to do the next part of God’s awesome plan by the grace of God.

However, this is not eternal security, rather our time for eternal judgment.

Just to reinforce this, turn to I Peter 1.

I Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

I Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy.”

I Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

I Peter 4:17-19 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Hebrews 10:19-23 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:26-29 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Brethren, we read these very familiar sobering scriptures before going on because it is vital for us to be reminded of the high stakes involved in our calling.

So now let us return to Romans 12 while considering what we read in Romans 11 about the exquisite plan and work of God:

Romans 12:1-2 (AMP) I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

I cannot emphasize enough how important Paul’s entreaty is here—humbly realize and act on your incredible part in God’s magnificent work. He then goes further to describe Jesus Christ’s faithful work in setting each mansion within the Body as He sees fit!

Romans 12:4-6 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Here is the other side of the coin: Do not let yourselves think of yourselves more highly than we ought! This is God’s work to make us just like Him with outgoing concern, while within the spots He has placed us.

We have the incredible privilege to have this very unique part in God’s plan according to His faithful work. And one of the most significant traps of Satan is expressed in Paul’s verse 3 (Romans 12) warning.

At this point I would like to share with you an example of this dangerous presumption. Although this is really over the top, it is an example of taking to ourselves what is only God’s to give in His appointed time.

Over the years we have received a number of letters from people claiming to be one or both of the Two Witnesses. Because we reach so many different religious hobbyists from all over the spectrum of beliefs, all because of the ability God has given us graciously through the Internet and most specifically the Daily Berean, we get all kinds of mail that mixes Bible truth with many wild ideas.

Then, a few weeks ago we received the following email from someone purported to be within the greater church of God. I cannot tell you with any certainty about how widespread this belief is within this particular group. But it still is an outrageous example of what both Peter and Paul are telling us not to do (within our very specifically determined responsibilities). And it is disconcerting seeing this may have come from within the scattered membership of the Body of Christ.

The presumptuous author of the email wrote to the ministry including the other groups the following:

Wherever you are around the world, hear this message from the Two Witnesses and take heed! The time you have had to repent and return to the One True Church before Christ’s return is running out! God requires you to consider your ways, renew your commitment and return to the Body of Christ.

You have had access to the material explaining where the full truth taught by Mr. Armstrong is found. You have compromised on many doctrines and have turned lukewarm and liberal. In this process, many of God’s people have been led astray by you.

God has allowed this for His own purpose, but soon His patience will run out. He wills that we return and we all organize ourselves under one apostle!

The author then identifies the organization, as well as the one they have determined to be God’s apostle at this time. Continuing:

If you still hope to go first and be a part of the firstfruits, repent and return to the Church where Christ is head! Those of you that wait until the three of us [The three of us?] start our commission on a global stage will lose their chance of going first.

The only way to make it into the Kingdom after that point is martyrdom!

This is your first warning! It is time for you to act and save yourself together with the brethren in your flocks. The much-anticipated evil leader of Europe is just around the corner and you will stand no chance against his deception unless you are back in the only Church where God provides protection.

The identity of this evil man will be revealed to all of God’s people in the near future. We have been preparing to announce this, but first, Church unity must be achieved.

Do not be fooled by voices that criticize God’s apostle and the sermon series regarding the mystery of God. He is the one that kept all the basic doctrines and laws intact which has always been the only measure of the true Church.

God is still providing a window of opportunity for a short time. Use it wisely!

Moreover, do not forget, God holds you responsible for the lives of the brethren in your congregations. We are on a mission of mercy granted to you by the Father through Jesus Christ.

Search your heart and admit your corrupt, lukewarm ways, and swing into action!

We will be in touch with you again shortly. Until that time, take good care!

In Christ’s service,

The Two Witnesses

Brethren, it is the ministry’s responsibility to care for us. And it is also, in a particular instance like this, a responsibility to let you know that presumptuousness is horrible. [While] there is a good deal of truth in this missive, [it is] wrapped in [an] incredibly prideful presumption. We have been set apart to learn and live the truth of God’s way and we have allowed this world to water us down. (This is something we are going to get into in the next sermon.)

But, as I said, this is also the obviously presumptuous side of the coin of our unique standing before God in thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought.

Brethren, today is the last Sabbath before we begin the most intense annual periods of training God graciously gives to His elect, beginning with Trumpets next Thursday. It is also a time for great joy in considering what is ahead for all mankind and our unique part in it.

Although this sermon and the next sermon, one week before Atonement, may be a bit stern on my part, I hope they both will help us better prepare to keep all the holy days with joy because of our unique part within God’s plan. But during this time it is also very important that we keep this other side of this coin in mind. Presumptuously taking to ourselves what Jesus Christ alone will clearly reveal in His good time is more than a serious mistake, it is something from the very mind of Satan. Brethren, we are spending time today on this other side of the coin because this is a vital part of our preparations to truly keep a joyfully fulfilling holy day season for the glory of God. We are the mansions, the temporary dwelling places of the Father and the Son. And to stay this way and remain the very elect of God, we must not take more to ourselves than will be very openly given by Jesus Christ Himself, as only He can do.

I want us to look at a couple of examples of why the apostle Paul was inspired by God to literally implore us to be constantly aware of our high calling to live just like Christ, while never presuming anything beyond what only He clearly gives.

We all are quite familiar with Moses’ presumptuously immature response to his own sanctified life given by God for His glory to deliver His people from bondage. He took it on himself to defend an Israelite, killing and hiding the body of an Egyptian persecutor (Exodus 2:11-15). This was presumptuousness. It then took 40 years of growth into the man who could do the job with absolute humility. It is good first to see what Moses thought of himself as a maturing sacrificial offering to God.

Exodus 3:6-14 Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God [this is the changed Moses, not hardly presumptuous], "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Exodus 3:16-18 “Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey."' Then [get this!] they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, 'The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.'

“Then they will heed your voice.” Notice Moses did not go to them without God making it clear to the elders that this was Moses’ job. So then, what was Moses’ attitude whenever he had to deal with others who presumptuously came to him, trying to insert themselves into positions that were not theirs?

We are going to cite just two instances that give us a clear example of presumptuous behavior that are very familiar to you. But they clearly show what happens when people, who have clearly been set apart for particular service to God, presumptuously try to take what God had never given.

It is good to also consider by this time God had not only made Moses’ position clear to the elders, but the whole of the nation had been witness to all the miraculous works in line with His Word God had performed through Moses.

Numbers 12:1-3 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Here is the account of Aaron and Miriam’s presumptive judgment of Moses based, in their thinking, on their own sanctification for service to the people. They lost sight of God and His purposeful placement, as it suited Him. We have a very strong clue here regarding what always drives thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought with the juxtaposition of verse 3 with verses 1-2—Moses’ humility versus their pride exposed by their presumptuousness.

Pride is the driver, just as it was with Satan when he told Eve recorded in Genesis 3:5, “you shall be just like Him.”

Please turn to Numbers 16:

Numbers 16:1-4 Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face.

Numbers 16:16-24 And Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the LORD—you and they, as well as Aaron. Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the LORD, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer." So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." Then they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?" So the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the congregation, saying, 'Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'"

Numbers 16:31-35 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up also!" And a fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.

This, of course was not the end of it, as so many in the congregation condemned Moses for these deaths when, in reality, they were judging God. This does not go well:

Numbers 16:49-50 Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident. So Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

Brethren, the point is that God is placing us all where He wants when He wants. And if we allow our consecrated positions to cause us to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, as the other side of the coin, we are on the verge of disaster.

This [episode] was the height of presumption for someone who had been set apart for the glory of God, but let themselves reach for what was not theirs, their pride being manifested in their presumption.

I would like to end this sermon in Isaiah and share two very important lessons from God on this subject of not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought.

Turn with me to Isaiah 14, where we will see the source and the absolute height of presumption.

Isaiah 14:12-15 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the pit.”

This was Satan at the height of his pride that manifested his presumptuousness from the wonderful spot in which God had placed him, to consider himself as good as, or better than, God.

Let us turn to Isaiah 66 to give us something to positively look at. I know that this was a difficult sermon for me to prepare.

Think about Who is in charge:

Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

Brethren, as we approach the holy days, picturing our very important part in God’s plan, this other side of the coin needs to be carefully considered and the remedy we find in Isaiah 66:2, “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word,” greatly appreciating our small God-given part within His awesome work to bring all men into an eternally productive relationship with Him, and one another, as He sees fit to do it, is our responsibility. It is a good thing for us to consider as we prepare for these holy days that start in earnest next Thursday.

MS/rwu/drm