What is our Spiritual Worship? (Romans 12:1)

Sermon on 27 July 2025 by Pastor Justin Chia

Introduction

Spiritual worship and true worship is about a lifestyle of surrendering and obedience.

Message

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. - Romans 12:1

Allow Jesus to be in control of your life - a life that is aligned with Jesus’ teaching. Surrender all to Him. Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Let Him be at the centre of your life.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. - Psalm 73:25

1. A Living Sacrifice

Your old man has died. Present yourself as a new creation. Giving your life as a living sacrifice means living a life by losing your life. You no longer live for yourself. You live for one another, and for the glory of God.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. - Luke 9:23-24

Align your thoughts and actions with His will. Be holy and pleasing. Lead a life of sacrifice by consistently dedicating yourself daily and surrendering to God. This is our spiritual worship in truth, that encompasses surrendering all aspects of life.

2. A New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Spiritual worship is living as a new creation, embracing a redeemed life.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:13-14

Why do some people fail to live as a new creation? It is because of the unholy trinity - “Me, Myself, and I”. This is a lifestyle filled with self-centredness and self-will.

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. - Romans 12:3

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. - Philippians 2:3-4

Simplicity in only believing and always obeying His truth as a new creation (Ephesians 4:20-25). True worship is through surrendering as a new creation, evident by your thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15-16).

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. - Hebrews 13:15-16

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. - John 4:23-24

A true worship that is pleasing to God comes from a redeemed, new creation who offers their whole life, body, and soul as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

Closing

True worship is not limited to the church, but also extends to your daily life.

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. - Romans 16:17-20