Romans 12:1&2, “…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”.
As mentioned in the last message, the sieve separates what is acceptable and rejected. Paul writing to the Romans starts in chapter 12 by saying “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, ACCEPTABLE to God, …”. Could it be that the Romans thought their lives in were in line with God? Like the flour that was not sifted, everything looked ok on the outside until the sieve revealed as we see Paul applying it here. He tells them to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, the next thing is “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“. I keep emphasizing the word ACCEPTABLE because I see over and over in my life God exercising His will based on what is ACCEPTABLE. Paul takes the next three and half chapters teaching the Romans what is acceptable Romans 12, 13, 14, 15:1-8. This would mean, all these would pass through the sieve because they are acceptable to God.
People tend to have their own definition of what is acceptable, the Word of God should be our source of knowing. Here is where what we are now asking, we are asking within the boundaries of what is acceptable. In re reading Romans 12:2, towards the end of the verse it says, “…that you may prove what is that good and acceptable…“, we have done that based on His word, here comes what I think is hard to grasp “… and PERFECT WILL of God“. Not sure who else has gone through this where you thought you were in God’s perfect will on a given thing only to discover later you were not. It appeared spiritual yet it was carnal, you may have thought you heard from the Lord only to find that you missed it. It troubles me sometimes but then I get comfort knowing that God is working in me based on what is acceptable while directing my paths and yours. He is working in you, Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure“, He is directing you Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths“, He is ordering your steps, “Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
The more we walk with the Lord, the more we learn, the more we grow, the more we are transformed, the more we operate in His will. At times it may not be clear right away what His will is for our lives but as we go through the sieve, we are sifted to know what is acceptable and we pray for God’s will and direction within the boundaries of His word. We are no longer just praying for anything because it’s our desire, we pray “thy will be done”. As we pray and get in the word, the more we are changed, the more the sieve reveals stumbling blocks, impurities in our character. I believe that we can know God’s perfect will for our lives because we know what it takes. David says, Psalm 139, “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting”. To be in God’s will, he had wanted to be tried in the sieve something we all should strive for. Blessings Ev.
He Has Magnified His Word 
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