KEYS TO CHRISTIAN LIVING
Romans 12:9-21
SINCERE LOVE
V:9. " Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling
to what is good. "
A. The word love here is agape which is God's willful
direction toward man.
1. God does what
is best for us.
2. We should be
imitators of God's love to others.
3. If imitators,
we should be sincere.
4. We can be
fakes before man, but never before God.
B. Since we are imitators of God's love, we should seek the
good for another
person.
1. Not only that we
should the example of what is good.
2. The world knows
evil because it is all around us.
3. The only way the
world will know the difference between good and
evil. is the
good they see in us.
HONOR OTHERS IN CHRIST
V:10. " Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.'
A. The word love here is Greek word "philadelphia
1. It is our love
toward a brother or sister.
2. Philadelphia
anything to
with what is best for the person.
3. Agape is always
what is best for the other person according to God's will.
B. Since we are to be imitators of God's love, we should put
needs of other s
above our own.
1. God loves the humble and hates the proud.
2. Since we are
imitates of Jesus, we cannot put ourselves above others.
3. The moment we
ourselves above others we step into the proud zone.
4. I am not
knocking self esteem, bur our self esteem should not be to the
degrading of
another person.
DON'T NEGLECT SERVING GOD
V:11. " Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your
spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."
A. The business of the Lord should take priority in our
lives.
1. We should be careful
not to lose our excitement regarding doing
the Lord's
work.
2. It certainly
easy to get into a routine of working and paying bills,
and fail to
spent time studying the Word of God.
3. It is the Word
that brings the conviction and promotes the excitement
in serving
the Lord.
B. The indwelling spirit in the believers, communicates with
the Spirit
of God during our
study and meditation on God's Word.
1. It is the job
of the Holy Spirit to teach us the true meaning of the
Word of God.
2. If you want a
close relationship with Jesus, you must study
His Word.
2. Jesus will
abide in you as you abide in His Word.
3. The Word is
Jesus.
ATTITUDE OF ENDURANCE
V:12. " Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer. "
A. The original Greek reading of this verse, put the noun
before the
adjective.
1. In Hope, be
joyful.
a. Our hope is
based on the promises of God.
b. Since
God keep His promises, we should be
joyful.
B. In Affliction be patient.
1. One of the
qualities of Christian service is waiting on the
Lord.
2, God works
things out in His own time.
3. He makes our
affliction work to our good.
4. Our faith in
the power of the Lord is built as we wait on Him.
C. In prayer be faithful.
1. We are pray
without ceasing.
2. We ought to
pray expecting our needs be meet.
3. We out pray
with thanksgiving.
PRACTICE BEING GENEROUS
V:13. "Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality."
A. God has been generous to us, therefore we are expected to
be
generous to
others in need.
1. Acts 20:35
"In
everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help
the
weak, remembering
the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give
than to
receive."
2. You kind and
generous giving to others, prepares the way for you good
quality of
life.
B. The fact that you have the resources and the energy to
give is a blessing
from God.
1. In our giving.
the Lord sets us up to do more giving.
PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES
V:14. " Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not
curse."
A. This command goes
against our flesh.
1. We have been
taught to defend ourselves.
2. We don't want
to seem weak when someone is troubling us.
B. One thing I have
learned is hurting people do hurting things.
1. Sometimes a
kindness from you will cause them to rethink
there words
and actions.
2. When we curse
someone, we are trying to invoke God to
be intolerant
with them and do harm.
3. We have to
remember that God is constantly tolerant with us.
4. Our command is
to bless with kind words and actions.
5. Someone with
an evil heart, may not have had the benefit of a loving
and kind
family.
6. Since the
prayers of the righteous gets the attention of God, we have the
to effect
change in the lives of evil doers.
BE WHATEVER YOUR BROTHER NEEDS
V:15. " Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with
those who mourn."
A. We should happy when others are happy.
In so doing we
share their joy and spread it throughout our circle.
1. There are no
promises in this life. We have to enjoy every moment,
2. The joy we share
is the joy we carry with us.
B. There is a time for everything.
1. Sorrow can come
to us in many ways.
2. When others are
hurting we should show our sympathy by sharing in their
sorrow.
3. We should be the
shoulder that people can expect an encouraging word.
4. Sometimes people
just need a listen ear, and the assurance that everything is
going to be ok.
5. Praying with
someone in times of sorrow is powerfully enough to lift the
spirit of the person
who is morning.
PEACE BEGINS WITH YOU
V:16. " Live in harmony with one another. Do not be
proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be
conceited. "
A. Peace always begins with you.
1. The most
difficult situation can be handled peacefully.
2. You don't have
to agree with someone to be in harmony with them.
3. You can always
agree to disagree.
B. One way to be peaceful with another person is to see the
situation from
their point of
view.
1. Your view is
never the only right view.
2. When you are
proud of your opinion, you eliminate the possibility of
a better way.
3. In God's eyes we
are all equal. There are no big "I" and little "You"
ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING
V:17. " Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful
to do what is right in the eyes of everybody."
A. You can always be the bigger man or the bigger woman.
1. Tit for tat
puts you on the same level.
2. The best thing
you can do for someone who is intent on doing you wrong
is to do them
good.
3. You don't want
to be characterized as a trouble maker, but a problem
solver.
B. When you so what is right regardless of the wrong done to
you
you set the
standard for others to follow.
LEAVE THE REVENGE TO GOD
V:18-19. : If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's
wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says
the Lord. "
A. No one knows the situation between you and another person
as well as God.
1. You may be
arguing about something that neither one of you fully understand.
2. If someone has
wronged you, God knew it before you became aware of it.
B. Something God's allows for you to learn to put your full
trust in Him.
1. Your failure to
seek revenge is not a weakness, but the strength you place
in the Lord.
2. God knows how
to handle your situation so it works best for you and
worst for the
evil doer.
3. When you are peaceful, the evil doer may
wonder what power you hold
over them.
4. You can say I
love you to your enemy while God handles the satiation.
BE KIND TO YOU ENEMIES
V:20 "On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry,
feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you
will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. "
A. We must first know the Word of God, believe the Word
before you can
put it into practice
in your life.
1. Isaiah 54:17
"No weapon
forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that
accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their
vindication
from me," declares the Lord. "
2. Problems in your
life are God's opportunity to be glorified.
3. It is as
easy to be kind as it is to seek
revenge.
4. The war between
the spirit and the flesh can only be won if you turn
your problems
over to God.
B. Trusting God requires you to be kind and generous to your
enemy while
He handles the problem.
1. A person who is
evil to you is shocked when you are kind to them.
2. When you
forgive, the burden of asking for forgiveness is on the
other person. Isaiah
54:17
no weapon forged
against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication
from me," declares the Lord.
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
For more lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs
revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
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