ROMANS 12:9 – 21. LIVING TO OUR TRUE POTENTIAL (PART 2).
LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT THE LIVING TO OUR TRUE POTENTIAL (IN THE WORLD IN THE CHURCH) THE CALL UPON US WAS ONE OF PERSONAL CONSECRATION TO GOD IN THE LIGHT OF HIS MERCY. WE ARE CALLED TO BE A TRANSFORMING INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD, RATHER THAN CONFORMING TO THE WORLD’S PATTERN. THIS IS GODS WILL FOR US. ALSO WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH WE WERE CALLED TO DEVELOP AND ALLOW THOSE GIFTS WHICH HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO EACH ONE TO FUNCTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE CHURCH.
SO THOSE VERSES WERE REALLY ALL ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING IN THE WORLD (TRANSFORMING INFLUENCE) AND IN THE CHURCH (TO USE OUR GIFTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE ANOTHER).
THIS WEEK PAUL POINTS OUT THAT LIVING TO OUR TRUE POTENTIAL IS GOING TO EFFECT OUR OWN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT – IT IS GODS WILL THAT WE DEVELOP IN THE GRACES – YOU SEE ITS NOT ENOUGH JUST TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE CHURCH, LIVING TO OUR TRUE POTENTIAL INVOLVES A WHOLE LOT MORE, IT INVOLVES DEVELOPING OUR PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE CHURCH WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH OUTSIDERS.
• AS SOMEBODY ONCE SAID ABOUT BEHAVIOR AND BELIEF - IF YOU DON’T LIVE IT, YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT. SO IMAGINE YOUR AT THE DOCTORS AND YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A 12 POINT PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR HEALTH CHECK
1) DON’T BE A HYPOCRITE V9 . ( UN HYPOCRITICAL DERIVES FROM GREEK ACTOR (2CO6:6 1PET1:22)
MOST OF US HAVE LEARNT HOW TO PRETEND TO LOVE OTHERS WHETHER ITS IN THE CHURCH OR OUTSIDE – WE’VE LEARNT HOW TO SPEAK KINDLY WITHOUT OFFENDING OTHERS, HOW NOT T O HURT FEELINGS OF OTHERS, WE CAN APPEAR TO BE INTERESTED IN OTHERS WHEN IN REALITY WE ARE SIMPLY PRETENDING – WE CAN EVEN MANIFEST COMPASSION WHEN WE HEAR OF NEEDS OF OTHERS OR MANIFEST INDIGNATION WHEN INJUSTICES ARE CARRIED OUT – BUT IN THE HEART THERE IS NO REALLY CONCERN ITS ALL SHALLOW , A SMOKE SCREEN - ITS ACTING – SIMPLY KEEPING UP APPEARANCES. IT BECOME A SELF LOVE BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED AT WHAT OTHERS WILL THINK OF ME....
THE CALL FOR OUR LOVE IS TO BE GENUINE TO BE REAL - IT GOES BEYOND POLITENESS AND PRETENCE, SINCERE LOVE DEMANDS OUR TIME, OUR MONEY, OUR ENERGIES, OUR PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND OTHERS. IT INVOLVES STANDING UP FOR THE TRUTH AND THE REJECTION OF ALL THAT IS SINFUL OR DOUBTFUL TO BE TOTAL AND TO CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD. NEVER BE ASHAMED OF YOUR LOVE FOR WHAT IS GOOD BUT CLING TO IT.
1) REMEMBER WE ARE FAMILY V10
HE HAD SPOKEN EARLIER ABOUT THE IMAGE OF THE BODY FOR THE CHURCH, BUT NOW HE USES THE IMAGE OF FAMILY ‘BROTHERLY LOVE’ FOR ONE ANOTHER... IN CHRIST WE ARE FAMILY 1TIM 5:1-2 DO NOT REBUKE AN OLDER MAN HARSHLY, BUT EXHORT AS IS HE WERE YOUR FATHER. TREAT YOUNGER MEN AS BROTHERS, OLDER WOMEN AS MOTHERS, AND YOUNGER WOMEN AS SISTERS, WITH ABSOLUTE PURITY.
PAUL CALLS US TO BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER LET THE SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH BE ONE OF FAMILY AFFECTION - WE NEED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS WE LOVE OUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS (PHILADELPHIA LOVE FAMILY LOVE) JESUS SAID IF YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES YOU WILL HAVE LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER , HE ALSO SAID, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU SO YOU MUST HAVE LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER.
IT WAS LACKING IN ROME, HENCE PAULS EXHORTATION. BUT ROME IS NOT ALONE WE ALL NEED TO EXPAND OUR FAMILY TIES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH. WE ALL NEED TO GROW IN SINCERE BROTHERLY LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER TO BE LIKE CHRIST. HOW CAN BROTHERLY LOVE BE MANIFESTED AMONGST US? WHEN WE HONOUR ONE ANOTHER BEFORE OURSELVES.
2) BE SPIRITUALLY ACTIVE V11
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH - KEEP YOUR ZEAL FOR THE LORD AGLOW DON’T BECOME IDLE - SPIRITUALLY INACTIVE - THIS IS PAULS EXHORTATION , DONT NEGLECT THE SPIRIT, DON’T NEGLECT THE WORD, DON’T NEGLECT PRAY , NEGLECT MISSION , NEGLECT FELLOWSHIP , NEGLECT SERVING, IF WE DO WE WILL RESULT IN US DRIFTING AWAY INTO SPIRITUAL INACTIVITY. INTO A DEADNESS.
YOU MAY HAVE COMMENCED WITH SPIRITUAL ZEAL AND COME OUT SERVING THE LORD BUT OTHER THINGS HAVE TAKEN AWAY THAT FIRST LOVE AND YOU HAVE DRIFTED AWAY.
PAUL EXHORTS US TO NEVER BE LACKING IN ZEAL , HE CALLS US TO KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOUR (AGLOW WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD) . WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT OUR RACE IS NOT A SPRINT BUT A MARATHON. AND WE ALSO NEED TO REMEMBER WE ARE NOT THE SPECTATORS BUT THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE RACE IS SET BEFORE US.
2TIM 4:7 I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH . NOW THERE IS IN STORE FOR ME THE CROWN OF RIGHTOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE , WILL AWARD ME ON THAT DAY – BUT NOT ONLY TO HIM BUT TO US ALSO WHO HAVE CONTINUED BEING SPIRITUALLY ACTIVE FOR THE LORD.
3) BE HEAVENLY MINDED ( JOYFUL IN HOPE) V12
• SOME PEOPLE SAY THE MOE HEAVENLY MINDED YOU ARE THE LESS EARTHLY USE YOU WILL BE BUT IN REALITY THE MORE HEAVENLY MINDED YOU ARE THE MORE EARTHLY USE YOU WILL BE.
BE JOYFUL IN HOPE WE HAVE SOMETHING TO GET JOYFUL ABOUT, UNLIKE OTHERS THE CHRISTIAN HOPE WILL ENABLE US
TO BE PATIENT IN AFFLICTION BECAUSE TOUGH TIMES COME FOR US ALL IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES - AND SO WE NEED TO BE PATIENT IN OUR AFFLICTION AS WE FIX OUR EYES UPON OUR HOPE.
• BILLY GRAHAM ONCE SAID “ THE BIBLE NOWHERE INDICATES THAT GOD WITHDRAWS US FROM THE TROUBLES OF LIFE. IN FACT, WE BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN LIFE’S TROUBLES WHEN WE COME TO CHRIST. BUT HE GIVES US POWER TO GO ON WITH THE BATTLE.”
ITS THE HOPE WE HAVE THAT ENABLES US TO GO ON TO BE PATIENT THROUGH AFFLICTION AND TAKE US THROUGH THE PAIN BARRIER WITH PATIENCE AND TO REMAIN FAITHFUL IN PRAYER
ROM 8:18 I CONSIDER THAT OUR PRESENT SUFFERINGS ARE NOT WORTH COMPARING WITH THE GLORY THAT WILL BE REVEALED IN US. HERE ARE THE WORDS OF A MAN WHO EXPERIENCED MUCH TRIBULATION AND AFFLICTION YET WAS PATIENT AND PERSEVERED IN FAITHFUL PRAYER . BECAUSE HE WAS HEAVENLY MINDED.
4) BE GENEROUS TO ONE ANOTHER V13
ANOTHER HEALTHY SIGN WILL BE THERE WILL B A SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY COMING FROM ONE ANOTHER IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH TOWARDS THE NEEDS IN THE CHURCH.
THE VERB SHARE IS KOINONEO WHICH CAN MEAN TO SHARE IN THEIR NEEDS AND SUFFERINGS (TO GET ALONGSIDE AND SUPPORT OTHERS) AND IT CAN ALSO MEAN TO SHARE OUT OF OUR OWN RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS.
THE EARLY CHURCH WAS RENOWNED FOR THIS TYPE OF GENEROSITY ACTS 2:45THEY SOLD PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS TO ANYONE AS THEY HAD NEED -4: 32 ALL THE BELIEVES WERE ONE IN HEART AND MIND. NO ONE CLAIMED THAT ANY OF THEIR POSSESSIONS WAS THEIR OWN, BUT THEY SHARED EVERYTHING THEY HAD.
5) PRACTICE HOSPITALITY V13
IN THE EARLY CHURCH IT WAS ENCOURAGED TO OFFER HOSPITALITY IN FACT IT WAS CULTURAL NORM - TO PURSUE STRANGERS TO SEEK THEM OUT. (PRESENT DAY SALVATION ARMY) SOMETHING WHICH WE ARE LOSING TODAY IN OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE TO OFFE HOSPITALITY TO OTHERS.
N THE 1ST CENTURY HOLIDAY INNS WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN AND THE ONES THAT EXISTED WERE DEEPLY UNSAVOURY PLACES TO BE IN. SO A CHRISTIAN HOME WAS A WELCOMED REST BITE FOR THE STRANGER. CHRISTIANS WERE ENCOURAGED TO PURSUE STRANGERS
HEB 13:2 DO NOT FORGET TO SHOW HOSPITALITY TO STRANGERS, FOR BY SO DOING SOME PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN HOSPITALITY TO ANGELS WITHOUT KNOWING IT.
PAUL IS NOT CALLING US TO BE SOCIAL ENTERTAINING, WHERE EVERY EYE IS ON THE HOST WHERE THE HOME MUST BE SPOTLESS THE FOOD EXCELLENT THE HOST GOOD NATURED. CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY FOCUSES UPON THE GUEST, UPON THE STRANGER, UPON HIS NEEDS.
IF WE ARE TO SHOW PHILADELPHIA LOVE (BOTHER AND SISTER) THEN THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT LOVE IS TO SHOW PHILOOXENIA (LOVE OF STRANGERS) BY SHOWING HOSPITALITY. (PARTICULAR CHURCH LEADERS 1TIM 3:2 TIT 1:8 PHIL:7,22. )
6) BE CAREFUL HOW YOU REACT TO CURSING.V14
• AS THE BIG GUNS ARE FIRED ITS QUITE EASY ISNT IT TO RETURN FIRE WITH YOUR OWN BIG GUNS. OF COURSE YOU DON’T CONDONE SUCH ACTION BUT YOU DONT RESPOND WITH CURSING ITS A SIN BUT WITH BLESSING.
PAUL IS IMPARTING HERE THE TEACHING OF JESUS WHERE WE ARE TO BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US, BUT THEE IS MORE WE ARE ALSO TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUR ENEMIES AND TO DO GOOD TO THEM. (READ LUKE 6: 27 -28.)
7) BE THERE FOR OTHERS IN THE HIGHS AND LOWS V15
WE ARE NOT TO BE A DETACHED ALOOF GROUP OF CHRISTIANS NOT INTERACTING WITH ONE ANOTHER NOT SHARING OUR HIGHS AND LOWS. WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE, SUPPORT, LISTEN , ENCOURAGE AND CELEBRATE IN OUR LIVES TOGETHER. WE ARE TO BE P.A’S TO ONE ANOTHER PERSONAL ASSISTANTS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER WILL NEVE STAND ALOOF BUT WILL SHARE AND SUPPORT IN THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF LIFE ENABLING EACH OTHER.
8) SHARING THE SAME MIND WITH ONE ANOTHER. V16
GOD DESIERS THAT AS A LOCAL BODY OF BELIEVES THAT WE LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER THAT IS ONLY UNDERTAKEN WHEN WE SHARE THE MIND OF CHRIST WITH ONE ANOTHER. PHIL 2:1-5. THE DANGER LIES WHEN WE TAKE A HIGH VIEW OF OURSELVES AND A LOW VIEW OF OTHERS WHETHER THAT’S MEMBERS, CHURCH LEADERS OR PASTOR BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS IT WILL CAUSE DIVISIONS, CREATE CLICKS AND CAUSE DISORDER. WE MUST NEVE GET TO A POSITION WHERE WE THINK WE ARE TOO GOOD FOR CERTAIN FOLK, THAT WEE SOME HOW ABOVE THEM.
9) NEVER RETALIATE WHEN YOU ARE WRONGED. V17
WE MUST KEEP OUR LIVES FROM ALL JUSTIFIED CRITICISM - IN FACT WHEN WE ARE WRONGED WE MUST FORGIVE - AS CHRISTIANS WE AE CALLED TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US BECAUSE IF WE LOVE SOMEONE AS CHRIST LOVES US WE WILL BE ABLE TO POUR OVER THAT RELATIONSHIP GODS GRACE (UNDESERVED FAVOUR). WHAT DID JESUS SAY V29 “IF SOMEBODY SLAPS YOU ON ONE CHECK, TURN THE OTHER ALSO, IF HE TAKES YOUR COAT GIVE HIM YOUR SHIRT”.
BY FORGIVING MISDEEDS DONE TO US WERE NOT EXCUSING THEIR MISDEED. BUT WERE RECOGNISING THEIR MISDEED, FORGIVING THEM, DESPITE THEIR SINS JUST AS CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US. IN SO DOING YOU WILL BE FREED FROM A LOAD OF BITTERNESS WHICH WILL DESTROY YOU.
10) LIVE AT PEACE WHERE POSSIBLE V18
THE APOSTLE IS NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO BE LIVING AT PEACE HE SAYS WHERE IT IS AT ALL POSSIBLE LIVE AT PEACE.....
OF COURSE ITS NOT POSSIBLE AS YET TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH EVEYBODY BECAUSE THERE IS EVIL IN THE WORLD.
BUT NOT ONLY IS THERE EVIL THERE IS ALSO ERROR IN REGARD TO THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE APOSTLE KNEW THAT OPPOSING TRUTHS COULD NEVER BE RECONCILED AND SO ITS NOT POSSIBLE TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ERROR ONE MUST ALWAYS MAINTAIN THE TRUTH .
SO WHEN THE TRUTH IS AT STAKE A BELIEVER MAY HAVE TO TAKE ACTION – THIS WILL CAUSE HIM/HER TO BE UNPOPULAR AND EVEN DESPISED. OUR LORD JESUS STOOD FOR TRUTH HE BROUGHT PEACE BUT EVIL SQUASHED HIM, HE WAS THE EMBODIMENT OF TRUTH BUT ERROR DESPISED HIM.
IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A CHRISTIAN TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH EVIL AND ERROR IT IS A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS BUT WE MUST STRIVE FOR PEACE DOING OUR UTMOST TO STRIVE FOR PEACE WHERE EVER POSSIBLE.
11) LEAVE PAY BACK TIME V19
• SO OFTEN PEOPLE TAKE THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS
ITS NOT YOUR OR MY POSITION TO TAKE REVENGE UPON OTHERS WHO HURT US, LEAVE MATTERS WITH THE LORD, ITS HIS MANDATE TO PAY BACK, GET OUT OF THE WAY, LET GOD MEET OUT HIS JUSTICE AS HE HAS PROMISED DEUT 32:35 ITS MINE TO AVENGE, I WILL REPAY .
12) TURN ENEMIES INTO FRIENDS BY DOING GOOD
IT IS BETTER TO ACT IN KINDNESS IF HE IS HUNGRY FEED HIM , IF HE IS THIRSTY , GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO DRINK IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.
PAUL HERE IS REF TO (EGYPTIAN TRADITION OF CARRYING A PAN OF BURNING COALS ON ONEES HEAD THIS WAS A PUBLIC ACT OF REPENTANCE.
SO BY RESPONDING IN KINDNESS TO YOUR ENEMY A PERSON CAN BE BROUGHT TO A PLACE OF REPENTANCE BY YOUR KINDNESS THEY WILL BE ASHAMED AND COME TO A PLACE OF REPENTANCE BEFORE ITS TO LATE. WHEN THE LORDS JUSTICE WILL BE MEET OUT.
SO NEVER OVERCOME ENEMIES WITH EVIL – DO NOT BECOME LIKE THEM - BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.
YOU’VE HAD YOUR 12 POINT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN ARE YOU HEALTHY? HOW DO YOU FEEL? WE ARE CALLED TO IMPLEMENT THESE GRACES. 1-12 THESE GODLY GRACES IN SO DOING IT WILL ENABLE THE CHURCH TO BE A HEALTHY CHURCH AND A HEALTHY CHURCH WILL BE A GROWING CHURCH. MANIFESTING THESE GODLY GRACES IS LIVING TO OUR TRUE POTENTIAL, ALLOWING THE TRANSFORMING WORK OF THE SPIRIT AND WORD OF GOD TO SO INFUSE YOUR HEART AND MIND TO BRING CHANGE TO YOUR BEHAVIOUR AND SO BECOME TRANSFORMING INFLUENCE UPON OTHERS.
