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\” which is a fraternal affection\’
1. It is our love toward a brother or sister.
2. Philadelphia is just our kind affection toward another, and may not have
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
5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North
Houston, Texas 77041
For more lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs
revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
