Sunday Morning: December 31, 2006
Text: Romans 12:9-21 … Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
BRETHREN ARE TO CONTINUALLY . . .
Romans 12:9 … Abhor [present active nominative plural, hating] that which is evil; cleave [present, gluing] to that which is good [benefit].
ABSTAIN FROM APPEARANCE OF EVIL
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
LET NOT YOUR GOOD BE EVIL SPOKEN OF
Romans 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
ESCHEW EVIL
1 Peter 3:10-12 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
DO GOOD TO THE HOUSEHOLD
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (those pleasing God).
BROTHERLY LOVE AND HONOR
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring [present tense] one another;
NO NEED TO WRITE ABOUT THIS
1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
LET LOVE CONTINUE
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
SEE TO LOVING ONE ANOTHER
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
PREFERRING OTHERS
Philippians 2:3-5 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
NOT LAZY AND COLD IN SERVICE
Romans 12:11 Not slothful [lazy] in business [diligence, effort]; fervent [present active, to boil] in spirit; serving [present active, serving as a bond slave] the Lord;
A SLOTHFUL SERVANT IS WICKED
Matthew 25:25-26 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:… 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful [lazy] servant …
SERVING THE LORD WITH TEARS
Colossians 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
WITH A TESTIMONY
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing [present active] in hope (in ministry of ones gift); patient [present active, to abide under, endure] in tribulation; continuing instant [present active, attend constantly] in [to] prayer;
BE FILLED WITH HOPE
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
REJOICE IN THE LORD
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice [present active] in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice [present active].
READILY AWARE OF OTHERS
Romans 12:13 Distributing [present active, have in common] to the necessity of saints; given [present active, pursue] to hospitality.
TAKE PERSECUTION WITHOUT RETALIATION
Romans 12:14 Bless [present active imperative, speak well] them which persecute [present active, pursue, same as in v.13] you: bless [present imperative, speak well of], and curse [present imperative] not.
LOVE AND PRAY FOR THEM
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies (household, Mt 10:36), bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
ABLE TO ENTER INTO OTHER’S EMOTIONS
Romans 12:15 Rejoice [present active] with them that do rejoice [present active], and weep [present active] with them that weep [present active].
NOT ABOVE OTHERS
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind [present active, thought] one toward another. Mind [present active, think] not high [lofty] things, but condescend [present] to men of low [humbled] estate. Be [present active] not wise [shrewd] in your own conceits [oneself].
INTEGRITY OVERCOMES ADVERSITY
Romans 12:17 Recompense [present active] to no man evil for evil. Provide [present tense] things honest in the sight of all men.
DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably [present active] with all men.
PAUL BECAME THEIR ENEMY
Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
WHEN PEACE DOES NOT HAPPEN
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
ADDRESSING THE BELOVED
Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE
Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
MINISTER TO YOUR ENEMIES
Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. (Pro. 25:21-22)
OUR ENEMIES ARE IN THE FAMILY
Matthew 10:36 And a man's foes [enemies] shall be they of his own household.
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
Luke 6:28-29 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
IN THE HOUSEHOLD
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
RECKON HIM NOT AS AN ENEMY
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.