Romans 12:14-21 & 1 Corinthians 12-14
The Principle of Love Part 2
Actuality v.9
- 21 are a description of what Love looks like / 3 places
V.9- 13 Love looks like in the Church / v.14-16 What
love looks like in the world in general / v.17-21 what Love looks like in mist
of conflicts
Last week we
focused on Paul description of what Love is to look like in the Church.
Sincere / Hate sin love sinner / Committed love -
family bros./
Love that regards others above self / Energetic
fervent / rejoices in hope /
responds to needs…. given to hospitality
NEXT LOOK AT
LOVE FOR THE WORLD IN GENERAL V.14-16
1ST
Love that speaks well of those who persecute you . v.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
A) The bible tells us that all
who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Dear Preacher,
I heard you say to love our enemies. I am only six and do not have any yet. I
hope to have some when I am seven. Your friend, Love, Amy
B) Maybe in the form of loss of
Job / or not getting a deserved promotion - because not “ one of the guys or gals “
1) Perhaps ridiculed at school
- or in your family - many forms of persecution - living for the Lord - what do
you do .
C) Paul says Bless them - speak
well of them - in other words don’t fall into that trap of bad mouthing those
people .
D) Jesus told us to pray for
those who persecuted us ! - Turn to
Matt. 5 :38
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An
eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.',39
"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you
on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. David
Wilkerson
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You
shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless
those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 "that you may be sons of your Father in
heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain
on the just and on the unjust.
46 "For if you love those who love you,
what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 "And if you greet your brethren only,
what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just
as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Nowhere
did the Law teach hatred for one’s enemies. Passages like Exodus 23:4-5
indicate just the opposite! Jesus defined our enemies as those who curse us,
hate us, and exploit us selfishly.
Since
Christian love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, He has the
right to command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were
His enemies (Rom. 5:10).
We can show this love by blessing those who
curse us, doing good to them, and praying for them.
When we pray for our
enemies, we find it easier to love them.
It takes the “poison” out of our attitudes.
Jesus gave several reasons
for this admonition.
(1) v.45 This love is a mark of
maturity, proving that we are sons of
the Father, and not just little children.
(2)V.45 also indicates that It
is Godlike. The Father shares His good things with those who oppose Him.
It suggests that our love “creates a climate” of blessings that makes
it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends.
Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends so
graciously.
A) Our Love can be that which
is refreshing like a summer rain - that - cools off in the mist of burning
summer heat .
B) Or sunshine - that comes out
when - there have been nothing but dark clouds for such a long time.
Example : When the first missionaries came to Alberta, Canada, they
were opposed by a young Cree Indian
chief named Maske/ petoon.
But eventually he
responded to the gospel and accepted Christ.
Shortly afterward, a member of the Blackfoot tribe who hated
Maske/petoon killed his father.
The chief rode into the murderer's village and demanded that he be
brought before him. Confronting the guilty
man he said, "You shall ride my best
horse and wear my best clothes."
In utter amazement and remorse his enemy
exclaimed, "My son, now you have
killed me."
The
hate in his heart had been erased by Maskepetoon's forgiveness and kindness.
(3) It is a testimony to others. 47 "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more
than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
This
is a good question. God expects us to live on a much higher plane than the lost
people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil.
As Christians, we must return good
for evil as an investment of love.
The
word perfect in Matthew 5:48 does not
imply sinlessly perfect, for that is
impossible in this life.
It suggests completeness,
maturity, as the sons of God.
As
Christians, we can live on one of three levels. We can return evil for good,
which is the satanic level.
We
can return good for good and evil for evil, which is the human level.
Or, we can return good for evil,
which is the divine level
As
God’s children, we must do more than
give “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (Matt. 5:38-48), which is the
basis for justice.
We must operate on the basis of mercy, for that is the way God deals
with us.
The truth of the matter is: the Father loves His enemies and seeks to make them His children,
and we should assist Him!
We are
reflections of Him!!!
Turn back to Romans 12
So the 1st thing
Paul says is to Pray for them / bless them ! Speak well of them .
A) Not natural - need to call
upon the supernatural power of the Lord -
through the H.S.
2nd
True love identifies w/ the ups & downs of human life ! v. 15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
A) In this life whether you are
a believer or not there are going to be good
times & not so good times .
B) Now we live in a dog eat dog
world - world filled w/ selfishness / where people often have the tendency to -
belittle others blessings out of Jealousy
1) Ever notice that - person
gets a raise or a promotion - and someone says they must have felt sorry for him
C) Gal announces she is getting
married & a jealous single lady responds - he must be marrying her for her money.
1) That is the way of our world
.
D) Belittle other peoples
successes & laugh at their grief - walk by any play ground see the
wickedness of this fact in kids
1) Laugh at any one who is down
or different - / follows into adulthood
E) Swindol
describes Characteristics of many in our society . Indifference,
non-commitment, disengagement, no sharing or caring . . . meals eaten with
hi-fi headsets turned up loud, even separate bedrooms, each with a personal
telephone, TV, and turntable, private toilet, and an it's none-of-your-business
attitude. No hassle . . . no conflict . . . no accountability. No need to
share. Or reach out. Or give a rip.
Shouldn’t be
the case w/ us who know the Lord .
A) Rejoice in other people’s
victories & weep w/ them in their struggles
B) Notice Paul didn’t say
preach to those who weep but weep w/ those who weep .
1) Why is it that we can be so
good at pointing the finger & judging - and so bad at weeping & showing
compassion.
C) A teenager - falls away from
the Lord - our tendency is to say - we saw it coming why didn’t the parents
1) Parents praying for teens
that is what all about - love that !!!!
Quote from George fox - Pastor of Quaker Pastor
I prayed to
god that He would baptize my heart into
all conditions so I might be able to enter the needs and conditions of all. “
Last thing
Paul mentions in this section : True love doesn’t show partialityv.16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high
things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
A) Unfortunately in every
church there are those who strive to try & fit into what they perceive is
the “ in crowd “.
B) Maybe it is those who seem
like the important people - maybe it is the pastoral staff. Maybe it is those
who appear affluent .
1) Paul says don’t do that
C) In essence Paul is saying
here - to be yourself - don’t try to be someone or something you are not .
1) Be humble - don’t be wise in
your own opinion
V.3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is
among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to
think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Looked at this in detail in our first study - of the
body - don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought to think . But
soberly - realistically
A) I noted in that study that
the word measure at the end of v. 3 can
also be translated - standard - which in context makes the most sense.
B) The idea is that each believer
has a standard of faith by which he is to
measure
himself & that standard is Christ !
C) Paul is not asking the
believer to measure himself according
to his
feelings
which - go up & down .
1) He is not asking that we measure
ourselves according to our successes - which can be few or many
D) And he is not asking us to
measure ourselves - by comparing
ourselves w/
others
- Husband / father / Christian / the standard is Christ .
1)And when
I see myself in light of Him / it is both sobering & humbling
Fall
short / Yet encouraging - God’s goal - making me like His Son!
E) When I see myself in light
of Christ , in comparison to Christ - I am reminded of how far I have to go /
1) of how much work the Lord
still has do in me .
F) Helps me to see others in that same light.
So in this
section - what Love looks like in the world in general
Love speaks well of persecutors / love identifies w/
the ups & downs of human life / love doesn’t show partiality
Lastly Paul
explains what Love looks like in the mist of conflict v.17-21
1St
True love doesn’t seek to avenge itself v. 17-19 17 Repay no one evil for evil.
Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you,
live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but
rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay," says the Lord.
A) Again this is not natural -
the natural tendency of ours is to hit back when we are to hit .
B) Not natural to turn other
cheek - to do so means we will trust God . / Spirit
1) Vengeance is his . David w/
Saul 15 yrs -
C) Even though he had many
opportunities to take matters into his own hands
David
knew that Saul was God’s responsibility.
1) Even when others said - Look the Lord has delivered him into your
hand.
D) David didn’t even talk bad
about Saul - He reserved all of his frustration for his prayer life.
2nd True
Love returns evil w/ good v.20-21 20 Therefore
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome
evil with good.
A) In Paul s day. when a fire
went out in a home, it was a real problem to re-ignite it. Didn’t use matches -
they used coals
B) Therefore. if someone's fire
was out. the women would carry live coals In clay jars upon their heads to
share with the person who had no fire.
C) Thus, the implication here was
not of burning one's enemy, but of warming him, blessing him in order to ultimately win him to the
Kingdom.
1Tim. 1:5 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love
from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
Now we have noted
in this study as we did last week - over & over again that to love on this
type of level is naturally impossible - unattainable
A) To Love on this type of
plane takes being empowered by a supernatural power - that only comes through a
life that is yielded to the H.S.
B) In fact everything that we
have looked at in this series of studies on the body of Christ is the result of
the H.S. moving in your life.
1) Empowering your life.
C) We noted in our first study
that these gifts are not natural talents that we possess at birth - not through
human gene pool
1) But the gifts are given to
us by the H.S. as He wills - as He sees the need - and as He desires us to full
fill our function in the body.
D) But in order to open the
door to the H.S. using us in this type of way it is important that we know we
have received the Spirit in this way.
1) What do you mean. Turn to
Acts 19
19:1 And it happened, while Apollos was at
Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus.
And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, "Did you receive the
Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so
much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
3 And he said to them, "Into what then
were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."
4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized
with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on
Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the
Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
Here in Acts
19 Paul comes to Ephesus and meets a group of people referred to as disciples!
A.) He asks them
a very interesting question - "Have
you received the spirit since you believed?"
1.) Valid question - good
question - one every believer should consider and be able to answer!
B) Paul - assuming - believers
( referred to as disciples - notices something
missing with these guys!
Something not there!
1.) I have been around folks like that - know
doctrine, fundamentals down - right
on - right - dead right!
C.) But something missing /
worship is drudgery - witnessing is non
existent
- no life - no excitement - enthusiasm
D) Lack of fullness; lack of vibrancy in things of God / love
toward God
1) Paul asks - question - Have
you received Spirit… since believed !
Fact that Paul
asked this question makes it a valid question!
Question we all should be able to answer as
confidently as - Have you received Jesus?
But
Many in church today are like these guys - what
mean - never heard?
Now what did
Paul mean when he asked this question & how does it relate to what we have
been talking about. Why is it so important?
A.) First of all - Paul assuming
believers - we know that when a person is
born
again - become Christian
1.)He
is Born of Spirit - Romans 8:11 -
"Spirit of God dwells in you"
A) 1Cor.12:13 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into
one body;
B.) Exactly
what Jesus taught his disciples in John 14 - Leaving
1.) Not
leave orphans/ give helper / great Father's heart not on own
C.) He dwells with you/ Shall be in you!
1.) 2
fold relationship of the Holy Spirit - with / Convicting -drawing
but at
Salvation /conversion comes to dwell in you!
D.) Brings
life to your spirit takes up residence in you'
1.) This took place for disciples in John 20 - Breathed - receive ye Holy Spirit & And when Jesus
says - do something - It happens!
E) So at that moment the
disciples were saved! ( No salvation until after cross &
Resurrection / when they saw Him in upper room believed convinced
1) They received the Spirit ! Dwelled in them!
But Jesus spoke
of another aspect of the Spirit's work in life of believer - Acts 1:4-8 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the
Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from
Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be
baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
6 you shall
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
A) Speaking about an empowering of the Spirit .
1) Check this out - commands them - not a suggestion to go and wait
for the
Holy Spirit to come upon them
B.)Jesus was saying - Before you can begin your
ministry you need to be filled with spirit - baptized
1.) Purpose : Is for empowering - power - Word Dunamis - dynamite
or dynamic!
C.) Before
you can be truly useful in body of Christ and in World / you need to experience
- dynamic of Holy Spirit
1.) The spirit coming upon your life!
D.) Listen
these guys had spent 3 years with the best teacher ever / trained by God
Himself - yet something lacking
1.) Jesus insisted they needed more - go wait!
This wasn't optional for them and should be for us!
E.) We are
foolish think - 5 years school - faulty professors prepare us!
F.) Jesus knew this would be the
key to their effectiveness, to their ability
to witness to the world and to serve the body of Christ!
1.) They needed the empowering that comes from being baptized with the
spirit!
G) It is through the Baptism of the H.S. that the door way to the gifts of
the spirit are unlocked .
1) Perhaps Through study our
study on the gifts you felt - I don’t think I have any of those gifts - God
can’t use me
H) Question Have you received
the spirit since you believed ? Have you been baptized in the Spirit.
Now there are
those who suggest that Paul was not referring to the Baptism of the Spirit /
but to Salvation
A) In Essence they suggest Paul
was asking them Are you really disciples /
are you really in Christian ?
B) That is so silly / if that
is what Paul meant / that is what he would have said / plus it makes no sense
to say concerning salvation : Have
received spirit
1) Given : Scriptures are clear
: Spirit indwells you when saved
C) The Problem these brothers
& sisters have is they don’t understand why a person who has received the
Spirit when saved / in dwelling
1) Why do they need a “ second work or experience “ If you have the H.S. in you How can you get
more of Him they ask?
D) This is where they mess up / When saved - you get
all of the spirit - He is dwelling in you.
1.) Baptism of Spirit or the
Empowering of the spirit / isn’t you getting more of Him it is Him getting
all of you
E) Like sail on a sail boat - half way up - wind is
only getting part of the sail
All the
wind that is there that day is available but only getting half of sail
F) Open it
all the way - and boom - power the boat goes
G) The baptism; filling;
empowering with the spirit is essential if you want to
be effective for Lord!
1.) If you want to fulfill your
calling / if you want to know what your
gifts are & what your purpose in the body is.
Others are Hung up on terminology? Baptism/ filling empowering Doesn't matter
what call it, what matters do you have it?
That's question: Do you desire all God has for you?
Do you desire to be used? Know gifts?
Have your
received the spirit since you believed?
A.) I
believe everyone of us should be able to firmly say yes! Filled w/ the Spirit you see a difference
1.) Some tongues / others strong
desire for the word ! / some desire to share faith & a boldness
B) Have you
received Spirit? How does it happen?
1.)Promise of Father - just ask - Luke 11 - He will give spirit them that ask
Bb) God wants
to empower you - in asking you are acknowledging
your need - your dependency!
1.) He promises to empower you!
I believe that
all of us should be able to pin point an initial time - filled with spirit - prayed;
sensed change
A.) But After the initial
filling with the spirit comes a refilling! Whenever you feel dry or powerless -
ask
B.) Ephesians
5:18 - Be ye continually being filled! Whenever
you feel a lack of power - ask the Lord to fill you!
1.) So many times where felt so out of it /
unequipped - asked the Lord to fill me / sudden power
Now here in
Acts 19 - Paul asks question - no clue what he was talking about
A.) Never
heard of Holy Spirit - next Paul asks - who's baptism?
1.) John's ---- repentance; preparation
B.) Guess
what - these guys were not saved yet; not only did they not have Holy Spirit -
they didn't have Jesus!
C) Verse 4 - John - told of Jesus
A.) Paul
shared gospel - baptized in water name of Jesus
B.) V.6 -
Laid hands - spirit fell and spoke in tongues and prophesied
C.) Some
here today - not saved! Never really
received Lord - First step
1.) Maybe you are saved -but have you received
the spirit
D.) Is there
Power in your life? Know what gifts are
- what function is in body!
1.) If not you need receive baptism of spirit!
E.) Maybe
you have received the Baptism but tonight feel Powerless; dried up? Refilled!
1.)
Today we want to give you a chance to
do that!
F.) Laying on of hands - point of contact
release your faith!
1.) Some sense immediately - you might prophecy
- might speak in
tongues
G.) Others
on way home!
1.) Some might keep seeking -
you need this power in your life!
H) Some tomorrow direction in
that situation ( Word wisdom - discernment )
1) Boldness
at work / or a new sense of burden for the lost !