Latest / HBCWestminster / 10.8.23 Romans 12:9-21 Pastor Danny Gardner

Transcript

10.8.23 Romans 12:9-21 Pastor Danny Gardner · HBCWestminster

0:00
Romans chapter 12 and verse 9 in your Bibles, if you found it already, would you stand in honor of
0:04
God's word? As I read God's word, verses 9 to 21. Romans 12 and verse 9. The word of God says,
0:13
let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil. Hold fast to what is good. Love one another with
0:21
brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal. Be fervent in
0:28
spirit. Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer.
0:34
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you.
0:40
Bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
0:45
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
0:51
Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is
0:56
honorable in the sight of all.
0:58
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
1:03
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
1:07
vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him.
1:13
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his
1:18
head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. And our Heavenly Father, we
1:24
recognize your presence here this morning as we gather.
1:28
In your name and as we read from your word. And Lord, when you're absent, our hearts and
1:34
lives are filled with sorrow. But God, when you are present, all blessings in heaven and
1:39
earth are ours. And so, Holy Spirit, would you be with us now, we pray, and bless the
1:45
preaching of your word. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Thank you, church. Well, last Sunday,
1:51
we studied the will of God for every one of us. That God's will is that our souls be saved,
1:56
that our bodies be devoted.
1:58
That our minds be transformed, and that our desires come into alignment with God's desires.
2:04
We concluded by stating that God's will is for every believer to participate in the church.
2:09
We looked at the marks of a true biblical church, beginning first and foremost in an unexpected
2:14
place, with humility. God's desire is that we have a humble church, that we not think of
2:22
ourselves more highly than we ought to think. We said that each one of us has been gifted by
2:27
God. We said that we have a humble church, that we not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.
2:28
We said that we have a humble church, that we not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.
2:28
And that we are to use those gifts to build up the body of Christ. If your gift is butterfly wings,
2:34
then flap them. If it's singing like a robin in the tree, then sing. And if it's fuzzy-wuzzy hair,
2:40
then so on. Use it to the glory of God. What it actually said was, if your gift is service,
2:46
then serve. If it's teaching, then teach. If it's exhortation, then encourage. If it's generosity,
2:51
then be generous. Five hundred years ago, Leonardo da Vinci, not to be confused,
2:59
with DiCaprio was famously curious you guys remember his paintings his inventions he was a
3:06
brilliant man he spent his life committed to the art of observation and five centuries ago he said
3:13
this about humanity in general he was just looking at how people live their lives and he said the
3:20
average human being looks without seeing listens without hearing touches without feeling eats
3:29
without tasting inhales without smelling and talks without thinking i would say that unfortunately
3:38
some of those same observations could maybe be applied to many christians
3:43
it seems as though the average christian just kind of flits through their christian life
3:49
when they're not seeing
3:50
without much rhyme or reason.
3:52
They will invoke the name of Christ when it suits them,
3:56
but they don't seem necessarily particularly interested
3:59
in what he has to say or what he thinks about how they live.
4:04
Sometimes I think our day-to-day Christianity
4:07
becomes like Da Vinci's description,
4:11
tasteless, sightless, soundless, thoughtless,
4:14
when we, above all, people,
4:15
should be the most devoted and intentional people on earth
4:19
because the reality is, friends,
4:21
we are the only people on earth
4:22
who actually know what we're doing here.
4:27
This Sunday, we look at the marks of a true Christian,
4:29
and our text could not be clearer.
4:31
It's actually quite easy to understand.
4:34
It's quite easy to know how to apply it.
4:37
However, the part that might sting this morning
4:39
is that we're going to look into a mirror,
4:42
and we are going to see reflected in the mirror of God's word
4:46
who we truly are.
4:47
Perhaps you remember the illustration
4:49
that James gives in James chapter 1,
4:52
be doers of the word and not hearers only,
4:53
deceiving yourselves.
4:55
If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
4:57
he's like a man who looks intently
4:59
at his natural face in a mirror.
5:01
There is the illustration.
5:02
For he looks at himself,
5:04
and the implication is that there are things on his face
5:07
that he needs to change.
5:09
His hair, his face, there's something stuck in his teeth,
5:12
and he's seeing it,
5:14
and then goes away and at once forgets
5:17
what he looks like.
5:19
And this morning's text is a 13-verse mirror.
5:23
We are going to gaze into it,
5:25
and we might discover as we do
5:27
that we don't actually like what we see,
5:29
that there are some things in our hearts,
5:31
some things revealed in our minds
5:33
and our way of thinking that need fixing.
5:37
This short passage provides the essence of Christian living.
5:42
If we were to distill the commandments of God to the church,
5:46
the result would be these 13,
5:49
and last week we asked the question,
5:51
what does God want for us?
5:53
But this week our question becomes,
5:55
what does God want from us?
5:58
And just like the Old Testament's 10 commandments
6:01
for faithful living in Hebrew society,
6:03
so now what we find are the New Testament's
6:05
10 commandments for faithful Christian living.
6:08
And notice commandment number one,
6:10
that true Christians be genuinely loving.
6:14
Look at verse nine.
6:16
Let love,
6:19
be genuine.
6:21
The word for genuine is the Greek word ah.
6:24
It's a compound word.
6:25
It's got a little prefix, ah,
6:26
meaning the opposite,
6:28
hupakratos, ahupakratos.
6:30
And you hear in that Greek word the word hypocrite.
6:35
Don't be a hypocrite in your love.
6:38
And we fancy ourselves, I think,
6:40
to be genuine people.
6:42
We pride ourselves
6:45
on our ability to keep it real.
6:47
You'll hear people say that I'm just,
6:48
I'm just keeping it real.
6:49
They've said something nobody else wants to hear.
6:52
And they will say following that,
6:54
I'm just keeping it real.
6:55
We often brag that we don't care
6:57
about what others think about us.
6:58
That we would not change ourselves in the slightest
7:01
based on who is present.
7:03
But all of these are lies.
7:07
We change our postures when cameras are rolling.
7:10
Is that not true?
7:13
Can I talk to you men for just a minute?
7:15
Maybe you men who are no longer 21 years old
7:18
and therefore no longer have a flat stomach.
7:20
All right?
7:21
When you're standing there,
7:22
we're all going to do this in just the next few weeks.
7:24
We're all going to take our Christmas photos
7:25
for our Christmas cards
7:26
that will get sent all over the country.
7:28
And our wives are going to make us dress up
7:30
and we're going to stand in some place
7:31
that we don't normally stand
7:32
and we're going to look in a way
7:33
that we don't normally look.
7:35
And we're going to pretend to be somebody else
7:37
for just a moment.
7:38
And when that camera,
7:39
when that photographer counts down,
7:41
and are you not thankful for the countdown?
7:44
When the camera,
7:45
when the photographer says one, two,
7:48
right before the photographer says,
7:50
three, guys, men,
7:51
do you not suck it in just a little bit?
7:55
You do.
7:56
All of us do it.
7:58
Right?
7:58
And do you not inflate your chest just a smidge?
8:02
Like this is what I want to portray.
8:04
I mean, it's the best I got.
8:05
It's the only thing I can do in the moment.
8:06
This is as good as I can make it look.
8:09
And if there's much of a delay
8:11
before you hear the click,
8:12
you're like, you're going to have to wrap this up
8:14
because I'm getting lightheaded.
8:16
I'm going to suck in my gut as best I can
8:17
for those three seconds.
8:19
Right?
8:20
And women, wives, do you not?
8:22
And this is, I think it's true.
8:24
After the photo has been taken,
8:26
and it's probably your friend,
8:28
not your husband's friend who took the photo.
8:30
It's probably your friend who took the photo.
8:33
After the photo has been taken,
8:34
do they not flip the thing around and show who?
8:37
They show you, the wife.
8:39
They never show the husband
8:40
because nobody cares if he likes the picture or not.
8:43
She is making sure that you approve
8:45
of the photo that has been taken, right?
8:47
This is what we do.
8:48
We do it every single day.
8:50
We do it every single time.
8:50
And many times, the wife's response is,
8:52
no, we're going to try again.
8:55
And so on the second one,
8:56
she stands kind of behind her husband,
8:59
using her husband as a prop, right?
9:02
To hide whatever it is
9:04
she doesn't want on the Christmas card.
9:06
That's how we do this.
9:07
When the cameras are rolling,
9:09
we present ourselves as different.
9:11
We're not keeping it real.
9:14
It's fake.
9:17
We change our moods when others are watching.
9:19
We smile when we don't mean it.
9:21
We laugh when it's not funny.
9:23
We exaggerate and elaborate
9:24
to make ourselves look better and sound smarter.
9:27
We do it all the time,
9:28
but all the time we are pretending.
9:30
Maybe a truer statement would be,
9:32
well, we'll fake it till we make it.
9:34
I hear people say that too.
9:35
The problem is that making it never comes.
9:39
We just fake it.
9:42
Because fake never gives birth to genuine.
9:49
Fake never brings about
9:51
what is real
9:52
because fake only goes as deep as your face,
9:56
but genuine can only come from the heart.
9:59
And so our love must come from the heart.
10:03
It is not a face-only love
10:06
because that kind of love is hypocrisy.
10:10
The word for love is the Greek word agape.
10:12
Again, another Greek word you use.
10:14
You know this type of love is unconditional.
10:16
It always seeks the good of the recipient
10:19
and can only ever be known,
10:21
from the actions that it prompts.
10:24
In other words,
10:25
genuine agape love is not just a love of word or tongue,
10:29
but action and truth.
10:30
That's what 1 John 3 says.
10:32
Don't just tell me you love me.
10:34
Show me you love me.
10:36
That's genuine love.
10:38
It can be clearly seen,
10:40
this agape love,
10:41
in God giving that kind of love to humanity
10:45
through the gift of his own son.
10:49
1 John 4,
10:50
in verse 9 says,
10:51
In this, the love of God,
10:53
that agape love,
10:54
was made manifest.
10:56
In other words,
10:57
God shows his love for us
11:00
in that he sent his only son into the world.
11:04
It is the kind of love
11:05
that is therefore not drawn
11:06
from any affection or excellency in its objects.
11:10
We don't just love people who love us back.
11:13
It's not given under compulsion
11:15
because we have to.
11:16
It's voluntary.
11:17
It's also not given in reciprocation.
11:19
I will love you if you do something for me.
11:23
We may love God because he first loved us,
11:26
but make no mistake, church,
11:27
he did not love us because we first loved him.
11:30
He loved us first.
11:32
And therefore, you know that the love is genuine
11:34
and there are some applications that we can draw.
11:37
There are some principles that we can draw
11:38
from that truth.
11:39
The fact that God loved us first
11:42
that are beautiful principles
11:44
and that we can stand on in confidence.
11:47
The fact that God loved us
11:50
even when we didn't love him back
11:51
means that the Lord is not waiting for you
11:54
to clean yourself up
11:55
before he forgives you.
11:58
He loves you already.
12:00
Even if you've sinned,
12:02
even if you've sinned to the uttermost,
12:04
even if your life is like Manasseh,
12:07
the worst possible wretch on planet Earth,
12:12
he already loves you.
12:14
He is very willing to accept you.
12:18
He already offers forgiveness to you
12:22
and bids you come to him just as you are.
12:27
Listen to how Jesus himself worded it
12:29
in John chapter six and verse 37.
12:31
He said, all that the Father gives me
12:33
will come to me.
12:34
Now listen to this promise.
12:35
And whoever comes to me, I will never cast out.
12:38
Wow, what a great promise that is.
12:40
Come to Jesus, come in humility
12:43
and ask for his loving kindness.
12:45
And he says, I will give it to you.
12:46
If you'll come to me,
12:47
I am not gonna turn you around.
12:50
And this is the type of genuine love
12:52
we are to have toward all people.
12:53
It is a love that is unconditional,
12:55
that is unreciprocal,
12:57
that is given without expectation.
13:01
In the church,
13:03
the smiles, the handshakes, the hugs,
13:06
the offers of help,
13:07
the invitations to friendship
13:10
are not phony.
13:13
Are not phony.
13:14
But look at commandment number two.
13:18
Number two.
13:19
The true Christians are to be steadfastly good.
13:22
Steadfastly good.
13:23
You pick up in verse nine.
13:24
He says, abhor what is evil,
13:26
hold fast to what is good.
13:28
These two things are actually two sides of the same coin
13:31
because one cannot hold fast to what is good
13:34
without also hating what is evil.
13:37
And this command ties back to point number one,
13:39
commandment number one.
13:41
Because if the Christian genuinely loves others,
13:44
they will only want what is best for them
13:46
and they will therefore vehemently oppose.
13:48
That which is harmful to them.
13:50
And boy, has our society gotten this wrong.
13:54
In their attempt to redefine love,
13:57
they will say things like,
13:59
if you really love me,
14:01
if you genuinely love me,
14:02
you will affirm me
14:06
in whatever I'm doing and whatever I'm saying.
14:09
You will not correct me if you love me.
14:12
But that is not what this says.
14:15
This is if you genuinely love others,
14:18
then hate the things which hurt them
14:22
and cling to the things which are good for them.
14:27
The word therefore, abhor,
14:28
actually means it causes you to shudder, to tremble.
14:32
To the true Christian, evil is repulsive
14:35
and cannot be tolerated.
14:37
Flipping the coin to the positive command,
14:40
he says hold fast or cling to that which is good.
14:43
It's like when you take your clothes out of the dryer
14:46
and you forgot to throw in one of those, you know,
14:48
those sheet things.
14:50
That static electricity that has been caused
14:53
as your clothes are tumbling around each other in the dryer
14:56
causes your socks to cling to your shirts.
15:00
There is like this weird magnetism to them
15:04
so that they can't be separated.
15:06
And so also is the true Christian not only to root out
15:09
that which is sinful and repulsive
15:11
and remove it as far as possible from their lives,
15:14
but they are also to seek out
15:16
or to search for the things which are good.
15:17
And then he says, cling to them like socks from the dryer.
15:23
Draw them as close as possible.
15:27
Abhor what is evil, hold fast what is good.
15:30
Look at commandment number three.
15:32
True Christians should be warmly affectionate.
15:35
Verse 10 says this, love one another
15:37
with brotherly affection.
15:41
We get the idea of brotherly love
15:43
from another Greek compound word, Philadelphia.
15:46
A brotherly love.
15:48
It's a love of tenderness.
15:51
It's a familial love that is appropriate
15:53
because we share a heavenly Father.
15:54
Because we share a heavenly Father,
15:56
we are therefore brothers and sisters in Christ.
15:58
It is the root of our word philanthropy
16:00
and connotes the idea of seeking the good of others.
16:04
It's interesting to note that the author
16:06
actually repeats this idea that we are of the same family
16:09
by stating that we are to brotherly love one another
16:12
with, this says, brotherly affection.
16:15
Our love toward our brothers and sisters.
16:17
sisters, should be warm, spontaneous, and constant. In fact, Jesus said that the world will know that
16:24
we are his disciples based on how we treat one another in the church. John chapter 13 and verse
16:32
34, Jesus says, a new commandment I give you that you love one another. Just as I have loved you,
16:39
you also are to love one another. Now listen, this is a profound statement that he makes. Here
16:44
is the test of genuine Christianity. By this, he says, our love for one another, by this, all people,
16:53
those outside the church, in the world, will know that you are my disciples. How will they know if
16:57
you're following after me if you have love for one another? He said it is completely contradictory
17:04
that we would say that we serve the same God, that we've been saved by the same Jesus, and yet
17:10
hate one another. It makes no sense at all.
17:14
All. We should have a warm, spontaneous, and constant brotherly affection toward one another.
17:26
Commandment number four. True Christians must be competitively honorable. Competitively honorable.
17:34
Look at verse 10. He says, outdo one another in showing honor. Outdo one another in showing honor.
17:40
The word outdo in this context is interesting.
17:44
It actually means to show preference to others, or to be more ready to honor others than to seek
17:51
honor for yourself. And it's kind of the opposite of how we would use competition.
17:57
Competition would be us putting ourselves forward so that we will win the race so that others will
18:04
lose the race. But here he says, instead, set an example for others. Get out in the lead,
18:12
setting an example for kindness,
18:14
and Christian charity, and respect, so that others will win the race. Outdo one another in what is
18:22
honorable. And the true Christian must be willing to set an honorable example for others to follow.
18:28
It's like saying, I will get out in the lead. I will be the lead. I will set the example so that
18:34
you are propelled ahead. Competitively honorable. Commandment number five. True Christians should
18:42
be fervently,
18:44
zealous. Fervently zealous. Verse 11 says this, do not be slothful in zeal. Be fervent in spirit.
18:53
Serve the Lord. Zeal is a readiness. It's like an eagerness to participate in religious activity.
19:04
It would be like saying, I just can't wait to act like a Christian. I just can't wait.
19:14
To get about the business of the church. It is an anticipation and an eagerness
19:22
to get in there. When I was a kid, we had a dog. It was a dog that loved to escape out the front
19:31
door. Our dog learned that when the doorbell rang, the front door would soon be opened,
19:38
and she could seize her opportunity to run out the front door, and then to run as fast as she could.
19:44
Fast and as far as possible. Through the neighborhood, into other neighborhoods. And
19:49
there was more than one time where we would be out in our cars looking for our dog. Escaped again.
19:57
And she was so anxious to get out the front door that when the doorbell would ring,
20:01
she would actually kind of crouch down, hunch down. You could see it. She knew that noise meant
20:05
the front door was about to open, and so she would kind of crouch down and wait for her opportunity.
20:09
Just the smallest crack, and she would make her break.
20:14
And so we began to learn to anticipate her anticipation. When the doorbell would ring,
20:20
we would only just slightly open the door to look outside, and we would talk to people. And I often
20:24
thought as a young man, this has got to look so weird. They must assume that we think that they're
20:29
like hatchet murderers or something. You know, identify yourself, you know. But it wasn't for
20:35
their sake. It was for the dog's sake. The dog would just make a bolt out the front door anytime
20:40
she could. And listen, Christian zeal is a little bit...
20:44
bit like the anticipation of that dog. Just give me the chance. It's like we are hunched down,
20:49
crouched down, waiting for the smallest sliver, the smallest opportunity for us to get to act
20:55
like Christians. Don't be slothful. Don't slow down. Don't become lazy in your Christian work,
21:01
lazy in your zeal. Instead, allow it to lead you to fervency, like fire in your heart, which then
21:09
ultimately leads to service to God. And I love the implication here. This is saying that service
21:16
to others, that Christian work, is service to the Lord. We don't do what we do because others
21:23
have asked. In fact, we don't even do what we do because others are worthy, because oftentimes
21:27
they're not. We are to serve people that aren't even worthy of our service. Why? Because the Lord
21:35
is worthy, and the Lord has asked.
21:39
Commandment five. Notice commandment six, that true Christians should be hopefully rejoicing,
21:47
hopefully rejoicing. Look at verse 12. He says, rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation,
21:54
be constant in prayer. Now, these three really belong together as a triplet because they
21:58
communicate nearly related ideas or duties. The richest consolation and heavenly support
22:04
a Christian can receive is that which derives from hope.
22:09
Hope, patience, and prayer. And by using these three, hope, patience, and prayer, even in the face
22:18
of suffering and persecution, when all seems bleak, when all seems to be at its darkest, the
22:24
true Christian can remain hopeful. We remember the hope of our salvation. We remember the fact
22:31
that our eternal destinies will not be in the dirt. They will be spent in the presence of our
22:37
Creator and Savior.
22:39
And if that is true, then we can bear up under persecution. Come what may, we would say.
22:49
And what better way of reminding ourselves that God's presence is our future than by availing
22:56
ourselves of his current presence now through prayer. Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 16 makes
23:03
another great promise. It says, let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace. Come
23:08
into the presence of God. Come into the presence of God. Come into the presence of God. Come into the
23:09
presence of God. That we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The promise
23:14
that is given is even in your darkest hour, you can come into the presence of God in prayer
23:19
and receive help. And so take heart, brothers and sisters, do not despair your circumstances.
23:28
The world can despair if it wants. Perhaps they should. They have forsaken their Creator, but not
23:33
you. You have been granted the great promise of help from the Creator and sustainer of our
23:41
universe. You can therefore hope in all things, hopefully rejoicing. Notice commandment number
23:47
seven, that true Christians be sacrificial sharers. Verse 13 says, contribute to the needs of the
23:55
saints. Seek to show hospitality. That word translation contribute is a little bit misleading.
24:01
Contribute makes it sound like an offering is to be taken. And no doubt that is true. We are to
24:06
share financially with those in need. That's true. But the word contribute is a little bit misleading.
24:10
It's another Greek word you know. It's the Greek word koinonia. Koinonia, fellowship, friendship,
24:20
link arms, share plights together. It actually means to become a partaker. Partake in the needs
24:27
of the saints is what he's saying. Don't just solve their problems, rather make their problems
24:32
your problems. Take on their circumstances as your own. Another way of saying it would be take
24:40
part in the needs of the saints. Take part in the needs of the saints. Take part in the needs of
24:40
the saints. Take part in the necessities of the saints and regard them as your own needs. And
24:45
because we are all members of the same body of Christ, we said this last Sunday, we therefore
24:50
have the same interests and the same feelings and the same destinies. The joy of one member
24:55
becomes the joy of all, but also the sorrows become a common burden. As we begin to share
25:01
the same heart, we will look for opportunities to be hospitable. We should literally take on
25:09
the attitude that our high school Spanish teachers taught us. We should literally take on the attitude
25:13
that our high school Spanish teachers taught us. We should literally take on the attitude
25:14
when that first week of class they said, mi casa, su casa. My house is your house. My stuff is your
25:20
stuff. I am yours. Share in the sufferings of the saints. Notice commandment number eight,
25:27
that true Christians be sympathetically peaceful. Sympathetically peaceful, this is a little bit
25:33
larger block. Verse 14 says, bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them.
25:39
Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with them.
25:54
Do you want to know what it's like to be a genuine Christian?
26:04
When we're cursed, we bless in return.
26:07
When others rejoice, we rejoice along with them,
26:10
even when we don't feel like doing it.
26:13
When others weep, we weep along with them
26:16
in the hopes that we can shed some of their tears.
26:21
I have wondered before,
26:23
God, is there not a set, a divinely set number of tears
26:28
assigned for each loss?
26:30
This loss will produce 10,000 tears.
26:34
And as believers gather together, they can share in that mourning.
26:39
So every tear I shed on your behalf
26:41
is one you don't have to share.
26:44
You don't have to bear it on your own.
26:47
We seek genuine peace
26:50
at all costs, in all circumstances,
26:53
even at our own expense.
26:56
Look at verse 18 again.
26:57
If possible, so far as it depends on you,
26:59
live peaceably with all.
27:01
It should be the goal of our lives
27:02
to get to heaven's throne and say,
27:04
God, as much as I was able,
27:06
I lived at peace, I was at peace with all people,
27:10
even if they declared war,
27:11
more on me.
27:12
I didn't declare war back.
27:15
I did everything that I could for peace.
27:18
We offer forgiveness even when it's not deserved.
27:20
We offer forgiveness even when it's never been asked for.
27:24
We are the ones who make the first move
27:26
toward reconciliation,
27:27
the first move toward friendship.
27:31
We're the ones who apologize first.
27:33
It's not like in our hearts we would say,
27:35
well, if he apologizes to me,
27:37
then I'll apologize back.
27:38
But I'm waiting.
27:40
That's not us.
27:42
That's not what Christians do.
27:44
We take the first step,
27:46
even if our efforts are rebuffed.
27:49
We live at peace.
27:50
Notice commandment number nine.
27:52
The true Christians must be unwaveringly trusting.
27:57
Unwaveringly trusting.
27:58
And notice verse 19.
28:00
Beloved, never avenge yourselves.
28:03
Leave it to the wrath of God,
28:04
for it is written, vengeance is mine.
28:06
I will repay, says the Lord.
28:08
To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him.
28:11
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
28:13
For by so doing, you will heat burning coals on his head.
28:16
Do you want to know what it's like to be a genuine Christian?
28:20
We are unoffendable.
28:23
We cannot be offended.
28:24
You can say and do the worst to us,
28:28
and we will still offer forgiveness.
28:30
We will still seek peace.
28:32
We will still offer our friendship.
28:34
We will still offer kind words.
28:36
We don't hold grudges.
28:38
We don't retaliate.
28:39
We don't slander.
28:41
We don't defend ourselves.
28:43
We're not concerned with our own reputations.
28:46
Ultimately, we entrust ourselves to the Lord.
28:50
The example we have of this is 1 Peter 2, Jesus himself.
28:54
When Jesus was reviled, he did not revile in return.
28:58
When he suffered, he didn't threaten.
29:00
Can you imagine if he had?
29:03
What if he were there carrying his cross
29:05
and walking it up the hill,
29:06
and as they were mocking, he was mocking back,
29:08
and as they were spitting, he was spitting back.
29:10
Now remember, he was not the only man crucified that day.
29:14
Can you imagine the response of the others, the thieves?
29:17
I know one would get saved later,
29:18
but he wasn't saved when they were walking.
29:21
And as they were spitting on them,
29:23
those guys were spitting right back.
29:25
Can you imagine the contrast of Jesus,
29:27
who never threatened, this says.
29:30
He did not threaten.
29:31
What if Jesus, as he's walking that cross up the hill,
29:35
said, just wait until my father hears about this.
29:40
He didn't say that.
29:42
He didn't say that.
29:43
But what did he do instead?
29:44
He continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
29:48
Who is it that judges justly, church?
29:52
The Father.
29:54
And he said, you know what, Father?
29:55
You see this.
29:57
I don't deserve this.
29:59
I shouldn't be here.
30:02
Nevertheless, not my will, yours be done.
30:04
If this is your will, I will go to the cross,
30:08
and I will not revile, and I will not threaten.
30:12
I will not threaten.
30:13
I have no intention of paying anybody back.
30:16
We are unwaveringly trusting like Christ who entrusted himself.
30:20
Commandment number 10, and finally.
30:22
The true Christians become righteous overcomers.
30:24
Look at verse 21.
30:25
Do not become overcome with evil.
30:26
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
30:30
And Charles Hodge has said,
30:31
nothing is so powerful as goodness.
30:35
The answer to how do we prevail, how do we overcome,
30:39
is actually quite simple.
30:40
It's to become so preoccupied with doing good
30:42
that we provide no opportunity to do good.
30:44
We provide no opportunity to do good.
30:44
opportunity to do evil because we become so busy about the lord's work that we make no provision
30:51
for the flesh and actually notice here i think the answer is how do we prevail is provided on
30:56
the same page maybe in your bibles over here is my bible this is romans chapter 12 this column
31:02
same page just this column next to it is romans chapter 13 and notice just straight across the
31:07
page look at chapter 13 and verse 14 chapter 13 and verse 14 says this put on the lord jesus
31:14
christ make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires don't give your flesh an opportunity
31:22
to do evil become so preoccupied with doing good that evil is actually overcome
31:30
overcome we have an overcoming and victorious god and we therefore as his followers
31:36
are overcoming and victorious well did you take a look at yourself in the mirror
31:45
how
31:45
did you look is there anything that needs changing are you genuinely loving an unhypocritical
31:52
love are you steadfastly good hating what hurts and harms others clinging like socks in the dryer
32:00
to what is good are you warmly affectionate competitively honorable setting the example
32:06
for others to succeed fervently zealous like that dog waiting just give me the chance
32:11
to act like a christian hopefully rejoicing even in the midst of persecution
32:16
sacrificially sharing linking arms and making the plight of others your own
32:21
is sympathetically peaceful are you determined to live at peace with all people are you unwaveringly
32:28
trusting rather than defending yourself entrusting yourself to him who judges justly
32:32
and are you righteously overcoming evil with good lord thank you for this text and for how
32:41
clearly it speaks and god i pray that we would have the courage
32:45
live as true and genuine Christians, Lord. Not
32:49
so that we will be saved, but because we are saved.
32:54
Lord, may we look at ourselves in the mirror and see our
32:57
reflection staring back. And if there are any one of these things that you would say needs to change
33:01
in our hearts and minds, then Lord, would you give us the conviction and the strength to
33:05
do it in Jesus' name. Amen.