In my first year in college,
we had a class in which we were required to read 10 chapters
of the scriptures between each class. And the professor had
a good way of making sure you got your job done because every
time he would take roll, he would take roll by requiring you to
answer 10 questions. And that was made up half of
your grade. And we had to give a summary of each of those 10
chapters every time we came to class, but we'd back up each
time. So each class period, you got
20, then 30, then 40, and so on, till we went through the
scriptures. It was a very, very helpful class. Caused me to have fixed in my
mind that which is contained in each chapter in scripture.
As we go through the books of the Bible, I try in one way or
another to fix that in your mind. This blessed, blessed instructive
epistle to the Romans is one of those marvelous masterpieces
of gospel doctrine set before us with simplicity, with clarity
and dogmatism and set in clear order. In the first chapter,
verses one through 18, the apostle Paul declares to us that the
gospel is the gospel of God concerning his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything else is not the gospel.
If it doesn't concern his son, it's not the gospel. If it doesn't
concern his son, it won't do you any good. If it doesn't concern
his son, it's all theory and speculation. It's just so much
talk about nothing. And then it tells us that this
gospel of God concerning His Son is the power of God under
salvation. It is by the preaching of the
gospel that God is pleased to save sinners by the power of
His grace, taking the seed of the Word, planting life in the
heart by the Spirit of God. And then, beginning in verse
18 of chapter 1, and going down through the middle of chapter
3, the apostle shows us the great universal need of the gospel,
declaring the utter depravity of all humanity since the fall
of our father Adam, so that all men by nature, both the religious
and the infidel, both those who go to church and those who don't,
All men and women by nature are lost, depraved, and undone, and
in desperate need of Jesus Christ the Lord. That's reason enough
for us to give good heed to our Lord's command, Go ye therefore
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,
to the Jew and to the Gentile, to the barbarian and to the learned,
because men and women everywhere need our Savior. Men and women
everywhere are perishing without Him. Oh God, fire our souls with
the reality of eternity and the certainty of judgment and the
blessedness of your great salvation in Christ, that we may be driven
by love, mercy, and grace to proclaim the gospel to this generation
as God enables us. Then the Apostle, beginning in
verse 19 of chapter 3, starts talking to us about God's great
salvation. The free grace of God by which
we are justified in Jesus Christ by blood atonement, by perfect
righteousness, this free justification received by faith in Jesus Christ
the Lord. In chapter 4 he gives us examples
of how men are justified by faith. Abraham was justified without
works. David was justified without works.
And he said concerning this free justification, all the blessedness
of the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Do you know anything
about that blessedness? Oh, how good, how happy, how
favored it is to walk on this earth with the knowledge that
God Almighty will never charge you with sin because He's put
away sin for you by the sacrifice of His Son. And then chapter
5 tells us how we receive this justification, this reconciliation
by faith in Christ that was accomplished through the doing and dying of
one man, the last Adam, our Lord Jesus. Then in chapter 6, Paul
declares to us the blessedness of life in Christ. He tells us
about believers' baptism. If you want to know what the
Scriptures teach about baptism, the one place in the Word of
God to go is Romans chapter 6. Contrary to the popular opinion
of most commentators and preachers and theologians, that's not talking
about some kind of an imaginary spirit baptism. That's talking
about water baptism. It's talking about being immersed
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, symbolically
identifying ourselves with the performance of righteousness
by Jesus Christ, our substitute, in his death, burial, and resurrection. And then the apostle tells us
that being men and women who are crucified with Christ and
risen with Christ, let us now walk in this world honoring God. Give ourselves to the service
of God, his calls, and his people, living in sanctification, in
consecration to Christ, being utterly free from the law, and
yet constantly warring in ourselves. I brought an excellent message
to you Tuesday night on the message of the two natures. I don't understand
why there's any conflict or debate at all concerning that. I presume
that men will continue to fuss about whether or not you've got
two natures as long as they've just got one. But the believer
is a person with two warring natures, and he constantly struggles
with inward sin. And so he cries with the apostle,
oh, wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from the
bondage of this death? Oh, thank God it'll be done through
Christ our Lord, because in him, there's no condemnation. And
now we walk in the Spirit. And that's what it describes
till it gets to the end, almost end, about the middle of chapter
eight. Chapter 8, beginning at verse 28, going through chapter
11. The Apostle Paul describes for
us the wondrous mystery of God's purpose and God's providence
and God's grace. He tells us that God works all
things together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his sovereign, eternal purpose of grace. In
other words, everything God does in time. I'm just waiting for you to take
me in as much as you can. Everything God does in time,
He does to bring it to pass that chosen redeemed sinners come
to hear His voice at the appointed time of love and believe on His
Son. Everything. Everything. Our God,
in His great sovereignty, sovereignly manipulates and controls the
very thoughts and words and deeds of all men, righteous and wicked,
of all angels, of all demons, of Satan himself, of all time,
of all the elements of nature, to bring to pass the salvation
of his elect. Because it is written, Jacob
have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Esau exists only because God
loves Jacob, and only to serve Jacob, whom God loves. So then
salvation doesn't have anything to do with who you are, where
you came from, what you choose, or what you do. Salvation is
not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God
that showeth mercy. Some are vessels of wrath, and
we who are called vessels of mercy. Let us bow and give God
thanks. And then we read in chapter 10.
How this again, all this goodness and mercy, all this great salvation,
all this atonement and reconciliation and righteousness and justification
and sanctification is experienced in sinners like us. Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Believe on Christ and all his
salvation is yours. Oh, God help you right now to
believe on his son. Believe on his son. Trust the
son of God and all this eternal, free, boundless grace in Jesus
Christ is yours. And then in chapter 11, the apostle
tells us why God dealt with the Jews as he did in the past. and
why God has sent blindness and hardness to the Jews today. It
is that the gospel might go into all the world and that you who
are his chosen among the Gentiles will be born again, called by
his spirit, saved by his grace. And by this operation of God,
In time, all Israel shall be saved. Oh, what a God. For of him and through him and
to him are all things to whom be glory forever. Now, chapter
12 begins like this. I beseech you, therefore. I beseech
you, therefore. When we get to this 12th chapter,
in consideration of all that he has just told us, the Apostle
Paul, writing by divine inspiration, teaches us as the children of
God, as believers, as sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ
and saved by his grace, how we are to live for God in this present
world. how we are to live for God in
this present world. I know men and women and teachers
and preachers and psychologists and psychiatrists and counselors
try to find an excuse for ungodliness among folks who profess to be
godless, saying, well, things are just different now, as my
dear granddaughter. Things aren't one bit different
for you than they were for me. Not one bit. You're fixing to
raise that baby back yonder? Things no different for that
baby than they were for his granddaddy. No different at all. Read the
first chapter of Romans and tell me things were better back then.
Just read it and tell me things were better back then. How can
men and women be expected to live for God? By faith in Jesus
Christ. Folks who know God live for God.
Folks who are consecrated to God live for God. Folks who trust
Christ live for God, not for pleasure, not for the world,
not for themselves, not for advancement, for God. Well, I don't know many
Christians who live for God. That's because you don't know
many Christians. Believers are people who live for God, and
we're taught very plainly how to live for God. This is what
I want to talk to you about in this message, Living for God. The title of my message is You,
Your Gifts, and Others. You, Your Gifts, and Others. We've already read the chapter.
Let's look at these 21 verses together. And they're easily
divided into three sections. I'll look at them under these
three segments. In verses 1 through 3, we're
given instruction about our personal consecration to God. In verses
4 through 8, the apostle tells us how to use our gifts. If we're gods, we have some gifts.
And he tells us how to use those gifts for the good of God's elect. He's talking about our consecration
to God's people. You see, if you're consecrated
to God, you're consecrated to his church. If you're consecrated
to God, you're consecrated to his people. And then in verses
9 through 21, he takes in everything else. Here he teaches us how
we're to deal with other people, both believers and unbelievers. Now let's look at the message
in these 21 verses. First, the apostle of God addresses
you and me as believers and gives us instruction about our own
consecration to God. I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. Whatever we're called upon to
do for God, whatever we're called upon to say, whatever we're called
upon to be, whatever we're called upon to give ourselves to in
the calls of our God. We're motivated not by way of
threat, or fear, or law, or judgment, or bargaining chips of reward,
but rather by the mercy of God given to us in Christ Jesus.
That's through all the way through the New Testament. You will not
find in all the New Testament one word of admonition, one word
of motivation, one word of inspiration given to any believer on the
basis of law. How come? Because we don't live
by law. We don't live by law. I don't
have to have a law written on the books to tell me it's wrong
for me to beat my wife. I'm just not inclined to do that.
Well, I have been at times. As she has me, not inclined to
do it. Not inclined to do it. How come? How come? Because we love each
other. We love each other. You understand
that? Believers are motivated by love. Our relationship is built on
love. Not law. Not regulation. And the lives
of God's people are built on love. Not law, not regulation. Our Lord Jesus said, love your
enemies, do good, lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward
shall be great, and you shall be the children of the highest.
Be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. Children of God,
walk in love for God and for one another. Do what you do because
of love for God and His people, and you won't do wrong. Isn't
that so, Lindsay? Do what you do because of love
for God and His people, and you won't do wrong. You got that? Do what you do because of love
for God and his people and you won't do wrong. God give us grace
to love him and love one another loving him. The apostle says
believers, men and women who love God are to present their
bodies a living sacrifice. Paul, what are you talking about?
Listen. Listen. Just exactly what you
think he's talking about. Just exactly what you think he's
talking about. Give your life to God. Give your life to God. Well,
I've already given my life to God. Today. This afternoon. Tonight. Tomorrow. Tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow
night. All the time. Give your life to God. Give your
life to God. Oh, Spirit of God, give me grace. Day by day, hour by hour, moment
by moment, to give myself to my God. Give your life to God. Let your
tongues be employed for praising him. Let your feet take you to
his house. Let your arms be used to embrace
his people and your hands employed in the service of his kingdom.
The believer is a priest. And as a priest, he offers himself
to God as a living sacrifice. You see, those who have seen
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, in the experience
of His grace, cry out like Christ and His prophet, here am I, send
me. Somehow, Lord God, somehow, use
me for something in Somehow, use me for something good for
your people. Send me to preach the gospel
to the lost. Send me to care for the sick. Send me to support the missionary.
Send me to cheer the faint. Send me to comfort the weary.
Send me to be a blessing, to be a blessing. Shelby and I pray. often together through the day,
and pray continually. God, make us a blessing today
to your people, a blessing. I want so much in every way I
influence your lives to influence you for good so that my time
with you is a blessing to you. I'm not talking about just something
to make you feel good and be happy. I'm talking about my time
and my influence with you. Blessed of God to set you heavenward
and set your heart toward Christ and his glory and his kingdom. Verse two. And be not conformed to this
world but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God. This is just your reasonable
service. You've been bought with a price.
So glorify God in your body and in your spirits, which are God's.
Let us take great heed not to allow ourselves to be conformed
to this world. Paul is particularly here speaking
about the wicked of this world, the ungodly of this world. The
scriptures often speak just as we do, and there's difference
between us and the world, the believer and the world, the church
and the world. He's talking about folks in this
world who don't know God. Don't be conformed to the nature
of this world. The nature is selfish. Get and
keep selfish. Don't be conformed to the character
of the ungodly in this world, the opinions of men in this world,
the goals and aspirations of men in this world, the attitude
and behavior of men in this world. Don't be conformed to the ways
of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.
You see, worldlings love the world. Believers love Christ. Worldlings seek the praise of
men. Believers seek the praise of God. Worldlings think only
of themselves. Believers consider others. Worldlings
care for the body. Believers care for the soul.
Worldlings look only upon that which is seen. Believers look
on that which is unseen. The worldling cares for what
he shall eat and drink and wear and how big a house he'll live
in and how much property he'll have and how much money he'll
have in the bank. Believers seek first the kingdom of God and
his righteousness. Hear me, my brother, my sister. Hear me, young people. Hear me,
children. Hear me, men and women. Hear
me, my granddaughter. Hear me, my wife. Hear me, myself. Let nothing in this world compete
with the worship and service of our Redeemer. Nothing. Nothing's more important to you
and me than the worship of God and the business of serving Him.
Everything else, whatever it is, push it aside. don't be conformed
to this world. This spirituality, this attitude
is accomplished and is the result of the regenerating work of God
the Holy Ghost. You see, the believer, the sinner
saved by God's grace, is a man, a woman who has been made a new
creature in Christ. He's motivated by different things.
He's inspired by different things. He's governed by different things. His attitude's different. He's
been made new in Jesus Christ the Lord. And this is God working
in you. And this, the Apostle Paul tells
us in Ephesians chapter five, is pleasing and acceptable to
God. present your bodies, a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. Then in verse three, the apostle
reminds us to walk with God in all humility. For I say through
the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think. Well, that ain't much. That ain't
much. Don't let anybody think more
highly of himself than he ought to. Well, I'm somebody. No, you're not. Well, I'm so
important. No, you're not. Well, things
depend on me. No, they don't. No, they don't.
How highly are we to think of ourselves? As highly as you can
think of a worm or a maggot in a dung heap. That high and no
higher. How highly are we to esteem ourselves? As highly as you can esteem an
adulterer, a fornicator, a thief, a robber, a murderer, a sinner. That high and no higher. Let
no man think more highly of himself than he ought to think. Well,
I've got my pride. That's the problem. That's the
problem. We do have our pride. God forgive me, my horrid pride
that gets in the way of everything. But to think soberly, To think
soberly, that means think like you got good sense. Think as
things really are. Think with reality. According
as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. The only
person who will think of himself as he ought is one to whom God
has given faith in Christ. who sees that Christ is his only
righteousness, his only atonement, his only sanctification, his
only holiness, his only acceptance with God. The fact is God resists
the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. Now, in verses
four through eight, the Spirit of God tells us how we're to
use the gifts he gives us for the good of God's elect. He'd
been talking about consecration to God. Consecration to God involves
consecration to his people. God's church is one. All who
are saved by the grace of God are one in Christ and one with
Christ. We are many members of one body. Now, hang on, hang on. We ought to act like it. were
many members of one body. Should you ever see me lay my
hand down, stretch my thumb across an anvil, and take a five-pound
sledgehammer and smash my thumb, please check me into the funny
farm. I popped a cork. Something's
gone wrong. That's idiocy. What man injures
himself? only the man who lacks sanity. You and I are members of one
body. We ought to act like it. God's
church, God's people are what? As we have many members in one
body, and all members have not the same office, so we being
many are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another. This ear can't smell, and this
mouth can't hear, and this nose can't talk, but all are placed
where they are in the body for their proper function in proportion
to the need of the body. And so it is with every member
of God's church. living stones joined together
in Jesus Christ the Lord. And he gives us gifts as members
of the body. Look in verses 6 through 8. Here
he sets before us some of those gifts. By no means all of them,
but some of them. Having then gifts differing according to
the grace that's given to us. Not that one gift implies more
grace and another gift less grace, but by the grace of God as he
sets us members in his body, in his grace, he gives us gifts
to serve his body. And it doesn't matter where I
serve him or in what capacity I serve him. He gives us gifts
to serve him. Look at it. Whether prophecy,
let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith. Or ministry,
let us wait on our ministry. Or he that teacheth on teaching,
or he that exhorteth on exhortation, he that giveth, let him do it
with simplicity. He that ruleth with diligence,
he that showeth mercy with cheerfulness. Prophecy here is talking about
preaching. It is a God-given gift to understand
and proclaim the truth of Holy Scripture. This is done by God-given
ability, no other way. Ministry. The word means service. It's the word from which we get
our word deacon, but it doesn't just imply deacons in an official
capacity in the church family, but rather those who serve, those
who serve. God gives some folks grace to
serve, uniquely gifted to do so. A few weeks ago, Shelby and
I were driving down the road. I forgot where we were coming
from or going to, and she was reading an article by Spurgeon
on gifts, and one of them being helps. You remember? And she
said to me, she said, listen to this. I couldn't help but
think about Brother Bob Potts. This is a picture of Bob Potts.
What a way to remember a man. Wherever he could, he's there
to help. Whatever he could do, there to help. What can I do
to help? How can I help? How can I help? Those who minister,
those who serve, let them look for the opportunity. Look for
the opportunity. Teach it. Some men are apt to
teach. Fitness to teach others the word
of God is the gift of God. Not everybody can. Many who are
very good at serving can't teach. No need to put them in that position,
they just can't do it. Those who possess this gift are
to exercise it with diligence and with care. Brother Lindsey
stands here and teaches every Sunday morning, and if you listen
to his teaching, you understand that he spends some time studying
and preparing. Do it with diligence, exhortation. This is distinctly the work of
a pastor. Every God called pastor is to
exhort. By exhort Paul doesn't so much
mean what most folks imply. That means I go over and see
Mark and Donna and I find out how they're handling things in
their lives and I tell them how to do it. That's not what it
means. It's talking about comforting and encouraging God's people.
Comforting and encouraging God's people. Comfort you, my people,
saith the Lord. That's our business. That's our
business. Well, God's given me a ministry
of correction. No, he didn't. No, he didn't.
You just need to correct it. No, no, that's not your business,
but exhort. All who are gods ought to learn
to comfort his people, those who are especially gifted to
do so. Oh, how I thank God for you to
give comfort and encouragement. Every now and then, I get a note
or a comment from one of you or someone else, and you may
not know it at the time, it's just exactly what I needed. Oh, how I needed that. Some years
ago, I wrote to a friend of mine who was a missionary in Italy,
and I wrote to him fairly regularly, and I got a letter back from
him, and all he said was, Brother Don, You just don't know how
much I needed that. That's the object. Comfort, comfort
them which are in trouble. By the comfort wherewith we ourselves
are comforted. Giving, giving. Paul doesn't
mean to imply here that some folks are gifted to give and
others are not. Giving is to be done by all,
but some are blessed of God to give great deal more than others. But all giving is to be done
liberally, with simplicity, singleness of heart, without fanfare as
unto the Lord, and ruling. Again, this is talking about
a pastor. Every God called pastor is to rule the church of God
as a man rules his own house, is to rule the church of God
by the word of God. It's the pastor's responsibility
to govern the church by the word of God, to govern the church's
activity, and to govern the church's ministry, and to govern the church's
function by the word of God. The reason, one of the reasons,
this religious generation is in such a horrible mess. You go to church and you have
no idea what's gonna happen. I mean, I haven't been in one
of these circuses they call churches in Salone. I don't even know
what's going on for the most part. But I suspect, I suspect
if I were to decide to start visiting churches in town, and
I'd go to one on Sunday morning, one Sunday night, one on Wednesday
night, and visit every church in town, I'd walk in there and
I'd probably be astonished to see things going on. This is what you do when you
go to church? This is why you come to church? And I'll tell
you why. It's because we have a generation
of spineless preachers. Spineless preachers who serve
themselves. God's servants are to rule his
house by his word. Mercy, mercy. This is a gift,
one gift, all who are born of God possess. It involves kindness,
forgiveness, a good word, understanding. We should never be reluctant,
but rather anxious to exercise mercy with cheerfulness. Now,
this last part of the chapter, verses nine through 21. Here
we're taught how we're to live in relation to others, both believers
and unbelievers. Verse nine, let love be without
dissimulation. without pretense or hypocrisy. Some folks talk about love a
lot, but show little. Love is not to be just in word,
but in deed, sincere and genuine, a heart devotion to God's church
and God's people, our brothers and sisters in Christ. If there
be therefore any consolation in Christ, If any comfort of
love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
isn't that wonderful? Any deep-seated, constantly erupting
bowels of mercy. Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be
like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and
of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife
or vain glory. But in lowliness of mind let
each esteem other better than themselves. Then Paul says, abhor
that which is evil. All evil doctrine and all evil
behavior, particularly the evil that's in you. Abhor it. Abhor it. Don't spend your life
trying to get splinters out of your brother's eyes. You got
yards of lumber in your own. Yards of lumber in your own.
Abhor particularly the evil that's in you. Cleave to that which
is good. Cleave to that which is good.
Be clued to it. Be clued to it. Would to God I could get your
ear, really get your ear. Addict yourselves to the worship
of God and the things of God. Addict yourselves to it. Be glued to and keep company
with that which is good. Good doctrine and good companions. Walk with God and walk with those
who walk with God. Hold the principles of godliness
and associate yourself with people who are God's people. And go
to those places which contribute to your spiritual growth and
godliness. And as much as possible, avoid everything else. Just avoid
everything else. Read verses 10 through 13. These
four verses are one sentence. Everything here is talking about
personal conduct and behavior that affects and influences others
for good. Be kindly affectioned. Isn't
that a wonderful word? Kindly affectioned. We went out
to see that little baby out in San Diego a few weeks ago, that
newborn baby. And you know, I saw Amy two or
three times get up and leave the room because she heard that
baby. I didn't even hear it. And I had my hearing aids turned
up full blast. I didn't even hear it. She did. How come? Kindly
affection. That's the very word here. Tenderly
devoted to. Kindly affection one to another
with brotherly love and honor, preferring one another. Prefer
that somebody else gets bragged on, not you. Prefer that somebody
else is spoken highly of, not you. Not slothful in business. He's not talking here about if
you own a muffler shop, you be careful that you work hard at
it. If you own one, you gotta pay the bills, you will be. The
business he's talking about here is godliness. The worship and
service of our God. Fervent in spirit. Fervent in
spirit. Constantly anxious. Constantly eager. Constantly
desirous of the things of God that was right and good. Serving
the Lord. Rejoicing in hope. Always walking
on this earth in the blessed, joyful expectation of everlasting
glory, patient in tribulation. Patient in tribulation. Continuing instant in prayer. Isn't it wonderful? He tells
us how these things are to be constantly pursued by us. being
not slothful in business, but fervent, fervent and zealous
toward God and patient in tribulation, kindly affection to each other,
instant in prayer, instant in prayer, always begging of God
the mercy needed, distributing to the necessity of saints. looking
for an opportunity to help somebody, given to hospitality. Our homes
ought to be hotels for God's pilgrims. In making others happy,
we find happiness. In giving, we receive more than
we give. In promoting another's welfare
and honor, we're honored. You see, a person's character,
is not revealed by what others say about him. A person's character is revealed
in what he says about and the way he treats others. Tell me
how a man talks about other people and how he treats them. I'll
tell you what he is. Verse 14, bless them which persecute
you. Bless and curse not. That's just not the way things
are by nature, is it? We want to retaliate and retaliate
now. Rejoice with them that do rejoice
and weep with them that weep. Believers and unbelievers. Be of the same mind one toward
another. Mind not high things. but condescending men of low
estate. I travel, as you know, a good
bit, and it's sad to watch how many women just fawn over folks who appear
to be important and wealthy, influential. how preachers in
churches bow and scrape to folks who appear to be wealthy, important,
influential. The wealthy, the important, the
influential, don't need much attention. They may demand it,
but they don't need it. I'll tell you who does. Somebody
who's needy, poor, little less appealing to the eye. Condescend
to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for
evil. Provide things honest in the
sight of all men. In other words, if it be possible,
as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Avoid conflict, unnecessary conflict. Avoid strife and things that
create strife and division. Live peaceably. When somebody
seems to be angry, be kind to them. It's astounding. I'm not very good at it. I'm
not very good at it. But sometimes, sometimes God
will give me a little bit of grace and somebody says something,
you just want to bust them in the jaw. And I'll respond kindly. And you know, all of a sudden
they just, oh, okay. The anger's gone. A soft word
turns away wrath. Live peaceably, wherever you
can, with everybody. You see, when brethren are of
one heart, They're able to identify with one another in joy and in
sorrow. True love produces a strong interest
in and concern for other people. If I love you, I have a strong
interest in you and a great concern for you. And if I don't have
a strong interest in you and great concern for you, I don't
love you. Until we learn something about
this kind of grace, we'll always be in the midst of strife, strife
of our own making, but blaming others. Isn't it amazing? Folks who can't get along with
anybody always find reason and excuse because other folks are
sublime and contrary. I've known folks in the last
50 years who go from one church to the other, one place to the
other, one preacher to the other, and can't get along with anybody,
but they, they, they. Maybe they're not the fault.
Maybe they're not the blame. It could be you stink. It just could be you're hard
to get along with. If we would serve the souls of
eternity bound men and women, let us deal with them in kindness,
speak to them with gentleness, and treat them graciously. That's
the message of verses 19 through 21. Dearly beloved, avenge not
yourselves, but rather give place to wrath,
for it is written, vengeance is mine. I'll take care of it.
I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger,
feed him. If he thirst, give him drink.
Now, I know there are people, I've got to say this, they'll
take that and say, well, you ought not to go to war with folks
and nations, not rise up against the other nation, all that. That's
not what Paul's talking about. He's talking about believers.
He says, he said, children of God, if somebody despises you
and he's hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him something
to drink. For in so doing, if you just deal with him in kindness,
maybe you'll reach his heart. Thou shalt heap coals of fire
on his head. Now, that's not talking about
you be nice to him. That'll pour out the fire of
hell on him. Boy, that's good. That's good
Christianity. No, no, heap coals of fire on him, fire by which
his conscience may be pricked and his heart melted and God
may give you an open door of ministry to him. Be not overcome
of evil. Oh God, give me grace not to
be overcome with evil in me or in others, but rather overcome
evil. particularly the evil done to
you by others. Overcome evil with good. Now what do you say to all that? Amen. Amen. God teach us, so teach us your
grace for Christ's sake.