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Romans Chapter 12 Consecration of the Believer’s Life 12:1 Therefore I exhort you, > I will begin by encouraging you as your helper, not as a demand to extract something from you, even though I have been given authority to do so as a Apostle. But one who is an example, doing exactly what it is, that I am trying to motivate you to do. I know that of that which I am speaking of from experience, I’m not using you, as an experiment to find out if it will work or not. I have already gone thru it myself and have taken the test for you, so follow after me and you will be able to see for yourself, that what I am telling you is for your benefit. brothers and sisters, > You do see that we are in this together don’t you, we benefit each other in our dedication to God. What I do helps you and what you do helps me, so don’t live in a separate course of life, than from that which you are being instructed from by God in the scripture. If you try to do it separately and on your own in the body of Christ, you will have to bear all the weight of life alone. This will cause you much grief when others like you, who have been called like you, would have helped you share the labors of the work to be done. And we will suffer in your absence, because your separation will increase our workload also, in that we are helped in fellowship, just as you would be. by > And what is best in all of this, is that our entire burden is supported, not by us thru physical prowess or developed abilities, that are from extreme exertions that come about from an isolated effort. These are strengths that are given to us apart from ourselves and thru the Holy Spirit. We are simply that which God uses to perform all that he intends to do, he provides the strength to see it thru. the mercies of God, > So we benefit by his grace to each of us, which is a benefit to all of us in the body, as God works individually, to make us collectively the body of Christ on earth. Christ is alive, yes, Christ is living thru you as his present body on earth, and that is how the world is able to know him, thru your workings that he enables you to do. God is letting you act as his emissary on earth, so from out of Gods mercy you are encouraged and coaxed along with his calling. to present > So when you identify with him in your efforts and outlook in life, then you will function like him, and that is the most pleasing of all to God. To see you be imitators of him, as he originally intended, you, created in his image and after his likeness and character, exercising your faith in him. So that you appear to others as ones being effected by something that they don’t have, the ability to alter the state of who you are from the regrettable lives that they have, into that which Christ is shaping you to be. your bodies > So live in yourselves as that original creation that you were meant to be, make yourselves as full as possible, a part of his collective body. Moving closer everyday to his glorious light, that empowers you with the mercy of his glory. So that you function in this body, as an extenuation of that which you become, from that exposure to Christ glory. as a sacrifice- > Giving up willingly, that which you thought you were in control of, so that it becomes a permanent part of what is really in the control of God, which is everything, but now yourself as an accomplice. Making yourselves the visible body of Christ in the world, to those who are blind to the spiritual truth, that God has revealed to your Spirit and mine. That they will see that God is merciful to you, where your life was poverty stricken in its self-worth, just as they are. But it is now valuable in the hand of God to perform that which is pleasing to him and richness to use in life. alive, > But do this opposite of what was previously a method of instruction for the Jews, in that they killed their lambs of sacrifice, ending one lesser life(the lamb) to keep another greater life(the Jew) alive. Where God in Christ, ended a greater life (Jesus-God), to keep a lesser life (sinful humans) alive. Do you see the opposite abilities of God and man, man working from the bottom-up, but God working from the top-down? You should then perpetuate what you are doing, as a continuation of that pattern. You
should now live according to that greater sacrifice of Christ death in you, by being that
new living life, and to that end live new to it everyday. Nurture it so that it does not
whiter away like some dying fruit, but renew it continually, by being apart of Christ
body, his church. > Being separate from the ways of the world which made you impoverished in the first place, don’t put your service to Christ off to the last minute, and then think that by cramming everything you know is right to do, into the last chapter of your life. Thinking that it will please God in having rushed to put things right, after having knowingly put it of your entire life. It will be too little, too late, for what he has in store for you. Because your ministry in Christ and what he has planned for you will take your entire life in Christ to accomplish. Anything else will only reveal your true intentions, in that you really didn’t want to be apart and have your identity in him. Sure you’ll mature in his grace as you go along in life and get better at what trips you up now. But that is what he is trying to accomplish thru you and for you, is to take you from an immature child in Christ, to a mature adult in Christ, thru the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, making you anew all along the way. and pleasing to God- > And that is what God is wanting you to do, to make him happy about what you are doing. Then, when you know and see how gratifying it is to God, that he is excited about what it is that you are doing. It will encourage you to achieve that which he is doing in your life. A movement of epic proportion, happening to you individually, as he directs and ties it all together corporately. This with your full cooperation makes it satisfying to God, rather then the continuing struggles he has had with the Jewish people who resisted his mercy. You should adhere to it with joy in your hearts, in that you are able to be a part of it. which is > And that is not something that is farfetched in its thinking, I am not proposing that which is unthinkable, or requesting you to do pennants, so as to redeem our worthiness before Christ. This is practical daily life that has its basis in someone higher then yourself, an improvement over and above that which you had prior to knowing Christ your redeemer. your reasonable service. > So when you do this don’t do this out of extreme motives and methods, don’t try to make your life a grand entrance, so that everyone will see your labors. But live daily and simply in Christ and allow God to promote that which he has named for you to do. Take Gods request in your life as with an attitude of grateful opportunities for you, not as a duty put on you, that is a required labor. Not that it is unreasonable for God to require something of you, but look forward to Gods promotion in your life, in that, it requires your spiritual growth and the letting go of your sinful nature to achieve it. Only in holding onto that sinful nature, will your resist Gods work in your life and the change that Holy living requires in you, to make modifications against the desires of the flesh. 12:2 Do not be conformed > So oppose being shaped and molded with a preconditioned response to everything that is a byproduct of sin. Where external pressures influence you, that presses you into its compliance and old patterns. Repetitive actions, that have captured many to live in its ruts. Don’t be intimidated by those who wish you to sin with them, as misery loves company, they are not seeking to lift you up. So separate yourself from them, where you had once joined in on the ways that are part of the human addictions and habits, that have enslaved them into compliance. Besides the fact, for the most part, they’re just faking it anyway, thoughtless actions that no one can explain, but are instilled and repeated from one generation to the next. Rather then internal guidance that God is able to do in you, which is not of the world. to this present world, > Which is a self serving, seeking pleasures solely for the acts of self gratification, not being mindful of the consequences of your actions. Its culture is one that puts God off, either in complete denial, or till it is expedient or serves their purpose. This world is not seeking to glorify God, so do not let your life linger in its present state. Don’t strive in an area that is not totally on the side of Christ, if there are mixed feelings and conflicting messages, it is not of Christ and it will gravitate towards the ways of the world. If it does not have a solid base to it and is not being made subject to Christ approval, it is of the world and will not stand for Gods glory. But for the world and its deceptive nature, they only use good and truth to justify their actions of evil. but be transformed > Where the world is in slavery and fixed in its condition of sin, you are being changed by the power of Christ. Your disfigurement from the results of sin, that leaves you with a scared life and wrong thinking, is being reordered to that of Christ image and the way that he lived on earth. This is not due to outward pressures that are the ways of the world to intimidate, but internal learning where the Spirit of God draws and convicts you to find the right meaning, to what it is that you face. Causing your own thoughts and intentions to be realigned according to Christ thinking and actions. So that your mode of thinking is reassigned to respond differently then that of the world, thereby preempting sinful behavior, by excluding it from your thought process. Then overtime, a sin presented to you, does not become sin in action, but is dismissed out of hand. While in its place are the actions and thoughts of Christ, converting you daily into the image of Christ in action. by the renewing > As I have just inferred in what I just said, this is a process, a life long process, one that takes an old way of doing things and makes it new over again. With new intentions and new results, where you persuade yourself in communion with the Holy Spirit, to have that which is right. Then having convinced yourself of righteousness and its superiority over the ways that the world, that instigates and defiles itself repeatedly. You become set apart and sanctified from evil strategies and plots to do evil, you plan to do righteousness, as part of, that in who you have become, a vessel being filled with Gods glory. of your mind, > The things you fantasize and dream of, must be held to a standard process, that is, a way of enabling the mind to think along a way contrary to the world. You must train your mind to first seek a reflection, that you must gaze upon in the mirror of Christ and then establish that as a way of life. To see as Christ sees and not the world, this is then the transforming power of Christ that establishes you as a new creature in him. This will give you a new set of auto-reflects, that do not respond in knee jerking actions as the world does, but instead, the peace of Christ takes rule over you, not the frustration that is embedded in the ways of the world. so that > Then as God reveals strength in you in the fortifying of your condition on earth, he is able to be sure of your abilities and know that you have fully crossed over to align yourself with him. As you have practiced it of your own accord, thru your faith in him to be delivered from sin. you may test > And in this process you will find out on your own, that the truth that God has given you is not a misconception on your part, but a sure and definable life, built and laid on a foundation, that will whether any storm. One that will suffer wrong and not be moved, because you have already made the case in your mind, that there is no other course in life to follow. Even if there are hard times, you now know that this is a temporal condition on earth, heaven is your eternal home. and approve > Because God does not want any doubt in you, in that, doubt slows your promotion. Because every breeze and strong wind will send you of course and leave you tossed about like a lost ship at sea. You must see and know that God will help you hold the rudder true and straight to the very end of your journey. And when you have made this passage, you will be convinced and able to go even deeper voyages with God, knowing that he is heading the same way and preparing it for you. what > Then you will experience achievement, as God is providing for you to minister in the area that he has led and caused your heart to follow. You will find that the interest that you have, has been given to you by God, and that it is he has been drawing you into that area all along. For some it will be obvious very soon on, for others it will develop over time. is the will of God- > But once you are there, nothing will be more fulfilling for you, because God will have refined and positioned you more actually, then you could have ever imagined then would have been possible. As has been said "Gods perfect will for your life, is exactly what you would choose, if you new all the facts", then with doubt removed, you in concert with God, will reproduce the glory of him in you and others. what is good > The instruction of proper living will lead you to understand, that God is not hurting you, but healing you to a decent and good life. All of which you will discover, as you convert your thinking to search out the things, that are not immediately evident to the ways of man. You will find that what God ask of you does not hurt you, but is in principle, the very best for your life and is restoring you to health. and well-pleasing > What gives God delight and makes him feel good about man, are not things that men promote and think of as accomplishments. For man is confined in its lust for worldly goals of conquest, social status and condition, but to God those are meager things, that have no substance and are only illusions in the minds of men. What gives God joy is the recognition of his eternal holiness and your desire to be a part of that as being preeminent in your life. For then your have crossed over from the temporal outlook of life that is built on false pride, and into the eternal and grateful outlook with its basis in Christ, which humble in nature. and perfect. > Then things are set right with you and God, because you have learned and set your hearts to shun evil and adhere to holiness. You see it as God sees it, wanting no part of evil, it even repulses you, to think of living the way you once did. Having had your minds changed to a new way of thinking. You find yourself agreeing with Gods ways, because there is no error in Gods instructions, just his Holy character that stands up against the continuous failings of man. Conduct in Humility 12:3 For by the grace > I know that in myself, I can never forget what I did and for what I was forgiven, I no longer judge myself for it, but I know what I would be like, absent the mercy of God in my life. So it is thru my reliance on his grace that I live for him and succeed in my ministry, living a victories Christian life. given to me > It was certainly not something that I sought on my own, because I worked to destroy the church, that I now labor to establish. Before I was willing to take lives to stop it, but now, I am willing to give my life to see it succeed long after I am gone. So now, knowing that I received it and that it was not of my original desires to live for. Now in Christ, I feel bold enough to warn you, that the flesh hates this way in me, and always wants to twist the message that Christ is to me, to take credit for my salvation, but that is a lie. I say > So then let me tell you clearly and state it as a record of importance, that anytime we attain something that betters us while living in this body, it will want to take credit for it. And that is because it is a thief and a liar, in that, it lives to violate all of Gods commandments. to every one of you > None of you are exempt from this possibility, because as long as we’re alive, the flesh will attempt to destroy the good nature of God, and the work he does in you. It never wants to hear the truth, but to deceive you in it, no matter the cost, that is why all of you need to take this cautionary advice that I am giving you. Don’t say to yourself, that it won’t happen to me, that is the flesh talking, setting you up for just the right occasion to deceive you. not to think > Do not entertain what you have learned and what has transformed you from one who acted out evil pursuits, as actually having made you little god like creature on earth. You are still in your state of sinfulness in the flesh, which is no better then unbelievers concerning its holiness. Your flesh is just as corrupt, just not as influential anymore, due to Gods Spirit who is suppressing it control over you. more highly > It is our human instinct to take credit, where no credit is due. We want to feel we are the best at what we do, but realizing that all that we are, is the result of someone else’s input to us. Helps keeps us in check, by giving credit to those who helped us, reminding us, that we are not self-sufficient, while encouraging others, that their friendship with us is not going unnoticed. of yourself > So don’t let your self-esteem tower over others, as though you were a more pure creature. Do not inflate and puff up your accomplishments, so that you forget where they came from. Don’t try to outpace God by over-estimating your abilities and running ahead with your actions or mouth. You’re not made of steel, so don’t pretend your are, you’re made of flesh, and it wounds easily to bring you to ruin. than you ought > It is God who has made the difference in you, you did nothing to alter yourself, in which God did not give you the insight and strength to do it. Sure, your mindset is different now and there is nothing wrong in acknowledging that. But stop there at the river’s edge, because sin can still swallow you up in the pride of the flesh and drown you in its swift current. to think, > And as we have been discussing, that is what caused the Jewish people not to recognize the glory of Christ. Because they thought themselves to be something in the flesh to contend with, they gave respect to their own thought patterns, as having some intrinsic value, simply because they possessed the law. So don’t try to legalize yourself as having more then what God has given you, if God gave you an inch of self-respect, don’t stretch that out to a mile. God is giving you a makeover on earth, but it won’t be real until you get to heaven. but to think > So instead of establishing pride as your course of action in life, develop a healthy hein-sight of who got you this far, remind yourself that you are linked to Gods glory and it is his glory that promotes you, so live accordingly and you will have self-respect from that which is acceptable to God, and then you will not misconstrue who you are or skew that which you are with sober discernment, > Don’t use disillusioned thinking, but be clear minded and use subjective thinking that will not lead you astray. Don’t make up ideas of fantasy that cause you to dream unreasonable outcomes, just because they make you feel spiritual. That is only wishful thinking, so be objective and ask yourself questions as to your motivations. Remember that it is only Gods glory that promotes you, so test it to see if it glorifies God, if it does, then the possibilities are endless. as God > This will help you remember that God is sovereign over all that he is doing and that only he is superior among mankind, that all of mankind are equally in a state of sin. has distributed > That he has assigned you a place in his glory, it is not for you to choose that for yourself, but to use what you have been given. God has a greater plan that is more then just you as an individual, but is collective and includes hundreds of generations of people, so feel honored with what God has given you in that place. to each of you > Knowing that, God is instilling in you as an individual, a part in that collective, that is vital for you to fulfill your ministry. God has considered ahead of time what it will take to get you through it. a measure > He has separated out a portion of his grace that will help you believe and keep steady during that time. It is not to little or insufficient to get you thru, but just right for you, a perfect fit for what it is you are being instructed by his Spirit to do. That faith is your part in God on earth, it is your source of power to live on and sustain you. of faith. > So in that, you know that having an expectation that God will do something in you, you will be exercised in that area and that will help you be sure in your steps of life. When an emergency enters your life, you will have the proper spiritual health and strength to overcome adversity and evil attacks, and your faith will see you thru it. 12:4 For just as > First, look at this is a picture parallel, a way of describing what I am teaching thru a metaphor. What it is I am doing is taking and example that everyone is familiar with and making it into a parable, which reveals a mental picture story of what I mean, then we apply that to our lives. in one body > The subject we will use in this illustration is, the human body, seeing as everybody has one, it makes it a good choice. The human body is a single entity that lives and dies independently from other human bodies. What one body eats does not nourish another’s body, but that is not the condition that believers find themselves in. Because they have been welded into a whole body, which is Christ’s, not as a separate entity, but as a combined family, with one purpose in mind. we have many members, > As part of that, there is a diversity of functions and specialized parts to a physical body, all of which do something unique in design, but benefit and nourish the whole body as part of their role in the body. Some are very visible and some are not, but all give power in some way to the other parts, even though they seem limited or not directly related. and not all the members > So just because they are part of the same body, we need to realize the uniqueness of what they do, does not separate them from the necessity of being supported by other parts of the body. Now in spiritual application, this is equally true of the church body membership, different God given talents and spiritual gifts make us uniquely suited for certain roles in the church, all of which are interdependent, despite there specialized role. serve the same function, > So these diversities should be treated with desire and respect, and remember that in society, those who specialize in special areas, are considered of higher value then those function in general. Even in society, the specialist command a high wage then does a general labor, because they have focused and refined that which they do, to almost an art form, which makes them highly effective at what they do. 12:5 so we who are many > Now in this group of people, there are many who will never meet, due to the shear number of you and your diverse location, and yet your overall goals remain united in one God. So the fact that you are dispersed among many nations, does not take away from the cohesive design that God wants us to be. Because Gods Spirit transcends space and time, binding us to the same cause. His Spirit causing one part to aid in the same effort, unknowingly to each other, but to God it is carefully designed. are one body > All of which are dependent on that connection, to that body of believers, that enable them to be nourished from the resources, that the other members bring to the table. This allows them to operate diversely and uniquely, while at the same time operating in harmony with Gods objective on earth. That is to glorify his name, one person at a time, with God as their focal point. in Christ, > Now Jesus is in control of this group of people, because it is thru him that they have received access to the Father, and it is thru that access, that gives us life and a unified goal, that was not present with us before that came to be. So even if we think we are acting alone, we are actually being used by God to achieve something much larger then ourselves. and individually > So then separately, as what we do locally, in concert with what God is doing globally. We find peace and harmony in these actions, that while we appear to be divided by physical restraints. We are united in our spiritual quest, and that is at the core of what we do. So what we do is important, in that all of us individually, support the whole work of the body, by doing our part. we are members > So we have a common cause in what we do, and as having accepted that cause in our lives, we have our identity in him who gave us this cause. It is then his community lifestyle, that we belong and subject our life’s work and dedication to. God did not call us to independence, but rather to interdependency. To be a part of a larger group than ourselves and sense that as a family affair in our lives. who belong > So out of this comes ownership and contribution, which is the true meaning of our fellowship that we find in our dedication to his church body. We have a choice in our life pattern that is not tied into our sole pursuits, but that of which is a sharing of our diversity. Because we are uniquely designed to operate from an external power source, that is not replaceable by our own efforts. What God gave us as our part in his body, requires that we receive input from those other members also. He gave us purpose, but not without support from the other people that we connect with, he left us all with a missing part to succeed in what we are to do, and that part resides in that attachment to Gods body of believers. to one another. > And out of that, which you receive from that joint effort, comes responsibility, the responsibility to return to that group, your own gifts that God gave you. To adhere to their local polices and practices, that they have recognized to establish themselves in, in order to rule and not have chaos in the function of that local church. 12:6 And we have > All of us in the church who are putting their faith in Christ’s provision of salvation, have a gift given to them by God, that came alive in you when you became a Christian. As a result of that, you have a duty in the church to exercise that gift and invoke it to use. It being a gift is now yours, and it is your responsibility to tailor its use wisely and effectively for Gods glory and not your own promotion. different gifts, > Now not all gifts are the same, in the same way that not all people look the same. The way one gift is exercised and is made manifest in one person, lets say a speaker, will be displayed differently from speaker to another speaker, due to their own unique personality. So the same gift appears different in each person, but produces the same effect, that that gift was designed to produce, only its delivery is altered. according to the grace > Now the reason you have this gift, is because God wanted to bless you for having come to the understanding and accepting into your life, his message of salvation. This was an act of kindness from God, so that you could actually participate in his activities on earth and help in establishing his church, God wants to benefit you. given to us. > Now gifts do not all function the same way, not even within the same gift category. They mold with your personality, and that makes them a unique function and wonderful discovery process, that only is fitting to you. No one else with the same gift will work it out quite like you do, it works itself out in your life, as an unfolding of a mystery. But to find the answer to the mystery of your life, you must write a living novel of your life yourself and discover where it takes you. It is meant by God to be both an unfolding mystery and an adventure. If the gift is prophecy, > For instance, let us first look at the gift of prophecy, which is the ability to reveal something that is either hidden in mystery and make it clearer for everyone. It may be specific to one individual that is being guided by another believer to the truths of God. That if violated, would result in harsh consequences, either from Gods punishment or as a direct result of exposing yourself to sin and its ill effects. that individual > Now because these gifts are not given out corporately, but to each person as a uniquely designed instrument of use. Made just to fit and function with them in mind, you need to seek its implementation and the limits of its design. So you don’t let’s say, try to use the gift of prophecy to sing with, when it is beyond your ability to carry a tune. must use it > It is your responsibility to find that application of your gift in your life as a reasonable effort to be part of Gods church. If you reject Gods gift, he won’t give you another one to replace it, he designed you for that gift, and that gift is just right for you, so once you discover your gift, it will bless others and yourself by using it. in proportion > So as to minister in the area that God has empowered them, to cover the ground that God has given you to tend to. So that whether your efforts are focused to just a few or to many, God has set that in you. So don’t despair if there are so many to feed, that you fear you will run out of resources or be envious because so few are feeding from your table. God has set this table and neither is relative in eternity, by any measure or means of their size. to his faith. > God has set in you, that which he needs to be done, and has enabled you to accomplish that accordingly. God wants you to anticipate the things that he brings to you and to live to that which is yours to do. Don’t try to exceed your own abilities to trust in God, it will only lead you to acting outside of faith, in order to accomplish what you are doing. And we know that if done without faith, it will never be pleasing to God, if fact, that which is not in faith, is sin. So you can even sin in ministering to that which God has set for you to do, by doing it in your power, by means of your flesh. 12:7 If it is service, he must serve; > If this is your calling and gift, then utilize it fully, make sure you know your part in this and rejoice in it. Don’t try to micromanage everything and invoke your outcome, just assemble the parts and let God work his goodness thru you. Your role is to be the helper and coordinator, not the design maker that determines the final outcome according to your vision of things or intentions. But as a labor of love, to be an aid to those who need your help in solving conflicts and shortages. Thru either your involved efforts of the knowledge of the inner workings of the church, or your willingness to lend a hand in the actual workload. if it is teaching, > Next lets consider the gift of teaching, first if you are going to teach, you must first have a practice of studying, that is what enables you to have knowledge. Now the ability to retain and explain that knowledge, is the gift of teaching, and not all teachers will be successful using the same teaching methods. In fact, if you use a method that is not suited to you, you may look more foolish then wise, so study and then find your voice that people best hear you thru. For you it may visual, while in others, speaking and even others thru writing or the putting together of curriculum, due to your ability to work thru structured text more efficiently. he must teach; > So exercise your gift with diligence and constancy, be both a stable and reliable source of information concerning the beliefs of your church. Have easy to follow methods, not ones that show the full reaches of you knowledge and the depth of your analytical intelligence, discuss that area of things with other teachers. But judge yourself by how well others are able to retain clearly the message that you are instructing on. Don’t just teach to here yourself talk, but instruct with the intention of changing the minds of your pupils, to see and hear the voice of God and respond to the will of God. 12:8 if it is exhortation, he must exhort; > So let this person in distress have the room to be heard and listen intently, be there when trouble is in the lives of those God puts in your care. If you get them thru their hard times and they go on to have great things in their life happen to them in their ministries, you’ll have a part in it. Because you were there along their road to recovery and you lifted them up when they were down and got them back on their feet. Be that good Samaritan, that did not turn aside from someone’s else trouble, just because it was unseemly or inconvenient. It was unseemly for the God of the universe to allow himself to be crucified on the cross, but he did it, so that he could have a part in all your lives, forever. if it is contributing, > If you’re the kind of person who has the gift that denotes your ability to give financially or of your material possessions. Then you already know how it enriches your life spiritually to give to others less fortunate then you financially. It’s your opportunity, as you see it, to vest yourself in the work of God and live far beyond your own mortal limitations, by empowering others to do what they do thru your gains. You are in the practices of turning matter into energy, from turning want, into surplus, by turning your material sustenance, that you have in abundance, into enabling others to be empowered by way of your giving. he must do so > But because of the earthly desires for money and material possessions, you need to monitor your intentions, so that you do not become snared in the status it brings you. You understand the need for checks and balances, because that is part of how you acquired your wealth, if it came to you from your labors on earth. So use that same sensibility in monitoring your reasons for what you are doing, and release your giving without the thought of reward from the recipients of your charity. Let them have the blessing, without return to you or the weight of repayment apart from love. Require only love in return, which is there duty if they are a believer. with sincerity; > Look into the recesses of your heart and examine all your motives for your giving, see that they are pure, and if not, find the proper motive to give. Refrain from giving improperly and seeking worldly recognition. God is not poor in his ability to provide for his church, he would rather you develop your ministry of giving properly, then see you squander your blessing for earthly rewards before men, than by expanding another’s ministry with your giving. While crippling yours, in your error by demanding recognition. But it is still your responsibility to give in the right Spirit and to find it in you to do it in such a manner. Because just as you have a part in promoting others in ministry or helping heal their poverty, if you have to withhold your blessing, you have the weight of disobedience and are the cause of that which is lacking, just as it is with every unused gift. if it is leadership, > Next is the gift of leading others in the work of the church, whether it is in overall leadership of the entire church, or smaller personal ministries, dedicated to a unique group of people. It is not the mass of people under your guidance, but the intent of your heart to organize them into a cohesive functional family. So that you are able to work out differences and conflicts among people, that will arise out of differing interest and goals among the people. You need to remind and direct them to the same goal and purpose, which is Gods glory, despite their differing gifts and focused purposes. Which are all good, but need to be synchronized into the march of unity, just like a military unit. A group of men with different abilities taught to march together in formation until they get to the battlefront. Where they then exercise their differing abilities in unison of mission, but spread out from one another in the battle, as their training has equipped them to do. he must do so > Those who do this must understand their own position first and what those limits of position are. You are not masters or lords over them, they are not your personal property to do your bidding. You are a skill organizer, that is your function, to have a clear vision from God as to the goal and be able to interpret that goal, to the people. So that their gifts and training are able to be put to the use of attaining that goal. So your attitude is pivotal in all this, in that they are all feeding off of your intentions and developing your attitude toward this goal. If they are humbly glorifying God, you have a part in it, if you are serving your self-interest, then they will likely pick up on it and do the same. Everybody wrongly getting theirs at the others expense, after all, that is what you would be leading them to do with your example. But that is not what you should be doing, you are the pinion that they revolve around, so you should be in the correct state of mind. Because what you do gets magnified, whether for your glory or Gods, it is a result of your direction and example. with diligence; > You need to be more exercised then others in your ministry, in that all the others that are following you are tied into you, so you must have moral strength and stamina to see them through. You must be able to bear up under the weight of all of them, thru balanced distribution of the workload upon you. This way you will not be pulled off balance and topple from the misalignment of duties. This will take constant minor adjustments, to those under you, so that structure does not collapse. You must get your own foundations set properly first, then build consistently upward. Keep things under your control, but not with rudeness or ruthlessness, but with the exercise or persistence in your efforts. Don’t wait for things to get out of hand and have to reconstruct everything, be efficient in monitoring the work of others, so that things are not left undone. if it is showing mercy, > Next, let us consider the gift of caring for others, who are not able to care for themselves. Our flesh is very fragile and many circum to its failure either by age, disease or accident, so they need people who can compliment their weakness. To show them kindness, due to their weakness and not abandon them to die or just suffer in pain, with no one trying to help them. Some of you see them in this condition and because of your gift of having mercy, you want to help them live a fuller life and it enriches your life to do so. You are not able to just let them lie their in their distress and not at least give them moral support, even if you cannot ease their suffering. he must do so > So if this is you and it is what God has set you to do, don’t condescend others for not doing it. Don’t see others as uncaring because they are not with you in this, because God did not give them the resources to do what your are doing. They do not have the fortitude to live their own lives under the strain of caring for others and not have it negatively effect themselves in their ministry. But that is not you, you actually become stronger in who you are by aiding these other people, this feeds your Spirit and that should be reflected in what you do and your attitude. with cheerfulness. > So learn to live at peace with what it is you do, and don’t heap the suffering of the sick, unto the healthy, to try to make them feel their pain and your sacrifices. Rather cover them up, that is your gift in life, so make peace with it, without reminding others of your sacrifice, God sees want you are doing and that is enough. Don’t carry the sufferings of others around on you, so that others see you bent over and miserable from your ministry, how does that glorify God. God gave you the power to carry this weight in life, so do it with dignity, not in remorse of the darkness that it entails. Be the light, not the dimmer-switch or shade over the light that God is working thru you. What you do is meant to glorify God, but it does not do that if you seek to use it to burden others. You are not meant to be a joy to the suffering and a burden to the healthy, rather be alive with both groups and then you will glorify God. Conduct in Love 12:9 Love must be without hypocrisy. > Don’t put on a game face on when your using your gifts, let them see that there is genuine reality to what is your motive. Don’t show a display of affection for someone whom you despise in your heart or have degrading thoughts towards, with the pretense to tell them you care about them. But then act in a way to do them harm, which is not love. People will find out your true intentions and that will destroy reputation in ministry with others. Loving those you hate is a right thing to do, but your false love does not fulfill that requirement of the gospel. Abhor > Utterly reject that which is not Holy in Gods eyes, don’t try to find something good in it, that makes it ok, reject all of it. If it is not from Christ as a gift of holiness to your life, don’t use gray areas, as acceptable living arraignments or broad lines to determine right or wrong. Define things with narrow mindedness, when selecting you state in life. The world will reject you, but God will not, don’t adhere to legalism, you are under liberty, but do not choose it as a lifestyle of liberty to live sinfully. Live thru grace to accomplish the principles of the law, do not live thru the law to accomplish grace. This will allow you to despise sin without becoming self-righteous in your deeds. what is evil, > If it is not pure light, then it is utter darkness, so describe it in such terms. Don’t color things in your mind to justify them, look at them according to where they will take you if followed. It’s ok to discriminate against evil, if you don’t it will definitely discriminate against you. It’s never your friend; it only deceives you into believing it will benefit you. cling > Attach all of your decisions to a higher standard then you would have before you became a Christian. Leave behind preconceived ideas and practices, that you do without even thinking and secure yourself to a whole new pattern of lifestyle, one that is not determined by your wants and desires of the flesh. Embed the Spirit of God, not just in your conscience, but in the forethought of your mind, push back the sinful desires and bring forward the spiritual desires. to what is good. > Recall to your mind what is Holy every day and that do, soon you will replace your bad habits with good ones. Which will then become the nature of who you are, the old person will become a distant memory, but will no longer have any controlling power over you. Because the cause of Christ and his glory will have replaced the essence of who you were, with the essence of who he is, and that will have an eternal reward for you waiting in heaven. 12:10 Be devoted to one another > Direct your attention towards each other when your in plenty or in need, don’t dice up your devotion to just the good times, be there in the hard times also. Make that commitment known ahead of time to each other, so that everyone knows that they can come to each other and not feel embarrassed or concerned about being shunned because of difficulties. Have hope in one another’s company and contribute thru fellowship to each other’s benefit. with mutual love, > Make sure that you are always exchanging gifts of love to each other, don’t just come to receive love from others, but to love them in the same measure, that you are being loved. Demonstrate your love with actions of affection and sincerity, show them the same love, that God is showing you. Be prepared ahead of time for the eventual times of sharing your lives with each other, plan ahead of time to be loving to each other. showing eagerness > Have anticipation in your heart for seeing each other, considering those that you will see in fellowship, as people of great importance to you. Who wield a powerful and positive influence over you. Find their strengths and instill the thoughts of them in your heart, rush to see them and be slow in your departure. Be positive in your opinion of them, and slow to criticize them. in honoring > Build them up by extolling and installing virtue, avoid situations that lead to tearing them down. Speak to each other in words that tell of why they are important to your body of believers, so that they get the true since of belonging instilled in them. Let them know that they have a cherished position, not just in the function of the church, but also in your hearts, just because they are in Christ. one another. > Make sure you do all of this in the name of Christ and for his glory, that way you will see past the deficits that people have and too the power of Christ in them. He is what binds us together, so when we focus on the positive effects he has in each others lives, we draw Christ out in all of us and that is a great reward for us to do. Keep strengthening the power of God in you and point out that which is of virtue in each other, being grateful in your discourse to one another. 12:11 Do not lag in zeal, > One thing to avoid in life is to have a pessimistic outlook of life, that is where you are always in the position that the cup is half empty and the failure is imminent. Looming to every event you engage or encounter, so don’t live life as always giving more weight to the negative things that could happen in your life. If you give them a handle to hold onto, they will, and they will have a firm grip on you and your personality will reflect that in a low and depressing spirit, in life. There is labor in serving our Lord, and where labor is, there is reward. Your attitude toward your labor shapes your personality, if you see it as a prison of your time that takes away from you, then it is. If you see it as an opportunity to increase yourself, then you will, whatever we labor in, whether life or ministry. A negative attitude towards it will drag you down and will make your life boring and a reason for depression. be enthusiastic > On the other hand, it is good to be optimistic in your attitude and see the positive effects that the labors of life brings. The opportunity to explore new regions of life, empowerment to change your living conditions, and a time to sharpen you skills. So look for the benefits that come from labor, and that applies equally to service to the Lord or just financial employment. Look for ways to better what you are doing and see it as the pathway that leads to even greater adventures that God is doing for you. Don’t see your life as stationary or permanent, God is moving in your life and that is always a progressive act that he doing in you. So be ready to move on it, be ready to act with God in new aspects of your life. in spirit, > So you see that it is the attitude of your Spirit, that shapes your outlook on life. God is not depressed over man, because he has a plan far greater then mans dilemma, and he supersedes all things that man must encounter in life. So we must live in him and not our own condition that is physical, but function out of the spiritual domain of God. Where we are only limited by Gods purpose for us, which is far greater then mans own vision of himself. So look towards the Spirit of things as defining moments in your life, ways to improve the value of your life in attitudes, not in possessions. Learn to be happy with little, as opposed to being unhappy with a lot, and then whatever your status, you’ll find joy in the Lord. serve the Lord. > So when you do things, whether in ministry or labor, find the Spirit of Christ in that, and then do it according to that Spirit. Christ is seeking your promotion in your efforts to promote him in your life, the more you advance the meaning of Christ in your life, and the more Christ advances you in his and your ministry on earth. It is the reward of labor that Christ honors, not to salvation, but to just living because it is right, what expands Christ, expands you. 12:12 Rejoice in hope, > Because that means no matter what comes upon you in this state we are in, there is hope, in that, it is not your permanent state. Whether physical in limitations, conditional in your surroundings, emotional as to your feelings, in ministry as to your purpose in Christ. All are things that God is modifying for you and on your behalf. Which means he is directing all of it for your benefit, to work out in the end for your good. Which then means even if no physical alteration is possible, spiritual alteration is still assured. endure > So set your mind to the long term, knowing that this will not last. Be exercised in your faith, so that when hard times comes, you’ll have a foundation that will support you thru it. Reveal your struggle to the church and lean on them, let them support you without being prideful or embarrassed at your need. in suffering, > Hardship is part of living in a fallen world, so if from persecution or from life’s difficulties, you will experience suffering at some point, one way or another. It is not absent Gods attention when these things come upon you, so don’t fear abandonment or lack of understanding on Gods part. He went thru great suffering on the cross to save us, so he is there with us to see it thru till the end, not matter the cost. God will stay by your side and it will end according to his desire. persist > When it happens, dig your heels in with an attitude of not letting your focus be drawn away to senseless thoughts, that eat away at your confidence. Strive in your heart to continue on, no matter the conditions that surround you, seek God, whether in good times or bad times. in prayer. > Devote time to talk to God about what is going on in your life and what it is, that you would like him to know about. Speak precisely about the events in your life, don’t just make general prayers and expect specific answers. Ask God to work his will to provide solutions, which you might not be aware of. Don’t bring it up once to him and let it go, be consistent, so God will know that you really mean it, especially against persistent sins. Don’t just get used to them, tell God about it everyday until it is no longer an issue and he rescues you from it. 12:13 Contribute to the needs > Be alert and conscience to who is hurting in the church, know the condition of others so that you can intervene if at all possible, consider their condition as part of you that is wounded or has become ill and needs special attention so that you can be restored to full capacity of the saints, > You primary concern in this is to the other believers of the church, they are directly related to you, so if they are in trouble of some sort, then so are you, you cannot separate yourself from them, because you are the same body, you must know that you are linked to them as the body of Christ, it is as though you are tending to Christ when you tend to them pursue hospitality. > When you open your hearts in this way to others, open the doors of your home also. Make sure that you fully integrate others into your lifestyle, make people feel welcome, so that they have a place of refuge to seek when they are ministering or living without shelter. Let others remark on your generosity that exist in your home, so that they know that you do not see your Christian walk, as something that you do externally, only in special religious occasions. But that it is practiced in your most secure and intimate place, your home. 12:14 Bless those who persecute you, > When someone has it in mind to harm you, they automatically have limits on them as to what they are able to do, put there by God, so that God can do his work in you. If it is the devil at work against you, God may push them aside, but it may be a condition, that God wants presently in your life, so that you can develop wider view of life in your character. It’s not that God wants them to harm you, but that he wants you to learn not to hate and have knee jerk reactions, every time something does not go your way. It is more important that you learn not to hate your enemies all the time, then it is to have all things convenient at this or other given occasions. Hatred absorbs way too much time and energy from people, it consumes their thought patterns, so that no peace resides in them and the message of Christ is stunted thru them. So learning this lesson of blessing enemies, is an instant release valve, which transfers hatred into loving-kindness. Though it is foreign to us, it is power from God in us, to succeed in it. When applied, it frees up unspent energy into the goodness of God, rather then into struggling with the flesh, which proves or benefits nothing. bless > So seek to do good things on their behalf, rather then to seek and do them harm. Let your bitterness toward them not fester into rage, but become like an odd response to them, one that is foreign to them also. So that they may wonder at your actions and be confounded by your response, God will be glorified in your condition no matter the outcome. and do not curse. > Let your frustrations fade away, so that you do not become embittered as they who are persecuting you are. Do not struggle against them and find ways to get even. How can you be a minister in Christ, if you are consumed in plotting your revenge against those, you are trying to reach with the gospel message. The two a not compatible, so one of them must be let go of. You will either serve the devil in your reactions or serve Christ in your pre-actions, which modify your reactions. Preventing the above from future entanglements, that will tie up your resources from God to be an effective minister of Christ on earth. 12:15 Rejoice with those > Be on the inside of things that go on in the church, don’t just be a spectator or one who keeps the church family at arms length. Get directly involved with what is going on and share in the events that are taking place. See yourself in the middle of things as a full partner, don’t be a bit player in the church, everyone in Gods family has a leading role, that God is fully focused upon. So you should see yourself in that manner also, be a part of Gods family and find your identity with them as Christ body. who rejoice, > Take your place alongside others in the church and when the blessings of God are filling your brethren with joy, jump in the celebration with them. It’s for you also that God is blessing them, so that you can see him in everyone’s life. It’s where you belong, because it will help you keep perspective in knowing that God is working the same things in your life also. Attach yourself to there good feelings and even if everything is not as you would have, you’ll find reason in them to be happy. weep with those > As easy as it is to celebrate victory with others, you also need to be ready to have sympathy for those who are experiencing sorrow. Your reaction to them will go a long way to how they react to you, when sorrow comes upon you. What if harshness and a callus response, is all they receive in the family of Christ in their trouble, aren’t they then learning that that is the way to treat you when you are in sorrow? So set your standard for treating them the way you want to be treated when things are
despairing in your life. As they will be at some point in this fallen world be in sorrow,
be their teacher now, and later you will benefit from their lesson. > Desperation is bound to come upon your brethren in the church, where they don’t know where to turn our what to do. So your reassurance will bear them up under the weight of the sorrow that comes over them. A sad Spirit is difficult to handle alone, but if you take your place beside them to comfort them. Even as you would your own family members or children, then their Spirit can be revived, then you have a part in that and God will take note of your kindness, as though having done it unto him. 12:16 Live in harmony with one another; > Look and examine to see where God is leading the church through the leadership, don’t try to mold them to your thinking. Because God is directing from the top down, counseling with one another is good. God may speak thru you also to them, but don’t circumvent their leadership. If God didn’t call you to be the pastor, then follow the one he did call to be the pastor. It is not acceptable to rebel, so you must make peace with the issues in life and move on. Focus on the things that unite you, not the things that divide you, you’ll just have to agree to disagree on some things and do the work of the church. If you are right and it is one day revealed to be so and you determined to live at peace with those till they saw the truth, you will be lifted up in their eye’s as one having maturity and wisdom in Christ. But if you were are contentious and an I-told-you-so, type of person, your state will remain low in there eyes, even though you were right. Because you will not respect their humble state, that comes upon them and lifts them up with your mercy. Instead you will only elevate yourself above them in your own state of mind, instead of becoming a better friend, a trusted companion and counselor. You become an even worse enemy in being right, and a reason to be avoided even more then before, in your counsel. Because your cause is about you and not them in the church, you see yourself higher then them, not one of them. do not be haughty > Do not set yourself up as the master of all things, whose answer is the final authority over and above everyone else’s. Don’t write the playbook and expect everyone else to follow along, especially when you’re not even the coach. Don’t live in your accomplishments by looking down on those around you as less accomplished and therefore less in value or worth. That is only false pride and your only lying to yourself, if you think you are better then them. Snobs always prove to the world by their attitudes and actions, that they are really nobodies. Just pretending to be somebody’s in his or her own minds’, thinking you’re superior doesn’t make it so. Being superior actually requires being lesser, even when you don’t have to be. That shows true character, because you have the confidence to lower yourself to meet the needs of others. Even if you desire a higher place in the pattern of your life, you don’t cause people to come before your throne to visit you, you go to their place and setup camp equally among them. but associate > Don’t leave others behind in your efforts to accomplish things, chasing after dreams is just that, fantasy. It’s not real and therefore does not produce real results that are eternal and spiritual. Stay in close contact with the very average people in life, those who face the reality of family and living life in the simple things. Make plans to be identified with spiritual life and not finding your identity in upper-class mentalities that separate you from people according to social structure. Don’t set-your-watch, so to speak, to those who have their basis in worldly points of view. Take Christ’s lead, in seeing who Jesus made himself in league with, examine Christ for your cues to live by and you’ll be found with a spiritual basis and truth for your life. Set-your-watch to Christ, and they’ll b plenty of time, to do everything the right way the first time. with the lowly. > Those who have a humble point of view in life, should be your preferred company of choice. They don’t put lofty ambitions before you to chase after or puff you up with enticements of the world to have conquest. Instead they look to find their value and worth in the things of Christ, they have learned to live in and with their earthly limits. Not trying to find happiness thru external means or financial gain. You will gain more from them, then they will gain from you, because they will cause you to excuse you fantasies and pursuits that do not lead to spiritual gains. They will help you retain a measured mind, that allows you to make right judgements, in the place of lofty goals, that consume lots of irreplaceable time, but provide no lasting value. Do not be conceited. > We all want to be excellent in some way or fashion, but the truth is that we are no better then anyone else. The stories and perceptions that we convince ourselves of about ourselves, will not be shared by those around us, if it is obvious to those around you, that you think you are better then them. You will be the only one who shares that opinion about yourself. In fact, even the world thinks less of such a person and will use it only to take advantage of your simple minded deception of yourself and they may even avoid you. While at the same time you are deluded with the thought that they admire you, while the truth is, they think less of you. 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil > Who they are is not relevant, whether they are a stranger or someone close to you who violated your intimate friendship. It’s the evil aspect of it that counts, its how you respond, where the real power and authority is. Acting the same way they do, just makes you a follower of them, you’ve become their disciple, following their example and living after their values. But you are now Christ disciple and you need to respond after his example and his values. for evil; > For some of them, their intent is to hurt and harm others and you, they do not care for reconciliation. Their thoughts are full of bitterness towards others and they feel good in making others feel bad. While some others are your brethren, who have erred in sin against you. Your response will show them the Christian way of life, so don’t mislead them into a false way of living. But rather, lead them away from sin, by not sinning in return to their sin, that is what Christ would do. consider > Change the way things are done, don’t be just a carbon copy or reproduction of the way others respond thru sin. Alter the moral code of life, so that people respond to you and others differently. Don’t keep doings things the way that doesn’t work, have a plan and code of no retaliation. Plan for their souls to be saved, not their destruction, think of a way to reveal Christ thru you, to them. Remember that the flesh never humiliates a humble man in Spirit. what is good > Find the power of right living. It is in the sinful state of the human mind, that living right before God and man sees is weakness, but it is actually the power of life. If your community is continually doing wrong to each other, then you need to find the right things to do, to end that cycle of violence. To instill the right treatment of one another, doing things that benefit each other, things that build up and do not tear down. before all people. > You are being examined by non-believers for truthfulness, to see if Christ is real in your life. If you’re faking goodness by speaking of goodness, but doing wrong things when confronted by evil. It will only confuse your message, remember the world doesn’t have a clue what life is all about. They want to find out, they may still reject Christ in their search, but at least you let them see the truth of goodness in your life and in the way you respond to all circumstances. 12:18 If possible, so far > Especially if you are the initiator and the power to affect the situation begins in you. Live within the reach of your own self, as to what that state is, be the one who sets the standard that you act upon. Not because someone else will act the wrong way, so you set a trap for him or her ahead of time to ensnare them. Rather act upon your own standards and use your perquisite and not theirs, for your ethics and treatment of them. Don’t lower yourself to their level to interact with them, make them rise up to your standards, or walk away from them. as it depends on you, > Let those around you know your methods and ethics as a social rule. So accusations have no merit among the people about you. Then if they persecute you, it will be known that the wrong being done is not by your hand, but by those that are coming against you. live peaceably > Let others start wars and rivalries, but you should make peace with anyone who is willing to live in peace with you. Don’t lock them out of your life, if they want to become friends and end the conflict. If you are able to put a dispute behind you, then do so. with all people. > Don’t separate out certain classes of people as unworthy of your recognition, determine to look for a positive outcome if they are willing to do so. Don’t reject anyone out of hand based solely on preconceived ideas, of their necessity in your life. Don’t use prejudices as reason to continue conflict, consider everyone one as an intricate part of your purpose in life. 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, > Never plot someone else’s outcome or determine what is their necessary punishment in life. Even in the judicial system, a judge must remove himself from a case, if there is a chance that his personal affiliation in a matter may cloud or bring into suspect his judgements. Therefore, it is necessary for you also to remove yourself from the matter of effecting punishment and what it means on someone else life. dear friends, > My very close friends, you must hear the sincerity of which I am speaking to you in this. It is vital for you to put your own judgements aside, if you are going to live in harmony, as I have been teaching you. You must yield to another’s authority over matters of dispute or wrong doing, otherwise you will be divided and be tearing into each other, and in the end destroy yourself. but give place > Give way to God, it is not your right to enforce judgement, you are not to be vigilantes in this world. God has not deputized you as enforcers or executioners, if you exact punishment thru your own judgement and deeds, you will become guilty yourself, of having wronged someone. The very crime you are finding them guilty of and condemning them of, as to the very nature of it, you are committing yourself, thru your reaction to them. to God’s wrath, > Yield all things in your life to God and his judgements, they may not happen according to your time table. But they will be right and without prejudice in Gods enforcement, there is no more complete justice then that of the Father. for it is written, > And God has already told us that his will, will prevail in eternity, so nothing we do will add to his final decision. "Vengeance is mine, > Retribution from the consequences of sinful living, is then sole possession of Gods will to exercise it over mankind and demonic powers. So he is saying to you unequivocally, "Hands off", don’t assume a right I have not given you. This is not part of becoming a Christian, letting go of your anger is though, and you’ve got all you can do to manage that, so don’t try to take my place. I will repay," > There will be a time and a place for executing my anger against them that are my enemies by choice. When that time comes, they will wish they never had been brought into existence. But then that will be to late, after death, there are only two places to exist, in my heaven which is paradise, or in hell, which is forever a place a punishment and torment. If you did not want anything to do with me on earth, then I will not have anything to do with you in heaven, so you will be cast into hell, forever. says the Lord. > This is my voice being heard on this, I am stating my position on this emphatically, and I don’t want you to question it. It is not up for debate, it is far above you and your ability to comprehend my providence, so just accept that I have the final word on this. 12:20 Rather, No, instead we minister to them in a way that is foreign to them, in a way that is from
Gods methods and not or own. > When those who seek to harm you are weakened before you, do not look at that as your time to strike them down. But rather, it is a time to lift them up and show the actual power of Christ living thru you. Establish Christ living in you to them, giving them something new and beyond their logic and senses to deal with. Strike a blow to their heart and the ways of their thinking, rather then their flesh and their weakness, which only serves to empower you and your sin nature. Choose to prove Christ alive in you, rather then yourself victorious over them. In short, be a witness of Jesus love. is hungry, > For instance, if you find out that someone who hates you is starving from hunger, don’t think to yourself, good I hope he dies, he deserve it. That doesn’t help you live for Christ, or help him find Christ. Put aside your anger for them and bring forward in you the mercy God showed you, when you were his enemy. Make sacrifices that will provide for your enemy’s benefit, give them an opportunity to see their errors, just as Christ sacrificed for you, So that you could see your errors and find mercy in God. You must love the ones you hate the most and suffer for their wrong, be a living sacrifice, and your love must suffer long. This is a hard thought to accept, but God is trying to make you into a rescue-type-savoir, for most, if not all conditions. Your sacrifice will be meager in material possessions, but extract a great deal from your pride, which you can no doubt afford to be rid of. feed him; > In this case, don’t let him starve for food, go give him some. Don’t require an apology or use it for leverage against them, to try to seek a repayment of how they wronged you first before you fed them. Do it with no expectations, preconditions or apologies necessary. Act out of grace, unmerited favor towards them, in a way that will totally shock them in the way of your treatment to them. Let them see that despite who they are, you are like Christ, with more essence then they could possibly have imagined was real. Another aspect of this for you to consider is making peace and living at peace with others. They don’t have to be in need of food for you to give them something to eat, do it as a gift. Give them their favorite dish as a friendly gesture, it will be hard for them to refuse their favorite donut, and that act will stay in the back of their mind, when an evil thought approaches them concerning you. if he is thirsty, > Look for the opportunity to meet their needs, whether they are dying of thirst, and the anguish of life is leaving them with no where to turn. When they don’t have the bare necessities in life to sustain them, then you have an opportunity to be there for them in Christ name. Or if it is just a hot day and they need a cool refreshment, think of them and try to use that as an opportunity. give him a drink; > When they have no hope, be that source of hope for them, don’t just let them look at your abundance and then look away from their suffering. Feeling that they chose their course in life so let them die in it. Rescue them instead, that is what Christ did for you when he found your soul thirsty and dry of life. A sentence of death was on your soul and he gave you living water at his expense, to rescue you from the dryness of your heart. for in doing this > When you do these things and respond in this way, God has made it so that it affects them in a way, that they are not used to. They are used to being treated harshly in return for their own mistreatment of others, and that harsh reaction to them, justifies their actions in their minds. But when a non-typical reaction is given to them, then they are confounded by the response. It in a way, short circuits their senses by sending them a message they are not prepared to handle. Their conditioning is expecting you to push back, so when you don’t respond negatively, but rather positively, they do not now what to do or how to handle it. you will be heaping > This creates a weight of oppression on their pride and calls into question their set patterns, that leaves them feeling rather silly. It’s almost like being sucker punched, it leaves them feeling dizzy and wondering what happened. When everything that they learned from the world is telling them, this does not compute, syntax error, and the whole structure and design of their life is not able to withstand this type of input to them. burning coals > As a result of this, their face will become flush and red with heat, their conscience will reveal the shame of what they have done. They will appear as having wronged an innocent person in public, and have a sense that the people are hissing at their actions, the pain of the experience will leave a scare of remembrance. on his head. > The conviction it will cause them will cause a powerful reconsideration of their outlook and ways of doing life, at least in the area of relating to you and whether or not it is worth the risk of reliving the humiliation that it puts on them. They will know that in dealing with you, the same old recipes do not work. As tried and true as they are for the rest of the world, when you do it according to Gods ways, you’re in a whole new league of natural response, and that their nature is just not equipped to handle it. 12:21 Do not be overcome > Show don’t allow it to overtake you by its own means, the way evil wins is by you playing along with its war game. It has you beat the second you say, let’s play, it’s fixed from the beginning and will outfox you at every move. Even when you think you have won, you have actually lost, just because you played the game. In fact the only way to win, is not to play, playing is losing, in and of itself. by evil, > It is not in the venue of life to live according to Gods rules, it is a strange and foreign idea to do so, mans heart is so corrupt, that it is not of itself capable of untarnished goodness, what ever it does is in response to a desire of the flesh, not the will of God, so there is no possible attribute that you can rely on from what it tells you to do, you must reject its advise and thoughts you have and respond only in accordance with the word of God, that is the only way to have a right response but overcome evil > So we are to function opposite to the ideas of the flesh, in order to defeat evil actions against us. We can only be victorious against the effects of evil, by first not doing evil ourselves, as a defensive posture. And then in response to evil that calls for a reply from you, you must go on the offense, but not with the same tactics, you must use the opposite tactics. with good > And that is based on what Jesus would do to those who offended him, while he lived in his body on earth. When they tried to commit evil against him, he did not call on evil tactics, but good ones. Remember the woman caught in adultery, and how he did not condemn her, or become an accusatory judge, as they did against her. That is your model for victory, he never went after them, as they came after him. He relied on godly methods from his Father, not earthly methods of man. He went over their head and they had no recourse against. |
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