Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 12:9-13 Part 2

INTRO: At long last we have them!  And in sufficient quantity so that you can have the ones in your bulletin for your very own. Put it in a safe place. Try not to lose it.  Or better yet, make some copies and keep a few spares on hand.

   These TUITS have been hard to come by, especially the round ones. But now by special arrangement, you can have yours.  We're happy because the need has been so great. Now that these are available, most of our problems about attendance, starting on time, and getting things done at church will be solved.  We look for all our ministry positions to be filled, now that everyone has their own round TUIT.

   In the past, so many have said, "I'll get started in church just as soon as I can get a round tuit."  Others have said, "I should come to prayer meeting, but I never seem to get a round tuit." Or, "I know that my Bible knowledge would increase if I came to Sunday School, but I never seem to get a round tuit."  Or, "I've been wanting to sign up for a dinner 8's and I've been planning to begin tithing my income, but we've been so busy that we just haven't gotten a round tuit."

    Well, now that is all past!  Everyone can have his own round tuit. If you meet someone who never gets a round tuit, give him one.  Keep a good supply on hand.  Great things are in store for us!
EXP: It's sad but diligence in service, disciplined perseverance under trials and deliberate generosity with the brethren are all often lacking God's church today. 'I just can't seem to get around to it' is a phrase we pastors hear frequently.

Background: Last week we examined the chief characteristic that a Believer is to display. LOVE. Love that is sincere, hates evil and clings to good and a love that is committed to keep loving and placing others before themselves.

Trans: This morning we shall examine three more characteristics that must be evident in Believers if they are to truly be the People of God.  Open your Bibles to Romans 12:11.  The next aspect of godly character that Paul tells us about is.....just wait a minute, hold on a second, I'll get a round to it...God's people display godly character in relationship to other Believers by their service.

    B. By their  Service (Rom. 12:11)
 Paul gives us 3 aspects of our service to one another that is important.

1. 'Not lagging behind in diligence'
     -Lagging Behind: Lazy, slow moving, sluggish, delaying.

    -Diligence: zeal, earnestness, determined.

     It basically means 'In regard to what you ought to be doing, don't be lazy'. The Believer can not approach life and service to the Lord in a lackadaisical, slow-moving way. He/she must be enthusiastic in their service to God.  How enthusiastic? Fervent!

2. 'Fervent in Spirit'
     Means to boil over, to be really hot. To stoke the coals of passion and fire for God in your serving the Lord.

3. 'Serving the Lord'
     You see, we live in order to serve God. Being on the earth, in His family means to serve Him in His kingdom. And we know that we serve Him by serving others.

APP: IF we know that, then why did the nominating committee only get back about 13 questionnaires asking where you would like to serve in the church in the upcoming year?  We have over 60 adults here and only 13 responded.

Read: Proverbs 19:15 says 'Laziness casts into a deep sleep. And an idle man will suffer hunger. '

     Many are in a deep sleep when it comes to service in the church which IS service to God. We need to wake up! Wake up the passion that once was aflame in your heart. Or else find yourselves hungry for spiritual growth without being satisfied.

Trans: Serving one another, passionately and diligently IS serving the Lord. It's a mandate, not an option for the Believer. And it is a vital part of their godly character. Next, God's people display godly character in relationship to other Believers by their perseverance.

   C. By their Perseverance (Rom. 12:12)
 Living in any family has it's good times and it's bad times. Times of fun and times of difficulty. It is no different in God's family But, we are not to be overpowered by adversity within the body.

 Paul gives us 3 ways we demonstrate our perseverance when it comes to our relationships with one another.

1. Rejoicing in hope.
     Our hope is in who?  God alone! God's calming presence, his thoughtful concern and loving care. We can be assured that we will never face a trial alone. The Believer is to be the eternal optimist.  Because he chooses to go with God...who is their hope. Which makes it easier to..

2. Persevere in tribulation
 Persevere means to continually have patience, to endure, to remain.

    When we come to the difficult, relationship testing times, and they will come, we are not to call it quits, or give up. We are not to give into the pressure of the trial and give up on the service, ministry or relationship.

READ: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

     We persevere when there is hurt or tension in our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We persevere solely in the power of Christ who dwells in the heart of the Believer seeking to please God.

3. Devoted to prayer
     In all times, especially those difficult ones, our godly character is revealed on our knees. But I am afraid this too is an area where many are asleep.

ILL: We are sorry to announce the passing of Mrs. Prayer Meeting. She died recently at the First Neglected Church on Ho-Hum Avenue.
     Born many years ago in the midst of a great revival, she was strong and healthy as a child, fed largely on testimony and Bible study she was one of the most influential members of the Church family.
    However, in recent years  Mrs. Prayer Meeting has been failing in health, gradually wasting away until rendered helpless by stiffness of the knees, cooling of the heart, lack of spiritual sensitivity and concern for spiritual things.
     Her last whispered words were inquiring about the strange absence of her loved ones, now so busy with other things on Wednesday evenings!
    Experts, including Dr. Good Works, Dr. Socializing and Dr. Unconcerned disagree as to the fatal cause of her final illness. They all administered large doses of excuses, even ordered a last minute motivational bypass, all to no avail.
     A post-mortem examination showed that a deficiency of regular spiritual food, a lack of prayer and Christian fellowship, all contributed to her untimely demise.

     You see, to be devoted to prayer means to give constant attention to it.  It means praying at home in your prayer closet AND together with your church family at prayer meeting.....ouch!

     That's right. Again out of 60+ adults we get 5-8 at prayer meeting. Is that being devoted to prayer, is that diligence, is that being fervent or is it just lagging behind...lazy?

     In Ezek. 22 God calls out to see who will stand in the gap between Him and his land and  people...He is still calling out today. Will you stand in the gap for the people you are called to love in this fellowship?

TRANS:  The believer shows godly character when they rejoice in hope, persevere in tribulation and are devoted to prayer. Finally, God's people display godly character in relationship to other Believers by their generosity.

   D. By their Generosity (Rom. 12:13)
 When they do two things.

1. Contribute to the needs of the saints.
     I don't think we need to spend much time here. We all know what this means and to be honest, we do this pretty well. When a need is made known, whether it is a financial or a physical need you help. And you are to be commended for that. Our deacons fund and food pantry are physical examples of your desire to contribute to the needs of the saints. But I also know that many of you give rides to people w/o transportation and cook meals for those not able to. And that is what Paul is talking about as well.

2. Practice hospitality.
     We are also told top 'practice' hospitality. That means we keep doing it till we get it right! Actually it means that we are to actively pursue opening our homes and our lives to those in need of refreshment. Whether of the soul or stomach. This is another area where we excel here at CBC. And Dinner 8's is a physical example.

Conclusion
     When Paul begins to tell us how the people of God are to interrelate with others, he starts with those relationships which are the closest, the most special and the only ones that will last for all eternity. He begins with the family of God, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

     He admits that there will be trouble, these relationships will be strained. By the very fact that he has to tell us  how to behave with one another shows that problems are to be expected. BUT he tells us to overcome the troubles with good. We will get to that at the end of the chapter. We are to be overcomers, because the world is looking. And if we can't truly love and care for one another in the family of God...what kind of testimony will we be to the world?

     And speaking about the world, Paul in vs. 14-21 will be telling us how to interact with them in a way that is God honoring. Whether they are nice to us or not. Even when they seek to devour us with their evil, we are to honor God by how we treat them.

     Do you want to know how to do this? Come back next week.