051020 Be Real

In the first 11 chapters of Romans the Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, presented a powerful body of work. A careful study of those chapters, combined with submission to God’s direction, equips the believer for the task of being a living sacrifice. Chapter 12 begins with a “therefore” clause. Anytime you are reading the Bible and you see the word “therefore” you need to ask yourself, “What is the word “therefore” there for? Ordinarily, and in this passage, the word means “since these things are true”. What things? Everything in Romans up until that time. So much for a quick study! Too often believers want to grab a few verses and call it Bible study. Friends we need to get into the word and let the Holy Spirit instruct us.

Since the preceding material is true —chapters 1-11-- we can offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. This is to be a dedication with our total purpose being living for God’s glory and honor. We are instructed to renew, or change, our minds. How do we do this? We meditate on the Word, spend time in prayer and praise and we begin the process. Based on those activities the Holy Spirit will become our day-to-day teacher. As Paul told Timothy, our goal is love flowing from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5).

The Spirit gifts listed in Romans 12:3-8 will influence our thinking and allow us to fit into the body of Christ as a useful member. We’re not going to take the time to go through this list right now. However we need to recognize that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are essential to spiritual growth.

I have often had people say to me something like, “I don’t have any gifts”! If a person is born again, having put their faith in the work of Christ on their behalf, the Holy Spirit has come to live in that believer. Anything God asks us to do He equips us to do! Why do I say this? We need to keep in the front of our mind every true believer has the Gift Giver resident within them. He will give the resources, or gifts, necessary to meet the need. We should recognize the Resident as the President of our lives!

What I want to do in this sermon is to pick up at Romans 12 verse 9 and consider what it means to be a real Christian. We certainly will not have time to go over all of the short exhortations Paul has laid out for us today. The list goes on through verse 21 and beyond. Over the next few weeks, whenever I preach, I will probably be working from this list.

Romans 12:9-13, Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Since the Father has assigned us a measure of faith we are granted gifts to use for others. The spiritual gifts God gives are not intended to be consumed on ourselves. The qualities listed in the 12^th chapter of Romans can, and should be, carried out by every believer. You do not have to be a miracle worker in order to please God or to be real in your faith. For example, Jesus once said that no one, up until that time, was greater than John the Baptist. Yet, it was said of him that, “John did no sign, (miracle) but everything John said about this man (Jesus) was true”!

All John had to do was speak the truth about Jesus. As result, every Christian believer can do the work that John the Baptist did.

Let’s start into the list and see how it works in our lives.

First, we are to love one another. Jesus put this in the form of a command, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35). What is the meaning of loving one another? As you can see, it was the apostle John who remembered Jesus’ command. So let’s look at his little letter over in the back of your Bible to see what “love” means. I chose 1 John because the word “love” appears 46 times in 26 verses of the letter.

Turn to the book of first John we will walk through it beginning in the second chapter. Verse five tells us that the love of God is perfected by keeping his word. Verse 10 tells us that loving your brothers and sisters is evidence that you are walking in the light. Verse 15, tells us not to love the world or the things in the world if we do, the love of the Father is not in us.

Chapter 3 verse one, tells us the Father gives us His love by calling us the children of God. Verse 10 tells us, if a person is a child of God he will love his brother. Verse 11, adds that this is the message, “we should love one another”. Verse 14, loving our brothers and sisters is evidence that we have passed out of death into life. In verse 16 Jesus laid down his life for us giving us the supreme example of real love. We should lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Verse 17, God’s love is not in the person who fails to meet the needs of the household of faith! Verse 18, love is not what we say — it is what we do. Verse 23, if we believe in Christ we are to love one another.

Chapter 4, verse seven, God is the source of our love for one another and that love is evidence of our new birth. Verse eight, lack of love is evidence that one does not know God. Verse nine, God’s love is seen in his sending His Son into the world to give us life. Verse 10 the very definition of love is the fact that He sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins. Verse 11, God’s love should inspire us to love one another. Verse 12, our love for one another is evidence of the existence of God. Verse 16, abiding in love is abiding in God and also evidence that God is abiding in us. Verse 17, love will give us confidence when we face the judgment. Verse 18, perfect love casts out all fear. Verse 19, his love for us teaches us how to love. Verse 20, hatred towards a brother or sister is evidence that the person who hates does not love God. Verse 21, love for God reflects the love we have for one another.

Chapter 5 verse 1, loving the Father is evidence we love those who have been born of Him. Verse 2, God’s love empowers us to keep His commandments.

For those who believe it is impossible to measure up. I hope Romans 6:14 gives you as much encouragement as it does me. Here it is, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

We participate in the process by following the admonition to refuse to let sin reign in our body — obeying its passions! (Romans 6:12).

The Bible tells us that there are pleasures in sin. However, we, like Moses, need to choose to be mistreated with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. (Hebrews 11:25).

By the way, for those who think the churches are filled with “good” people we need to look at 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Before you rush to judgment, realize that this is only a partial list of the evidences of sin in our lives. Also, realize that much of the list is made up of socially acceptable sin. Jesus pointed out, in the Sermon on the Mount, that anger is as guilty as murder and lust is simply adultery in the mind. (Matthew 5:21-30). You think of sin and are guilty. Not as much as when you act it out!

Back to Romans 12, we are told to detest evil. What does that mean? In the 97^th Psalm verse 10, we are told, “O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”

Proverbs 8:13 speaks of wisdom, “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

Here we find Old Testament examples. Those who love God must hate evil! And hatred of evil is truly the fear of the Lord! Of course, this hatred of evil is a reverential respect to choose love and righteousness and avoid evil.

In holding fast to the good we should remember the passage I read from 1 Corinthians 6:11. Although some of the Corinthians had, in the past, harbored all sorts of evil in their hearts that ended when they came to Christ. They were washed, they were sanctified and they were justified by the Spirit of God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rather than resenting other believers we are told to, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” These are Paul’s words to the Philippians found in chapter 2: 3-4. I love the word of God and the way it is consistently self-instructing and self-supporting. If you have trouble understanding a passage of Scripture and the immediate context does not solve the problem then ask the Holy Spirit, who breathed it in the beginning, to guide you in finding the passages that will interpret the scripture you are struggling with.

So, rather than resenting others we must actively seek to honor one another. Paul seems to advocate having a contest to see who can honor others most. We are not to be lazy or indifferent instead we are to be eagerly zealous. This can be the highest level of love that we have for one another.

In the process of honoring others we should do so as a reflection of our love for God. We are to serve the Lord! I am reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Matthew records these words towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount. These are the most sobering words in the Bible as far as I’m concerned. These words are more frightful than any of the commandments.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Serve the Lord takes on a whole new meaning in the light of Jesus’ statement. Imagine Jesus seated on the throne with a vast crowd of people in front of him. There is no problem with dealing with those who are publicly sinning. It is easy for us to understand the murderer, the liar, the thief, the sexually immoral, and the list goes on. But he’s not dealing here with those who are publicly living in sin. He is dealing with people who appear to believe they were serving him. They are deceived and deceiving! I think of the Mormon missionaries or the Jehovah’s Witnesses going door-to-door. These are obviously false religions. The Mormons do not hold any of the major Christian doctrines concerning salvation, the person of God, or the person and work of Christ. The Jehovah’s Witnesses openly teach salvation by works and have rewritten the Bible to teach their false doctrines. Jesus may well have been speaking of these kind of people. However, we need to search our own hearts and minds.

I am reminded of an event in the last days of William Carey’s life. He was the father of modern missions. One of his fellow missionaries was visiting with him. The visitor began with the question.

What are your feelings in the immediate prospect of death?' The question roused him from his apparent stupor, and opening his languid eyes, he earnestly replied, 'As far as my personal salvation is concerned, I have not the shadow of a doubt; I know in Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day; but when I think that I am about to appear in the presence of a holy God, and remember all my sins and manifold imperfections—I tremble.' He could say no more. Smith, George. Life of William Carey . Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition.

When I think of the arrogance of some who would say that Jesus’ words “I never knew you” could not apply to them, or to me, I join William Carey — I tremble.

Be real! What does it mean?

The Bible is very clear. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The pay for our sin is spiritual death and separation from God forever (Romans 6:23). While we had no strength to save ourselves God demonstrated his love for us! Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8). If you have any doubt about your salvation you need to examine yourself. If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. You will be saved! (Romans 10:9). You might ask, “How can I get faith to do this thing?” The Bible tells us, “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Please contact me either through Facebook, Stamford Baptist Church or www.sbchurch.org. I will be glad to help you.

All scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

050320 The Consequence of the Holy Spirit

In Luke’s first book, commonly called The Gospel of Luke, he tells of Jesus’ second meeting with all the disciples. This account is recorded in Luke 24:44-49, Jesus speaking — “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

John fills in a detail the other writers seem to have missed. That detail is that Thomas was not with them at his first appearance. So, eight days later, with Thomas present, Jesus appeared a second time to them for the primary purpose of convincing Thomas he was alive!

During the 40 days following his resurrection the Gospels have different perspectives on what was done and said. Later in fact, Paul summarizes Jesus’ use of that time in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, let’s look at Paul’s summary. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

I would assume Paul is repeating what Luke had gathered. This is the only record that combines all these events. Nonetheless, I believe all of these things occurred. The old saying God said it, I believe it, and that settles it. The question that I have raised to that old saying is if God said it that settles it. It will be good for me if I believe it. We are not intended to weave them together into a complementary story.

We do know that during the last few weeks of his life on earth Jesus promised, several times, that he would send the Holy Spirit. The promise of the Father would come on them and they would be able to proclaim the gospel to all nations. They were to begin in Jerusalem go on to Judea and Samaria and then around the world.

I believe the apostles and other disciples moved about for 40 days and returned to Jerusalem where they met in the upper room for 10 days. That fills in the gap in time between Passover and Pentecost.

I have always wanted to have a written copy of the sermon that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. I have said in the past that I could ask him about it when I join him in paradise. However, it is not likely that will be important to me then. What were the consequences of the coming of the Holy Spirit? There are so many consequences that the world itself could not hold the record of them. The immediate consequences are recorded for our instruction and are found in Acts 2:42-47.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.’

They devoted themselves to God. At least that’s how I understand this passage. What does “devoted” mean? Vocabulary.com describes “devoted” this way, Being devoted to something means being focused on that particular thing almost exclusively. When you are devoted to a cause, you work to achieve its goals. When you are devoted to a person, you place their needs above your own. We can apply that use of “devoted” to the following actions taken by the new believers.

First, awe came upon every soul. The word “awe” could be translated “fear”. Of course not a cringing fear. It is a reverential respect. Imagine these new converts needing to understand what was going on in their own world and in their own lives. There was no place for them to meet. There was just too many of them! The answer is contained in our text. They must have almost immediately formed a fellowship of small groups. During this time something especially good was happening.

Wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. Notice, Luke does not tell us that the apostles were doing signs and wonders. That’s a man centered approach just as much of the Christian world today operates on a man centered understanding. The fact was, God was performing signs and wonders through the apostles. They were willing channels for God to work through. This is certainly a consequence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of his church. Not by the apostles but through the apostles! The Apostles were willing channels for the Father to work through. Once some of the people asked Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:28-29). God’s work does not depend on our ability. The work of God depends on the Holy Spirit working through his people. We are nothing but channels of usefulness to God.

Too often the church looks for people to fill leadership roles because of their talents and abilities. God does not need our talents or our abilities. The only ability God wants in his people is “avail-ability”. If we will maintain a devotion to our God he will use us! The apostles taught what the Holy Spirit taught them. Jesus had told his disciples But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is our teacher also allowing us to teach others. This happens because believers allow God to teach through us. If you are born again the Spirit of God lives in you. While he was yet with them Jesus had told them they would be brought to trial, “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12). We can’t share what we do not know. So we need to join with these first century believers and devote ourselves to the word of God. When we store God’s word in our minds he will bring it to our remembrance as we need it. You don’t even have to understand what it means until you need it. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Word of God lives in us and works through us for his glory and our good. Oh, by the way, for the good of many others also!

Another consequence of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the life of the church was that the church was “together”!  The writer of Hebrews encourages us even today with these words: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

(Hebrews 10:24-25). These words were left to us to encourage us to join our lives together. They were not just together 45 minutes or an hour on Sunday, or being really dedicated, another half hour on Wednesday night. They attended the temple together in special ways that resulted in lives being changed and needs being met. Jesus had told them, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35). Taking these words of Jesus seriously will change our lives. He calls us to the highest level of love — HIS LOVE! Jesus commands us to love each other. When we look at verse 35, and think about it for a few minutes, we will understand why the world is less than impressed with us! Our love for our fellow believers will let the world know that we are disciples of Christ. It is no wonder that Christianity is held in such low esteem. There is nowhere near enough evidence that we are his disciples based on our love for each other. The fruit of the Spirit is first of all, love that produces joy and gives peace and develops patience that is seen in kindness reflecting goodness resulting in faithfulness with ²³ gentleness that is seen in self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The love these new believers possessed caused them to be very generous. They had all things in common. This was reflected in their taking their “stuff” out of the attic, or the garage, and having yard sales. Then they took the money they received to the apostles or directly to the person that had a need. This was not a communal society. The evidence for that is found in Acts chapters 4 & 5. There we are told about a very generous man named Joseph and nicknamed “Barnabas”. That name “Barnabas” means “son of encouragement”! Barnabas was the owner of a field. He had no particular need of it so he put on the market and when he sold it he brought the proceeds to the apostles. There was in the church a man and his wife named Ananias and Sapphira. They saw the generosity of Barnabas and decided they would sell their empty lot. When they did, it could be, that it sold for more than they expected. For whatever reason they counted the money and put aside part for themselves.

If they lived in a communal society this couple would have had no choice. But the fifth chapter tells us that as long as the property was theirs they could do as they wished with it. And, after they sold it the money was theirs. They could do whatever they wanted with it. Their sin was not keeping back part of the money. Their sin was lying to God! Both of them died! While they owned it, it was theirs. After they sold it the money was theirs. I do not know what their motive was but I do know that it’s not a good thing to lie to God.

Those new believers in Jerusalem followed a pattern. Day by day they attended the temple and broke bread in their homes. They were filled with joy and rejoiced over what God gave them. They rejoiced because God supplied all their needs in order that they might supply the needs of others. By the way, anytime God gives a Christian a pay raise he or she should ask God what need should be met. After all, it’s his money not ours. Sometimes God wants us to have an increase in our lifestyle. But I would say usually God has a plan for the money He gives us.

Most people, and probably most Christians, see their earnings as a result of their hard labor and wise decisions. Everything we have is a gift of God. It is only ours to manage according to his will!

The consequence of their generous attitude was that they were praising God! Praise was known among them. The rejoiced in their God. If they had had a radio or a CD/DVD player it would have been tuned in to the voice of praise.

The final consequence of the Holy Spirit coming into their lives is that they had a good reputation throughout the region. It concerns me when Christians are not held in high esteem. It pleases me very much to hear a particular Christian or a particular church is having a good reputation. That’s especially true when it’s our church! All of these consequences added together opened the door of salvation for many people. They did not have additions to their number at the annual revival meeting. They did not have to wait for an evangelist to come. They simply allowed the Holy Spirit to do his work in their midst and the consequences combined together.

God added to their number day by day those who were being saved. We would rejoice if God added to our number month by month! Probably we are too content with the status quo.

It is my prayer that I will live to see a similar outpouring in our community and in our lives. If the people of God will humble themselves, confessing their sins, God will forgive their sins and heal their land. This is exactly what is needed in our lives, our community and our nation this day. Let’s agree to seek God’s face rather than his hand. If we seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness all our needs will be given to us.

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.