Partakers Christian Podcasts

Romans 12: Living Life

Study 24: Humility of mind and spirit

v16 - Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Here are two of the main reasons that churches lack harmony – pride and know-it-alls!! Do you think that may describe somebody that you know? Or even yourself?

There is to be no place in the Gospel, and therefore the Church itself, for pride and conceit. There is to be no favouritism within the life of the Church. Love does not show favouritism or partiality but love treats all people equally. The best person for the job, is the best person for the job – not the one shown favouritism. That isn’t to say we can’t have some people as friends and others not! But we are not to make differences between people based on things such as bank balances, social status, education, birthplace etc. Let not the educated look down upon the uneducated. Let not the financially rich not look down on the poor & homeless. Let males not look down upon females or females look down on males.

Structure within Churches is important or there would be chaos. Remember a Church is to be harmonious – and those of higher importance in Church structures are to associate & work with those of the least importance in Church structures. Why?

Because of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, being the Son of God, made Himself nothing in order to become a human being. Jesus, the Lord of the Church, was willing to do everything possible, so that you and I may be able to become children of God. Jesus Christ, and therefore God Himself, treats equally all sections of society, and so must those who claim to follow Him.

And we all know somebody who is a know-it-all – they have an answer to every question and like to let everybody know that they do! Now it is good to be wise in the ways of God but let not that lead to pride! Such a person is hard to teach – hard even to God. Wisdom comes from studying God’s word, being willing to be changed by the Spirit who lives within all believers without distinction. The so-called uneducated are usually more willing to be wise from this method than the educated.

Go! Be practical in your love of God to all people without partiality or distinction. And don’t think you know it all – coz you don’t!

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Psalm 35

¹ Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
² Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
³ Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
⁴ May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
⁵ May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
⁶ may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
⁷ Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,
⁸ may ruin overtake them by surprise- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
⁹ Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
¹⁰ My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD ? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."
¹¹ Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.
¹² They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn.
¹³ Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
¹⁴ I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing.
¹⁶ Like the ungodly circle of maliciously mockers; they gnashed their teeth at me.
¹⁷ O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
¹⁸ I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.
¹⁹ Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
²⁰ They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
²¹ They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."
²² O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord.
²³ Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.
²⁵ Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."
²⁶ May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.
²⁷ May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."
²⁸ My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.

 

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Romans 12: Living Life

Study 23: Be Harmonious

v16 Live in harmony with each other.

I can hear you saying to yourself “Yeah right, Paul! Get a life, mate! Me? Live in harmony with that person over there? No way!”

Yet to live in harmony with each other is to be our goal says Paul. If we were loving God and loving others as we ought, in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within ALL believers in the church community – then believers should be able live in harmony with each other!

As we have seen earlier, any group of believers in one location has spiritual gifts! No gift is more important than the other, yet I know from experience, that some Spiritual Gifts are lifted up more than others! The local church with its people is akin to a human body. Can a foot say it is more important than the brain? No! The brain controls the foot! Can the brain say it is more important then the heart? No! The heart pumps the blood which keeps the brain alive! Can the heart say it is more important than the foot? No! Because without exercise, the heart grows weak! That is what it is like in the church – local, national and worldwide!

To live in harmony is to live in agreement with each other! We are united with other Christians whether want to be or not! We all have the one Spirit living within us. There was only one Cross, therefore there can only be one Kingdom and church. There is only one God, therefore there could only be one people and one church known by its unity. Jesus Christ is the one Great Shepherd and there is only one flock, when referring to Himself and his followers the church (John 10:16).

Unity however does not mean uniformity. With the proviso that core beliefs are maintained, there appears to be room for some digression regarding secondary beliefs (Paul alludes to that in Romans 14:1–15:13). Individual churches have different local needs to be faced, and have therefore dissimilar requirements. Tomorrow we will see one of the main reasons churches don’t have harmony! But for now, go! Do all you can to be harmonious with others and show Church unity to the world!

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Wednesday Wisdom

Proverbs 11

1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in through their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead.
9 a hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that is void of wisdom despises his neighbour: but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hates being surety is secure.
16 A gracious woman retains honour: and strong men retain riches.

17 The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked works a deceitful work: but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tends to life: so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 They that are of a perverse heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholds corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that sells it.

27 He that diligently seeks good procures favour: but he that seeks mischief, it shall come to him.
28 He that trusts in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29 He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

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Romans 12: Living Life

Study 22: Rejoice and sorrow

v15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

I wonder if some times you are like me –you are sad when people you know have reason to be happy! We are like that as people! Jesus in Luke 15:25-30 indicates that this behaviour comes from envy! Or you are happy when people have reason to be sad or in trouble – your attitude is “They deserve it!” This is nothing short of malice. And unsurprisingly, it can come quite naturally to us! Paul here challenges the Roman readers and by proxy, us, with something totally alien to our natural way of behaving! Paul goes “be happy to the happy and weep with the weeping!”


That is a counter to the way the world we live in operates. Sure some people who are not Christian may do it Paul’s way but in general they don’t. But that is not the way it is to be with the Church! We are to love others as we would want to be loved. Love is not detached or ignorant of other people’s joys and sorrows. Love does not simply ignore or bear malice. Love lifts, encourages, embraces and emboldens! Love in action is offering a shoulder to cry on to somebody in need of help. Love in action is rejoicing with that brother or sister who has cause for celebration. Love offers solidarity with the other person, regardless of mood or emotion.


So how can we show this love to others? We maybe able to do it in our own strength, but we assuredly can by using the power of the Holy Spirit! Oh how easily we forget He is living within us! WOW! If we ask for His help, He will help – often in the most amazing ways. Let the Holy Spirit stimulate your imagination as to how you can practically rejoice and be happy with those who are rejoicing or to show you how you can weep with those who are weeping and in sorrow. And if we have reason to rejoice, let us not forget to be so overcome that we neglect to weep with those who are weeping. Or conversely, if we have good reason to be weeping, let us now forget to somehow rejoice with that brother or sister who has reason to be happy!


Go! Let your love for others be practically seen – whether with smiles or with tears!

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Psalm 142

A psalm of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.

¹ I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy.

² I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.

³ When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.

Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.

⁴ I look for someone to come and help me,

but no one gives me a passing thought!

No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.

⁵ Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say,

"You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.

⁶ Hear my cry, for I am very low.

Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.

⁷ Bring me out of prison so I can thank you.

The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me."

 

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Romans 12: Living Life

Study 21: Bless and pray

v14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.

Paul here seems to have had some teaching about what Jesus taught for here he echoes Jesus, who is now His master. (Matthew 5:43-44 and Luke 6:27-28.)


To bless means to show kindness and love. Do you have enemies – people who don’t like you or loathe you because you are a Christian or for some other reason? I know some people who have been totally disowned by their own families because they became Christians. How are we to react? Paul here, echoes Jesus, commands that we are to show kindness and love. That is what bless means here - seeking the welfare of those that would cause us harm. It is a challenge to us because our natural reaction is usually to fight back or to ignore - that is curse. But we are challenged to pray for those who would wish us harm. Praying for their welfare is showing love for those who wish us harm. How can this be done? It can only be done using the power and strength of the Holy Spirit within us rather than attempting to do it in our own strength.


Paul here is a good example. Just a few years ago, Paul was going around persecuting the church. The first Christian Martyr was Stephen, as told to us in Acts 7:59-60. “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.”


Saul was standing there watching. Saul who we know now became Paul – our writer! Shortly after this event, Saul was arrested by Jesus whom He was persecuting. Paul has changed! His motto now is “bless those who persecute you.” Whereas his motto before was “Love your neighbour but hate your enemy!” What a change under the power of the Holy Spirit!


This is of course a picture of the Gospel. God showed love for His enemies, by sending His Son Jesus to die, so that all of humanity could change from being enemies of God to being friends of God.


Go! Bless others who are against you. Go and also pray for the persecuted church around the world – for they are your Christian family.

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Psalm 70

For the Chief Musician. By David. A reminder.

70:1 Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, Yahweh.

70:2 Let them be disappointed and confounded who seek my soul.

Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

70:3 Let them be turned because of their shame Who say, “Aha! Aha!”

70:4 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.

Let those who love your salvation continually say, “Let God be exalted!”

70:5 But I am poor and needy. Come to me quickly, God.

You are my help and my deliverer. Yahweh, don’t delay.

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Romans 12: Living Life

Study 20:

Romans 12v13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Here in verse 13, Paul is referring to helping other Christians in need, as and when we can. Note I said need and not want. By helping other needy people in the Church, such love reflects God’s love. As well as evangelism, the Church also has a social mission – to help cover the needs of those outside the Church.
Part of that need would be giving hospitality to people. We should be looking to pursue opportunities to give hospitality and not just when we want to. If I came to your door, cold, hungry and thirsty, would you feed me, give me a drink and put me near the heater? Jesus taught in the parable of the sheep and the goats from Matthew 25 that any act of love and mercy we do for others, was also an act of love and mercy toward Him.
When we provide the needs of others and practise hospitality we are reaching out to others – just as God reaches out to humanity with a free offer of salvation. Perhaps one of the great sins of our generation is the neglect to do good to others – doing good by supplying needs and practising hospitality. For you see, sin is not just doing bad things, it is also not doing good when we have the opportunity.
Over the last 2 months, my wife and I have been in need. Almost every day of those 2 months, somebody we know has helped us out in helping alleviate that need. We may well be in need for a little while longer, but it is a comfort to know that people care and will help us out at our point of need. Praise God for them!
We Christians show that we love God, by practically loving others. Helping the needy and doing hospitality, not as a means of salvation (for that is by grace alone) but as a means to show our salvation to those in need of embracing Jesus’ love for them. Go and help those in need and practise hospitality. Not just to your friends but also those you don’t know.

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Psalm 80

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph.

80:1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine forth.

80:2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might! Come to save us!

80:3 Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.

80:4 Yahweh God of Armies, How long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?

80:5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure.

80:6 You make us a source of contention to our neighbors. Our enemies laugh among themselves.

80:7 Turn us again, God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.

80:8 You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations, and planted it.

80:9 You cleared the ground for it. It took deep root, and filled the land.

80:10 The mountains were covered with its shadow. Its boughs were like God’s cedars.

80:11 It sent out its branches to the sea, Its shoots to the River.

80:12 Why have you broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it?

80:13 The boar out of the wood ravages it. The wild animals of the field feed on it.

80:14 Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,

80:15 the stock which your right hand planted, the branch that you made strong for yourself.

80:16 It’s burned with fire. It’s cut down. They perish at your rebuke.

80:17 Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.

80:18 So we will not turn away from you. Revive us, and we will call on your name.

80:19 Turn us again, Yahweh God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.

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