Developing Character (1)
20 October 2013 AM – Romans 12:9-12 – Romans – Scott Childs
Introduction: A rather unsavoury character who had never been near a place of worship in his life was being buried. The services were being conducted by a minister who had never heard of him. Carried away by the occasion, he poured on praise for the departed man. After ten minutes of describing the man as a father, husband, and boss, the widow, whose expression had grown more and more puzzled, nudged her son and whispered: “Go up there and make sure it’s Papa.” —Illustrations Unlimited Yes, we are known by our character.
So far in this chapter we have learned that to find God’s will we must surrender, submit, and seek it. We also learned that God’s will is to give church members, according to His wisdom and grace, special gifts to be able to keep the church body healthy.
No matter what gifts God gives us, we are to use them properly and with a right spirit.
Transition: To aid us in this work, Paul identifies several character qualities which we ought to ask God to develop in our lives.
I. Ask God to Help You Love As He Loves
A. Love without dissimulation. (9)
1. The word for “love” that is used here is agape.
a) It is the giving of one’s self to meet the needs of another. It is God’s kind of love. (Joh 3:16)
b) Notice that this love is a giving love. It takes time, energy, care, and often money to love like this. We are to love unbelievers and fellow Christians with this kind of love.
2. Our love is to be without dissimulation (hypocrisy).
a) We must not fake love. Love must to be sincere. Genuine love truly cares about others.
b) Love does not give in order to get something in return. It is a gift from the heart. John wrote of sincere love when he said, …
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
B. Abhor Evil and Cleave to Good (9)
Amos 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, …
1. Abhor (strongly dislike) all that is evil.
a) If we love as God loves, we will hate what God hates. Love does not compromise.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:
b) We need to identify evil and turn from it.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
c) If the Bible is our standard, and our hearts are right with God, we will be able to identify evil.
2. Cleave to that which is good.
a) God loves good. The word good describes things that are “pleasant, excellent, and upright”. We must learn to cleave (be glued) to all that God calls good. Become stuck in good things like godly music, Bible reading, clean talk, godly thoughts, church attendance, witnessing.
b) When we are stuck in an activity, we call it a habit or addiction. Are your habits good or bad?
II. Ask God to Help You Love Fellow Church Members
Paul is still speaking to the local church body (v.4-5)
A. In family love for each other, love as siblings (10)
1. Be kindly affectioned means “to have family love.” This love is a closer bond than that with unbelievers or even with Christians who are not church members.
2. Church members are to love each other as family, by brotherly love or by loving as siblings (brothers and sisters).
a) A church is to be a Christian’s spiritual family.
b) We are to support, protect, encourage, and care for each other like we would family siblings; with tender loving affection.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
B. In honour preferring one another.
1. Honour speaks of “respect.”
2. Preferring is an old English word which means “to go before and lead, to set an example“
a) We are to set an example in the area of respect for each other.
b) We are to respect parents, spouse, pastor, employers, teachers, civil authorities, etc.
III. Ask God to Help You Actively Serve Him
A. Not slothful in business (11)
1. Business does not refer to a vocation but “to haste, zeal or earnestness.”
a) The KJV commonly translates it as “diligence”.
b) Here it speaks of one’s zeal or earnestness for the Lord’s work.
2. We must not become lazy in our zeal for the Lord.
B. Fervent in spirit (11)
1. Fervent means boiling or hot.
a) Instead of being slothful in our zeal for the Lord, we ought to be boiling.
b) This does not mean boiling out of control, but like a boiling pot that is cooking the meal.
2. Spirit is not the Holy Spirit, but our inner spirit.
a) Our hearts should be boiling with excitement for the things of God.
b) When the bubbling enthusiasm for spiritual things slows to a simmer, the fire needs to be rekindled.
C. Serving the Lord (11)
1. Our zeal or energy is to be mainly in the Lord’s work
2. God saved us to serve not to sit.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
IV. Ask God to Help You Respond Properly to Trials
A. We are to be rejoicing in hope (12)
1. Often when things go wrong we lose our joy. This happens when we take our focus off the Lord and put it on our problems.
2. We must rejoice in the hope the Lord provides. We have the confident expectation of eternal salvation, and a home in heaven with Christ. We must focus on the future not on our frustrations.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
B. We must be patient in tribulation (12)
1. Patient means “to endure, bear bravely and calmly“
2. We must give our burdens to the Lord.
1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
C. We are to be continuing instant in prayer (12)
1. Continuing instant means “to keep going and not quit“
2. Continually gain strength through prayer.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Conclusion: We have learned about several character qualities that God wants us to develop. He wants us to love others sincerely, hating evil and sticking to good. He wants us to love fellow church members as family and lead in showing respect. We must not be lazy in our zeal for the Lord but boiling with excitement as we serve Him. We must patiently rejoice in hope during trials and keep on praying.
If God has convicted your heart about one of these character qualities, let Him have His way in your heart today.
If you need to be baptised or join our church, see me today.
Song: More Like the Master – 325