Being The Hands of Christ
Romans 12:9-21
* There is a story told about this picture on the screen. During World War II when the Nazis were bombing London, there was an Anglican Church that had a statue of Jesus on their lawn with his arms outstretched. The caption below the statue read, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden.” As the bombs fell, the Anglican Church was destroyed and the statue was blown up. When the members started to rebuild the church and replace the statue, they discovered the arms and hands were so pulverized from the bombing they could not be salvaged. They could have chosen to manufacture new hands and arms for the statue, but they chose not to.
* Today, the statue of Jesus Christ stands outside the London church with no arms, and the caption has been changed to read, “Christ has no hands but your hands. And Christ has no arms but our arms.” We are the body of Christ, and if the body of Christ is going to move, it is going to be by our feet. If the body of Christ is going to hug, it is going to be by our arms. If the body of Christ is going to speak, it is going to be through our mouth. We are the body of Christ.
* A few weeks ago, Bro. Johnny (unknowingly) began our service with one of my favorite songs. The song says “You’re the Only Jesus some will ever see. You’re the only words of life, some will ever read. So let them see in you, the one in who is all they’ll ever need. You’re the only Jesus, some will ever see.” Would you think about this statement this morning and, along with me, ask yourself this question, “If I am the only Jesus some will ever see, are the getting a clear picture? Will they know what Jesus looks like? Would they desire to have Jesus in their lives because of what they see in me?” Considering the eternal implications, these are weighty questions which literally beg for our attention. The question is, “how can we do this?” Most believers truly want their lives to reflect and display Christ to the world, but somehow in the day to day grind, we either forget or don’t have our hands around a set of truths which help us do this.
* We have already read our Bible text in the last part of Chapter 12. This chapter began with Paul urging us to present our bodies as a sacrifice noting this is our Spiritual Act of Worship. He piggy-backed that message with reminding us as to what it means to be HIS. Being His means we have been extended both grace and gifts for service. Today passage is seemingly a rapid fire sets of “bullet points” which tell us HOW to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this needy world. Verse 13 sets the stage for what follows.
* The message for us today centers around the fruits of the spirit. Can you name with me the first 3 or the 9 fruits listed in Galatians? They are “love, Joy, & Peace.” To to be His hands, our lives must display some things.
1. To be Jesus’ hands, we must possess SINCERE LOVE.
* Our text says, love must be without hypocrisy (I.E. dissimulation, deceit, genuine) The NIV gives us the word sincere. That word “sine cere” means “no wax.” Perhaps many of you have heard of this, but back in the time Latin was used, potter would take wax to fill the cracks and flaws in their work. Then they would paint over it and sell it. All was well until it went into the stress of use. Then the wax melted and the pot might even disintegrate. This made the potters who were selling their wares to advertize “No Wax.” The easy way to apply this is that a superficial, skin deep, put on type of love doesn’t cut it for the family of God. His love is complete and as HIS child, our love is to be without wax.
* At the same time, the word hypocrite conveys the thought of wearing a mask. In other words, trying to be something you aren’t or give something you don’t have. Please listen there is little hope of giving sincere love, you have haven’t received sincere love.
* This speaks of our personal decision to follow Christ. When a person trusts Christ for their forgiveness of sin and place their faith in His by turning from sin and to Christ, they are embraced with a Love which has no explanation except that God is love and shows us His sincere love. Do you know why this is so exciting? Because of the result.
* The result is this; we detest evil, cling to what is good, and show our spiritual family brotherly love even to the point of outdoing each other in displaying honor and love. Additionally, with sincere (and not put on) love, we are diligent, fervent and serve the Lord together. In everyday language, it gets to be fun to be in God’s family, doing God work, fulfilling His word, and discipling His people.
* When sincere love is present, selfish hate is dismissed. Love and hate cannot mutually exist anymore than dark and light can exist. Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is by saying “darkness is the absence of light” and “hate (or hard feelings) is the absence of Love.”
* Consider this; everyone knows where the LOVE chapter is in the Bible. However, most people THINK that 1 Corinthians 13 was written for weddings and marriage. It would surprise many of us to realize the LOVE chapter was written to and for the church. Chapter 12 teaches us about the giftedness in the church body while chapter 14 speaks order in the church and building up the church. 1 Corinthians 13 is wedged between these two Chapters to tell us that in the family of faith, for the children of God, LOVE is the order. God demonstrated His love for us in Jesus and He expects us to demonstrate our love for each other. We should be concerned about people who claim to be believers and won’t go into a class with a specific church member. It does not speak of sincere love.
2. To be Jesus’ hands, we must possess SUPERNATURAL JOY.
* The text says, “Rejoice.” Authentic rejoicing comes out of a heart that is overflowing with joy. In Luke 15, when the prodigal son came home the father said in effect, “Rejoice, my son has come home again.” This was a very real emotion of a father who believed a miracle had happened. His son, who was lost, now was safe at home.
* It is difficult to truly rejoice when the heart is not right before God because ‘joy’ is not something we can ‘work up’; rather it is something which oozes out. We can learn much from Paul as much to our amazement he repeatedly wrote, “Rejoice.” Even from a prison cell he wrote things like “I rejoice in my sufferings for you” and “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice.” Just exactly HOW could he rejoice in circumstances like this? Here’s how; Paul was personally acquainted with the “HOPE” mentioned in verse 12.
* This type of hope is not the possibility of ‘something’ which ‘may’ happen in the future, but rather, the assurance of something which has happened in the past which controls our future. It is in Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and His soon return that we can find our hope which leads to supernatural joy. To understand hope in this way is know what it means to experience ‘joy inexpressible and full of glory. ‘
* Think about some of the results of having this “Supernatural Joy.” Having this kind of internal joy is the avenue to being “patient in affliction” or better said “when trouble comes your way.” It will also motivate us to becoming “persistent in prayer.” Although we should ‘pray without ceasing’ or in other words remain in an attitude of prayer at all time, with the JOY in our hearts—persistent prayer should be our second nature. This joy will move us to becoming selfless and sharing with others who are in need. It will even move our hearts to “chasing after hospitality.”
* This week I read a reprint of a story from “THE UPPER ROOM” about a lady named Kathleen Barrett. She said, “In the past store clerks were often rude to me, but I attributed it to the notion they weren’t getting paid enough.” After she trusted Christ her whole world seemed to change. “Store clerks became nicer, the sun shone brighter, birds chirped more freely, flowers bloomed more beautifully,” she wrote. “Of course, I though the world had changed,” she recalled. I didn’t realize until later that it was me who was changing.”
* The changes which come from knowing Jesus is a personal, intimate way are recognizable to those around you. It’s impossible to contain the joy of Jesus in one’s heart. The human heart is not big enough; it will overflow to those we meet. However, the truth is this; whatever is in our heart is exactly what overflows out of our heart.
3. To be Jesus’ hands, we must possess SPIRITUAL PEACE.
* As I read verses 14-20, there is a deep sense that the only way to act, react, and respond like Jesus (thus becoming His Hands) is to have the “peace that passes all understanding” spoken of in Ephesians 4. This spiritual peace is what Christ was sent to give us. When Jesus came mankind was on a collision course with God. There was no peace to be found. That is why the angels who announced His birth sang, “Glory to God in the Highest, Peace on earth to men.” He came to give us spiritual peace, not like the peace of this world but a peace which our finite minds cannot understand.
* Be reminded that Romans 8 says, the mindset of the spirit is “life and peace.” Peace is one of the common prayers Paul offers in his letters, because peace is such an integral part of the life of a believer. The interesting thing is that many people are discovering this issue.
* It is only in this spiritual state that we can even think about living up to what these verses say. Let’s break these instructions down to 3 thoughts.
* First, we are taught how to handle our ENEMIES. (Verses 14, 17, 19, 20) Does anyone besides me find these instructions difficult? How can you humanly bless someone who is on your case, causing trouble all the time? How can you possible not take up for yourself in the midst of pain? This is humanly IMPOSSIBLE. It requires the sincere love which births the supernatural joy which brings spiritual peace which is fueled by the Holy Spirit. But watch; anyone can repay evil for evil; this is the world’s way. But only in God can we return good for evil and then take care of those who oppose you. When you and I return evil for evil, we become “overcome with” or “conquered by” evil. And evil becomes like a black hole in our lives. In space, a black hole pulls everything and releases nothing—and that is exactly what happens in our lives with evil.
* Next, we are taught to show EMPATHY, not sympathy. Rejoice and weep with others. Feel their hurts and understand.
* Finally, we see how to use our ENERGIES. Look at all the bullet points in this passage; try to do what is honorable, as much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone, do not be proud or wise in your own mind.
* These things will come from a heart of Spiritual not fleshly peace. The peace this world gives is simply, “the absence of conflict.” Spiritual peace is much deeper than that. It is a peace in the soul, the spirit, & the heart. It is a peace which is birth from a Sincere Love and a Supernatural joy.
* The story is told of a missionary who was lost at sea & presumed dead. However he washed up on a beach where a tribe took him in, nursed him to health, and where he lived for twenty years. He never gave a verbal witness but in those years cared, befriended, consoled the people. After 20 years, missionaries came telling about Jesus. The people said, “He’s been living with us for 20 years.”
