Book of Romans Study
Lesson # 32 – Romans 12:9-13
By Rev. James May
As we continue our exposition of the 12th Chapter of Romans, keep in mind that the Apostle Paul is writing this letter to the saints, or Christians, who are in Rome. He has written this letter from Corinth as a powerful teaching tool that the saints in that far away city.
To us, with our modern means of travel, the distance from Corinth to Rome is nothing, but in Paul’s day, the trip either by foot around the entire coastline of both Greece and Italy would have taken months. Even taking the short route would mean sailing on dangerous waters and miles of walking through perilous territory.
Rome was the capitol of the Roman Empire and an extremely pagan city, in a pagan society. The teachings that Paul gives in Romans can be used as the foundation for the establishment of a true church in the midst of idolatry.
The Book of Romans has often been called “The Constitution of Christianity” because it reveals so much truth concerning the freedom we have in Jesus and the life that we should live as Disciples of Christ. Just about every doctrine that should be used to govern our beliefs and actions are found in Romans.
We began studying a few weeks ago about the relationship of the Jew and Gentile; and Law and Grace as they relate to the Body of Christ in the church.
Last week we began to learn about some very practical ways that we are to act as Born Again Christians so that those around us may see Jesus in us.
Paul said that we are all members of one body, and that body of Christ has only one Head; Jesus. We also learned that each of us has our own special gift, or “grace”, something that God has graced us with, and that God expects each of us to fulfill the purpose and mission that he has already established in us.
We have a choice to turn a deaf ear to the voice of the Lord; or we can heed the call of God and do what he has graced us to do. We can refuse and try to make our own way, often stumbling off into the wrong direction and missing the will of God. But we must remember that with each choice we make there is an eternal consequence that must be considered.
If you’re an ear in the Body of Christ, called to be the one who is ever listening to the voice of God to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church, then don’t try to become something else.
If you’re the mouth, called to speak forth the oracles of God and sound the alarm at the approach of the enemy, then don’t compromise the message, but speak forth that which God has given so that the church may be prepared.
If you’re the foot, then walk in the ways of the Lord, and go where he sends you.
If you’re the hand, then reach out and help both the church and your fellowman any way you can.
Whatever the “grace” that God has given to you to be used in His service, do it with all your might, but remember always that Jesus is still the Head and everyone else is a servant.
None of the members of the Body of Christ are more important than another, no matter how much people might think they are. The most famous preacher from the largest church or ministry, and the least known intercessory prayer warrior in the church are on equal ground to the Lord. Since the Lord alone is the One who produces the fruit in our lives, and we can do is faithfully cast the seed, then how can any of us think that we are greater than any one else?
None are to be lifted up, unless the Lord lifts them up. Any man becomes lifted up in the eyes of other men, and placed on a pedestal to say, “Look what I have done”, is a man filled with pride and destined to fall.
None are to usurp the authority of the Head and think to become the head themselves. Follow no man unless that man follows Christ first.
Never allow yourself to be so caught up in the ability of a man that his failure will cause you to fall with him.
Keep Jesus as the center of your life, the Head that directs your path, and the only Lord of your life, and you’ll never be drawn aside. Every member of the Body of Christ is of the same body, and all must be controlled by the Head, or whole Body will suffer.
There are many examples in the Bible, including that of Paul himself, where the closer a man gets to the heart of God; and the more he experiences of God’s holiness and power, the more that man also realizes that he is unworthy of anything from the Lord.
It is by grace, through God’s will, and though his power working through us that are we able to do anything for God! Let us not think more highly of ourselves than we should. We are all servants of One Lord, all seeking to know him more and be more like Him.
This very practical teaching for everyday living for the Lord now continues in verse 9.
Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
In your dealings with both saint and sinner alike, and especially as it pertains to other Christians who also of the Body of Christ, we are to have a godly affection, that is kept in check by the Spirit within to be morally right at all times, yet openly noticeable, and equally given to all men. This pure love, God kind of love, is to be shown without prejudice of any kind and without pretense or hypocrisy.
All too often people try act as though they really care and have love for one another but it’s often accompanied with regret for having to do what they have to do to show love, or with an expectancy of something in return, or with reluctance because it doesn’t come from the heart.
The question is, If we try to put on an act, or our heart really isn’t in it; does what we do constitute love at all? I realize that we are all human and that it’s not easy to always show perfect love in every situation, but let’s guard against being hypocritical in all that we do.
If there is a private, personal motive that serves our own ego, and that’s why we do what we do for others, then any reward that God might have, and there probably isn’t any, is given right then, and the Spirit will convict us of being hypocritical if we will listen.
Anything that is not done with a pure motive through godly love is born of an evil heart and mind. We are to abhor (hate and despise) all forms of evil, which is anything that is hypocritical, hurtful or malicious.
In our daily walk with the Lord, whatever is evil that we come into contact with, whether it’s something in our own hearts, or something from the world around us, must be purged by God’s Holy Fire! By the same token, anything that is good should stick to us like we are coated with Spiritual contact cement or super glue.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
How should we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, always act toward one another? I’m happy to say that I’ve seen this in action in Victory Temple, and in nearly every church setting that I have been in.
We all know that there are times when that affection between people in the church isn’t what it should be. Because of the fact that Jesus said that all men would know that we are His disciples by the love we will have for one another; when that love isn’t shown, it is a glaring problem and one that the world will key in on very quickly.
Just so there is no misunderstanding of this verse, here’s what Paul is saying.
We are to think of one another and treat one another as though we were children of the same family, with godly love and a constant willingness to show mercy and grace in every situation.
We are to cherish other people as though they are a newborn baby and most loved member of your family. After all, we are all children of one Father, born of one blood through Jesus.
Of course we aren’t perfect and though we may have this kind of love for one another, there is always the chance that sibling rivalry may arise, even among God’s children. That’s because we allow pride to enter in! We begin to think more highly of ourselves than we should.
That’s why Paul also says that we are to have honor for one another and prefer one another. What exactly does that mean?
To “honor” someone is to place a high value on them, just for who they are. We are esteem them very highly and treat them with utmost dignity and remember that they are precious in the eyes of the Lord and have been bought with a price that is far more valuable than money. They are chosen and called by God and we have no right to dishonor them. God is their father and he alone has the right to judge them in any way.
To “prefer” them means to be willing to take the low road and become their servant to whatever degree necessary to maintain a right relationship. It means to show utmost respect and submissiveness, even when you feel that they should be giving that to you instead.
It’s like I was always taught – “What do you want to be, always right; or successful in the eyes of the Lord?” Anyone who thinks that they are always right and will not bend even in the slightest to allow someone else the right to be wrong if they insist, is not showing preference.
Right or wrong, preference and honor forces us to recognize their value, keep our own thoughts and words under control and allow God to be God in leading them, and us, in the right way.
Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Have you ever seen someone who just seems to have no energy to work for the Lord; no fire in their spirit that makes them move; or maybe they are just outright lazy and don’t want to do anything?
This is what Paul now addresses in his instructions on how to live in a manner that reflects Jesus’ nature to the world, and in the church.
We should live as though we truly have a purpose for living and allow the Spirit of God within to move us and create energy to work for God.
Some Christians I know act like that old Sloth in the tree. You have to sight them between two limbs and watch for a moment to see if they are even breathing, much less moving. There’s no fire of God in them! If there is, somehow it needs to be stirred because it must be just dying embers.
We must be about doing business for the Lord! There’s no time for being shiftless, lackadaisical, sluggish and/or lethargic. It’s time to get out of that spiritual sleep and get busy doing whatever you can for the Kingdom of God.
A lot of people just sit back and do very little, or nothing at all, while watching and allowing everyone else to do the work. Then, when the work is done, they want to jump in and take credit and claim to be a part of it. God knows who you are! It’s time to get up and move for God!
Be more like the Road Runner! Create some “fervency” in your actions! That means that you should be on fire, red hot and ready to work for the Lord, serving both God and your fellowman! You had better be moving because Satan is like a roaring lion, going around just looking for slothful Christians who are easy targets. It’s time to get up and move! Jesus is Coming very soon! There no time to play around. Procrastination is a dream killer. Either get moving or get left behind!
This fervency reminds me of a joke I heard where two buzzards are sitting beside a runway at an Air Force base out west. One of the buzzards says to the other, “Man, I’m tired. I’ve been hanging out on a dead limb all day long and it’s made me plumb lazy.” The other buzzard looks at him and says, “Yeah, me too. I just couldn’t make another flap of my wings. That’s why I’m just sitting here.”
About that moment a jet fighter came screaming down the runway with full afterburners on, shooting fire out the back of the back of the engines as it raced off into the sky on a mission. The pressure change in the air as it passed blew feathers off the buzzards and they went rolling on the ground, finally coming to their senses.
One buzzard says to the other, “Man, that bird was really moving! I wish I had his kind of energy.” The second buzzard looks over at the first buzzard and says, “Well, I bet I could move that fast too if my tail feathers were on fire.”
Perhaps that’s what a few of us need, a little fire on our tail feathers! We have to get like the prophet who said that he felt like he had fire shut up in his bones! When you truly get on fire for God, that fire of the Holy Ghost will put some life into you and make you move! When the fire is truly burning, something has to move!
Lord, send us a little more fire in our hearts and souls! We need some fervency in our Spirits; something to put a real fire in us to do all we can for God!
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
The hallmark of Christianity is that we are the only people on planet earth who have a true hope for a better tomorrow! Because we have hope, that hope of eternal life in Heaven, and of a blessed life in this world, we should always be glad, happy and rejoicing in the Lord.
We are to persevere in tribulation, having faith unfailing while we patiently wait for the coming of the Lord to take us to our eternal home.
We are to be faithful in performing our duties, fulfilling our calling and walking in the path that God has set before us, always in an attitude of prayer, talking to the Lord about everything and everyone around us. Constant, intimate communication, and a close relationship with Jesus is all part of it.
Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Paul says that being busy for God also means that we should be ever vigilant about seeing the needs in our brothers and sisters. We should do what we can, whenever we can to help anyone we can, to try and give them what is needed.
That necessity can mean both physical and spiritual needs. Be in prayer for one another always, praying and providing as much as you can for others.
And of course, be kind and hospitable, always welcoming one another with open arms and ready to be a friend to those who need a friend. Christians should always have a caring and compassionate heart and spirit.
Lord help us to conform to your image and allow the Word of God to have its effect in us. Help us to be on fire for You!
