Romans 12:17-21
“Overcoming”
(Prevailing or Conquering or Defeating)
I. V.18 Live Peaceably - Here, we are commanded to see that there is peace in the family of God. Notice that God says that each person is responsible for their own actions in this matter. “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” You are to go the extra mile, without demanding the same from your Brother. You are to offer the apology first, without waiting on them to begin reconciliation. You are to take the lead in seeing there is peace and harmony in the family of God.
“Repay no one evil for evil.” According to Jesus, there will be times when we become offended by the words or deeds of another, Luke 17:1 “It is impossible that no offenses should come…” When they do, we are not to respond by seeking to get even with the offending party. Instead, we are commanded to practice forgiveness one toward another! In Matthew 18:21 Peter asked Jesus, “How many times should I forgive someone, as many as seven times?” Jesus replied with, “No, you should forgive seventy times seven.”
Paul says, “Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men” We are called upon to be faithful in the sight of all men by living the kind of life that brings glory to the Lord. The life we live should be a thing of honor to those who observe it and to the Lord. Nothing is more honoring to God or brings Him more glory than a faithful life! Jesus says in John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
II. V.19 Give Place – “Do Not Avenge Yourselves, but rather give place to wrath.” Of course, the command here is obvious. It’s not your fight! We are not to take matters into our own hands. When we have been offended and our brother refuses to make it right with us, then we are to leave the matter in the hand of God. It is not our place to get revenge. I am especially talking to those in authority! I could stand in this pulpit and recall all the dastardly, devious and devilish things that have been said by wicked people but it’s not my place! It is our place to love them and to leave them in the hand of God. Do you not know that the Lord has heard every wicked incantation every evil whisper about his children?
King David wrote Psalm 105 and in 1 Chronicles 16 he recited it the people, “When you were but few, even a few, and strangers in the land of Canaan. And when our fathers went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; God suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, He reproved kings for their sakes!” Saying, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” Paul now quotes from Deuteronomy 32:35 when God says, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. It’s not our place! Give place to God’s wrath! Get out of God’s way trying to get even! God NEVER gets EVEN, He gives judgement!
Do you remember in 2 Chronicles 20 what Jahaziel a priest said to the King of Judah? He said, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. 20 And they rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set an ambush against the enemy, and they were smitten. 24 And when Judah [came close], they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. - Do Not Avenge Yourselves - It's not your place!
III. V.20-21 Be Preemptive I originally had titled this - Be Proactive (controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened.) But I feel that Be Preemptive is better (to prevent attack by disabling the enemy, "a preemptive strike") – Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. Don’t be overcome; be an overcomer!
How can I be an overcomer? You need a Preemptive Strike!
Here is the “Preemptive Strike” found in Proverbs 25:21 If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee with good.
In this day of lawsuits and cancel culture, Paul's command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to give him what he needs. Pastor Chip Ingram defines love this way: Love is giving someone what the need the most, when they deserve it the least at great personal cost!
Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies? King Solomon wrote the Proverb that Paul is quoting; and the wise king teaches that shame will be heaped upon the enemy and the Lord will reward you with good. I don’t know what good he has planned for you but “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I have learned that, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness. But the Apostle reminds us with a proverb that Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, start with kind actions. “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink.”
The Lord would have us to reach out to them in love and humility. If they rebuff us, that is between them and the Lord. We have done our part and that is all the Lord requires! We are called to be Overcomers! 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? So, instead of getting all down and out when we are done dirty by someone, let us seek to be like Jesus! That is godliness in action! That is Christ living in us for the glory of God! That is also something against which your enemy cannot compete. The enemy may have an answer for your arguments, but he will have none for your love! Jesus literally blessed His enemies as He died, Luke 23:34, “Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
