Essential Instructions for Christian Life
The Book of Romans
Romans 14:1-9
Sermon by Rick Crandall
(Prepared November 6, 2021)
MESSAGE:
*We all need guidance in life. King Duncan found a list of Kid's Instructions on life, and here are my two favorites: 9-year-old Rocky said, "Always wear a hat when feeding seagulls." And 12-year-old Joel said, "Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat." (1)
*That's pretty good advice, right? But we've got much better guidance here in God's Word. Tonight's Scripture gives us some essential instructions for Christian life.
1. AND THE FIRST IS: DON'T MAKE MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLEHILLS.
*This is God's message for us in vs. 1-3, where Paul said:
1. Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
2. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
3. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
*Verses 1-3 in The Message paraphrase say:
1. Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with -- even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
2. For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly.
3. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table.
*Verse 1 in the KJV says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." God wants us to avoid "doubtful disputations." In other words: Don't argue about things that don't matter, because there is a good possibility you will do more harm than good.
*Don't make mountains out of molehills. In vs. 5-6, God's Word mentions another example:
5. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
*God doesn't want us to dispute about doubtful things. He doesn't want us to make mountains out of molehills, but sometimes we tend to do just that.
*This problem arose in part because there was a mixture of Jews and Gentiles in the early church. Well, the Jewish Christians naturally wanted to cling to the old ceremonial ways, such as circumcision, strict dietary laws and observing the Jewish holy days. The Gentile believers weren't inclined to do that, and most important, it wasn't God's plan for His church.
*This was such a controversy that the mother church in Jerusalem held a council, and listen to what Peter said at this meeting. Acts 15:5-11 says:
5. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.''
6. So the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us,
9. and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.''
*Well, thank God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ! But this disagreement between Jewish and Gentile Christians continued to fester in the early church, and this wasn't the only kind of argument among those believers.
*All during the Lord's 3-year ministry, the Apostles argued about which of them was the greatest. They even did it on the night before the cross! Luke 22:23-27 tells us that after the first Lord's Supper:
23. They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing (that is, who would betray Jesus).
24. But there was also rivalry among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
25. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'
26. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
27. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves."
*Doubtful disputations in the Lord's Church: I also think of the terrible disagreement between Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15:36-41, the church divisions recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, and the disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche recorded in Philippians 4:1-3. There Paul pleaded for loving harmony and said:
1. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
2. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
*Doubtful disputations: There is no telling how many churches have divided and died because some of the members demanded to be in charge. "This is MY church, and we're going to do it MY way!"
*Scott LeFebvre told about a church that completely died, and it happened in part because of an incident in the church kitchen. A new family had come to take part in their first pot-luck dinner. The wife cheerfully brought her red Jell-O salad to the kitchen. Then she headed to the fellowship hall to join her family.
*Later, when everybody started down the serving line, her husband innocently asked, "Where's our salad?" She replied, "There must be some mistake. I'll find out what happened." So, his wife went to the kitchen to check. And she got there just in time to see a lady dumping her salad down the garbage disposal. "What are you doing?" She asked. "That's my salad!"
*Without batting an eye, the woman looked up and said, "You're new to this church. You'll soon learn we use only real whipped cream around here, not Cool Whip." Then she hit the switch and the salad gurgled down the drain. But eventually, so did the church. (2)
*Many Christians have completely dropped out of church because of ugliness like that. And I've heard testimonies from some about how horribly they had been treated by other people in church. What a tragedy! That's why God's Word often tells us to love one another. And Paul tells us not to make mountains out of molehills.
*Years ago, Mary and I drove up to a church near Farmerville. They were having a reception for some friends who were celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. That day, I met their new pastor. He had been there for 4 months, and he told me that he was their fourth pastor in 5 years.
*Four pastors in 5 years! How did that happen? I guarantee you that part of it was people making mountains out of molehills. And God doesn't want us to do that.
2. HERE'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT INSTRUCTION FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE: DON'T JUMP TO JUDGE OTHERS.
*This is God's message for us in vs. 3-4, where Paul said:
3. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
4. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
*In effect, Paul was saying, "Christians: Who do you think you are judging other believers?" But sometimes we do, don't we? It's one of the easiest traps to fall into.
[1] PART OF THE TROUBLE WITH JUDGING OTHERS IS A SIGHT PROBLEM: WE CAN'T SEE THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE.
*In 2002, Donald Rumsfeld explained that we have known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns. Known knowns are the things we know we know. Known unknowns are the things that we know we don't know. But unknown unknowns are those things that we don't know, and we don't even know that we don't know them. (3)
*Well, when it comes to judging other people, I guarantee you there are some things we don't know! So, God tells us not to be so quick to judge other Christians, or think that we are better than them.
*Back in the summer of 1999, I got to take part in a "Day of Champions" in Tallulah. Bill Glass Ministries sponsored that soul-winning event at the Tallulah Correctional Center for Youth, and dozens of the inmates were saved.
*That day, we saw some awesome feats of strength performed by Keith Davis from the Power Team. We also heard some wonderful testimonies from those Christian athletes.
*After it was over, there was a big, black guy who needed a ride, maybe back to Delhi or Rayville. His name was Ernie, and I volunteered to take him. Other than his big size, he looked nothing but ordinary, and I kind of felt sorry for him, because he didn't even have a car to take him home.
*At the time, I was driving a Chevy Corsica. It was about as basic a little car as you could have, and that's being kind. If you compared that car to food, it would be a saltine cracker, -- a stale saltine cracker, without the salt.
*And I felt sorry for that guy. Not only did he not have a car to get home, he also had to fold up into a ball to get in my car. He was in that perfect cannonball position. I found out later that he was 6 feet 9 inches tall, and weighed over 300 pounds. I also found out that the man I assumed to be so poor was Ernie Ladd.
*You may have heard of Ernie Ladd. He was an All-AFL defensive tackle with an eight-year pro football career. He appeared in four straight AFL All-Star games from 1962-1965. Ernie joined the San Diego Chargers in 1961, and played on their AFL championship team in 1963. He also played with the Kansas City Chiefs.
*After football, Ernie became a professional wrestler, and he's in the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. The guy I thought was too poor to have a car owned a restaurant in New Orleans, and was a longtime friend of the Bush family. (4)
*By the way, the whole time Ernie was in the car, he didn't mention any of that. You know why? -- Because he wasn't there to brag on himself. He was there to brag on Jesus! But when it comes to judging other people, I guarantee you there are some things we don't know.
[2] PART OF THE TROUBLE WITH JUDGING OTHERS IS A SIGHT PROBLEM. AND PART OF IT IS A SIZE PROBLEM.
*That is to say: We have a tendency to get too big for our britches. It's easy for us to get lifted up with self-righteous pride, and we don't even realize that it's happening. We may get too big for our britches, but we're not as big as we think we are.
*Mary Lewis told about a little boy like that. One day he ran to his mom all excited, and he said, "I just measured myself, -- and I'm 6 feet tall!"
*Mom couldn't quite figure that out, so she asked him to measure himself again while she watched. That's when she saw he wasn't using a 12-inch ruler. He was using a 6-inch ruler. He was 6-rulers tall. He just had the wrong ruler. (5)
*And if we want to know how big we really are, we have to measure ourselves with a God-sized ruler! Then, we won't be so quick to judge other people.
*Christian author Max Lucado explained, "We aren't good enough to judge. Can the hungry accuse the beggar? Can the sick mock the ill? Can the blind judge the deaf? In the same way, can the sinner condemn the sinner? Absolutely not!"
*Max went on to say, "Be careful! The Peter who denies Jesus at tonight's fire may proclaim him with fire at tomorrow's Pentecost. The Samson who is blind and weak today, may use his final strength to level the pillars of godlessness. A stuttering shepherd in this generation may be the mighty Moses of the next. And don't call Noah a fool. -- You may be asking him for a lift." (6)
3. IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE: DON'T JUMP TO JUDGE OTHERS. AND REMEMBER THAT WE ARE HELD BY OUR FATHER'S HAND.
*Christians: Always remember that we are held in the Almighty Hand of our Heavenly Father. This is part of God's message for us in vs. 4, where Paul asked, "Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand."
*Hallelujah, Christians! We will be held up, "for God is able to make us stand!" God is forever holding us up in His omnipotent hand. Jesus made this truth clear to us in John 10:22-29. There the Word of God says:
22. Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.
23. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
24. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.''
25. Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.
26. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
27. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."
*In Isaiah 46:3-4, God's Word also says:
3. "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb:
4. even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."
*Church: Our Heavenly Father's Hand is infinitely bigger than ours, and He is able to hold us up forever!
4. IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE: REMEMBER THAT WE ARE HELD BY OUR FATHER'S HAND. AND REMEMBER THAT AS BELIEVERS, WE BELONG.
*That's why in vs. 7-9 Paul could say:
7. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
[1] CHRISTIANS: WE BELONG! WE BELONG TO GOD'S CHURCH.
*We belong to the Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so we belong to each other. What an awesome blessing! We are surrounded by love. We are surrounded by people who care for us. We are surrounded by people who help multiply our joys, and help soothe our sorrows.
[2] WE BELONG TO GOD'S CHURCH. AND BEST OF ALL, WE BELONG TO CHRIST!
*In vs. 8: "For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." And did you notice what Paul said at the end of vs. 3? "Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him."
*Christians: God has received us! We may not be good enough for the high society types of London or Paris or New York City. But we are good enough for God! God has received us!
*But the only way this could have ever happened was through the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In vs. 9, "For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living."
*At the "Day of Champions" when I met Ernie Ladd, we saw some amazing feats of strength from Keith Davis of the "Power Team" group. Keith took a wooden baseball bat and pushed it against his thigh until it snapped like a toothpick.
*I told a friend there that day that I probably could have broken that bat, with my car! Then Keith took a one-inch-thick steel bar about 6 feet long, wrapped a rag around the middle of it, put it in his mouth, and bent it into the shape of a "U."
*Keith then gave his Christian testimony to those young men, and he said, "My true sign of strength is not my bench press. My true sign of strength is this." Then he held up that broken bat in the shape of a cross.
*Keith also said, "When I got saved, I gave my life to Jesus Christ. I didn't just believe in the Lord. I belonged to the Lord."
*And Christians: By the cross of Jesus Christ, so do we! When we turn to Jesus, when we believe in His death on the cross and His resurrection, when we give our lives to Him, when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then we belong to God.
*This is the only way to belong to God, and as believers, we know that no matter what happens to us, we belong to each other, and best of all, we belong to Jesus!
CONCLUSION:
*Thank God for the life we have in Jesus Christ! And thank God for His Word that shows us how to live it!
(1) Original source unknown - My Source: Dynamic Preaching Sermon "So Much We Don't Understand" by King Duncan - John 16:12-15 - Second Sunday in June - 2001
(2) SermonCentral sermon "Malice in Wonderland" by Scott LeFebvre - 1 John 4:7-21
(3) Sources:
-http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/donaldrums148142.html
-en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_unknown
(4) Sources:
-Louisiana Sports Hall of fame https://lasportshall.com/?inductees=ernie-ladd
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Ladd
(5) SermonCentral illustration contributed by Mary Lewis
(6) SermonCentral illustration contributed by Aaron Burgess
