PROTOCOLS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (3)

Romans 12:13-15

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   One of these days, this world will be destroyed by fire.  The earth and all of the elements in it will melt with fervent heat.

 

B.   With this thought in mind, Peter asked his readers a question in 2 Peter 3:11.

 

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?

 

1.    What manner of persons ought ye to be?

a.    What possible sort?

b.    What quality?

2.    Peter responds with the some broad parameters:  “in all holy conversation and godliness.”

3.    But, what do the details of such a life look like?

 

C.   Paul provides us with part of that answer in Romans 12:9-18. 

1.    We have entitled this section:  “Protocols of the Christian Life.”

2.    There are some twenty-two that are listed.

3.    We have examined nine of the protocols in two previous lessons.

4.    Let’s continue our study of these protocols in this lesson by looking at Romans 12:13-15.

 

Distributing to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality.  Bless them which persecute you:  bless, and curse not.  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

 

I.             DISTRIBUTING TO THE NECESSITY OF THE SAINTS (Rom. 12:13a)

 

A.   Three words deserve our attention in this verse.

1.     Distributing

a.    Strong (2841):  to share with others

b.    Thayer:  to be a sharer

c.    Vine:  to share in common with

2.    Necessity

a.    Strong (5532):  demand, requirement, destitution

b.    Thayer:  necessity, need

c.    Vine:  a need

3.    Saints:  Christians

 

B.   Example:  The early church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:44-45)

 

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

 

1.    All that believed:  the saints

2.    Parted them to all men:  distribution

3.    Had need:  necessity

 

C.   Benevolence is easy as long as a need is a one-time occurrence or only for a brief period of time.  Most are very willing and extremely generous on such occasions.

 

D.   Benevolence, however, is very difficult at other times.

1.    One or two people are constantly in need.

2.    The needs involve a long period of time.

3.    The needs are great:  housing, food, medical expenses, bills, etc.

4.    Other efforts call for our assistance as well:  area congregations, Children’s Homes, necessities in mission works, etc.

5.    NOTE:

a.    Churches do not have endless supplies of money to assist every person and every work.

b.    Elders have to make the difficult decisions in these areas.

 

II.           GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY (Rom. 12:13b)

 

A.   We have defined “hospitality” several times over the last couple of months. 

1.    It simply means:  “the love of strangers.”

2.    Hospitality can involve things like conversation, meals, visits, encouragement, care, assistance, etc. 

 

B.   Notice Paul exhorts us to be “given to hospitality.”

1.    Strong (1377):  to pursue

2.    Thayer:  to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire

 

C.   Two applications:

1.    A stranger is usually one with whom we are not familiar, a person who is not of “our number.” 

a.    We should seek opportunities to show love to these individuals.

b.    As Christians, we should constantly be watching for people who are visiting with us in order to show hospitality to them.

2.    Peter makes an interesting comment about hospitality in 1 Peter 4:9.

 

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

 

a.    Peter exhorts us to show hospitality to our brethren.

b.    This seems strange because we are not strangers to each other.  Or, are we? 

1)    Some do not know the names of some of their brothers and sisters across the isle.

2)    Some have hardly ever spoken to one another.

3)    We probably do not know too much about what is going on in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

3.    Example:  Gaius (3 John 5-6a)

 

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which have borne witness of thy charity before the church…

 

III.         BLESS THEM WHICH PERSECUTE YOU (Rom. 12:14)

 

A.   We have titled this point with a shortened version of Paul’s words.  Let’s read all of Romans 12:14.

 

Bless them which persecuted you;  bless, and curse not.

1.    Twice Paul exhorts us to bless our persecutors.

2.    Once he commands us to “curse not.”

 

B.   Bless

1.    Strong (2127);  The word literally means:  “to speak well of.  It can also involve the invoking of a benediction.

2.    Thayer:  to praise, to invoke blessings, to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers.

3.    Vine:  to speak well of, to invoke blessings upon

 

C.   Blessing our enemies is extremely difficult to do. 

1.    We long to do the things Paul prohibits in this verse.  We want to curse them.

2.    Definition of curse:

a.    Strong (2672):  to execrate, doom

b.    Thayer:  to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon

c.    Vine:  to pray against, to wish evil against

 

D.   In this, we must seek to obey Jesus and follow His example.

1.    His teaching (Luke 6:28)

 

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

 

2.    His example (Luke 23:34)

 

Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do…

 

IV.         REJOICE WITH THEM THAT DO REJOICE (Rom. 12:15a)

 

A.   There are many things that bring joy into the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ:  birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, births, job promotions, vacations, retirement, awards, recognitions, etc.

 

B.   Paul exhorts us to “rejoice with them that do rejoice.”

1.    Strong (5463):  to be full of cheer, to be calmly happy

2.    Thayer:  to rejoice, be glad, to rejoice exceedingly

3.    Vine:  to rejoice

4.    Dictionary.com:  to be glad, take delight

 

C.   Instead of rejoicing, we often engage in negative attitudes and behaviors.

1.    Jealousy

2.    Compare ourselves to them

3.    Gripe because no one rejoiced with us

4.    Pretend happiness for them

5.    Refuse to be involved in their happiness

 

V.           WEEP WITH THEM THAT WEEP (Rom. 12:15b)

 

A.   In like manner, there are many things that can cause our brothers and sisters to weep:  loss of a loved one, loss of a job, trouble with a child, financial difficulties, life-changing diagnosis, etc.

 

B.   Paul commands us to “weep with them that weep.”

1.    Strong (2799):  to sob, that is, wail aloud

2.    Thayer:  to mourn, weep, lament, bewail

3.    Vine:  any loud expression of grief

 

C.   Those who are hurting often need the support of another who hurts with them.

 

D.   The shortest verse in the Bible shows Jesus doing this:  “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). 

1.    There is no doubt that Mary and Martha wept at the death of their brother.

2.    Jesus could have been manifesting His emotions partly in support of them.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   The Scriptures have us dealing with unique individuals in this section of protocols.

1.    Needy brethren

2.    Strangers

3.    Our persecutors

4.    Those who are rejoicing

5.    Those who are weeping

 

B.   Our Christian protocols involve a lot of different people.  The actions we manifest toward others can impact their lives in very unique ways.

 

C.   When we manifest the precise teachings of the Bible in our lives, we can rest assured that we are truly being God-like and Christ-like in all we do.  We can be confident that we are really “walking in the Spirit.”