(#432) Romans 12 - Who Says the Christian Way of Living Isn’t Emotional?

Class Outline:

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/Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher\

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church that makes a difference.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  At Barah Ministries, our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We make a difference by teaching the Word of God from God’s perspective, and not from man’s perspective.

 

What is the benefit of learning God’s perspective from studying the Word of God?  We think of ourselves as sinners…but God thinks of His believers in Christ as saints. In Romans, Chapter 1, Verses 1 and 7, the apostle Paul helps us understand who we are…

 

/ROMANS 1:1

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus…called as an apostle…set apart for the gospel of God…\

 

/ROMANS 1:7

…to all who are the divinely loved ones belonging to God the Father… resident in Rome…called (to election) by God the Father as saints…grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.\

 

The problem is, we forget who we are in Christ.  We think of ourselves as sinful…but in the eyes of God the Father, believers in Christ are holy and blameless …Ephesians, Chapter 1, Verses 3 and 4…

 

/EPHESIANS 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…who has blessed us believers in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in union with Christ…\

 

/EPHESIANS 1:4

…just as God the Father chose us (for election…to be) in union with Christ…before the foundation of the world (in eternity past)…that we would be holy and blameless before the Father.\

 

What is the benefit of learning God’s perspective from studying the Word of God?  Often we get down on ourselves…we disappoint ourselves…but the Word of God teaches us God loves all of His creatures unconditionally… First John, Chapter 4, Verse 8 says…

 

/FIRST JOHN 4:8

The one who does not love unconditionally does not know God the Father… for God the Father IS (in His very person) unconditional love.\

 

The problem is, we forget how great the Father’s love for us…we forget the “UN” in unconditional.  We obsess about our mistakes…but God places His believers in Christ in a sphere of grace…not counting our errors against us… Second Corinthians, Chapter 12, Verse 9…

 

/SECOND CORINTHIANS 12:9

And the Lord Jesus Christ has said to me (Paul), “My grace is sufficient for you…for divine power is perfected in human weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I (Paul) will rather boast about my weaknesses…so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.\

 

Do you brag about your weaknesses?  Are you comfortable with your faults?  Psalm 103, Verse 12…

 

/PSALM 103:12

As far as the east is from the west…that’s how far He has removed our transgressions from us.\

 

Do you know you don’t have to ask God for forgiveness because you are forgiven?

 

What is the benefit of learning God’s perspective by studying the Word of God?  We do things that we think are unforgivable…we think of ourselves as being disappointing to God…yet in God’s eyes we have ALWAYS been forgiven…we were forgiven in the past and we stand forgiven in His eyes forever…Isaiah, Chapter 1, Verse 18…

 

/ISAIAH 1:18

“Come now…and let us reason together,” says the Lord…(admit that you’re wrong in your thinking) … “Though your sins are as scarlet (the color of the red cloth made from the blood of worms)…your sins will be made by Me as white as snow (they’ll be purified)…though your sins are red like crimson… they will be made white by Me…like wool.”\

 

God is the SOURCE of our purification.  We come to bible study because God renovates our thinking through His Word, and He helps us to see ourselves just as He sees us…if we will let Him…Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 2…

 

/ROMANS 12:2a

And do not be conformed to this world (by Satan, by his cosmic system of thought [WCON…the CON Network], and by the flesh resident in us)…instead, keep on being transformed by (God the Holy Spirit) through the renewing of your mind (by studying the Word of God…[listening to KGOD…the Divine Network])…\

 

/ROMANS 12:2b

…so that you may see clearly…through the testing of experience…what the will of God is…and the will of God is that which is good and that which is acceptable and that which is perfect.\

 

Welcome to a place where the Lord can let you know just how perfect He has made you…just how perfect He thinks you are…so that you can be a reflection of Him.

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Who Says the Christian Way of Living Isn’t Emotional?\

 

Whitney Houston has a song called, “I Get So Emotional” … and a few of the lyrics are a perfect lead into our lesson today…its as if the Lord is talking to us…

 

/I GET SO EMOTIONAL

 

I get so emotional, baby!

Every time I think of you

I get so emotional baby

Ain’t it shocking what love can do?\

 

Those of us who come from a Systematic Theology background were taught that emotion isn’t part of the Christian Way of Living.  In today’s lesson, we’ll find out that our God is every bit as emotional as we are.

 

All the things we learn about the Christian Way of Living from the Word of God invite us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.  Gloria Estefan was at the height of her career when a bus accident left her unable to do things as simple as brushing her teeth. Here’s her song COMING OUT OF THE DARK, and it reminds us that God is with us all the way during our dark days.

 

/MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

COMING OUT OF THE DARK

Gloria Estefan\

 

/OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...\

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Thank you for always being there for us…thank you for sending Your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior…thank you for bringing Him out of the dark of the Cross into the amazing light of resurrection from the dead just three days later…thank you for paying for the sins of the whole world through His work on the Cross…

 

Help us to be emotional toward each other Father…help us to feel…help us to learn how important the emotions of compassion, and empathy, and forgiveness are as we go through this life on earth…

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s

name...Amen.

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Who Says the Christian Way of Living Isn’t Emotional?\

 

We continue our study of the final passage of Romans, Chapter 12 at Verse 15.  When God tells us the DO’s and DON’Ts of this life, and some of these DO’s and DON’Ts are emotional, He is telling us how to live the amazing resurrection life He planned for us in eternity past.  Let’s listen to the final part of this passage…and let’s get into our study of the next few verses to see what we can learn about living.  Listen especially for the emotions called for in the next set of commands…

 

/ROMANS 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice…and weep with those who weep.\

 

/ROMANS 12:16

Be of the same mind toward one another…do not be haughty in mind…but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.\

 

/ROMANS 12:17

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.\

 

/ROMANS 12:18

If possible…so far as it depends on you…be at peace with all men.\

 

/ROMANS 12:19

Never take your own revenge, beloved…but leave room for the wrath of God…for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine…I will repay,” says the Lord.\

 

/ROMANS 12:20

“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him…and if he is thirsty, give him a drink…for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”\

 

/ROMANS 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.\

 

What is God telling is to do when He says…in Romans, Chapter 12, verse 15…

 

/ROMANS 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice…and weep with those who weep.\

 

The Lord is asking us to be considerate.  The Lord is recommending an approach to life…others first and then you.  What does it mean to be considerate?

 

/CONSIDERATE

Showing kindly awareness or showing compassionate regard for another’s feelings or another’s circumstances\

 

Are you situationally aware of the things that are bothering the people in your periphery?  Do you care? Or are you merely happy that you aren’t going through the things they are going through?

 

It’s tough for me to watch people go through the hard things of this life…I always want to help.  But the hard times are so emotional for people that they get so stuck in the emotions that they become motionless.  Fear, for example, is an emotion that paralyzes us…it is the sin that cuts off thinking.  Consideration and compassion fro others can often help a person get unstuck, if they will allow others to help.

 

/ROMANS 12:15a

Rejoice with the rejoicing ones…\

 

God wants us to experience the emotion of celebration! God wants us to enter into the joy of others…both believers and unbelievers…but believers especially…and He wants us to use our spiritual gifts in the process. Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, Verses 1 and 4…

 

/ECCLESIASTES 3:1

There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven—\

 

/ECCLESIASTES 3:4

A time to weep and a time to laugh…a time to mourn and a time to dance.\

 

When it comes to emotion we experience the extremes…laughing and weeping…dancing and mourning…and both are quite normal. There is a time to laugh…laugh it up! Remember when all of us had a sense of humor?

 

/ROMANS 12:15b

…and weep with the weeping ones…\

 

God wants us to empathize!  God wants us to demonstrate His compassion!

When it’s time, God wants us to enter into the sorrow of others…both believers and unbelievers…but believers especially…just as He did in John Chapter 11, Verses 32 to 35…

 

/JOHN 11:32

Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother Lazarus would not have died.”\

 

/JOHN 11:33

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and when He saw the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled…\

 

For all those who think Jesus never got emotional…do a study sometime to find out what it means to be “deeply moved” … find out what it means to be “troubled” … we probably don’t have to study it because all of us have experienced both emotions.  When we are deeply moved and troubled we get shaken right down to the core of our being.

 

/JOHN 11:34

…and Jesus said, “Where have you laid Lazarus?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”\

 

When he saw Lazarus…

 

/JOHN 11:35

Jesus wept.\

 

Moving a Pastor to empathy is difficult.  There is a toughness built into Pastors because we encounter so many things from our congregation members and our friends that are emotional.  This toughness certainly doesn’t keep us from feeling.

 

/ROMANS 12:16a

Be of the same mind toward one another…\

 

God wants us to be single-minded…the emotion of focus.  God wants us to be harmonious in our souls and to be in harmony with others.   Being in harmony with others is a key to empathizing with them.  God wants us on “the same page” with Him and with others in the world.  Philippians, Chapter 2, Verses 1 to 8…listen for the emotions in the passage…

 

/PHILIPPIANS 2:1

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, and of course there is…if there is any consolation of unconditional love…and of course there is…if there is any fellowship of the Spirit…and of course there is…if there is any affection and compassion…\

 

/PHILIPPIANS 2:2

…(Paul requests) make my joy complete by being of the same mind… maintaining the same love…united in spirit…(heart)-intent on one purpose.\

 

What is the opposite of these sentiments?

 

/PHILIPPIANS 2:3

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit…but with humility of mind regard others as more important than yourselves…\

 

/PHILIPPIANS 2:4

…do not only look out for your own personal interests…but also look out for the interests of others.\

 

/PHILIPPIANS 2:5

Have this attitude in yourselves that was also the attitude in Christ Jesus…\

 

Single-mindedness is not only a feeling…it’s a mental attitude…

 

/PHILIPPIANS 2:6

…(Christ Jesus)…who, although He had the same essence as God the Father…did not regard equality with God the Father to be a thing to be seized and held onto…\

 

/PHILIPPIANS 2:7

…instead, Jesus Christ emptied Himself…taking the form of a bond-servant (true humanity)…being made in the likeness of men.\

 

/PHILIPPIANS 2:8

Being found in appearance as a man, He humiliated Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…even death on a Cross.\

 

Paul’s exhortations, in this passage, encourage us to feel…just as our Lord felt.  When we get back from the break, we’ll take the offering, and we’ll continue our look at the emotions of the Christian Way of Living.

 

/BREAK

Five Minutes\

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Who Says the Christian Way of Living Isn’t Emotional?\

 

God the Father loved the world unconditionally…and He loved the world so much…that HE GAVE…we have a giving God.  If we are to imitate Him, we are to be giving as well…Second Corinthians, Chapter 9, Verses 7 and 8…

 

/SECOND CORINTHIANS 9:7

Each one of us must do just as he has purposed in his heart…not grudgingly or under compulsion…for God the Father loves a cheerful giver.\

 

/SECOND CORINTHIANS 9:8

And God the Father is able to make all grace abound to you…so that always…having all sufficiency in everything…you may have an abundance for every good deed…\

 

God makes our giving possible by providing us with resources, and then He responds to our giving by giving us even more…we have a giving God! Imitate Him as you consider your offering for the week!  Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with this week’s offering message.

 

/THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall\

 

/OFFERING VERSE

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:8

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a Cross.\

 

/OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:3-4

This is good and acceptable in the sight of the God who is our Savior (the Lord Jesus Christ),//who desires all men to be saved and who desires all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.\

 

/OFFERING

FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE

Dave McClure, Instrumental\

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Who Says the Christian Way of Living Isn’t Emotional?\

 

Welcome back!  In Matthew, Chapter 8, Verses 5 to 8, a professional officer in the Roman army knew how to get his problems solved…

 

/MATTHEW 8:5

And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a Roman centurion came to Him, imploring Him…\

 

/MATTHEW 8:6

…and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”\

 

/MATTHEW 8:7

Jesus said to the centurion, “I will come and heal him.”\

 

/MATTHEW 8:8

But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof…(in fact You don’t even have to come)…but (if you) just say the word…my servant will be healed.”\

 

What faith!  What are your problems?  Just lay them at the Lord’s feet.  There is a divine solution for every human problem.  Here’s Casting Crowns offering you encouragement in their song AT YOUR FEET.

 

/MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

AT YOUR FEET

Casting Crowns\

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Who Says the Christian Way of Living Isn’t Emotional?\

 

Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 16…the second part…

 

/ROMANS 12:16b

…do not be haughty in mind…\

 

There is no exclusivity in the Christian Way of Living…no partiality…no arrogance.  In Acts, Chapter 10, Verse 34, Peter confirms the truth…

 

/ACTS 10:34

Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality…”\

 

For a pardoned sinner to think highly of himself…to be haughty…is rather stupid…it’s the ultimate in arrogance.  As they used to say in my neighborhood, “Man…you forgot where you came from…”  First Corinthians, Chapter 1, Verses 26 to 31…

 

/FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:26

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh…not many mighty…not many noble…\

 

/FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:27

…but God the Father has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… and God the Father has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong…\

 

/FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:28

…and God the Father has chosen the base things of the world…and the despised God the Father has chosen…the things that are not…so that He may nullify the things that are…\

 

/FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:29

…so that no man may boast before God the Father.\

 

/FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:30

But by God the Father’s doing you are in union with Christ Jesus…who became to us wisdom from God the Father…and righteousness…and sanctification…and redemption…\

 

/FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:31

…so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast ONLY in the Lord.”

 

We have so many examples in this life of God using the lowly among us to humble the high and mighty.  Jeremy Lin…Warren Buffet…Pastor Rory Clark…the apostle Paul…Peter…King David. It’s just God’s way to use those who understand poverty to teach spiritual wealth and to be examples to others.

 

/ROMANS 12:16c

…but associate with the lowly.\

 

The word that best describes God’s attitude is whosoever…or if we were in the south…all y’all!    Why did the Lord pick Bethlehem and Nazareth to be from?  It was the nothing geography of the time…John, Chapter 1, Verse 46…

 

/JOHN 1:46a

Nathanael said to Philip, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”\

 

/ROMANS 12:16d

Do not be wise in your own estimation.\

 

God doesn’t want pride from us.  In our language today, Paul would say, “Don’t be a smart arse!” “Don’t be a know-it-all.”  Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 25…

 

/ROMANS 11:25

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in…\

 

Proverbs 26, Verse 5…

 

/PROVERBS 26:5

Answer a fool as his folly deserves…that he not be wise in his own eyes.\

 

Proverbs 26, Verse 12…

 

/PROVERBS 26:12

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for this man.\

 

Proverbs 26, Verse 16…

 

/PROVERBS 26:16

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a discreet answer.\

 

Proverbs 28, Verse 11…

 

/PROVERBS 28:11

The rich man is wise in his own eyes…but the poor man who has understanding sees right through him.\

 

The arrogant thought … “Why can’t everyone pull himself up by his own bootstraps like me?”  Proverbs 3, Verse 7…

 

 

/PROVERBS 3:7

Do not be wise in your own eyes…instead fear the Lord and turn away from evil.\

 

The Lord wants us to avoid the emotion called conceit.

 

Is emotion part of Christianity?  YES!  Emotion is a vital part of Christianity.  Intensity…passion…and love are at the center of this magnificent way of living.

 

/GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life\

 

The closing moments of our study are for anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU.

 

If you closed your eyes in this life right this moment…and found yourself standing before the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…and the Lord asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” … what would you say?

 

Many would talk about how good a person they are.  Many would talk about their good works…all the things they have done that merit entrance into heaven.

 

Romans, Chapter 4, Verse 4…

 

/ROMANS 4:4

Now to the one who works (for salvation), his wage (for his work) is not credited (to his account) as a favor (from the grace of God), but (his wage is credited) as what is due for the work.\

 

Well I have some bad news for you.  You were born with a problem.  From the moment of your physical birth, God considered you a sinner. Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 10…

 

/ROMANS 3:10

…as it is written “There is no creature who is righteous, not even one…”\

Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 23…

 

/ROMANS 3:23

…for all creatures have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…\

 

By sinning we simply don’t meet God’s standard because God requires perfection to get into heaven.  SO working your way into heaven with good deeds…just being a good person…does not work.

 

By the way, it’s not your fault that you’re a sinner from physical birth, but it is your circumstance.  You were born a sinner.  That’s bad news!  Why is that bad news?  Unfortunately sin has a penalty.  Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 23…

 

/ROMANS 6:23

For the wages of sin (the payment earned for sinning) is death (spiritual death and physical death)…\

 

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself passed along this bad news to a self-righteous Pharisee, Nicodemus, in John, Chapter 3, Verse 3…

 

/JOHN 3:3

Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again (the spiritual birth) he cannot see the kingdom of God the Father (heaven).”\

 

This gospel message is the good news concerning what God the Father did to fix the problem of a sinnner.  Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8…

 

/ROMANS 5:8

But God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all mankind…in that while we were yet sinners…Christ died (a substitutionary sacrificial death) for us.\

 

As a result, eternal life…the resurrection life…is free of charge. Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 to 11…

 

/ROMANS 10:9

…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (that He is God)…and if you

believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead… you will be saved…\

 

/ROMANS 10:10

…for with the heart a person believes…resulting in the imputation of absolute righteousness (your admission ticket to heaven)…and with the mouth a person confesses choosing faith in Christ alone)…resulting in salvation.\

 

/ROMANS 10:11

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will not be disappointed.”\

 

If you closed your eyes in this life right this moment…and found yourself standing before the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…and the Lord asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” … what would you say?  It’s easy… Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

/ACTS 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”\

 

All you have to say is, “I believed in You when I was alive, Lord. That’s all it takes to get to heaven.” And you’d be right!  So heed the warning in John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

/JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment… but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”\

 

There is a hell…and it is described this way in the bible…Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 41 to 43…

 

/MATTHEW 13:41

The Son of Man (the Lord Jesus Christ) will send forth His (elect) angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks (unbelievers), and those who commit lawlessness (unbelievers)…\

 

/MATTHEW 13:42

…and (the elect angels) will throw unbelievers into the furnace of fire (the Lake of Fire)…in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\

 

/MATTHEW 13:43

Then the righteous (believers in Christ) will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father…\

 

For those without a relationship with Christ, He’ll just ask them to step to the left and to take the “HELLIVATOR” … just press down. Don’t let that be you!  Sinners need a Savior.  That Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Believe in Him!

 

Here is June Murphy to sing one of my favorite songs…a song that says we can always count on the Lord Jesus Christ because HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT.

 

/CLOSING SONG

HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT

June Murphy\

 

/CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...\

 

/Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

www.barahministries.com\