 Alright welcome back everyone to our second lecture today on Romans and we are going to continue from where we paused which is the end of verse 2. So verse 2 the Apostle Paul tells us do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Now just want to cross reference one verse of scripture here to we can go to Ephesians chapter 5 and I just want us to look at verse 17 could somebody read that Ephesians 5 verse 17 please Ephesians 5 and verse 17 please. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is. Yeah thank you. So notice what Paul writes here in Ephesians 5 17 he says don't be unwise. Okay New Kingdoms don't be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is. Understand what the will of the Lord is. Connecting that to Romans 12 to prove what is good acceptable and perfect will of God. You know many times so there is this there's this this struggle that many of us have as believers should I use my mind or should I not use my mind that's a struggle you know sometimes people say hey I mean when we think through some certain things it was all you're using your mind why are you thinking you know you must be led by the spirit as though leading by the spirit means you don't need to use your mind you know so there is you know almost like there is a certain section of the Christian church or the believers where you know the emphasis on being led by the spirit and they don't want to think they don't want to analyze they don't want to understand they don't want to reason and then there's the other side where you know they just purely go by logic and there is no openness to the inner leading of the spirit. Now I'm not saying this is easy but I want to place this before us that as believers we need to learn to blend both we need to be intelligent people use our mind think but we are thinking with a renewed mind that means your mind is thinking according to the ways and thoughts of God and so you are thinking you are understanding the will of God and at the same time we must learn to be led by the Holy Spirit which means I am sensitive to the voice of the spirit that comes through the inner witness through the inner prompting or to how many different ways the Holy Spirit speaks so we must learn to use both and what we will find is that many times these are in agreement why because a renewed mind is has been trained to think in the aligned with the ways and thoughts of God and you're able to know the good acceptable and perfect will of God and the Holy Spirit is also bearing witness he is giving you the inner witness to what is good except and perfect will of God and so we must learn to walk with the two and this is a great confirmation that you using your renewed mind have been able to prove or understand what the will of the Lord is and then you also having the inner witness of the Holy Spirit saying you're being led by the spirit saying yeah that's it that's the right thing go for it but the problem the Christian churches this they don't think they don't want to think they think thinking is bad so you just get rid of thinking and then they mess up on the recognizing the inner witness of the Holy Spirit they're not really being led by the spirit but maybe led by emotions led by own presumptions led by their own imaginations and so you end up with people really messed up because they don't want to think and they've got their inner witness all messed up they're being led by their own emotions of their own prejudices and their own predispositions are their own assumptions it's all messed up and so you find a lot of the Christian church that's what called spirit filled so called spirit led they're not thinking and then neither are the led by the spirit they've got both wrong and then you know we have a lot of problems so I want us to understand that in the Bible it's not wrong to use your mind God gave us a mind he wants us to use it what he's did what he did instruct us is don't have a carnal mind but have a renewed mind have a mind that has taken on or continues to take on the ways and thoughts of God so that you can prove so that you can understand what the will of the Lord is and also learn how to be led by the spirit listen to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit the promptings and the leadings of the Holy Spirit then and put the two together and you know if your mind is renewed you're led by the spirit these will go together the renewed mind because it's taken on the ways and thoughts of God and the leading the prompting the innovators Holy Spirit goes together they're not opposite to each other they're going together and so you'll be absolutely comfortable thinking and listening you're thinking with your mind you're listening with your heart you're thinking in your mind you're listening to the Holy Spirit in your spirit and they're both in agreement and it's perfect peace you just walk you know the will of God now that's though that's the place I want to encourage all of us to come to you know so to know the will of God you are proving and your understanding and the same time you're listening and being led and you can flow together in just perfect harmony it's like the two rails of a railway truck the train can just go smooth and you know you keep going because these two rails are running parallel with each other all the time okay so now we move to verse 3 Paul says in verse 3 I say through the grace given to me to everyone that is among you not to think of himself more highly than you ought to think but I think so but as God has dealt each one a measure of faith so what I want to point out there in verse 3 is he says you know through the grace given to me and that's very interesting to observe Paul knew the grace that God had given to him so you and I must know what is the grace God has given to you Paul knew that he had the grace in this particular case he had the grace to be a leader to be an apostle and that's how he could speak to the church and say hey through the grace given to me I'm telling you I'm beseeching you I am speaking to you what is the grace God has put on your life right it's good to know that because then you can operate in your grace and you can operate it operate in your grace with confidence absolute confidence so Paul is saying through the grace that has been given to me I'm speaking to you right what is the grace given to you know that know that and you know just move in it with confidence he says I'm telling you don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but think so early it means be level-headed and what you think about yourself and you know we can apply this especially for us who are in ministry you know be level-headed and the problem in the ministry is this I'm kind of deviating a little bit digressing a little bit but I'm just bringing in the application for in the ministry context the problem in the ministry is this that when you know when things start happening you know maybe more and more people start coming to your church or attending your meetings and you know and more and more people whatever are being blessed through what what is happening in and through your life the tendency is to start thinking oh it's all happening because of me see I've been gifted by God I've been given I'm anointed by God I've been given and it has you know so what happens then your your whole view of yourself gets inflated and you no longer thinking soberly but you start thinking you know based on just have a larger than life unreal estimation of yourself and that's a very dangerous thing that's like the first step towards a fall when when you let that happen so what Paul is telling us here is hey all the time you know think soberly just stay level-headed keep your feet on the ground and think soberly it's God is a measure of faith you know so says look God has given to each one of us a measure of faith and so we we all start out with a measure of faith that God has given to us and then we keep growing of course we keep growing we keep growing in this faith that God has given to us but think aligned to that thinking proportion to your faith stay level-headed right so don't get inflated in how you think about yourself even as God has dealt each one the measure of faith there in verses five four through eight Paul begins to explain to us you know the functioning of the body and I won't I won't spend too much time on this because many of us are familiar with these with these things he says you know just like the human body the human body verse four the human body has many members many parts hands feet eyes no so on but and all of these body parts they don't have the same function each one is serving doing something different and he says verse five that's it that's how the body of Christ is that we have many members in the body and we're all we're all part of the same body but we all are individual members in the body and so as individual members we have differing function and we have verse six we have gifts and we have differing grace so I want to highlight three things here the three words here the word function that's in verse four the word gifts and the word grace in verses verse six right so in the body all of us have function gifts and grace so every person every person every believer is part of the body we are like a member body part and we're part of the body and each one of us are given have been given a function gifts and grace function is what you're supposed to be doing in the body serving in the body what we do the gifts are the capabilities that God has given to us each one is capable of doing something different we have our own set of gifts or capabilities what we keep above and the grace is the empowering that's on our lives to exercise those gifts and fulfill the function so God hasn't given us a function says okay do it on your own no he's given each one of us a function in the body he's given all of us the gray the gifts and the grace needed to fulfill that function now of course we can develop the gifts and grow in grace so that means our function and how V function can get better and better and better as we continue to develop the gifts and grow in grace there is more grace available James chapter 4 and verse 6 there is more grace and the gifts can also develop it can get sharper it can get better it can you know more mature the gift whatever gifts God has given to us we can get better so as we keep growing in our gifts and we keep growing in grace our function also grows that means the the effectiveness of our function the the reach of our function the blessing that comes through to through the function keeps on growing so for each one of us there is a fun there's functions I just use the word plural there are functions gifts and grace meaning manifold grace you know it's it's dive and there is various aspects to the grace of God but what Paul is telling us here in verses 4 through 8 is you see in the body we're all there we're all part of the body of Christ right that we're all there and each one of us every person every believer has been given function gifts and grace and then here he gives a representative list of things it's not a complete list but he just mentions a few the main point he's driving at is you know let's use let us use them right let us use them whatever is whatever is what has been given to us let us use them right whether you prophesy whether you serve whether you teach whether you encourage whether you give whether you show compassion now whatever your function is use it so he just given you know about seven of these things here it's not a complete list now these this list is what we call as membership gifts membership gifts different from spiritual gifts or gifts of the spirit so membership gifts means these are the capabilities God has put in you as a person to fulfill your function right so each one has been given different gifts different membership gifts and these membership gifts are connected or related to the function we have in the body and there is the grace of God empowering us to exercise those gifts to fulfill that function right so that's we call the membership guess that's because you're a member of the body or part of the body God has given you certain gifts to help you fulfill the function so you and this is just a man-made title it's not you know some you know God given title it's just a man-made title we just call it membership gifts that means the gifts God has given you to fulfill your function as a member of the body of Christ so it could be diverse it could be many things you know these seven things that are mentioned here are just representative and so you know God is just creative and so all kinds of combination of kids now that we will find in the body now as leaders what we must do is we must we must encourage believers to discover their gifts and carry out their function the more believers are actively engaged in fulfilling their function in the body to the body and for the body the more healthy and strong the body is going to be and that's why as in our local churches we need to really you know let people know that every believer every believer has a function has one or more functions in the body every believer has one or more gifts given to them by God we would call them capabilities or skills or talents whatever language want to use and every believer has been given grace from God to serve in that function so we just have to encourage them and say okay go ahead find out what it is find out what God's called you to do and then develop in those gifts and grow in that grace so your function can become more and more effective and you know fruitful in the body right so that's still verse eight so you see how he started off with something that's very personal meaning isn't your body and your mind and then he's changed now to okay you serve in the church serve in the body of Christ be useful part of the body of Christ and so from there from verse nine onwards the focus is more on what we do in relationship with other people especially in the body of Christ and also to those who are outside the body right so some of the things he says verse nine so now I'll go a little bit fast because these are you know instructions we are familiar with he says let love be without hypocrisy that means don't pretend to love don't you know don't don't pretend just love people genuinely right you know put your heart in it so love must be heartfelt it must be genuine you genuinely care for people right let love be without hypocrisy stay away from what is evil cling to what is good so Sean evil hold on to the good things things that are pleasing to God where Stan says you know be kindly affection with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another that means you give preference to the other person you know now here again yeah I want to think about this in in in in terms of ministry in honor giving preference to one in terms of ministry you know what happens is this that has got begin in ministry and I'm saying this just based on observation looking at you know being involved in the ministry circle as we go around travel to conferences and see other ministers and see how people behave and you know what we know to see is there is this tendency that as God begins to start using you you feel entitled you feel like you have to be given the preference you know if there are three preachers you feel like you're the one who's supposed to be called up to preach because hey maybe you have a bigger church than the other two maybe you have more whatever you know you may have more experience you you may be a better preacher whatever it is and there is a sense of entitlement I'm supposed to be the one I'm talking about ministers of God preachers but Paul is telling us the exact opposite he's telling us in verse 10 in honor you give preference to one another so if you are among three preachers what should you do you mean me let's say you you are the person who has you know a bigger church than the other two a bigger ministry you're a better preacher you whatever you're more accomplished in the other two what must you do don't feel entitled but in honor give preference so okay hey let me have that person let's let that the other person go and preach you know they need more I've done all of it me know let's I've done as much as I need to but let's give some let's give the opportunity to the other person let's give preference to the other person let them go up let them have the privilege of preaching and so on so that's the kind of attitude in which we must operate in honor preferring one another not the sense of entitlement and I am the better person I am the bigger preacher I'm the more anointed person that we see today so common in the Christian church because Paul is telling us to the exact opposite of what we're seeing today it doesn't mean we don't want to serve we are more than ready to serve but you're saying look there's something about in honor preferring one another that's worse dad okay not lagging in diligence fervent in spirit serving the Lord that means you know always be red hot fervent means to be red hot on fire it's full of zeal serving God with zeal with passion and you're not lagging in digit diligence be joyful with hope in every situation be patient or endure demonstrate endurance when you're going through hardship and continuous steadfastly that means consistently in prayer verse 12 and the verse 13 says distribute to the needs of the saints given to hospitality that means you bless others now he's talking about other saints or believers give to their needs whatever we can and be given to hospitality be generous kind welcoming serving right now that's how how we are supposed to be I just want to throw this in it's may not necessarily I mean be part of what Paul wrote here but you know in the soul thing about distributing to the needs of the people just remember you are not God that means you cannot meet everybody's need if you couldn't meet everybody's need and if you had to meet everybody's need you would be God but you cannot do that right so don't feel under pressure you know of course it says a gift to the needs of the people but it means that you can only give practically you can only give to certain people now the reality is there's plenty of needs out there and lots of people who come to you you know help me do this do that I need money I need this I need you know whatever so many things so many needs are there and you and I need to know that look well the Bible does tell me to give to the needs of the saints I can't meet every need and God is not expecting me to meet every need because I'm not God but I to the to the best that I can and according to the grace given and making the right choices we choose you know certain people that I could serve that I could help I can give to I don't I don't have to feel guilty of saying to the others you know I feel your need but I'm sorry I'm not able to help you but I you know look to God and God will provide because that's you know this is reality you and I are not God right so while we must be generous understand God is not expecting to meet every person's need right there are people God is assigned to your life there are people that you need to help and you don't have to feel guilty of saying I'm sorry I cannot we cannot do this well we do empathize we do feel your need you know God will take care right so I'm just giving you the other perspective and you can say no without feeling guilty you can say I'm sorry without feeling guilty okay where's the team distribute to the needs of the saints be given to hospitality our blessed those who persecute you bless and do not curse so when people persecute you says bless them don't retaliate don't curse them don't speak evil against them just bless them rejoice for those who rejoice weep for those who weep now that means you and I get into you know what people are going through that you rejoice and you reap yeah as a pastor sometimes strange things happen you know in the morning you get a message somebody has had a baby the same day in the afternoon you get a message somebody's lost to a family member and you know it's like wow you are you know celebrating with one and at the same time you're you have to beep with another you know and it's it's it's really strange thing you know you've got to do both on the same day there you rejoice for those rejoice and you reap for those who reap you know and especially in that kind of a pastoral position it's it's sometimes sometimes I'm not saying all that sometimes it's like oh god what's happening you know emotionally it's a little difficult because there are things to be happy about there are people you know wonderful things happening and they and then you're thanking God for them at the same time there are people who are going through really difficult times hardships and you have to you know empathize with them and you've got to do both rejoice for those who rejoice weep for those eat now now we're 16 be of the same mind one to another do not set your mind or high thing but associate with the humble do I be wise in your own opinion so kind of brings me back to a similar thought we shared earlier in worst you know I'm looking at worst 16 is you know be willing to you think and associate with people at different levels you know there are times you may be called to sit with people you know from high places you know they may be CEOs and aging directors of companies government officials you know people are very influential so on so you walk in there you talk to them relate to them and then there are times when you're called to meet and relate to people are very simple simple people you know they may not have much against their name they might have it very ordinary very simple maybe even poor people may just step in and you relate to them at where they are so as as God's people we should be able to do both you know be comfortable when you're in the presence of chief ministers or government officials just say that they're people they may be in a very high rank or they may be in a very high place but just be comfortable with them be confident you know and at the same time you when you're meeting people who are let's say from a village not very educated not very may not be very rich or influential or whatever you just get on to their level just talk to them treat them as equals and you know that's how we should be you know able to work with people at all levels relate to them and treat them as equals okay what's the 17 to 21 is what we had seen about I mentioned earlier repay no one evil for evil have regard for good things in the sight of all men right so don't repay evil for evil and people to harm just repay good as he explains to us later and that he says in verse 17 have regard for good things in the sight of all men that means we must be careful to do the things that are good in the sight of all people that means when everybody looks at us believers and non-believers they should see that what we are doing and how we are doing things is good means nobody points an accusing finger so provide for things that are good in the sight of all people you know if you want to put in a simple way be blameless both in the sight of those who are in the church and in the eyes of those who are outside the church provide you know whatever you do do it in a way that's beyond reproach and verse 18 as much as depends on you live peacefully with all men right so that that's interesting because there will be times when you want to live peacefully but others may not want to be peaceful they'll want to fight they'll want to quarrel they want to accuse they want to argue they want to be you know in in in strife but you're saying look let's get past this you know that's not even based our time now that how somebody else behaves is not in our control right that's why he says you as much as possible with you from your side your part you choose peace you don't repay evil for evil you don't go get into retaliation you don't get into a fight or you don't get in a strife you're choosing peace now what the other person does is not in our control if they also choose peace well and good it's good for everybody but if they choose to tell you they choose not to be at peace then that's beyond our control okay and verses 19 2021 is where he says you know when people do evil to us don't you don't try to you know meet out the judgment just leave that to God let God work it out vengeance is his his is you know it's God who's going to decide on judgment it's God who's going to decide on what's going to happen to people so just leave it and then instead what you and I focus on is okay let me see what I can do that will bless that person if he's hungry I can feed him peace thirsty I can give him something to drink and I know you know he says he's quoting from Probs and verse 20 he says and it's like putting coals of fire on his head in other words you're you know when you do good to somebody who's done evil they will feel the effect of it and verse 21 we live by this that is we do not overcome evil we do not overcome by evil but we overcome evil with good okay so all of this as we saw from verse 9 onwards is just practical this is how we live as believers and we can do this as we renew our mind we present our bodies as a living sacrifice and and even as we are serving in the body using our gifts and grace and function we do it knowing that this is how we're supposed to be doing it you know walking in this attitude in this mind altogether any questions at the end of chapter 12 all good all right so now we get into chapter 13 I will just you know say a few things and then we will close off or directly probably pick it up in detail next week in chapter 13 he continues to instruct believers and he says okay now believers I also want you to be in subjection to government authorities okay and the context is very interesting so what do you mean by a context so here you have believers in Rome and who is in charge the Roman government there are the emperor there's the Roman emperor there are these Roman soldiers there are kings in various districts appointed by the Romans from the local people and so this basically it's a Roman government and Paul is telling these believers in Jesus Christ be subject to the Roman government now the Roman government was not a kind or a compassionate no they were rough tough underly the emperor was generally a mean person very wicked and emperor Nero who took over shortly after this was very wicked and he you know he really attacks the church the Christian church believers so on and eventually destroyed Jerusalem and so to think about Paul writing to believers and saying be in subjection to authorities you see today and I'm just saying this because I feel there's a way for us to think here you know we so well this government is not a Christian government or this cover this person is not a believer or whatever and so I won't be subject to them that person is not my my leader that's the wrong way to think it's not biblical way to think Paul didn't tell the believers hey be subject to the government if the person is a believer he didn't say that in fact when he was writing like you mentioned Romans the Roman government the Roman emperor was in charge and he was not a believer he did wicked things his government you know was just rough and tough people soldiers and others and Paul was still saying be subject to them so for us as believers it's wrong for us to say well you know that person in leadership whether it's a prime minister or a president or whatever form of government that may be in the country it's wrong for us to say well that person that prime minister that president that whoever is not a believer so I won't listen to him wrong the Bible says you submit to those who are in civil authority with no criteria no qualification saying only if they're believers no he doesn't put any of us qualifications so I want to think about it because sometimes as believers we tend to have a wrong perspective towards our government because we add in criteria that God didn't place he didn't say obey your government only if they have believers he didn't say that he just obey your government obey your civil authorities right so we will pause here we will pick this up next week Romans 13th chapter we'll just get into it next week and go forward from there alright any questions before we pray and dismiss let's take a moment to pray and then we will dismiss okay maybe Conan can you pray if your phone's okay I mean if your audio is okay all right all right much of Conan's audio is okay hi Thomas when did you pray and then dismiss us please all right not getting a response yeah see that can you pray sir yeah sure please thank you thank you for this year you and us I just want to pray that as we all learn from our Romans 12 chapter 12 I pray for your grace I pray that we will all function together in your body Lord I pray they'll be with us each and every one of us guidance and leaders and protect us in Jesus name we pray God amen thank you everyone take a quick break and we'll head to the next class God bless you see shortly bye now