The Love That Endures pt.2 | Expository Sermon | Romans 12:12

Scripture

• Romans 12:12

About this sermon

Introduction: The aim of our charge — all the teaching of God’s Word — and the outcome of the proper functioning of Spiritual gifts, is not only a loving people, but a spiritually stable people. That is what we see in Ephesians 4. The outcome of the ministry of gifted men teaching God’s Word, is the equipping of the saints. And the result of each part of the body of Christ functioning properly, is mature manhood. No longer tossed back and forth by every wind of doctrine, there is a stability found in the truth. All of this represents growing up into Him who is the head, even Christ, and it represents the body building itself up in LOVE. So, the outcome is a stability that is found in the love of God. THERE IS LOVE AND THERE IS STABILITY THERE IS LOVE AND THERE IS STEADFASTNESS The love of God produced in the believer is a steadfast love. That loving steadfastness must also be married to the zeal that we talked about last week. The zeal that SERVES GOD is sustained by the joy that BELIEVES GOD. But steadfastness is more than just JOY. It also requires PATIENCE and it requires ENDURING PRAYER. Tonight, we begin with the 2nd of those expressions of God’s love that belong to the life of perseverance. We begin by thinking about A PATIENCE THAT MUST BE CHOSEN IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY. Review: I. LOVE SERVES GOD JOYFULLY IN HOPE (vs.12a) Lesson: II. LOVE SERVES GOD PATIENTLY IN TRIBULATION (v.12b) This joyful hope we have been talking about is never less than honest about the realities that we face in this sin sick world. It is not a joy that requires pretending that things are never hard. It is a kind of joy that allows for something that is very real and down to earth. And it IS THIS because of where this joy fixes its perspective. It is the joy that is found in HOPE. It is NOT the mind SET ON THE EARTH that is able to deal with earthly things in a God honoring way. It is the mind that is SET ON HEAVEN that can deal with earthly things in a God honoring way. It is not the mind that is fixed on what CAN BE SEEN that is able to deal with life’s troubles, it is the mind that is fixed on what CANNOT BE SEEN that is able to WORSHIP in the midst of life’s troubles. ESV 2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2Co 4:16 ESV) The word for patience here is a form of the word ὑπομένω. It carries in it the idea of remaining somewhere. It is to endure. It is to remain patient. It is to stay in place. It is to remain under a trial. The word for tribulation is θλῖψις and means “trouble that inflicts distress, oppression, affliction, tribulation … Of distress that is brought about by outward circumstances (Jos., Ant. 4, 108; En, PsSol, Mel.; Did., Gen. 116, 10” This is steadfastness in the midst of things that are very unpleasant, trying — things that afflict us, trouble us, weight on us. It is the ability to be patient in troubles, in trials, in great tribulation, to stay in there, to remain under the test, and to obey God and to learn from God through it all. Because it belongs to the life where joy is found in hope it is a patience borne out of promise. ESV Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Rom 8:18 ESV) WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO IN OUR TROUBLES? HE WANTS US TO EXHIBIT THIS PATIENCE. What will that mean? A. STAY IN THE PLACE OF OBEDIENCE Remain in a place of submission to the will of God found in the Word of God, even when it is most difficult to do so. B. STAY IN THE PLACE OF LEARNING Remain in an attitude that understands that God is training His children, not only by the Word of God but by the circumstances He allows them to face as they are learning and living the Word of God.

Topics

• Love & Compassion