Practical Christianity

Pastor Linnecar looks at Paul’s letter to the Romans and draws out some very practical lessons for Christian living.

Recently we looked at the verse “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” That’s what it’s all about – it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ, who He is, and your relationship with Him by His Holy Spirit.

God is very clear about the way to live.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

The first commandment. In the Ark Bible Club they’ve been covering the commandments. The first commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart.

Leviticus 19:18

Two great commandments. Jesus brought these together :-

Mark 12:28-34

In Romans 12, we’ll look at things to do with living as a Christian, living and being in a church. Paul was aware that it’s the love of God and the life of Christ in us which outworks what God wants.

Romans 13:10

It’s the life of Christ inside you. He is the one who has fulfilled the law. And it’s His life working through you by the Holy Spirit which has an impact on the world and on other people.

Romans 12:1-2

There’s a will of God for your life. He doesn’t make you try to work it out. He doesn’t dangle some carrot before you which He then pulls away. His will is for you to fulfil what He has. Don’t get tangled up in the world, in the fashions of this evil age.

Paul has some very practical things to say about living. This isn’t to turn us into some holy huddle, but to turn us outward, with Jesus Christ in everything. And so His name will be lifted up.

Romans 12:3

It isn’t that you’ve got a bit of faith and someone else has a bit more. It’s dealing with the common standard of faith. It’s not that one of us has more faith than another. It’s His faith. I live by the faith of the son of God. I want to be open so God can live His life through me. We’ll see how practical it can be. Big time. But don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to. Everything has to be subservient to Him. We don’t puff ourselves up. He who would be best among you, let him be the servant of all.

Romans 12:4-5

A familiar metaphor – the body of Christ. Elsewhere it talks about the hand, the eye, the ear. But everyone is dependent on one another. We’re linked in with each other. There’s no way we score points off one another.

Romans 12:6-8

Seven things. Whatever God has given you to do, do it well as unto Him. Not to score points, but as unto Him.

Romans 12:9

Don’t pretend to love others. Don’t put on a smile in here which becomes a dagger drawn in the week. For those of you who know what it is to go right and you’re choosing to go wrong, reverse it.

Romans 12:10

This is practical Christianity. It’s God’s will that you need to follow. Where does He want you to be, to accomplish? How does He want to live through you through the abilities He’s given you? The key thing is His plan for your future.

Romans 12:10-11

This isn’t to do with the company you work for. You need to bring the context in. It’s the business of serving the Lord. It’s not me ticking the box for God to bless me in business. It’s a question of me being focussed for what God has for my life.

Romans 12:12-13

When was the last time you invited someone round for a meal who you’d never actually spoken to before? It would be good for us to make a point of being open with one another to that extent. I don’t want it for people to know no one beyond their own family. I’ve heard it said that we’re good at welcoming people but then I don’t know what happens. We don’t want anyone isolated at all. One major thing in my heart is that how ever we work out the structure, we don’t want to impose, but to include and take care of everyone. Big time.

Romans 12:12

I talked about prayer to the members of the senior school. I asked if they were praying for their friends. You can certainly pray that others will fulfil God’s purpose for their lives. I want the best for you.

“That’s all right for you. You have to include everyone.” Yes, but we’re dealing here with practical Christianity, for each one of us.

Romans 12:13-14

In the above verse, Paul moves the focus to those outside.

Romans 12:15-16

Don’t be a snob. Don’t limit yourselves to one group. We all have faith and life because of what He has done. We all have that common denominator. Our pathway is set in Him.

No matter when you find me, it’s His life lived through me. There isn’t a time when I hope you won’t hear what I’m saying, that you won’t see what I’m doing.

Romans 12:17

Do you want to get people back – or is it as in this verse. The word evil comes up a lot in this chapter.

Romans 12:18

You’re not looking for a fight. You don’t compromise truth, but you seek to live peaceably. You don’t sacrifice truth for the sake of peace, but if possible you live peaceably with all men.

Romans 12:19-20

1 Peter 2:15

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

It doesn’t matter what is being said to you. It doesn’t matter if someone is trying to pull you down. I’ll continue in well doing.

1 Peter 2:21-23

We’re not meant to take things into our own hands, or find a way of getting back at someone. That’s not a Christian way of living. Instead we should follow the example of Jesus as set out above.

Isaiah 59:18-19

If there is persecution, if there are people who are trying to needle you, the whole sway of the passage in Romans is to leave things with God, and get on with what He has given me to do. I’m not trying to score points, to get my own back. I want to lift His name up. And anyway if the enemy comes in like a flood, God is the one who lifts up a standard against him. We’re following in the train of His triumph.

Romans 12:21

Colossians 1:18-20

In all things ... in your life, that Jesus might have the pre-eminence. In your testimony at work. In all things, that Jesus Christ might have the pre-eminence. If I’m weighing up my future, I have to be honest. What am I living for? In everything let Him have the pre-eminence. He loves you, and His life lived through you will bring glory to His name. Others will ask you about Him. There are others He wants to reach through you. This practical teaching from Romans governs your actions in life.

I think it’s wonderful the way that God is sorting things out – sorting them out so that His name will be glorified. I have no hesitation in saying that God is working His purposes out here.

I’m pleased that this week I shall be meeting with the other pastors in this town. Pray for me. How can we find ways of working together?

We’re part of what He wants to do in this town and beyond. But let’s make it personal. During this coming week He wants to have the pre-eminence in you. And as you let His life be lived through you, outwork these practical things for this chapter. We’re on the same side, and we want His name to be lifted up because others are in desperate need.

He is our Lord. Absolute truth. Rock solid. He is the truth.

It’s exciting what God is going to do in your life.