Chapter 12 Part 2

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In Rom 12 part 1 we’re admonished to present our individual bodies together as a corporate holy, living sacrifice! How can you do that if you don’t commit to joining a fellowship?

Paul now in this section of the letter (Chapter 12 &13) refocuses our attention on Yahusha; in particular the Sermon on the Mount:

Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace/ unmerited favor that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the measure of faith;
Romans 12:7 Or, some service, let us serve: or he that teaches, let him teach;
Romans 12:8 Or, he that exhorts, let him exhort: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that oversees, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with joy.

You can see the corporate emphasis again. We’ve got to slay the post enlightenment individualism that we’ve been taught in the mainstream Western religious culture…….it’s not all about me…..and it’s not all about you……

Romans 12:9 Let love be without deceit in full sincerity. Despise that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:10 Be kind and tender to one another with brotherly love (Philadelphia) in honor preferring another over yourself.
Romans 12:11 Not idle in your duty; fervent in spirit; serving your vuvh;
Romans 12:12 Having rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation; continue steadfast in prayer;
Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of the Yisraelite saints; be given to hospitality.

Paul is hoping this portion of his letter will unify the believers in Rome, both ethically and religiously. He’s trying to foster a spirit of unity of which the Jewish believers and the returning lost sheep of the house of Israel will accept.

The Jews are the minority with their Judaic traditions, whereas the Israelites are the majority with their Messianic awakened Scriptural zeal.

Romans 12:14 Bless them who persecute you: bless, and do not curse.
Romans 12:15 rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with those that weep.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one towards another. Mind not prideful things and position, but associate with the humble. Be not wise in your own estimation.
Romans 12:17 Repay to no man evil for evil. Do things honestly and right in the sight of all men.

Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, I will repay evil; wait on יהוה, and He will save you.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that not any one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue the good, both towards one another and towards all.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, on your part, live in shalom with all men.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, revenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; and repayment, says vuvh.

Matthew 10:34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword . 35  I came to divide a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a bride against her mother-in-law. 36  “Ones hostile to the man shall be those of his own house.” (Mic. 7:6) 37 The one loving father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And the one loving son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38  And who does not take up his staff and walk in my ways is not worthy of Me.

Yahusha draws His sword within marriages and families, when those not yet called aren’t willing to accept changes in the individual or the corporate family that’s being; or been called!

Yahusha doesn’t intentionally divide families. Rather, division is a byproduct of a person being called into the Israel of Elohim.

But there’s also the appearance of disparity between Yahusha’s own words:

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called sons of Elohim.

Peacemaking seeks to avoid conflict; the grey man! Peacemakers seek to resolve conflict, the peacemaker is the breaker in the breach that seeks to separate two warring parties form one another. The peacemaker labors to transform warring parties into allies…..

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to יהוה, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

The irony to the saved, the redeemed is this: we must leave room for YHWH’s wrath precisely because we’ve received his mercy.
How can someone who’s experienced YHWH’s mercy extract vengeance and wrath themselves?

In context; this section of the letter is really addressing the problem with the rising tensions in Judea between the Roman legions and the Jewish zealots that are now arriving in their midst.

Romans 12:20 Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on His head.
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Pro. 25:21)

Eighteen arrows of how to overcome; to place within your quiver:

1. Overcome: From the Greek word ‘nikao’ meaning to mightily prevail over, to master, to be victorious. We have a choice in every situation to either be a victor or to be vanquished. Too many of us are failing to experience consistent victory over our anger, fear and self-centered responses to adversity.
2. Overcome with praises to יהוה: that you are already a conqueror through Messiah who loves you. Romans 8:37
3. Overshadow any opposition with His mighty power.“Then the angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you like a shining cloud and so the holy offspring will shall be born of you.”Luke 1:13
4. Overlook others faults. Proverbs 19:11, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
5. Overflow with love, hope, joy and faith. The Greek word is ‘hyperperisseuo’, which means to abound more exceedingly. To overflow means to extend beyond the limits by going over the brim of vessel. David wrote, “My cup overflows.” (Psalms 23:5,6)
6. Overpower with Messiah’s mighty power working in and through you. Paul wrote, “I can do everything יהוה asks me to do with the help of Messiah who gives me the strength and power.” (Phil. 4:13)
7. Overrule with the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence, power and perspective. Yahusha said, “In the world, you will have tribulation but be of good cheer as I have overcome the world. I will send to you another comforter who will be with you.”Satan dwells in the arena of magnification and imaging.
8. Do not over inflate negative pressures.
9. Do not over react to problems.
10. Do not overstate your difficulties. “No temptation that has taken you but such as is common to man. But Elohim will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. With each temptation He will provide a way of escape so you can be able to bear it.” (I Corintians 10:13).
11. Do not go overboard by showing extreme fear, intimidation or anger at the enemy. Greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world. (I John 4:4).
12. Do not be overwhelmed by what you’re up against. “Whatever is born of Elohim is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over the world and who conquers the world, but he who believes that Yahusha is the Son of Elohim, who trusts, adheres and relies on that fact.” I John 5:4,5.
13. Do not be overly critical of evil people. יהוה opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit to יהוה , resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:2.
14. Do not overemphasize hardship (wilderness murmurings).
15. Do not demand to understand why bad things happen to good people: Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to יהוה our Elohim, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
16. Do not dwell on the negative. We’re to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is the will of Elohim in Messiah Yahusha concerning you. (I Thessalonians 5:16)
17. Do not hesitate to take the offensive: Joshua and Caleb went up at once and took The Land. David said to Goliath “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin but I come against you in the name of the יהוה Tzevoth, the Elohim of the armies of Israel, whom you defied’.
18. Finally; be overjoyed in יהוה: “Rejoice in יהוה always, again I say rejoice”, Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4. “ Trust in יהוה and do good. Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in יהוה and He will give you the desires of your heart. Trust also in Him and He will bring things to pass. Commit your way to יהוה and He will do it.” (Psalms 37:3-5).