Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
ROMANS 12:1-21 - 2008-11-24
IV. 12:1-16:23 RIGHTEOUSNESS MANIFESTED IN LIFE
A. 12:1-2 BEGINS WITH COMPLETE SURRENDER
a. 12:1 A WHOLE BURNT OFFERING CONSECRATION
Pa-ra-kaLO [3870] oun huMAS, a-delPHOI, diA ton oik-tirMON [3628] tou TheOU,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of :God,
pa-raSTEsai [3936] ta SOma-ta huMON thuSIan [2378] ZOsan,
to present your :bodies a living sacrifice,
haGIan, toTheoeuAres-ton [2101], ten lo-giKEN [3050]laTREIan 2999]huMON.
holy, well-pleasing to God, your spiritual service.
b. 12:2 YIELD TO GOD'S TEACHERS
kai me sun-sche-maTIzes-the [4964] to aiOni TOUto:
And be not fashioned according to this :age:
alLA me-ta-morPHOUSthe [3339] te a-na-kai-NOsei [342] tou noOS,
but be transformed by the renewing of the mind,
eis to do-kiMAzein [1381] huMAS ti to THEle-ma [2307] tou TheOU
that you may prove what is the good
to a-gaTHON kai euAres-ton [2101] kai TElei-on [5046].
and well-pleasing and perfect will of :God.
B. 12:3-13:14 CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEBT OF LOVE
1. 12:3-21 HOW TO ENTER INTO YOUR MINISTRY
a. 12:3 HUMBLE YOURSELF
LEgogar diA tes CHAri-tos tes doTHEIses moi,
For I say through the grace given me,
panTI toONti en huMIN,
to every man that is among you,
mehu-per-phroNEIN [5252]par' ho dei phroNEIN [5426];
not to think more highly that heought to think;
alLA phroNEIN eis to so-phroNEIN [4993],
but so to think as to think soberly,
heKAStohos ho TheOS eMEri-sen [3307]MEtron [3358]PISte-os.
as :God has dealt to each a measure of faith.
b. 12:4-5 BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY PART OF THE WHOLE
kaTHAper gar en heNI SOma-ti [4983]MElepolLA Echo-men,
For even as we have many members in one body,
ta de MElePANta ou ten auTEN Echei PRAxin [4234]:
but all the members have not the same office:
HOUtos, hoi polLOI, hen SO-MA es-men en ChrisTO,
5 so we, the many, are one body in Christ,
to de kath' heis alLElon MEle.
and severally members one of another.
c. 12:6-8 MINISTER ACCORDING TO PROPORTION OF FAITH
Echon-tes de chaRISma-ta [5486]kaTA ten CHArin ten doTHEIsan heMIN diApho-ra [1313],
And having gifts differing according to the grace :given us,
EIte pro-pheTEIan [4394], kaTA ten a-na-loGIan [356]tes PISte-os;
whether prophecy, prophesy according to the proportion of :faith;
EIte di-a-koNIan, en tedi-a-koNIa [1248];
7 or ministry, attendto the ministry;
EIte ho diDASkon [1321], en tedi-da-skaLIa;
or who teaches, to the teaching;
EIte ho pa-ra-kaLON [3870], en tepa-raKLEsei:
8or who exhorts, to the exhorting:
ho me-ta-diDOUS [3330], en haPLOte-ti [572];
who gives, be it with liberality;
ho pro-i-STAme-nos [4291], en spouDE[4710];
who rules, with diligence;
ho e-leON [1653], en hi-laROte-ti [2432].
who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
d. 12:9a SINCERE LOVE
heaGApea-nuPOkri-tos [505].
Let the love bewithout hypocrisy.
e. 12:9b A GOOD SEPARATION
a-po-stuGOUNtes [655]to po-neRON; kolLOme-noi [3653]toa-gaTHO.
Abhor what is evil; cleave to what is good.
f. 12:10-13 THE SPIRIT AND ATTITUDE OF OUR MINISTRY
tephi-la-delPHIa [5360]eis alLElous phiLOstor-goi [5387];
In brotherly :love tenderly affectioned one to another;
tetiMEalLElous pro-eGOUme-noi [4285];
in :honor preferring one another;
tespouDEmeok-neROI [3836];
11 in diligence not slothful;
toPNEUma-ti ZEon-tes [2204]; toKuRIodouLEUon-tes [1398];
fervent in the spirit; serving the Lord;
teelPIdi CHAIron-tes [5463]; teTHLIpsei [2347]hu-poMEnon-tes [5278];
12rejoicing in :hope; patient in tribulation;
tepro-seuCHE[4335]pros-dar-teROUNtes [4342];
continuing stedfastly in :prayer;
tais CHREIais [5532]ton haGIon koi-noNOUNtes [2841];
13communicating to the needs of the saints;
ten phi-lo-xeNIan [5381]diOkon-tes [1377].
pursuing :hospitality.
g. 12:14 NOT A NATURAL CHALLENGE
eu-loGEIte [2127]tous diOkon-tas [1377]; eu-loGEIte, kai meka-taRASthe [2672].
Bless the persecutors; bless, and curse not.
h. 12:15 CHALLENGE TO EMOTIONAL UNITY
CHAIrein [5463]meTA chaiRONton; KLAIein [2799]meTA KLAIon-ton.
Rejoice with therejoicing; weep with theweeping.
i. 12:16a GOAL: UNITY OF MIND
to auTO eis alLElous phroNOUNtes [5426].
Be of the same mind one toward another.
j. 12:16b A HUMBLE ATTITUDE OF MIND
meta hu-pseLA [5308]phroNOUNtes [5426],
Set not your mind on the high things,
alLA tois ta-peiNOIS [5011] su-na-paGOme-noi [4879].
but condescend to the lowly.
k. 12:16c CHALLENGE TO HUMILITY
meGInes-the PHROni-moi [5429]par' he-auTOIS.
Become not wise in your own eyes.
l. 12:17a THE SPIRIT OF JESUS
me-deNI kaKON anTI kaKOU a-po-diDONtes [591].
Render to none evil for evil.
m. 12:17b A HIGH GOAL
pro-noOUme-noi [4306] kaLA eNOpi-on PANton anTHROpon.
Take thought for things honorable in sight of all men.
n. 12:18 OUR GOAL: THE RULE OF PEACE
ei du-naTON, to ex huMON, meTA PANton anTHROpon ei-reNEUon-tes [1514].
If possible, as much as in you is, be at peace with all men.
o. 12:19 LEAVE ALL VENGEANCE TO GOD
me he-auTOUS ek-diKOUNtes [1556], a-ga-peTOI, alLA DOte TOpon te orGE [3709];
Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath;
GEgrap-tai gar, E-MOI ekDIke-sis [1557];
for it is written, Vengeance is mine;
eGO an-ta-poDOso [467], LEgei KUri-os.
I will recompense, says the Lord.
p. 12:20 BLESS YOUR ENEMIES WITH GOOD DEEDS
alLA eAN peiNA [3983] ho echTHROS [2190] sou, PSOmi-ze [5595] auTON;
But if your :enemy hunger, feed him;
eAN diPSA [1372], POti-ze [4222] auTON:
if he thirst, give him drink:
TOUto gar poiON ANthra-kas puROS soREUseis [4987] ePI ten ke-phaLEN [2776] auTOU.
for doing thus you shall heap coals of fire upon his :head.
q. 12:21 AGAIN: A HIGH GOAL
me niKO [3528] huPO tou kaKOU, alLA NIka en to a-gaTHO to kaKON.
Be not you overcome of :evil, but overcome :evil with :good.
NOTE: There are two passages in this chapter that through the years have meant much to me. Romans 12:1-2 came into sharp focus in February 23rdof 1988, because of a challenge in the fall of '87. I had been ministering in the Cranbrook area of BC and throughout Alberta during 1984-1987, and had lost track of what was going on in the Seattle area. I was unaware of J.Z. Knight of Yelm and her channeling on public television of “Ramtha,” a demonic spirit. From February 1-21, 1988, I called together 500 intercessors from California to BC, plus Idaho, Alberta and Saskatchewan. We went on a Daniel's fast for 3 weeks to entreat God for the key to dislodge J.Z. Knight and Ramtha from their position of favor and prominence.
God answered. On February 23rdHe said, “The key you need is the “Parable of the Knight Rider.” Michael Knight had a partner in a TransAm named K.I.T.T. What I want you and your 500 to do, is to open up your lives to Me, and I will come in and possess you as a spiritual K.I.T.T. Add to this Mark 8:34, and come after Me by denying your right to yourself, take up you cross by being available for My will, not your own; and follow Me in those areas as I followed My Father while on earth as the Son of Man.
We did - and God did. Not once since has J.Z. Knight paraded Ramtha on public television,and little has been heard of them publicly since! Thisis the way an Eldership of 8 of the 5-fold ministry in the Gate of each city can be likewise used - to unseat “principalities and powers” (Ephesians 6:12).
Notice carefully the steps in Romans 12:1-2 - Our bodies are to become a “Holocaust” - a whole burnt offering. Our minds are to be renewed to think God's thoughts after Him according to His Word - and to progress into the ability to intuitively discern God's will in all circumstances.
These 2 verses are worthy of meditation on a daily basis.
Then Romans 12:6-8 has long been a point of interest to me. But in 1967 God quickened it to me in a fresh way. He led me to link it with the Israeli tribe “Naphtali,” the “Wrestler.” I see Naphtali as representing the “Presbytery concept” that was the chief-quickened revival principle of the 1948 Visitation in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
Naphtali was like a deer let loose. He was trapped by a hunter, but before being fully captured in the morning - with great effort in a wrestling mode, he at the last moment before the arrival of the hunter - broke free, and raced to meet with his fellow deer on the mountain-top. There he shared with them “goodly words.” He gave his testimony how he escaped final capture at the last moment by ultimate wrestling.
This is the spirit of intercession needed in the gate of each city by a “Presbytery” Eldership! All believers are notof the 5-fold. Paul by the Spirit said so in 1 Corinthians 12:28-31. But allmay have one of the 7 predominant ministries in Romans 12:6-8: prophecy; ministry; teaching; exhorting; giving; ruling and showing mercy. All believers have all 7 of these, but oneof the seven shines forth predominantly, and colors the other 6. It is important for each of us to know what is our predominant ministry here. Also, each of us ought to know which one of the 4 Gospels of Jesus is our predominant one. Are we most like the lionof the tribe of Judah in Matthew? or the oxof Mark? the manof Luke? or the eagleof John? One of these will predominate for each of us, though at the same time the others are present in lesser form.
With these 7 ministries of Romans 12:6-8, there are unusual linkages with the 7 days of creation, the 7 pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle and Temple, the 7 festivals of Leviticus 23 - and many more.
For those of you who are interested in following up on Romans 12:6-8 yet more, by all means search out Arthur Burk, “Plumbline Ministries,” <www.PlumblineMinistries.com> . Here Arthur shows how not only each individual has a linkage with one of these 7 ministries - but each local church, each city, each area, each state or province, and each nation or country also has one unique emphasis in line with these!
So Romans 12 introduces the last main section of this letter. What a chapter, and what insights can be found here. Bless each one of us as we pursue our privileges and responsibilities. - Jim Watt
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