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When we wonder why? This may be why……
12:1 I beseech you (to beg for urgently or anxiously) therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present (to stand beside) your bodies a living (the quick) sacrifice, holy, acceptable (well pleasing) unto God, which is your reasonable (rational logical) service.
- Paul has a way of opening a letter in order to get our attention. Notice the words in parenthesis. “To beg for urgently”! We are a LIVING Sacrifice. We are the Quick as in “The Quick and the Dead”. Remember our study in James 5:7? The Husbandman waiteth for the Precious Fruit!!! Do YOU see yourself as Precious for to the Lord?
2:2 And be not conformed (to the same pattern) to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing (renovation) of your mind, that ye may prove (test) what is that (the) good, and acceptable (well pleasing), and perfect (complete), will of God.
- The renovation of our mind. It all begins in the mind. There is a saying: Our minds can not hold a negative thought and a positive thought at the same time. The Mark of the Beast is IN the forehead, the Mind!
12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly (vain or arrogant) than he ought to think; but to think (to exercise the mind, to be disposed) soberly (to be of sound mind, to be sane), according as God hath dealt to every man the measure (a limited portion, degree) of faith.
- To think soberly means a bit more than abstaining from alcohol. Using the Strong’s numbers and the Green’s it reads: to exercise the mind into being sane. (#’s 5426,1519,3588,4993). Faith without works is dead!? We can honker down and study the Word, but unless we SHARE it…. Work it… What is the value of our Faith?We can’t loose our minds over all that is going on. See below for definition of insane: “unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding”. There are souls walking about that do NOT understand what is going on. YOU do! This is how we work our Faith.
- The definition of sober in a spiritual light ; 1 a : sparing in the use of food and drink : abstemious b : not addicted to intoxicating drink c : not drunk 2 : marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor 3 : unhurried, calm 4 : marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness 5 : subdued in tone or color 6 : showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice.The definition of Insanity: 1 : a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia)2 : such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility 3 a : extreme folly or unreasonableness b: something utterly foolish or unreasonable
12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office (practice, deeds)
12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ (Heb. 12:1- a cloud of witnesses), and every one members (a limb) one of another (reduplicated). 12:6 (But) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether 1prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
- This is a key verse to me as this can cause some friction within our Christian camp. The word gifts is a powder keg of definitions such as charisma, grace, favor. The word differing means varying; also surpassing:–differing, divers, more excellent. Some folks have a whole lotta charisma… while others… eh, not to much. But this should not be a reason to succumb to the divisional tendencies that pride can bring. Remember the parable of the talents? Some get less, some get more.
- 1-prophecy prediction (scriptural or other) an inspired speaker
- Definition of Charisma Etymology: Greek, favor, gift, from charizesthai to favor, from charis grace; akin to Greek chairein to rejoice — more at yearn Date: 1930 1 : a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure (as a political leader) 2 : a special magnetic charm or appeal
- Proportion Strong’s #356: analogia is a compound word ana meaning up and logos meaning something said.
12:7 Or 2ministry (attendance as a servant, etc.), let us wait on our ministering: or he that 3teacheth, on teaching;
- 2-ministry attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate):–(ad-) minister (-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service(-ing).3-teacheth to teach (in the same broad application):–teach.
The gifts differing……………………….
12:8 Or he that 4exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that 5ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
- 4-exhorteth to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):–beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.5-ruleth to stand before, i.e. (in rank) to preside, or (by implication) to practise:–maintain, be over, rule.
5 Gifts differing. 5 equals Grace in Biblical Numerics
12:9 Let love (affection or benevolence) be without dissimulation (to hide under a false appearance). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 12:10 Be kindly affectioned (fraternal towards fellow Christian) one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring (to lead the way for others) one another; 12:11 Not slothful (tardy) in (the Father’s) business (diligence); fervent (to be hot) in spirit; serving the Lord;
12:12 Rejoicing in hope (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); patient (to stay under/endure/left behind) in tribulation (pressure); continuing instant (to be earnest towards) in prayer (worship); 12:13 Distributing (to share with others) to the necessity (employment) of saints; given (to pursue) to hospitality.
12:14 Bless them which persecute (pursue. press forward) you: bless (speak well of, i.e. religiously), and curse (to doom) not.
- For the word persecute the Green’s Interlinear reads ‘ones chasing’. In Matthew 10:17 the Lord tells us that we will be ‘scourged’ in THEIR synagogues. The word scourged is Strong’s # 3164, meaning to war, quarrel dispute. Jesus was not scourged in church. Furthermore, back in Proverbs 23:1 that word ‘eat’ means to eat someone’s words. The word appetite is the Hebrew word nephesh/soul. And if we have a worldly appetite (for the spirit world?), we need to put the proverbial knife to our throats and cut off the source of evil before we digest it.And furthermorest, going ahead in time; John is given the ‘little book’ and he eats the book and so on… so what I am saying is that the persecution doesn’t necessarily have to be torture. However, if Lucifer was the most subtil beast the field, and as Christians we have a history of physical persecution…. Why would Satan use physical touch to get us to fall away during the rise of the Second (religious) Beast?.
Rev. 13:16 says that he will ‘causeth all’. NOT forseth all. Of course this happens during the time of the second (religious) beast. So I suggest a Spiritual persecution. And so great a persecution that the days will be shortened for the Elect’s sake. Mark 13:20
12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Keeping company with like-souled minds.
- 1 Cor. 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things (lofty, in place or character), but condescend (to take off together) to men of low estate (depressed/ humiliated). Be not wise in your own conceits (a fanciful ideas).
- Definition of Condescend: 1 a: to descend to a less formal or dignified level. b : to waive the privileges of rank 2 : to assume an air of superiority
12:17 Recompense (to give away) to no man evil for evil. Provide (to consider in advance) things honest (valuable or virtuous) in the sight of all men.
- The word evil as it is used here means worthless. As I have said before, if I suddenly realized that there was no God, I would find life worthless to live. Given that sort of thinking, I would look upon a life without the Lord as meaningless. Hell as a state of mind without Christ.
12:18 If it be possible, (powerful or capable) as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
- If it be possible. Sometimes it is NOT possible to get along with someone.
12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge (vindicate, retaliate) not yourselves, but rather give (to be giving/to yield) place (a spot) unto wrath (desire i.e. violent passion): for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
- What I see this verse saying is that we should relent from being consumed by vengeance. Leave it to the Lord as He will do a better job. Our concern should not be to eradicate the evil (tares) but to plant the seeds, til the ground. Gen.2:5
- What was Peter’s response when they came to take Jesus away? He grabbed the sword. And what did Jesus say? NO! John 18:10. Peter cuts off the RIGHT ear of Malchus (king or kingdom). Are you seeing the symbology of words here? Peter, whose previous name Simon, meaning hearing, was NOT listening to Jesus and would go as far as to tell Jesus NOT to go to Jerusalem where He would be put to death.
12:20 Therefore if thine enemy (hateful) hunger (crave), feed (to supply with bits, i.e. to nourish) him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
- This word enemy is not the typical idea that we hold in our minds for the text book definition of the word enemy. It simply means a passively, odious, or actively, hostile person. So, how do we handle a person like this? Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The Green’s Interlinear calls the word feed morsel or MORSELizING
12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
“Hell is a state of mind – ye never said a truer word. And every state of mind, left to itself, every shutting up of the creature within the dungeon of its own mind – is, in the end, Hell. But Heaven is not a state of mind. Heaven is reality itself. All that is fully real is Heavenly. For all that can be shaken will be shaken and only the unshakeable remains.” C. S. Lewis ~ The Great Divorce
