Week 54 - Free Weekend Program For Street & Vulnerable Children

Text : Romans 12:12-16

Theme : Perseverance in Faith

We began Romans Chapter 12 by learning the instructions God gave and continue to say to us regarding our body, pleading with us to honor Him with our body in light of all Christ has done for us and because it is for our own good. We also learned that obedience will not earn us salvation or add anything to all Christ has accomplished for us on the cross because God gives eternal life to us freely. He loved us while we were still sinners, but obedience will help us enjoy the fruits of our salvation. It will fill us with joy and peace regardless of our physical circumstances because we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, bearing these fruit in and through us.

Last week, we also saw that God has given us various spiritual gifts. Each Christian has a gift that they can’t earn; we never worked for it, it’s free! I’m sure we all understood the true meaning of the gift of prophecy, serving others, teaching, giving, exhortation - encouraging others, leadership, and the act of showing mercy - kindness to others.

Let’s review briefly with a few questions - who is a true prophet? What is the difference between true and false religious exhortation? We were also warned not to be lazy but to serve God fervently with joy and without pretense or eye-service because Christ alone is our reward, and He sees every act and intent - motive. Let’s serve others as if they are better than us, even though we are all equals before God. Don’t serve because Brother Heshimu is an American and you expect something in return. Serve wholeheartedly because God has given you a gift, and He wants you to honour Him by serving others, whether they are higher or lower than you in this physical world.

Today, we continue from verse 12-16.

12. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

13. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.

15. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

16. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

We take joy, knowing that God is our friend. He is with you always; He will never leave you or forsake you. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. You can tell Him everything, and He will encourage you in trouble. He doesn’t offer false hope. His words are true. He said, “In this world, we will have trouble, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

He is not saying that we will have everything we want; He is saying that we have Him, and that’s enough for our eternal soul. Not even death can separate us from Him (Romans 8:35); our confident hope is beyond this world. It is in Christ Jesus, and He is eternal; He has no end. No trouble or pain can take Christ away from our hearts. He is our peace; this is why we rejoice. Our joy is in Him; it cannot fade away (1 Peter 1:4). If you love a person, delight in him; you will be happy with him even in a cave. But when your heart is not in a person, you will find no joy or contentment even in a palace. David knew this joy; he wrote in Psalm 84:10, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

We must also look out for others in need and offer them help. If someone has lost his job, you can talk to your boss to give him work so he can start something no matter how small. I know that MANY unemployed Nigerians, especially younger ones, now have “PREFERRED OPTIONS.” Only “Elon Musk” is qualified to employ them; they have long excuses and complain about every possible menial job or what they call low-level work like teaching, working at supermarkets, restaurants, etc. Some parents vehemently forbid such “menial work” for their children. But I read once that former President Obama’s daughter was working at a restaurant during vacation, though her father has a qualified chef; her mom, former First Lady, worked as an administrator in a hospital.

Begging seems more honorable for most in Nigeria whose minds are fixated on “preferred prestigious options.” But it doesn’t matter what honest work you do if it pays your bills and provides food. We relieved a paid volunteer of her job for openly mocking the work of street tailoring, locally called “Obioma.” God ordained that work should feed us; it shouldn’t take 1-50 years to reach that goal because of “preferred options” and because of the culture of begging, acting like a leech - sponging on others. For the girls, aspiring to work as a house wife and mother is good, pray that God will send you a godly man that can provide and prepare prayerfully not to be a nag but to be content with whatever he provides.

Having said all that, remember that in this verse, God is encouraging us to offer help to those in need, open your home to someone who is homeless, in need of help, practice hospitality by sharing your resources with others in need. Sickness, loss of job, divorce, death, or tragedies of all kinds can force a need on even the most hard-working person. So, while it’s good to evaluate each situation objectively in an immediate and timely manner in line with Proverbs 3:28 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11. It is wrong to analyze endlessly or become condescending, critical, and judgmental. “Call me next month, I forget, remind me again next week, why you no go find work, wetin do your hand, abeg commot!” No! That is evil pride, and we must repent.

Verse 14 goes beyond our church family, being enriched by God’s love, we are able to love not just our brothers and sisters in Christ but our enemies as well. By the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do good, blessing those who persecute us, proving ourselves as true sons of God. Luke 6:32. This practice is notably visible in many Christian homes in the North, families praying for the salvation of Islamic extremists that have murdered their families, burnt down their churches, farms, and homes; they spend time praying for their salvation as God has commanded.

This is the Christian life; we can defend ourselves from danger where possible, and we can also love and pray for those that persecute us.

In addition, let’s put away envy and jealousy through repentance, sincerely rejoicing with those that are happy and weeping with those that grieve. Don’t try to stir yourselves up in these acts; all self-efforts will end in hypocrisy. Pray to God; ask Him to give you sincere and genuine love for others, even your enemies.

Remember all Christ did for you while you were still steeped in sin. He died for you, forgave your sins, gave you the Holy Spirit; that same Spirit, by His grace, will enable you to love others, even a wicked sinner. Prayer is the surest and greatest way of being a blessing to your enemy. Don’t pray like false prophets and teachers, “thunder and die, suffer the witches not to live.” No! In your sin, you were worse than a witch, but Christ bled and died to set you free. Extend the same love to other sinners that persecute you, plead with God for their salvation like we read in Romans 9:4. God can save them like He saved Saul on his way to Damascus.

Finally, live peacefully with others, whether you know God and they are sinners who worship visible idols. Don’t see yourself as someone who is better than everyone else. Being better does not mean that i am a better person, it means that i serve God with the gifts that He has given me. we owe it all to Christ. we have nothing in ourselves.

One woman used to boast about her “COVENANT” with God, how God will reward her faithfulness and dedication. She saw her neighbors as people defiled because they worship idols and eat meat sacrificed to idols. In her pride, she would not let them into her house; comparing her children to theirs as sons of God vs. sons of Satan; the death of their kids, meant judgement for their sin and their lack of prayer, she says this to their face just the friends of job, until few of her own kids died and God began to bless her neighbor’s children with everything she had hoped and desired for her kids - bank jobs, visas overseas, football pro in Europe, shipping companies, etc. yet, none of her kids have anything in this world to boast about. Having known her personally, I have the privilege of telling her about the kingdom and how the same Grace God may have given her is available to all and why self-righteousness can only lead to eternal damnation if she doesn’t repent.

In conclusion, trust God, be grateful for all He has given you in Christ; it’s a gift! Put away pride, relate with others who are seemingly not at your level of education, financial strength, social status, civility, etc., value their soul eternally like yours, and seek to do them good; associate with them through mutual visit . Luke 14:12-13

Do it by praying for them as often as you can and with every opportunity God provides for you to show kindness with your resources. 🙏🏾