When Personalities Collide Part 2

One reason for us, looking to Jesus, founder and perfecter each of us is wired from birth itself. First, only the spirit of God can smooth the rough edges and help us extend ourselves in blessing to others today story of a cabdriver with a horrid past a man who needed a friend from the Moody Church in Chicago. This is running to win with Dr. Erwin Sir, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Esther Blitzer today will be in Romans chapter 12 tell us what to expect. You know, Romans chapter 12 is pivotal in living the Christian life begins by telling us to renew our minds and then goes on to give us many different commands as to how to live among one another, including being able to emotionally identify with people weeping with those who weep rejoicing with those who rejoice, Rebecca and I have written a book entitled life-changing Bible verses you should know this book deals with about 40 different topics. It deals with each topic briefly regarding issues of the Christian life regarding theology. It will help you in your walk.

It will help you even as you think about relationships for gift of any amount. It can be yours.

Here is what you do go to RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for life-changing Bible verses you should know now let us listen carefully as we open our Bibles to Romans chapter 12 we rejoice with those who rejoice, which is very difficult to do to weep with those who weep that even the unsaved can weep with those who weep. But can we rejoice with those who rejoice, somebody who's always been a little bit uppity in relationship to you a little bit bragging. You know, and we all met people like that.

There like a cowboy I once knew in Texas. He was all hat and no cows, no we all met people like that and then suddenly they get a windfall you know they call you on the phone and they say, you know, my uncle died and I just inherited $2 million. I just learned and they say let's go celebrate. Let's go to McDonald's and celebrate you go with them to McDonald's and that they expect you to pay for your own burger. Can you rejoice with them. That's difficult to do.

The Bible says rejoice with those who rejoice. I've always prayed that God would enable me to rejoice over those who are more successful than I and imagine when we get to heaven. Jonathan Edwards says we are going to be so free of envy that when we see those above us in the kingdom. We will rejoice as if their exaltation were our own. Humility means that we rejoice with those who rejoice in weep with those who weep and we are not conceited you.

We read the text here and we associate with those who are lowly in the early church, slavery was still a problem, but one of the things that the church insisted on was that the slaves set with the owners in the same bench because they knew that to make a distinction was unscriptural.

That's why James says if somebody comes into your assembly and he's got all kinds of gold chains and he's live in large put him in a special category. No no no no no, he sets with the rest. It means impartiality.

How does humility help us to get along with one another. Humility makes us realize that we do not have to insist upon our right. We give up our right even to happiness. We give up our right to be somebody we give up our right to be noticed and to be recognized and we give all of those rights over to God and we no longer have them and that enables us to have a different kind of relationship with people because we are now no longer obsessed with fairness. See, it is fairness that makes us so angry because we feel as if it isn't fair. This isn't fair that isn't fair. He gets that fair fair fair fair when we are finally broken before God and totally humble. We realize something that grace isn't fair. The fact that God loved us so much and for gave all of our sins that is in fair and therefore because grace is in fair were willing to live with unfairness and were not obsessed with the need to make sure that we get our piece of the pie because we are content with who we are and our relationship with God. We fight for fairness on the part of others, but we ourselves are not obsessed with the need of our own to be treated fairly. That's the way we get along with one another and God helps us in the process.

We think of Jesus you know the Bible says that God humbled himself, and yet man remains proud.

So what is God trying to do. He's trying to help us get over the idea that we have rights that we need to hang on told you years ago about a woman who came to see me buckets full buckets full of papers trying to prove that one of the hospitals here in the area had been guilty of malpractice and that's why her mother died, how many years ago did this happen seven been to all these attorneys. These attorneys these attorneys, but maybe he was a pastor could help lady.

Maybe the hospital is as guilty as you think it is. But give it life is passing you by, move on.

As we shall see in a moment. We don't have to reconcile all of these things in this life. So hang on. First of all, we have the power of blessing. Secondly, the power of humility. Thirdly, the power of faith.

Now the word faith does not occur in verse 17 and following, but you'll see in a moment why I have labeled it faith you need faith to be able to obey this. It says repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. While faith why faith. Faith means that I don't have to get vengeance.

Faith means I don't have to even the score. I don't have to say you know you did me this evil and so I'll show you a thing or two and I'll do this evil back faith means that I can and trust God to even the score and I don't need to settle these disputes because vengeance belongs to God in the Old Testament word says and I for Anaya and a tooth for a tooth. It says that because it wanted to limit vengeance and by the way, that was not a personal thing that you are supposed to do that was part of civic law because when you have someone who deliberately pokes out your eye what you want to do your absolutely insistent that you poke out both of his eyes and do a whole lot more. There something within us the desires vengeance and vengeance belongs to God and not to you. You committed to the Lord and you walk away free to examples from Scripture Joseph as you know, was a man of God who understood the providence of God.

He knew that the evil that his brothers had done against them would be used for good after his dad dies.

This is in the 50th chapter of Genesis, we have of the brothers coming to Joseph and they say oh you know where were afraid the Bible says they were so afraid that Joseph would take out vengeance on them. Finally, now that dad's dad will even the score. So they come to him and they say, you know, our father before he died, says that you shouldn't repay us because of the evil that we've done. Joseph breaks out weeping. The Bible says when he heard it, he wept. Why he wept because he thought to himself, you mean. Even at this point my brothers still think that I'm the kind of person who's going to meet out. Vengeance is going to even the score and he was terribly hurt and then he said these words am I in the place of God for you.

What Joseph is saying is look. If I were to even the score and take out vengeance be doing God's work might be saying God you're not doing anything so you move over your to slow years go by and you're not doing anything about this situation so I'm taking it into my hands and I'm finally setting the record straight. Joseph said I won't do that because I'd be doing what belongs to God vengeance. The text says is mine. You do not repay evil for evil, you leave it to God and you trust him and that's where faith comes in several story, but I've had women come to me and say so you expect me to get rid of my bitterness toward my husband. Here he divorced me he leaves me with the kids. I got two jobs to keep things together. He's down in Florida somewhere has a good job won't make child payments and now you expect me to be the one to release all that bitterness to God.

Where is justice is not what we want.

Of course we wanted, and God has built the desire for justice within our hearts, our hearts cry out. Where is justice for years.

I did know how to answer that until I had the insight from first Peter chapter 2 verse 23 what you've heard me quote many times regarding Jesus who, when he was reviled, reviled not again when he suffered, he uttered no threats. He didn't say no, wait till I'm in charge. I'm gonna blow you guys away. My ever going to even the score. He uttered no threats but what did he do did he give up his desire for justice. No, he kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously. Jesus that I can endure this injustice because I know that there's a time when my case will be tried by the supreme court. I can trust to my father in the end to write by me, my friend, you do not have to even the score. Your desire for justice is well-founded. But what you need to do is to be sure to give yourself fully and totally to God and to trust him. That's where faith comes and that he will do what you're not supposed to let God be God. Let me nail this down now in our relationships as we think about the power of blessing the power of humility and then the power of faith. First, keep this in mind, God has a reason for your conflict.

God has a reason for your conflict. God wants to reproduce in us those qualities that Jesus had.

So yes, to put us through some of the experiences that Jesus had man once asked the sculptor how do you make an elephant sculptor said it's not hard at all. All that you do is you take a block of marble and then you chip away everything that isn't elephant. What is God doing he's chipping away everything that isn't Jesus and he is molding us into his image and difficult people do that best in our lives.

If I had more time I could give you illustrations of this. Secondly, keep this in mind, God has a reason for your conflict and secondly our treatment of others is based on God's treatment of us. Our treatment of others is based on God's treatment of us. What does the Bible say in Ephesians 4 be tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven you, as God forgiven you much Jerry one here today who says yes God has forgiven much. My hand is raised. What about yours. He has forgiven us so many times, even the same sins over and over again. We knew better. We despised him by doing our own thing. He has forgiven us and forgiven us in forgiveness and now why are you so stingy when it comes to forgiving others who have hurt you see the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ gave himself up for us and if you're here today and you'd never received his grace and his love understand that he died for sinners, so that if we stop trusting ourselves and we trust only in Jesus that we can be forgiven and we can experience grace and because we can experience grace we can now dish it out liberally, and love covers a multitude of sins. Finally, the final resolution of conflict is God's business.

The final resolution of conflict is God's business.

Now the Bible says as much as lies within you. Verse 18, live peaceably with all can you live peaceably with everybody no all kinds of people. You can't live peaceably with their people who refuse to make peace there people who make false accusations there people who if you tried to make peace when use it against you to control you there all kinds of people. You cannot have peace with but as much as lies in use so far as your side of the ledger is concerned, do what you possibly can and then what you do you trust God, and you believe that in the final judgment. God is going to make it right to know the truth is going to come out and you're willing to trust him for the final resolution here to people, both of whom claim to be Christians, let us suppose here's a man who leaves his wife divorces her goes with another woman and they are separated. There's all kind of bitterness. There's not a reconciliation there's no justice in terms of payments.

All of this ugly situation. They both die. You think that when they get to heaven. God is going to say well you know the blood of Christ forgives everybody, send your Christian she's a Christian now is the time for you to walk into heaven happily hold hands and will just pretend bygones or by all that's with the judgment seat of Jesus Christ is for its to resolve unresolved issues there at the judgment seat.

Everything is going to be drawn out everything is going to be dragged out justice is going to be brought to that situation before they are allowed to enter into heaven permanently. That's why the justice of God is going to be manifest at the judgment seat of Jesus Christ, when we will shall all receive. The Bible says based on the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or in the case of Christians. That's what will happen, and then they will go into heaven permanently and eternally. But what about the unsaved. They are going to have to bear their own sin they will bear that for all of eternity. If you're here today you have never trusted Christ as Savior you've never believed on him. Just understand that you are not under the protection of Jesus Christ from God's wrath and from God's justice and God is an avenger for those who do not know him personally, and what will happen is every sin, every transgression is going to be part of the final evaluation and at that great day cold though great white throne judgment, you will stand there bearing your own sin and your own iniquity.

That's why it's so important for you to flee today to Jesus because when you receive him as Savior, God's vengeance has been received by Jesus, and you are exempt. That is the good news of the gospel and that's a good place for this text to and you see the Bible says this in Romans chapter 12 it ends by saying in verse 21.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Did you know that if you're a vengeful person you have been overcome by evil, you've conquered evil has conquered you today, I encourage you to give up your vengeance. Give never received Jesus Christ as Savior you receive this forgiveness and then you begin to forgive all of the hurts. All of the anxieties, all of the concerns that you have today. And if you are a believer. How can I put this more strongly. Having bitterness and anger in our hearts does more to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit than anything else. So I conclude today by saying to you. Give it up, lay it down and be free in Jesus. Let's pray our father, we want to thank you today for the fact that you have rebuked us today you have reminded us that that is people that are brought into our lives that are difficult are therefore purpose to make us more like Jesus and we rebelled and we been angry and we have lashed out and we been filled with rage and we are obsessed with fairness and justice. And you're saying let me take charge of all of that, we ask the Lord that you shall grant us the grace to do that in your love and mercy and for those who are here who have never trusted Christ as Savior. We pray that they might do that before I close this prayer. Now what is it that you need to say to God you talk to him now because he's listening father.

Whatever you begun to do.

Make us follow through with it. We pray a brief prayer probably is not sufficient, but it can be the beginning point when we say, oh Lord today to get rid of the bitterness we get rid of the vengeful spirit and we want to walk in the freedom of Jesus, grant that we ask in your holy name. Amen amen yes my friend, God does give us the grace to lay it down.

My wife Rebecca and I have written a book entitled life-changing Bible verses you should know also want you to realize that this is the second to last day that we are making this resource available to you. Perhaps you've heard me say this on previous programs, but it covers more than 40 different topics. These topics have to do with Christian living. Also, Christian doctrine. We believe that this will be a tremendous help with you as you make progress in your Christian experience asked for the book, life-changing Bible verses you should know for a gift of any amount. It can be yours. And as I've already emphasized today's the second to last day that we are making this resource available. Here's what you can do. Go to RT W offered.com that's RT W offered.com or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337 take advantage of this opportunity.

I believe that it will be as I've mentioned before tremendous help in your Christian experience asked for life-changing Bible verses you should know. Go to RT W offer.com or pick up the phone right now and call 1-888-218-9337 nine once again for you to ask Pastor lutes or a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Most Christians see heaven as the ideal place of rest and rejoicing, but one running to one listener is concerned that not all of heaven will be gladness in light she asks what about painful memories in heaven what my friend today. I do think that in heaven those painful memories will vanish.

You know the Bible says that God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Those may be tears as a result of our own failures when we think of the way in which we lived in light of all the opportunities that we had, we may experience some deep regret and God will wipe tears from our eyes may be also. We will be weeping when we think of those who are not in heaven, whom we love who will be lost forever. I could think that that also would produce tears, but here's the point that's important. God will wipe away all tears.

I don't think that means that God is going to go about with a handkerchief wiping the tears from our eyes. I think that means that God is going to give us his perspective were going to see things from his viewpoint. We will discover that once we look at it through his eyes, so to speak, in his prism, but all things are well.

Justice has been done the will of God has been accomplished in heaven and on earth, and the painful memories will all be gone. So don't worry about that, but we should worry about is living for God with all the energy and enthusiasm that we have until we see him face-to-face. What a day that will be.

Thank you Pastor lutes or if you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor lutes or or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, Hanoi 60614, the government is repressing the freedoms students once had favoring the agendas of same-sex marriage and unrestricted abortion when the red white and blue no longer blends with the cross of Christ.

What do believers do next time I'm running to win.

Don't miss the last message in this series one on what to do when loyalties collide. Thanks for listening for Dr. Irwin lutes or this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the teacher