Romans 12: Character

Romans 12 Series: Character

Romans 12:12-21 NLT

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! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD. 20 Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." 21 Don't let evil conquer you but conquer evil by doing good.

1. Be Patient!

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

• The adjective eager describes someone is excited about or impatient for something.

2. Be Disciplined!

• Discipline is the quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards.

Galatians 2:20-21 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

3. Be Structured!

• When something is structured, it's arranged according to a specific plan.

• When someone is structured they are organized so that the parts relate well to each other; having a clear structure.

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 NLT

33 Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character." 34 Think carefully about what is right and stop sinning. For to your shame, I say that some of you don't know God at all.

• Let’s begin to walk this life of Integrity by showing character.