Fighter Verse Songs

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Romans 12: 20-21

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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We started attending Bethlehem Baptist Church in the summer of 2004 and Pastor John was in the middle of preaching through Romans. He was, in fact, in the middle of Romans 12. At one point that year I remember Pastor John saying something like, “I think you all should consider making it a goal of memorizing Romans 12.

This chapter is 21 verses long and this week marks the end of this passage, which includes verses 9-21. Verses 1 and 2 of this chapter are also fighter verses. So if you’ve memorized the fighter verses, you’ve memorized 5/7ths of this chapter and you’re well on your way to following Pastor John’s suggestion.

In any case, it’s a very helpful chapter. It ends by quoting Proverbs and making summary.

Overcome evil will good. May it be so of many people in every church.

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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

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Romans 12: 17-19

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do 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.”

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I really like what Pastor Piper has said about these verses.

Do you see both mercy and justice here? You who are mistreated do not take justice into your hands. Do not seek vengeance. Does that mean there will be no justice? Does it mean there is no vengeance? No. Verse 19 says, “Leave it to the wrath of God.” There is vengeance. There is justice. All things will be set right. Either your adversary will pay his debt in hell. Or he will repent, and trust Christ, so that his debt was paid on the cross. All wrongs will be punished. In God’s universe forgiveness does not mean that some crimes receive no punishment. It means that some crimes are punished in the suffering of a substitute. “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). We will see our worst adversary in heaven, if he repents and believes in Jesus. Oh, let us not nurse hatred for such adversaries.

Those are comforting and calming words, don’t you think?
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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

There is much written about a correct biblical perspective for people who are going through hard, painful, difficult times. This is right, helpful and biblical.

But there is not much discussion about how a Christian should behave/think/pray when they are going through good times. Included in this week’s verse is the phrase “Rejoice with those who rejoice”, so I thought it would be a good time to think about it. I compiled a list.

Eleven Things To Do When Your Life Lacks Pain, Confusion, Sadness or Difficulty.
Or
Eleven Biblical Responses to Good Days

1. Allow yourself to experience joy.

2. Take note of this joy to remember when you are going through hard times.

3. With sensitivity and discretion, tell others about this. Proclaim God’s mercy and grace.

4. Know that authentic joy is not legitimate cause for guilt or shame.

5. Thank God.

6. Ask yourself, “What did I do to deserve this?” There is only one right answer (and “Sound Of Music” got it wrong¹.)

7. If some of this joy is a result of an abundance of resources – share with those who are in need. If your blessings can spill over onto others, so much the better.

8. Don’t expect it to last forever.

9. Be aware that at the same moment that you are rejoicing others are weeping. Weep with them.

10. Sing Songs Of Praise.

11. Let this work itself out in your heart to cause you to want to obey God.

Did I miss any?

¹“Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could.” True. “So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.” False.

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Romans 12: 14-16

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

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That person who always seems to be on your case – who says bad things about you – who makes life difficult for you – what do you say to them? Do you bless them?

That person who always seem to catch every break and everything seems to go their way. How do you respond when you hear that they’ve had another good thing happen to them?

And the person who seems to experience failure after failure – what are your thoughts when you hear about their more recent difficulty?

Are there people with who you have difficulty living in harmony with? What are you doing to amend this?

Are their people in your neighborhood in church who you don’t really feel like spending time with. Do you anyway?

What’s your opinion of your own level of wisdom?

These are challenging questions, aren’t they?

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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

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Romans 12: 11-13

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

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As I looked at this list one of the phrases stood out to me. Serve the Lord. It stood out, because it seemed like something that should be a heading, not a part of a list. Isn’t all of this supposed to be serving the Lord.

I mean, I thought, ‘Serve the Lord’ as opposed to what? And then I realized – we’re all serving something. We’re serving other people, or our job, or our pride or our sin.

Paul here is telling us that we should avoid doing that by serving God. Over everything Else.

But again I ask (about this passage’s list of good things to do) – what if we all did each of those things a little each day?

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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

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Romans 12:9-10

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

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This is the first part of a thirteen verse passage with lots of good thoughts about how a Christian should live with people. From the outset it’s notable that his suggestions are that we be proactive, not reactive. In this passage alone there are four active verbs – abhor, hold fast and outdo.

Abhor Evil.
Hold fast to what is good.
Love another.
Outdo one another in showing honor.

What if we all did each of those things a little each day?

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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

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Isaiah 43:25

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

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Isn’t it nice to see verses like this in the Old Testament. Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness aren’t only New Testament ideas. They are a part of who God was from the beginning.

And why does he do it? For his own sake. For his own glory. So that humans will worship him.

Because humans are blessed by Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness.

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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

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Psalm 96:9-10

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

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Why, given all of the other things we could say among the nations, should we talk about how the world is established and will never be moved?

I suppose there are many answers – here’s what I’ll suggest:

The world, the universe, the creation that God (the One we should be worshiping) created is stable. It is lasting. It is solid. The commands of God are solid and unchanging. His stability is trustable and faithful.

This God will judge justly. We should praise Him for that. We should point that out to others.

We should tremble before him.

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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

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Psalm 96:6-8

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!

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I just went to the on-line dictionary and looked up the word – “Ascribe”. Here’s what I found:
to attribute or think of as belonging, as a quality or characteristic

So the Psalmist is saying that we should think of God as a being who deserves being thought of this way – as a God who has glory and strength. To do otherwise would be doing God, and everyone who knows you, a disservice.

Because what you are thinking about God, if you are ascribing these things to him, is based on truth. To do otherwise would be to act against the truth.

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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

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Psalm 96:4,5

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

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Is there only one god, or are there many?

There are many gods, there is one God, one LORD, one Yahweh.

There is one god who is not worthless, one god who is not an idol.

There is one God who is big enough to have created the universe. He is the one who should be feared.

He is the one who should be praised.

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[Just a reminder - many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]