A working church

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(No Transcript)
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Rome

• A working church

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They were working with a Handicap

• No apostles meant few/none with spiritual gifts
  not established

Romans 18  First, I thank my God through Jesus
Christ for you all, because your faith is being
proclaimed throughout the whole world.

• Yet they were working effectively!

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Some Today are Working with a Handicap

• No elders
• No olders
• No youngers

• Godly spouse
• Faithful parents
• Circle of friends

Hebrews 1036, 39 For you have need of endurance,
so that when you have done the will of God, you
may receive what was promised. But we are not of
those who shrink back to destruction, but of
those who have faith to the preserving of the soul
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They were working, but out of focus

• They were condemning each other

James 411-12 59 Do not speak against one
another, brethren. He who speaks against a
brother or judges his brother, speaks against the
law and judges the law but if you judge the law,
you are not a doer of the law but a judge of
it.12. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the
One who is able to save and to destroy but who
are you who judge your neighbor?
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Romans 144

• Who are you to judge the servant of another? To
  his own master he stands or falls and he will
  stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand

We have authority as doers, not judges.
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What causes this loss of focus?
Colossians 31-2 Therefore if you have been
raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand
of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on
the things that are on earth.

• Taking our eyes off the goal!

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They were working, but faced with danger

• Some in danger of hypocrisy, a double standard

Romans 26, 11 the righteous judgment of God,
6. who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO
HIS DEEDS For there is no partiality with God.
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They were working, but faced with danger

• Some in danger of hypocrisy, a double standard
• Some in danger of arrogance

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Romans 1117-21

• But if some of the branches were broken off, and
  you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among
  them and became partaker with them of the rich
  root of the olive tree,18. do not be arrogant
  toward the branches but if you are arrogant,
  remember that it is not you who supports the
  root, but the root supports you.19. You will say
  then, "Branches were broken off so that I might
  be grafted in."20. Quite right, they were broken
  off for their unbelief, but you stand by your
  faith. Do not be conceited, but fear21. for if
  God did not spare the natural branches, He will
  not spare you, either.

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1 Peter 55-6

• You younger men, likewise, be subject to your
  elders and all of you, clothe yourselves with
  humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED
  TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
  6. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty
  hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper
  time,

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They were working at being a Spiritual church

• Trying to be led by the Spirit
• Praying with the Spirit
• Trusting the Spirits assurance

Romans 18 First, I thank my God through Jesus
Christ for you all, because your faith is being
proclaimed throughout the whole world.
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What the lesson for us?

• They were not perfect/complete yet. They had
  relationship problems.
• We can learn that Satan is the enemy, not each
  other.
• We can trust the Spirits testimony of how to
  seize victory and more