Num 7-10, God is not arbitrary, but at times we can't see the larger picture and so it feels arbitrary

Num 7:1-9 (NIV) When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. 3 They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen — an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.


4 The Lord said to Moses, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man's work requires."


6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.


• The fact that the 12 tribal leaders brought six carts and 12 oxen suggest they collaborated on the gift
• The gift is divvied up among the Levite families unequally, 4-8-0, because their duties had different requirements.  The work determined the distribution of the gift
• Additionally, God's word took preference.  It would have been quite easy to gain another 4 ox and 2 carts for the Kohathites, but God specifically said that they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things
• This instruction will be forgotten a few hundred (?)  years later when David tries to move the tabernacle to Jerusalem, resulting in the death of one of the Levites
• Incidentally, whose responsibility was it to know how to move the tabernacle? It should be the Levites and the particular people descended from the Kohathites
• APPLICATION: Not everything in life has to be "equal."  There are cases where equality is required and cases where it is to be avoided


Num 7:10-17, …, 84-88 (NIV) When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. 11 For the Lord had said to Moses, "Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar."


12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.


13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 15 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
. . .
84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.  87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.


• In a contrast to the previous story, what is true of each of the tribal leaders?
• They gave equal gifts
• Did they come from equally sized tribes? No
• Individually, were they equal in wealth?
• Not enough information
• Unlikely that 12 individuals would be equal in wealth
• Also, the equality of the gifts suggests what?
• The gifts were levied
• One opposite  view of levied gifts is freewill offerings.  These do not appear to fall in that category
• APPLICATION: From a humanistic point of view, we might regard equal levied gifts as unfair.  From God's point of view, that is not an issue.  And maybe we make too much of that as an issue, ie, that everything has to be fair.  Life is unfair and God's covenant with the Jews does not consider it wrong or unrealistic.  Maybe, we need to let go of some of our views about "what is fair"


Num 7:89 (NIV) When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.


• What is the tent of meeting, based on this verse?
• It definitely seems to be the tabernacle
• Most likely Moses met with God in the Most Holy Place, while God spoke from the Holy of Holies, behind the curtain
• There still is a question of the meeting place in light of the events of the golden calf, but that could have been pre-setup of the tabernacle
• In which case, Moses argument and pleading of the Lord to go with them would be why the tabernacle is still in the center of the people's camp


Num 8:23-26 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, 24 "This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting, 25 but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26 They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites."


• The requirement to serve in the tabernacle is age-based.  The requirement to carry the tabernacle is even more exclusive, 30-50 versus 25-50, why?
• First, these are direct ministries serving God for the sake of the people
• Second, age qualifications do not exist for any other type of ministry or service
• Serving in a position of spiritual leadership requires wisdom.  Age is correlated to wisdom, although not in all cases
• Knowledge is not correlated with wisdom.  It is possible to be knowledgeable but not wise
• Definitions of wisdom:
• American Heritage Dictionary
1. The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.
2. Common sense; good judgment: "It is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things" (Henry David Thoreau).
Pasted from <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/wisdom>
• Collins English Dictionary
1. the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight
Pasted from <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/wisdom>
• How to you get wisdom?
• APPLICATION: My opinion is that you apply knowledge.  Be a doer of the word and not a hearer and in time, you will gain wisdom


Num 9:1-13 (NIV) The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, 2 "Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. 3 Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations."


4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.


6 But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and said to Moses, "We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord's offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?"


8 Moses answered them, "Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you."


9 Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 "Tell the Israelites: 'When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they may still celebrate the Lord's Passover. 11 They are to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations. 13 But if a man who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not present the Lord's offering at the appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.


• What is the circumstance that brings up this problem?
• A family member had died near to and prior to the time of the Passover
• Touching the dead body has made them unclean
• Is God caught off guard by the situation?  Was he unaware that this might happen? 
• That would contradict our definition of God
• This is a common way an Atheist attacks scripture.  His assumption of God is "not God" and then argues therefore God "cannot be God."  So, his conclusion follows his assumption, which is simply poor logic
• A different tact is assume our definition of God and then ask the question. This leads to the next question ...
• Why does God add the command and not give it prior during the recitation of the law?
• There were a lot of laws given at the time, it would be hard to remember
• Specifically leaving out exclusions, allows the exclusion to be given some prominence when the issue is raised
• The exclusion itself may teach a principle that God wants to convey to the people
• What do we learn about God from the way the law is given here?
• God is not arbitrary and unreasonable
• God places significance in certain events and ceremonies.  They are not fluff to God


Num 9:15-23 (NIV) On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord's order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord's command they encamped, and at the Lord's command they set out. They obeyed the Lord's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.


• How would you summarize this section?
• The people waited upon God before moving out (2 days, 1 month, or 1 year)
• The people followed God's leading and not their own
• The people obeyed God
• How might you feel, having set up camp, and then 2 days later, it is time to move?
• "Does God know what he is doing?"
• "It doesn't make sense to move so quickly"
• "This is annoying, having to do all this work and they have to tear down so quickly"
• How might you feel, if you have set up camp, and don't move for almost a year?
• "I'm getting tired of this place"
• "Are we going anywhere or not?"
• "Does God really know where he is taking me?"
• "Why is this taking so long, I'm ready to move"


Num 10:1-7 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses: 2 "Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. 3 When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 4 If only one is sounded, the leaders — the heads of the clans of Israel — are to assemble before you. 5 When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out. 6 At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out. The blast will be the signal for setting out. 7 To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets, but not with the same signal.


• Why this section?
• Communication is very important, especially in large enterprises
• People want to know what is happening
• What happens when there is poor communication?
• People aren't sure what is happening
• Sometime gossip or rumors take over
• Hard feelings, even splits can occur in a body
• APPLICATION: God specifically chooses a communication vehicle.  Obviously then, God considers communication important and part of good order.

Num 1-6, God is a God of order

• Background:
• Jewish title comes from fifth word in Hebrew test, bemidbar, meaning "in the wilderness"
• The book has two censuses. One near the beginning (chps 1-4 and one near the end, chp 26)
• First is taken, first day, second month, second year
• Final is taken, tenth month, fortieth year
• Three major areas
• How the nation ordered itself
• How the priests and Levite were to function during the mobility
• How the people were to prepare for the conquest
• Theme: Constable suggests obedience
• Audience
• Older generation, chps 1-25
• Newer generation, chps 26-36


Num 1:1-5, 16 (NIV) The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2 "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. 3 You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. 4 One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. 5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you:


from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; ...


16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.


• Why a census?
• Important organizational tool
• Helps in planning
• Useful in the historical records
• Highlights the miracle, at the time and over the 40 years in the wilderness
• 1 Cor 14:40 (NIV) But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
• APPLICATION: God is a God of order and not chaos and confusion.  Planning does not show a lack of faith.  Disobedience shows a lack of faith (latter section of Jeremiah makes that argument -- Jer 40-43 -- difference between Gedaliah (no planning, all trust) and Johanan (all planning, no obedience))
• Order shows up more strongly in the verses that follow
• Why the selection of persons by name from each tribe?
• Each tribe prevents any disagreements
• Men were probably selected on two criteria
• Ability -- not easy to record and count in a systematic manner 30-70 thousand people
• Integrity -- the names were trusted, not only in the tribe but among the tribes


Num 1:44-46 (NIV) These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. 46 The total number was 603,550.


• The 603K does not include the Levites which number 22K (Num 3).  That would place the number at about 625K.  Since this only includes men, the number would at least double to include women, or about 1.25M.  And finally, children are excluded which would at a minimum double the number to 2.5M, and probably closer to 3 million (since most nations have a greater than 2.0 ration of children to parents)
• So, 3 million people wandered in a desert for 4o years.  God fed them with manna, and at times with quail.  God provided water, although sometimes with a wait
• This is an incredible miracle, which is why so many don't believe the story in the bible
• The writer relates the story in a passive tone.  There is no attempt to make the story any more than it was, which was a simple fact.  Only at the end of the story does Moses add some more details, such as the shoes and clothes not wearing out
• This story did happen, there is too much to it to deny as a myth.  It carries none of the characteristics of a myth.  It is a historical narrative that was carried on in the story of Judges and the other historical documents without any suggestion of its factual nature. 
• What does it say to us? 
• God is powerful enough to do whatever it takes to bring history to its ultimate conclusion.  A day of tribulation is coming, a day when God pours out his wrath on all the earth.  While God does not promise rescue from suffering or tribulation caused by the world toward the believer( but rather a promise of a better future), he does specifically promise rescue (rapture) from the tribulation which he brings upon the earth.  But he only promises that to the person who has been born again.  After the tribulation starts, it will be too late.  Not too late for salvation, but too late for rescue from that time of great sorrow. 


Num 2:1-9 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family."


3 On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His division numbers 74,600.
5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 His division numbers 54,400.
7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 8 His division numbers 57,400.
9 All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.


• This is only one fourth of the details in this chapter regarding the 12 tribes.  It does not include the Levites
• Having defined the number, two other things follow -- what are they?
• The 4 groups are placed in relation to the tabernacle (discussed later)
• The order of march is defined
• Why this detail?
• Because it would have been a mess to move 3M people with no order
• Also, it would be a mess to place 3M people
• If there is this much detail given at the strategic level, what do you think happened at the level below it and why?
• There was also division and order
• Why? God set an example and the people probably duplicated the example down to the family level
• Otherwise, there still would be chaos
• Also, other tribes were waiting on the tribes in front to move before they could move (your actions affected others)
• APPLICATION: This is really a principle of life.  Our actions do affect others.  There is no such thing as independent action or sin between consenting adults that does not affect others.  We were designed to be interdependent


Num 4:1-6 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 "Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. 3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.


4 "This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: the care of the most holy things. 5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. 6 Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.


• Not only are the twelve tribes placed, but the four major families in the Levites are also given specific responsibilities during the move and also places to lodge in relationship to the tabernacle
• What is the common theme?
• Everything is in order
• Everything is planned out
• Everything centers around the tabernacle
• Note (Constable):
• Geshonites are in charge of software (curtains and coverings)
• Kohathites are in charge of furniture and utensils
• Mararites are in charge of hardware (boards and bars)
• APPLICATION: How do we plan our life? Is it centered around a walk with God?  Is there even a plan?
• Did the Levites get to pick their ministry?
• No, whole family groups were told what their ministry was
• No one asked them if they felt fulfilled or empowered
• The important thing was that they served the master, not that they were served by ministry


Num 6:22-27 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:


24 "'"The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace." ' 


27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."


• First line is 3 words,15 letters; second line is 5 words, 20 letters; and third line is 7 words, 25 letters
• First line is general, to bless and keep
• Second line is more specific, the Lord's face to shine upon them (his favor), and to be gracious (kindness and generosity)
• Third line is even more specific.  God is to specifically look at you and give you peace.
• The prayer is not spontaneous, showing that not all prayer has to be spontaneous nor cannot be repeated

Rom 14:1-16:27, Balancing freedom with love for the weaker brother

Rom 14:1-8 (NIV) Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

• What are the issues mentioned here and where do they come from?
• Vegetarian
• Possibly to avoid meat sacrificed to idols, which would be an OT Law stipulation
• Pre-law commandment to Adam and Eve.  Therefore some who believe that the OT is abrogated might still believe pre-law rules are not
• Special days, i.e., Sabbath, feasts, and new moon celebrations.  These are clearly. The new moon is important because it determines the start of a new month, which then determines when holidays occurs

• Who is the person with the weak faith?
• The individual who believes he is still under these rules

• How are we to treat the person?
• Not to judge
• It is a matter of conscience, between the person and God

• When is it okay to judge other believers?
• In matters on sin (1 Cor is very clear)
• Raises a particularly difficult point. If we think something is sin, then we will judge others on that point
• Clearly OT laws are not issues upon which we can be judged

Rom 14:19-23 (NIV) Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

• So even though we can't judge others by our convictions or force our convictions upon others, we are still affected by their convictions but for a different reason.  What are we told to do?
• Don't make an issue of a conviction
• Don't cause another to stumble because of your knowledge
• (And even more clearly) while we are not under OT law, we are under NT principles where "love for your neighbor" is the overriding principle

Rom 15:1-4 (NIV) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."  4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

• This passage makes it clear that the reason we adjust our behavior is not because we are under the law, but because we are concerned about the weaker brother
• The weaker brother may respond: then what is the purpose of the law if we are not under it?  What is Paul's response?  The OT law teaches us. 
• Specifically it teaches us endurance (by watching OT saints suffer and remain true)
• and encouragement (by watching God deliver his people)
• and it teaches us hope (because we have a future)

Rom 15:5-9 (NIV) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:

"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;

I will sing hymns to your name."

• God gives endurance and encouragement (he uses the OT), but Paul is praying for unity, why?
• That will bring praise to God
• It is a fulfillment of all that God began in the Jews, that Gentiles are now experiencing
• The next four passages are exhortation to the Gentiles to praise God.  Disunity affects our worship, it hurts our praise, it hurts our witness, and it shows a lack of understanding of all that went into our salvation

Rom 15:14-16 (NIV) I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

• Paul has never visited the church at Rome.  He has met various members of the church from Rome.  He has heard of their witness.  What is his conclusion?
• They are full of goodness (they want to do right)
• They have the knowledge and are competent to teach (I think many feel that they need to know more before they can teach.  A funny thing about teaching, you never really are ready when you start, but you learn so much from the discipline of being forced to be ready to teach)
• Paul felt the maturity was strong enough that he could challenge them on some points

Rom 15:23-33 (NIV) But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

• Where is he heading? Jerusalem
• Why is he going to Jerusalem? To carry a gift to the poor
• What is his concern as he goes to Jerusalem?
• Deliverance from unbelievers
• That the gift will be acceptable (he probably has not received it all yet and hopes to get the rest on the way back)

• What is his plan?
• To visit Rome on his way to Spain

• Did things go the way Paul hoped?
• No.  Although whether he visited Spain is not really known
• He spent some time in Rome under house arrest
• Some unverified stories suggest he was released and went to Spain
• Whatever was the case, he was recaptured and later killed by Caesar

Rom 16:1-23 (NIV) I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

• Observations:
• Phoebe will be visiting
• Priscilla and Aquila, former members of the church at Rome, will be visiting
• Apparently, Epenetus, his first convert, is a member of the church
• Mary, not clear the relation, but sounds like a member
• Paul has a number of people he knows in the church as well as relatives who live in Rome

• His last warning:
• Watch out for those who cause division
• Teach contrary teachings
• Serve their own appetites
• Deceive with smooth talk and flattery

• More observations:
• Timothy is with Paul (and others)
• Tertius wrote the letter down
• The church meets at Gaius' house and Paul is probably spending the winter there

Rom 12:1- 13:14, We are responsible to choose right actions

• I think this follows 9-11 because of the comments regarding the branches being broken off.  In other words, we talked about the impartation of righteousness, but the Jews failed, so how could the Gentiles fail.  What should be the difference?

Rom 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

• Romans 7 describes a way between two forces, what or who are they?
• The old nature or the flesh
• The mind controlled by the Spirit

• To make sure you win a war, what should you have? Larger forces
• How do these verses help us to understand how to wage that war?
• We need renew our mind, so that we have better forces
• How do we renew our mind? Garbage in, garbage out. We need to be in the Word

Rom 12:3-8 (NIV) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

• First step is to renew our mind. Second step is to renew our attitude.  What is the problem here?
• Pride, thinking more highly of yourself, considering your gift too highly
• The Jews saw themselves as superior.  This led to thinking their nation was better than all the rest; they were smarter than everyone else; they were more blessed than everyone else; they were more righteous than everyone else …

• What is the proper attitude for the Christian?
• Not to take the position of a "worm," but "to think of yourself with sober judgment"
• Knowledge -- wrong view is that I know the bible better so I am better.  Knowing the bible is good if it renews your thinking and changes your life, but not in the letter of the law sense, in the spirit of the law
• Lifestyle -- wrong view is that since I do or don't do certain things I am better
• Our gift is not any more important than any other person's gift
• To exercise our gift with a right attitude.  Notice the emphasis not on the "work" but on the attitude in the "work" -- generously, govern diligently, cheerfully, needs of others, serve, faith, encourage, teach ...

Rom 12:9-16 (NIV) Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

• Independent of our individual gifts, we all have a requirement to each other.  How are we treat each other?
• Sincere love.  Opposite is saying one thing but thinking another.  Would also include gossip about the other person
• Hate evil, cling to good from the perspective of the individual's life.  This is not a call to judgment since we are also called to love one another
• Devotion to one another in brother love.  This is a sincere concern for the other like one sees in a family
• Example: Mother who believes her son is innocent no matter what he has done is an extreme and incorrect view, but there is a similarity in that our first thought must be to assume the best about our brothers and sisters
• Zeal issue.  A lot of people go through the motions.  How do you not lose zeal?
• Develop a vision for the world and disciple making
• Get involved in a ministry
• Give time and money to ministries making an impact in the world
• Pray for other missionaries on a regular basis
• As long as our time and money is focused on our personal lifestyle we will never developed the zeal that is exhorted in this passage

• Not enough time to talk about:
• Blessing others, not cursing them
• Rejoicing and mourning which emphasizes having compassion and understanding the person.  Sometimes we are so interested in what we have to say we don't think about what the other person REALLY needs to hear or needs to feel
• Harmony -- don’t get dragged into things that split the body
• DON’T BE PROUD -- Israel's main problem.  As a nation and as a people, thinking they were more important than others

Rom 12:17-21 (NIV) Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

• I think the previous verses have been focused on our witness / lifestyle among believers.  Now, Paul discusses our witness among unbelievers
• There is a truism of life:  Someone will do evil to you
• You have a choice:
• 1) to do evil back,
• 2) to sit and stew and get bitter,
• 3) forgive, forget, and love
• We are called "to do what is right in the eyes of everybody"

• Another truism of life: Someone won't like you
• Our choice:
• 1) get angry,
• 2) take revenge,
• 3) forgive, forget and love
• We are called "to live at peace with everyone"

• Actually, God can deal with those who do evil or show contempt toward you
• One, it is God's judge
• Two, it will be more constructive
• Three, it will be more painful
• We are called to overcome evil with good

Rom 13:1- 7 (NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

• We do have a responsibility to the state, our nation
• Paul groups all nations in this category (includes Rome especially considering the intended audience)
• For us, Paul groups all Presidents (Nixon, Clinton, Obama, …) in the category of "established by God"
• In England, Henry VIII used this verse to become head of the church and the state
• We would still be required to obey his rules in regard to earthly authority
• In regard to morality, the apostles made it clear that God's rules come first

• Incidentally, failure to follow the law is legitimate reason to suffer
• On the subject of abortion, there is a difference between a government that permits abortion and a government that requires abortion
• I think we would have moral justification to disobey a gov't that required abortion

• Our responsibility (and this is not to avoid suffering only but also an issue of conscience, i.e., our submission to God (vs 12:1))
• Pay our taxes -- don't cheat
• Pay our bills -- don't lie
• Pay honor -- don't be insincere

Rom 13:8-14 (NIV) Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

• I think this next section continues the civil responsibilities.  The first issue is what?
• Not to have debt
• I think this is an unpaid bill, not meaning to secure a bill
• Clearly, debt with interest (time paid purchases) are very poor financial habits
• Appreciating items, such as a house, may be reasonable
• Necessary items, such as a car, is another argument. Car payment becomes a rental price for a vehicle
• Credit cards bills, I strongly urge against, unless the entire balance is paid off every month

• All the commandments are summarized in one rule: "love your neighbor as yourself," why?
• Love does not harm
• Application of the "letter of the law" can be used to hurt people
• Love fulfills the law (just like Jesus did when he completely carried out the law)

• Finally, we are nearing the end times (which is also the time of apostasy).  The daytime will be the millennial kingdom, but for now we live in the darkness
• Darkness includes orgies (sexual sins of all kinds), drunkenness, dissension, jealousies, etc
• In contrast, we are clothe ourselves with Christ
• Not how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature
• The obvious counter is how to gratify the new mind, the renewing of the mind which started chapter 12