Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5
Romans 12:9
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Dissimulation—without hypocrisy, sincere. Single-minded, not mixed with evil.
Abhor—hate, loathe, detest, get away from.
Cleave—cling to, join yourself to, fasten together.
--love is impossible while sinning!
Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Kindly affectioned—a kindred bond, family tie, love as brothers in faith as if blood brothers.
Honor preferring—lead the way in honoring others, outdoing each other in showing honor.
The world tries to outdo each other in self-promotion. Be the first to honor, don’t wait to respond, but take the initiative.
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Slothful—sluggish, backward, tardy
Philippians 3:1—grievous, it doesn’t suck his energy to say the same things
Business—zeal, haste, earnestness, diligence, in spiritual things not physical, business deals.
Romans 12:8—rule with diligence
Business is spoude; spoudazo 2 Timothy 2:15—study
Fervent—hot, boiling, zeal
Acts 18:24-25—Apollos had fervent spirit to teach
Romans 10:2—zeal but not according to knowledge, misspent energy.
Serving—as a slave, obedience, submission, in bondage to, give one’s self up to
1 Thessalonians 1:9—turned to God from idols to serve Him
Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
In hope, rejoicing—hope of coming glory, makes us rejoice now
In tribulation, patient—coming glory rejoices us to be patient. Patient—bear under, persevere, have fortitude.
In prayer, continual—earnest, constant, persevering prayer.
Romans 12:13
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Distributing—sharing in their needs, idea of fellowshipping in their suffering as you seek to relieve it, meeting needs of fellow believers
Given to hospitality—the reception of strangers, giving and receiving it. Pursue opportunities to entertain strangers. Particularly in light of Christians being fleeing persecution.
Romans 12:14
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Persecute—pursue, as enemies pursue believers to beat them, pursue opportunities to shelter them.
Bless—call down a prayer of blessing on them
Curse not—to doom or damn, don’t even think it.
Almost exact quote from Matthew 5:44 in Sermon on the Mount
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”