We often use difference to create division, but difference can actually create harmony. In fact, it takes difference to create harmony. You shouldn't want everybody to be like you because God didn't make them all like you. In fact, we ought to grow up and learn to thank God that the world isn't all like us. Being diversified doesn't have to keep the church from being unified.
Hello and thanks for stopping by for today's Destined for Victory, where we feature the preaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard.
Well, what if every believer in Christ was exactly alike? Sure, we could do great things in one or two areas, but something would be missing. We'd have breakdowns and blind spots, and the body of Christ would be far less effective than it otherwise might. Today, we'll see how we can live in harmony with one another, even when we disagree. I hope you'll stay tuned, but if you're unable to do so today, remember you can hear any of our recent messages on demand, including today's, by visiting pastorpaul.net when you get a chance.
That's pastorpaul.net. and don't forget to download our free mobile app. Search Destined for Victory in the App Store and listen to Destined for Victory wherever you go.
Now, let's listen closer to Pastor Paul's message. Can't we all just get along? We're continuing our series in the book of Romans. And as we move toward a conclusion of The series We come to a very significant portion of the letter. Chapters 14 and 15.
And in looking at these two chapters together, we are discovering the fact. That Paul is calling the church at Rome and the church throughout the centuries. To walk in unity, that is, to walk in agreement. as people of God. And we're going to see over the course of these two chapters That he gives us very practical steps that we can and should be taking in order to walk in agreement.
Now, in the first part of this message or this series entitled, Can't We All Just Get Along? And of course, I got that from Rodney King back in the 90s. I won't go into that.
Some of you remember the interview where he made that statement, and it never left my head. And when I got to this portion of the study, I said, that's exactly what I'm going to call it, because that's Paul's plea to the church. We've got to learn how to get along.
Now, in the first part of this series, we looked at the fact that we must understand the concept of agreement. It doesn't mean that you are alike or see everything alike. It simply means that you learn to practice harmony. And we distinguish unison from harmony.
Some folks say we can all get along as soon as you do what I want. But that is not going to happen. It's not going to happen in the church, not going to happen in your home, not going to happen anywhere else where you've got to learn to get along with people.
So instead of hoping for the day when everybody sees everything the way you see it. We must learn how to walk in agreement. Agreement means harmony. Harmony can take difference and make it work for us rather than against us. And we got to learn that.
Difference doesn't create division necessarily. We often use difference to create division, but difference can actually create harmony. In fact, it takes difference. to create harmony. And so we concluded part one by simply saying you shouldn't want everybody to be like you, because God didn't make them all like you.
In fact, we ought to grow up and learn to thank God that the world isn't all like us. You who are married, thank God your spouse is different. You need difference or else it would just be you. And you know you need help. Come on.
So God gave you a help. In fact, back in God's design in Genesis 2, God said to Adam, I'm going to give you a helper suitable for you. See, we call it help-mate. That's not what the Bible said. King James said, a help meet for you.
But the word meet, M-E-E-T, there meant suitable, suited for you. God said, Adam, you got a big responsibility. I've called you to do a lot, and you can't do it alone. You need some help. And I'm going to create help that's different than you, different temperament, different personality, different in so many ways.
Don't despise difference, but find out how we can make difference work for us. And that's the challenge we have in the church. That's the challenge we have in our families. If we're going to be people who please God, we're going to have to learn to get along with people who are different. Difference doesn't have to create division.
Difference can create. Harmony. And so we explored that concept.
Now, based on that foundation, I want to get down into how do we pull this off in practical terms?
Well, let's look at what the Apostle Paul has to say: are the steps, the practical steps it takes in order for us to walk in agreement or in harmony. Look at verse 1 again of Romans 14. Paul says, Accept him whose faith is weak. without passing judgment On disputable matters. Point number one: if you want to walk in agreement, want to walk in harmony.
In the church, as we represent Christ to a dying world, in your family, if you want to have a household of faith that is actually functional. Then, what's the step we've got to take? The first one, he says, is: accept others as equals. Our goal is agreement. Our goal is harmony.
And he says the first thing you want to do is accept others as equals.
Now, the word translated accept here in the Greek is a word that means to receive, to take to oneself. It is in the middle voice, signifying a special interest on the part. of the receiver. In other words, it suggests a special welcoming. The receiver goes out of his or her way to embrace, to receive the person who is different.
Now, this will help you. If you want to learn how to get along in the church, in the family of God, even in your household, your family of faith. He says you got to learn to accept people who are different. Because we cannot get along if there is the sense of rejection. If there is the sense of alienation, if you quarantine everybody who's different.
If you are in the habit of putting people off and marginalizing people who are different than you are, you will never. Enter into the joy of harmony. He says the first thing you want to do is accept others as Equals. You can't change people. You can't make them what you want them to be.
In fact, you can't even influence them toward change. Because the fact of the matter is, one of the roles we play in each other's lives is a role of sharpening. Proverbs 27, 17 says, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. And to be sure, we are to sometimes help each other get where God's taking us. But you don't help people by coming down on them first.
This message is going to help you if you let it. You don't help people by letting them know how much you disagree with them first. You don't help them by passing judgment. The way you position yourself. To influence another individual in the church or in your family.
is to first accept them as your equal. Do you know they are equal to you even though they are different? They're equal, even though they might have some different ideas about certain areas of life or whatever the case might be. They come from a different cultural background. They have a different philosophy about some things.
But they are your equal. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. There are no big I's and little you's in the kingdom of God. It's not like you're all that and there's some of that. See, that's the way some folk live.
I'm all that, and when you don't see things my way, then you are below me. But Paul says, no, you got to learn to accept others as equals.
Now he's dealing with, of course, a church. That has both Gentiles and Jews in it. And as we've said in earlier parts of this series, the Gentiles were used to despising the Jews because they felt like they were intellectually and culturally superior. In fact, they were certainly in charge. The Roman kingdom was an awesome kingdom.
They were in charge. And so the folks in charge, the majority culture, often feels empowered and feels special. But God says, not in my kingdom. In my kingdom, I don't care what background you come from. You are no more special in my kingdom than all of my other kids.
God, you are not God's pet.
Now, you might feel like it because you know, God loves us so well, God has that way of making you feel so terribly special. But here's the catch. He makes your brothers and sisters feel special too.
So all of us feel like I'm God's favorite. Reality is he loves us all. And he loves us as equals. He created us as equals. And you've got to learn then to accept other people as equals.
You accept them as equals, even though there are some noticeable differences. See, a person might be intellectually not as astute as you. Maybe they didn't get the same grades, didn't have the same type of education, don't have the same aptitude in certain areas. That doesn't make you more special. To whom much is given, much is required.
It simply means God gave you the job of doing what He gifted and enabled you to do. It doesn't make you more special. In fact, you need people who have expertise and strengths where you have weakness. There are some people who are intellectually astute, they just have brain power in certain areas, in certain disciplines, and oh, they can get some things done. But just let their air conditioning break down in the summer.
Come on, trying to help you now. And if you are so always in the lab and always dealing with academics and have your nose in a book and all of that, but you don't know the first thing about an air conditioning unit. See how special you are when your house goes hot. See, you have to call someone who might not be able to match your gray matter in some area, but they can walk in there and get you cool. Don't throw off on blue collar now.
If you're white collar, you better thank God for blue. Uh Because you need blue. Still ahead, the second half of today's Destined for Victory message, featuring the teaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard. All of us at Destined for Victory want to make sure you know that the only reason we're able to bring you these messages is because of listening friends and partners like you. You're the ones who provide all of our financial support, and we're so grateful for all you've done.
To give generously today, please visit pastorpaul.net or call 855-339-5500. Believers in Christ are called to hate the sin but love the sinner. That means standing your ground about what's right without stepping over those who have done wrong.
Now let's get you back to the rest of today's Destined for Victory message. Can't we all just get along? I told you I don't have the gift of blue. That's not my calling. When something goes wrong, if Meredith can't fix it, she loves being handy around the house.
And I say, hey, go for it. Yeah. I told you before, it doesn't bother my macho at all. She wants to be handy around the house? Go ahead.
I hand you to what you need. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. And if she can do it. We will pick up the phone, call somebody, let them drive over in a truck, all rusty, dirty truck. I could throw off on the truck if I wanted to, but I need what's in that truck.
See what I'm saying? And we have to learn that about every area of life. You've got to accept people as equals. And Paul said, in the kingdom of God, if we are going to get where God's taking us, we have to learn that acceptance is the prerequisite for gaining the right to speak into someone's life. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
You can't come in like I know how to get your life together. When I'm not even convinced you have my best interest at heart? I gotta know you care about me before I open my mind and my heart to what you have to say. Your opinion can't force its way into somebody's life. And so the first step is an important step.
It's like laying groundwork. And it is the step of acceptance. We who are parents must learn that. You can't speak into your children's life until your children know that they are loved and cared about. You might force them to sit down in the room while you talk.
But how many know sitting down while you talk? is not them listening and receiving. What you have to say. Because if they're convinced, all you want to do is preach and beat them down and talk about their culture and talk about how crazy they are. And if they think that's your agenda, Then you're talking, but there isn't communication going on.
And you have to learn that. And you ought to know that because you did it with your parents. If you weren't convinced that they had your best interest at heart, You didn't want to hear what they had to say. You argued against it. You rebelled against it.
In fact, sometimes when you're convinced of their love, you still have rebellion in your heart.
So if rebellion resides there anyway, how in the world do you think you're going to buffalo your way into somebody's life? It won't happen. What you have to learn to do is to love and accept, to appreciate, and to affirm. And in that You slowly put yourself in a position to influence someone's life. Paul said, step number one is to accept others as.
Equals. They don't care what you know until they know how much you care.
Now here's something we've got to understand. Acceptance doesn't mean you condone everything about an individual. You can accept people whose lifestyle or some areas of their lifestyle you disapprove of. You know why that's possible? Because it's always been possible.
throughout redemptive history. Jesus modeled it for us. He accepted people as the object of His love and the object of the Heavenly Father's love whose lives and whose lifestyles were out of sync with the will of God. And Jesus did it without ever condoning sin. See, that's the beauty.
Sometimes we think, well, I've got to stand against sin.
Well, you gotta be like God. God stands against sin, but God loves sinners. If your stand against sin causes you to hate the sinner, you're not representing God. Because God so loved us. And he didn't just love us when we got right.
Proof of that is he loves us now.
Somebody missed that. See, the only rightness you have now is you have right standing with God through Christ. He's still working on you. You don't have your whole act together yet. I know you've been saved a while, got a big Bible.
But can I help you understand you are still a work in progress. You are still under construction. All of us are still under construction in the plan of God. And so it is the grace of God. That has you where you are and you're not where you're gonna be.
He's still working on us. But the good news is, God loved us. When we were still his enemies. God has a way of loving the sinner. While condemning the sin.
But what he does is points the sinner, his love, points the sinner to the way of salvation. Jesus modeled that for us marvelously in his earthly ministry. You remember in John chapter eight, where the Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus caught in the act of adultery? The Bible says in the act What I want to know is, what were the Pharisees doing looking at the act? That's first question.
Because they caught her in the act. Why are the Pharisees peeping? Oh Lord. Do y'all say, come here, come here, come here, come here, look, Lily. Oh my father, look.
What are they doing looking at that? That's the first question. Second question is, where's the man if you're so interested in executing judgment and justice? Where's the man? The Bible says they brought the woman to Jesus who was caught in the act of adultery.
We've done a lot of smart things in our lifetime. But you are not so smart as to figure out how to commit adultery by yourself. Adultery means two people. Where's the man? They didn't bring him.
They knew not to fool with him. And so they waited for him to put his robe on and get himself out, and then they run in there and snatch the poor defenseless woman. Hypocrites. See, don't worry about trying to get other folks' life straight until you say, Lord, search me. Try me.
See if there be any wicked way in me. Paul said in Galatians 6: Even when you see a brother or sister overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one. Watch this, in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself. Lest you also be tempted. In other words, don't worry so much about getting other folk right when you're not in touch with how messed up you are.
And so you might have different issues which can tend to make you feel superior. But just because you have different issues don't mean that you don't have things that have to be worked through.
So that's the other question. Where's the man? They let him go. They know they better not fool with a man who's just been doing what he wanted to do, and some religious folk gonna come and try to step to him. He'd have beat him down.
So they let him go. I'm sorry, they he'd have had a confrontation with me. Translate as I go. Um They pick the poor, defenseless woman. They drag her out there to Jesus.
Now, here's what I want you to see about acceptance: they said, This woman was caught in the act of adultery.
Now the law says stoner.
Now Jesus, what do you say? Jesus knew that hypocrisy, knew that they only grabbed a woman. Knew that they only referenced the law when they got good and ready. to suit their own purposes. And so Jesus doesn't answer the question verbally.
You know what he does? Read it when you get a chance in John chapter 8. He stoops down. He says, Let he who is without sin. Cast the first stone.
Y'all want to have a stoning? All right. Here's the condition: make sure you're sinless. And then in case any of them were that far out of touch. As to think they might be in the sinless category.
Jesus stooped down. And the Bible says he started writing. In the ground, in the dirt. We don't know what he wrote. Scripture doesn't tell us.
But whatever he wrote. Jog the memory. Or opened up the eyes. of the hypocrite standing over his shoulder. Perhaps he looked at the one over his right shoulder.
and wrote something that let that fella know, I know you. And my man looked at what he wrote. Maybe it was an address. Maybe it was a name. Do you know what I'm saying?
But he wrote something, and my man looked at it and he said, All right. And he walked away. When we share the gospel with the world, one thing becomes crystal clear. They do not believe yet as we do. That's one of the reasons why diversity in the Church can be such a positive force.
Each of us is able to reach different types of people. Just one more reason to be thankful we're all not exactly alike. Thanks so much for being here with us for today's Destined for Victory message. Can't we all just get along? If you joined us late, or if you want to hear the full message one more time, stop by pastorpaul.
net. That's pastorpaul. net. When Jesus was here with us, His was a life of service to His Heavenly Father and also to us. He gave His life away long before He hung on that cross.
And we want to help you follow in His steps by sharing this month's Thank You gift, our latest booklet, Improving Your Serve. What are the keys to developing a lifestyle of service? How can you make that part of your day-to-day life? Pastor Paul's booklet, Improving Your Serve, gives you answers to these and other questions, and it's our pleasure to share it with you today for your generous donation to Destined for Victory. You can give by phone by calling 855-339-5500.
That's 855-339-5500. Or visit pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. You can also mail your gift to Destined for Victory, Post Office Box 1767, Fremont, California, nine four five three eight. See, legalism specializes in condemning. Liberalism specializes in condoning.
God is neither legalistic Nor liberal. He is righteous. That's tomorrow in our continuing message: Can't We All Just Get Along. Until then, remember. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
In Christ, you are destined for victory.
