Coals Of Fire

"Coals Of Fire" – Romans 12:20 “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” Coals are burning embers, and spiritually they are neither physical punishment nor harm to the person: they are an inner work, a conviction of conscience and a healthy shame that break the cycle of evil. Answering evil with good disarms the enemy and can transform his attitude, while judgment is left in the hands of God, who sees the attitude, rewards the heart and repays. The message joins Romans 12:19-21 with Proverbs 25:21-22 and closes with the Lord's Supper.

I. The Bible must be read every day.

A. Its words hold mystery and knowledge; it must be read, meditated and given room to remain.

1. Your life is not your own: God gave it, and He holds the days of your life written.

2. Without prayer, the Word and a meek spirit, you will not know what is yours to do.

II. What are coals of fire?

A. Burning embers, lasting coals left after the fire, that burn intensely.

1. Spiritually it is not harming the person: it is something deeper, a conviction.

2. Whenever the Word confronts, it sets coals of fire on the head.

3. They rest on the head to enlighten us and make us understand; only the brave keep them.

B. To the one in need, give; to the troubled, minister words of wisdom.

1. It is not judgment: it brings the heart a conviction about what we have overlooked.

2. It is easier to flee than to face things, but without the coals one lives by whim.

III. Answering evil with good produces remorse.

A. It is as if the other person's conscience burned.

1. The Word brings revelation, and revelation reproves; if the Spirit is shut out, there are no coals.

2. The coals stand for healthy shame and repentance; then the head bows.

3. Where there are no coals the shoulder rises and it comes to chest against chest; the heart is tormented.

B. The coals break the cycle of evil.

1. Habitual lying is a cycle because the coals that reprove are missing.

2. Doing good instead of taking revenge disarms the enemy and can transform his attitude.

3. Without coals there is no shame and no humbling; whoever wins by quarreling wins the pits of hell.

C. When prayer and fasting stop, the ego grows and one's own flesh destroys.

1. No one destroys you: wickedness is what destroys.

IV. Leave judgment in God's hands.

A. Not taking revenge is the good; trust that God will deal with that person.

1. If you are offended, answer with kindness: that brings conviction, and conviction brings change and restoration.

2. Happiness based on what one wants is mediocre; happiness is being a fighter every day.

3. The victim attitude turns aggressive; the Lord's Prayer sets coals by asking forgiveness daily.

V. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:19-21).

A. We were not born for luxury but for service.

1. Practical love, in action: not only praying for the enemy, but doing something concrete for him.

2. That flame brings conviction: “that person has something; he has the Holy Spirit.”

3. On how many heads have you heaped coals by the good you did?

B. The coals are no physical punishment: they are inner conviction and healthy shame.

1. When someone expects hatred and receives love, the cycle of evil is broken.

2. The world answers evil with evil; God teaches good for evil, and that changes the dynamic.

3. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay”: vengeance belongs to God, not to us.

C. Application: do not react impulsively; serve even the one who wounds you.

1. The easy thing is to be impulsive; the body speaks even when the mouth is silent.

2. Show the character of Christ, who on the cross prayed: forgive them, for they know not what they do.

VI. Thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee (Proverbs 25:21-22).

A. The verse goes straight to the heart of God's character.

1. “He that hateth thee” is no neutral party: he has real hatred; even so, feed him and give him drink.

2. God does not ask only for feelings: help, serve, supply needs; a visible, tangible love.

3. Do good even when it hurts; answer by God's character, not by emotions.

B. Let us learn healthy shame: it forms an upright, clean, compassionate person.

1. Every human being has a conscience, and conscience reproves; if it clouds over, there are no coals.

2. Listen to yourself talking all day, and in secret; the morning prayer is always a humbling.

3. God gives little by little and tests us; the exam is yours, and that makes you meek.

C. It is an inner work: conviction of conscience, healthy shame and possible repentance.

1. Your good confronts without attacking; your kindness is a message stronger than words.

2. Here is the promise: God sees your attitude, honors obedience and rewards the heart, even if the person does not change.

3. The angels write and the books are opened; do not live reacting, live reflecting God.

VII. The Lord's Supper (Luke 22:7-20).

A. This covenant that is poured out is called the blood of Christ.

1. Blessed are we in memory of Him: our name is in the book of life and the Holy Spirit is in us.

2. His body was broken and His blood shed for our sins, that today we may be His sheep and His servants.