1. How To Deal With Bad People
Rom 12:17-21

2. Introduction
Have you ever tried your best to get along with someone but they seem to not cooperate
No matter what you do it seems like the other person is intent on being difficult
Have you ever been in a situation where you were doing your best to be a Christian and the other person mistreated you
What should you do when people treat you bad?
In these next few verses Paul gives us instructions on what to do or how to deal with bad people
You feel like no matter how nice you are people stab you in the back
No matter how much you try to get along, people do you wrong
Mistreat you, abuse you, and use you
This is what God wants you to do

3. Reaction v17 Recompense means to give back. It means to give a reward.
We should not treat people bad because they mistreat us.
Read Lev 24:19-20
People were not rewarding others fairly
Kill my child –and I wipe out your entire family.
Jesus taught us how we should react when bad people mistreat us.
Matt 5:39-44, 46
Providing things honest means to present things that are good
To take though before hand (predetermine to good)
All men excludes no one
Doing things that are honorable and good is not limited to man’s standards
II Cor 8:21

4. Reason v18 We must use judgment when dealing with people
Everyone is different.
Some people, no matter how hard you try you cannot get along with them and they can’t get along with anybody.
If possible means that there is a possibility that it will not work
As much in you means we must give our very best effort
To live peacefully means getting along
We should be peacemakers not problem makers
Mat 5:9
The gospel will cause us not to live in peace with some people
Matt 10:34-37
Family
Friends
Denominations, Muslims

5. Responsibility v19 Man Avenge means to retaliate
We should not take things into our own hands (vigilante justice)
God will work things out on his own time table
Give place to wrath (it is o.k. to be angry)
Anger can be therapeutic
But we cannot let it fester Eph 4:26; Ps 7:11
God
God will punish the wicked!
God knows how to bring bad people down in way to cause them to know him
We are not always a part of the process
We should not think that God does not know about all of our problems
I Pet 5:6-7

6. Responsibility v20 Man If we see someone in need we should help them!
It does not matter whether they are a friend or an enemy
Pro 3:27
Ex: The parable of the Good Samaritan
When we do good to those who mistreat us it will effect their conscience
We should not do good for this reason (to make them ashamed)
We do good because God commands us to do so
We do good because God expects us to treat people good
Matt 7:12
Gal 6:10

7. Resistance v21
It is easy to let evil into our minds and into our lives Eph 4:26-27
There is evil all around us and the god of this world is constantly influencing people Mark 4:19
If we are not careful we will be suspicious of everybody because of few bad experiences
When we commit evil acts toward others who have wronged us we have become overcome with evil!
Paul tells us to overcome evil with GOOD
This is how we overcome the evil system of this world---by doing good
Doing good to those who have wronged us will not save souls but it will serve as a testimony to our belief in God
Our example can cause people to become interested in trying to obtain the same peace that we have Matt 5:16

8. Conclusion Joseph Despised by his brothers because of his coat
Sold into slavery
Treated his brothers good when they needed help
David and Saul
Saul was king and became jealous of David
Saul tried to kill David
David did not retaliate----would not lay hands on God’s anointed
Jesus
Came unto his own and his own received him not
During his ministry his life was threatened on several occasions
Experienced suffering during trial and on the cross demonstrated the ultimate example for us

9. How To Deal With Bad People
Rom 12:17-21