Hello Friends!
Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through the book of Romans – “The Romans Road to Righteousness.”
Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through the book of Romans – “The Romans Road to Righteousness.”
The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 15:22-33)
This
week we will conclude our reading of chapter 15,
verses 22-33 as we consider Paul’s
Plans and God’s Providence…
Here
in this important passage, we find the “reason”
for Paul’s “plans” for the “future” in verses
22 to 33. We have already “learned”
about Paul’s great “confidence”
and “boldness” in the “faith” and here we find them coupled with
a deep “desire” to “visit” the “believers”
in “Rome” – of which is very personal
to him. Paul “ministers” to
the “Romans” with a “loving” and “shepherding” heart – According
to the perfect will of God!
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
Now
we will see Paul expounding on the fact that since he had been “preaching to the Gentiles,” it was “For this reason”
he had been “much hindered
from coming” to the “Romans”
in “Spain”:
For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while – Romans 15:22-24
Literally
the verb "hindered" is
a very interesting word – egkoptÅ – which means to “cut out” or prevent
an enemy from getting through a fortress by an impediment in the path of
attack. The fact that it's an imperfect tense indicates that this was a continual
hindrance and the passive tense denotes that Someone
was causing Paul’s “hindrance”…
That “hindrance” was
none other than – God Himself!
Then
Paul says that he no longer had a “place in these parts” and this was
because the “gospel” had been
“preached” to “all” by the “will” of God. It was now time to “journey” onto other “ministry” endeavors, namely Paul’s “great desire”
to “visit” the “Romans” in “Spain” that he may “enjoy” their
“company for a while”
– if it was the Lord’s “will”
for Paul… By moving the Apostle here and there, God had Providentially controlled Paul’s life
under the elements of His perfect “will”
– The Sovereignty of God!
In
the book of Acts we also see how God had “forbidden” the “ministry” of Paul through the “Holy Spirit” and his traveling companions:
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them – Acts 16:6-10
How
did the “Holy Spirit” forbid
them? It doesn't say. But somehow the “Holy Spirit” didn't allow them to go to “Asia.” They then came to “Mysia” and attempted to go to “Bithynia” but the “Holy Spirit” wouldn't allow that either.
How did that happen? Again, we don't know! Then they passed by “Mysia” and came to “Troas” and there a “vision” of a “man of Macedonia” appeared to Paul
and “pleaded with him.”
It was then that Paul “knew”
in his “heart” the “Holy Spirit” wanted them to “Come over to Macedonia” and he “immediately” obeyed! This excellent
“ministry” endeavor for the “gospel” of “Jesus
Christ” is known as Paul’s “Macedonian call“ – Here again God ordered Paul’s circumstances to bring
about God’s own will!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Waiting on the Providence of God does not
preclude wise planning on
our part! The Apostle Paul had “plans”
in “mind” for his “ministry” work. However… Trusting in the Providence of God is no excuse for a
lack of prayer and planning! We must make some “plans” – For
God to adjust them!
The
“Christian” who is “effective” in the “will” of “God”
through faithful “prayer” and
“service” to Him, is “useful” to the “Savior” and has “plans” & “dreams” for the future.
On the other hand, “we” must never
discount the present. The implications
here are that Paul had a “great
desire” and “plans”
to “journey to Spain”
but he was “hindered” by God –
However, Paul did have a plan!
God’s Providence in Paul’s Plan
So,
“Spain” was Paul's targeted “ministry” goal and to “go” there was firmly placed in his “heart” and “mind”
by God – “But”…
But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things – Romans 15:25-27
We
might ask Paul: “Why are you “going”
back to “minister” to the “saints” who are already “redeemed” within the church if
you're “called” to the “lost” outside of the church?”
It was because in light of that need, Paul had arranged for a caring “collection” to be taken back to the “poor saints” in “Jerusalem.” And so Paul sets aside his
own “great desire”
to “preach” to the “unbelievers” in “Spain” for God’s “plans” of a special “contribution” for the “Jewish believers”
through “unity” of “spiritual things“
along with the much needed “material
things” of the “Gentile believers” – This is the test of a true heart of ministry to God!
Paul
was now “going” via God’s
Sovereign “plans” of which demanded him to “go” well over one thousand miles
in the opposite direction of his own
“plans!” Now, this “journey” was not easy
for Paul. He had already “evangelized”
from “Jerusalem” to “Illyricum” and “faithfully” covered the “ministry” territory to which God had “called” him. “But” now Paul “obeyed” the Lord’s Providence and instead
went to “minister to the saints"
in “Jerusalem” by making a “certain contribution for the poor
among the saints” and it “pleased them” fully – This is the test of a true heart of obedience to God!
Then
notice what Paul says next:
Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ – Romans 15:28-29
Here
is a great sense of priority! Paul basically says: “I have to take care of
this “fruit”
first; then I'll come to you. This “contribution” has to happen because I want to see
these “saints” relieved of their
financial distress. More important, I want to see the “Jew” and the “Gentile”
both “reconciled” together in Jesus
Christ.” Paul wanted to see the “Gentiles”
offer back a financial “contribution”
to those “Jews” who had
given them “spiritual things”
the much needed “material things”
in the “fullness”
of the “blessing of the
gospel of Christ.” In other words, “I know when I come
to you I'm going to be “blessed of God”
– By way of your grateful thanks!
PERSONAL CHALLENGE: How does the concept of “trusting” in the Lord relate to you? Do
you “trust” in the Providence of God? Do you make any “plans” for God? Do you “desire” to function in a personal “ministry” with “prayerful” purpose to the “glory” of God? If not, why not? –
These are the faithful characteristics of
ministry within the will of God!
We
than see Paul “beg” the “brethren” to
“strive together”
in “prayers” – for himself:
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you – Romans 15:30-32
Here
the Apostle Paul “begs” for
the “prayers” of the “brethren”
for his own personal “ministry”
endeavors! The word "delivered"
is a very interesting word – Rhuomai – which means to be rescued out
of a dangerous life-threatening situation. Paul wants “prayer” that he might be "delivered" from a very
dangerous situation at the hands of “those in Judea who do not believe”
the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.
Paul also desires that his “service
for Jerusalem” would not only be “acceptable” to God, but also “acceptable”
to the “saints” living in “Rome.” Paul then says “that I may come to you with joy”
along with this key phrase – "by the
will of God" – to be “refreshed together” with “you” in
Jesus Christ – This is the blessing of obedience
to God!
For
the Lord Jesus Christ's “sake”
is always the goal of any true “ministry” endeavor. Why do we “preach?” Why do we “teach?” Why do we “pray?” Why do we “give?” Why do we “serve?” Why do we “lead?” Why do we “comfort” other people? Why do we “build them up” or “strengthen” them? Why do we do anything? We
“do it all” for the “sake of the Lord Jesus Christ” and the “love of the Spirit”
– But not for our sake… This is always
the goal of our “ministry”
efforts – For the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Serving
in the “will of God” means we
“know” our “gifts” and “callings”
and therefore we maximize our lives in those
areas. Serving in the “will of God”
means we “understand” the “providence” of God and that we never “worry” or “fear”
because God is in full control
of “all circumstances” of
life! Serving in the “will of God”
means we “plan,” set goals, “pray,” dream and “give” our “whole
heart” to “planning”
for the future. But it also means that we “know” our “ministry”
priorities for the moment – None
of our plans for the future cause us to be ineffective for God in the present!
The
Apostle Paul closes this excellent chapter with a beautiful and simple
benediction:
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen – Romans 15:33
God
provides “peace” to “us” in Him. Before “we” came to “Jesus Christ” we were “at war” with God. It
is by God in “Jesus Christ” that we are “saved” and have “peace” with God. He
also provides the “peace” of
God which is the settled “heart”
of “confidence” that “all” is well in Him.
It removes “anxiety” and
brings “peace” to the soul of
the “believer.” He is the
God of “peace” and He “reconciles” men – To Himself!
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Because
“all things are of God,”
the Apostle Paul was a man who “lived”
in constant turmoil and yet never “lost” his sense of “peace with God” because he “ministered” in the total “will of God.” That was all that mattered
to Paul and he “held” on to nothing
– Not even his own life!
Beloved,
“we” too should “live” in the “peace” and settled “hope” of a “life”
that is “fully” – Committed to the will of God!
In
closing:
The
hallmark of Paul’s “ministry”
was that he functioned within the perfect “will of God.” Paul “lived” within the “will of God” and was “committed” to the “will of God.” This has to be the
overriding “attitude” in all
effective “Christian” service.
It is not the breadth of a “ministry”
that matters – it is the depth of a “ministry” that matters. It’s not about how
much of “ministry”
ground was covered. Rather, it is about how fully the “ministry” ground was covered! It’s not
about how many “people”
are reached. Rather, it is about how effectively the “people” are reached – By the Power of the Holy Spirit in the Name of the Lord
Jesus Christ!
Prosperity in the “spiritual”
sense does not promise there will be larger crowds,
greater popularity or reputation. It doesn't promise that you're going to
become well known. It doesn't promise that the publisher is going to print your
book. It doesn't promise that your church is going to double in size
within the first six months – or years. It doesn't promise that people
are going to crowd in to hear what you have to say. It doesn't promise there
are going to be a lot of souls “saved”
through your ministry efforts. And it doesn't promise you will build a large “ministry” that is long remembered by the
masses within “professing” Christendom.
However…
Prosperity in the “spiritual”
sense does promise that in the “spiritual” realm between you and God –
your “ministry” efforts for “Him” will be “blessed.” And that's what a Biblical
“ministry” is all about – Prosperity is spiritual riches in Jesus Christ!
Please continue reading verses 22-33 of
the fifteenth chapter of Romans.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
