Burdened and Broken Part 2 (Romans 9:1-5)

Romans 9:1–3 (ESV) I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Romans 10:1 (ESV) Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

PAUL HAD A PASSION AND BURDEN FOR HIS PEOPLE.

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 (ESV) 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 ...To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

II. GREAT PRAYER.

•Winning lost people to Christ is first of all a spiritual battle... And that is why prayer is such an indispensable part of evangelism. It is our primary spiritual weapon. •That is why Paul prayed for the salvation of his relatives and race.

Romans 10:1 (ESV) Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

1. Paul's prayer life included intercession for unbelievers

NOTE: Paul must have had a tremendous prayer life. He opens almost all of his letters (epistles) with some statement regarding his prayer for the people or churches he is writing... Text: Rom 1:8-10; 1 Cor 1:4; Eph 1:15-16; Phil 1:3-4; Col 1:3; 1 Thes 1:2; 2 Tim 1:3; Phile 1:4

a.But on top of all the churches and fellow believers for whom Paul made strong intercession... Here in Romans we discover, Paul is also praying for unbelievers (and particularly unbelieving Israel)

b.A part of Paul's prayer life was devoted to praying for the salvation of others

NOTE: I often wonder if a lot of us have our prayer lives "out of balance?" How much of our prayer energy and attention is devoted to praying for the health and prosperity of fellow believers, rather than praying for the eternal salvation of non-believers?

How much of our praying is concerned with temporal, material issues rather than eternal spiritual issues? •Thinks about it... What could be of greater importance (in the eternal scheme of things) than the eternal salvation or damnation of an individual?

3.WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PRAY FOR UNBELIEVERS?

a.Because repentance and salvation is a ferocious spiritual battle in every person's life.

b.Because Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers, and only the Spirit of God can "take of the blinders" and help an unbeliever understand the gospel and spiritual truth Text: 1 Cor 2:14; 2 Cor 4:3-4

c.I'm telling you, it's a real spiritual battle to get someone saved. (It is not first of all an intellectual battle. Even the most simple minded person you know can understand the concepts of the gospel intellectually) But this does not mean they will understand it spiritually to the point of embracing Christ through repentance and faith.

d. And I guarantee you, Satan is doing everything he can to keep the Word from finding root in a lost person's life, and to intensify the confusion of their heart.

Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

•This is why we need to pray for the unbelievers we know. We need to defuse the arsenal of the enemy and confound his devices and he works incessantly to blind them to the gospel and confuse them with regards to spiritual truth

NOTE: Do you realize that the Devil is working every bit as hard as I am in this room right now. I'm working as hard as I know how to explain the gospel and to communicate it clearly and understandably. But the Devil is working frantically to confuse people and blind them to the truth of the gospel.

We should be consistently, fervently praying and fasting that... •God would open doors for the gospel to be proclaimed, •For Satan to be confounded in his deliberate efforts to steal the seed of the word, and •For unbelievers to have their blinded eyes opened and their minds given understanding in the gospel. •For God to be doing whatever it takes in the lives of unbelievers to break them of their pride and self-sufficiency and bring them to repentance and faith in Christ.

III. GREAT PERCEPTION.

•Can I tell you that Paul understood the unbelieving Jew and knew both how to pray for them and how to connect with them, when communicating the gospel. •He knew the Jew because Paul himself was as Jewish as a person could be.

Romans 9:3–5 (ESV) For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

1. Paul worked at understanding the people he was trying to reach.

NOTICE: •Paul understood Jewish culture •He understood Jewish history •He understood their hindrances to the gospel

a.Paul was an effective witness because he worked at understanding the people he was trying to reach and finding a connection point with them for presenting the gospel to them.

b. Paul knew that different people have different worldviews and connecting points for the gospel. And therefore you have to go where people are and try to understand who they are before you can really know how to most effectively witness to them.

1 Corinthians 9:20–22 (ESV) To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

b.Let me show you an example of how Paul walked into an entirely Greek culture and presented the gospel (He knew he would have to find another connecting point with people in Greek pagan culture as opposed to the Jewish culture. The Jews already believed in God, the Law, the Old Testament and in a coming Messiah. But the Greeks were polytheists. Paul took a different approach when preaching to the Greeks.)

EX. Paul preaching in Athens on Mars Hill... Text: Acts 17:16–23 (ESV) 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

NOTICE what Paul said in the first sentence of his witness with the Athenian intellectuals... "I perceive that in all things you are very religious." (Acts 17:22) NOTE: The word "Perceive" means "to gaze, contemplate, or to study." Paul had spent time studying the culture of Athens before he opened his mouth to witness to them.

Then he found a good connecting point... "I even found an altar with this inscription 'To the Unknown God' Therefore the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim." (Acts 17:23)

a.All to often we lose our platform for witnessing to unbelievers because we run in with our gospel guns-a-blazing, and we haven't taken time to try to know and understand the person with whom we are trying to share a witness.

b.The best witnessing is done within the context of an intimate personal relationship built upon mutual respect, trust and understanding.

NOTE: Strangers can witness to strangers, and sometimes should. But the best witnessing is done among friends with friends.

NOTE: This is why believers should be intentional about building meaningful relationships with non-believers... To gain a platform of trust from which we can share the gospel with them.

c.The better you know a person and understand who they are and how they think... The better you will know how to present the gospel to them.

IV. GREAT PROCLAMATION.

•Can I tell you that no one ever gets saved until first of all someone has shared the gospel with them.

•The only way any person comes to life in Christ is for someone to share a verbal witness with them...

Romans 10:14–15 (ESV) 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

NOTE: Did you hear the first two rhetorical questions Paul asked in verse 14 •How shall they call on Him in whom the have not believed? •And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

1.The simple truth is, No one can trust in Christ until someone tells him or her about Christ.

a.And can I tell you some shocking news... A lot of people grow up in churches that never tell them the gospel or explain to them the necessity of the new birth.

EX. I had a meeting this week with one of our members who grew up in another denomination and then went to another, but never once was told the message of salvation or of the new birth.

Many people think they are Christian because they attended a “Christian” church. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.

There are a lot of people who want to think of themselves as being Christian, but no one has ever even taken the Bible and explained to them how to become a Christian.

b.This is why it is so important that we not be shy about being a verbal witness to the people around us.

NOTE: Now I hear a lot of Christians say, "I witness by the way I live my life." Well that is good... But it is not good enough. Lost people not only need to taste the food, they need to know the recipe as well.

What good have we done ultimately if we live a righteous life before lost people, but we don't tell them the secret as to how they can live righteously themselves?

Yes, you and I must live a consistent life of spiritual integrity, but that is only half the job as it relates to witnessing to unbelievers around us... WE MUST ALSO TELL THEM!! 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

c.The Jews missed the gospel for the very same reason the average person misses the gospel today... They are totally indoctrinated in a false doctrine of "salvation by works" as opposed to grace.

Romans 10:2–3 (ESV) For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

No one has ever told them that no person gets to heaven on the basis of good works. No ones has ever explained to them…

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Let me give you a really sobering thought... You may be the only real Christian that the person who's name you wrote down knows.

You may very well be the only thing standing between heaven and hell for them. YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM!!

NOTE: You cannot off-load your responsibility on any one else. It is your God-given assignment to witness to the people God puts in your network of relationships in life.

V. A GREAT PRICE.

•The Apostle Paul was willing to pay any price necessary to see the people he loved come to Christ... Listen again to what he said..

Romans 9:3 (ESV) For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

NOTE: Do you hear what Paul is saying? I will pay any price necessary to see my friends and family saved. Even if paying the ultimate price of forfeiting my own salvation would help, I'd be willing to pay even that exacting a price."

•Did Paul pay a price for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ? You bet he did. Listen to his own testimony recorded in 2 Corinthians 11:24–28 (ESV) 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea... 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;...27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

•And why did Paul endure such hardship and suffering?... Listen to the answer he gives to that question in 2 Timothy 2:10 (ESV) 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

•You can't get much clearer than that. Paul endured the suffering and hardships of his life in order that those whom God had chosen for salvation might hear the gospel and be saved.

1.Can I tell you There is always a price involved with sharing the gospel with an unbeliever. a.Sharing the gospel is never easy... It always requires personal sacrifice and effort. b.It requires a person giving up their concern for protecting their reputation or image, and not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

c.It requires a person being willing to literally lay their life down in order that another person might be brought to life in Christ. d.The truth is, we don't witness more because we are to selfish and too self-centered.

2.IT ALWAYS COSTS A GREAT PRICE TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO LOST PEOPLE GROUPS. a.Missions is costly...

•It costs someone their entire life to go •It costs some of us our money in order to send others •It costs us being willing to give up some of the creature comforts we enjoy so others can have the privilege to hear the gospel and respond to the invitation of Christ.

I'm telling you church family... It is going to be a costly enterprise to get the gospel to our city, our state, our nation and our world. There is no such thing as "free mission enterprises."

"Churches stop growing when the cost gets to high." - John Maxwell

•I'm telling you, many of our friends and family go to hell because we are not willing to pay the price to tell them about Jesus •I'm telling you, our cities spiral out of control into moral chaos because we are unwilling to pay the price to saturate them with the gospel

•I'm telling you, our world dies without Christ only because we are not willing to sacrifice and pay the price to get the gospel out.

c.I don't know about you, but I believe the gospel is worth any price we have to pay to get it to people... It is like a great treasure hidden in a field. It is worth selling all to purchase.

d. Paul suffered and sacrificed the way he did because he believed the gospel was worth it...

CONCL. OF SERMON... •Take a look at the name you wrote down at the beginning of the message last week.... Do you really want to see that person come to Christ? ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE TO WITNESS TO HIM/HER AND WIN HIM/HER TO CHRIST.

Would you be willing to bring that card with you to the altar and begin right now praying for that name? Don’t leave that card here but take it with you and carry it in your pocket or purse so that you are reminded to pray, to care and to share. You might say, I did that last week. May I ask you a question, “are they still lost without Christ?” You got to do the hard work of prayer constantly and consistently.

Who is willing to really pay the price to see the gospel taken to this city, state, nation and world?

Who cares enough about lost people, and love the gospel enough they will be willing to start sacrificing in order to get the gospel to the people who need to hear it?

Who is concerned about lost people groups and nations enough they will be willing to sacrifice the comforts of home and give their lives in service and witness on foreign fields?

Who is willing to pay the price?

If you need to establish your relationship with Christ text “follow” to 67076

Related Media

Related Sermons