Will God Surprise in Missions - The Missionary Heart of Paul

Introduction

Paul look into the mirror of the Word to what manner of man he is. His reflections in the Word reveals the desires of his heart. The desires of Paul’s heart is rooted in loving God above all else and loving his neighbor as himself.

We see Paul’s desire was that he would be accursed if it meant his fellow Israelites would be saved. But, we have learned in the last eight chapters of this make this an impossibility, especially chapter eight.

Paul could wish for the sake of his brethren’s sake that he would be accursed.

We should wish for the sake of our brethren’s sake the we would be accused.

The Missionary Heart of Paul.

Paul exemplifies the heart of a believer and it should be your heart, as well.

Romans 9:1–5 KJV 1900

1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

The Truth in Christ(1)

This is not Paul’s truth.

It is not your truth or my truth.

It is God’s truth and it comes for a reflection of ourself from the Word of God.

James 1:22–25 KJV 1900

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Paul says through the Holy Spirt that his truth is in Christ

Make sure the truth you hold onto is in Christ

John 14:6 KJV 1900

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I lie not (1)

Sometimes, when you or I here someone say, “I am not lying” or “fact no caps,” our first inclination is to suspect their truthfulness.

Paul says in Christ I am telling the truth.

The Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit could testify of the truthfulness of Paul claim.

He is not lying.

Paul’s conscience bears witness in the Holy Ghost (1)

Paul’s conscience is clear there is no accusing or excusing in his conscience.

He say the Holy Ghost is not convicting his conscience.

The Holy Spirit works in your conscience.

Paul’s heart is toward the lost of his brethren. (2)

Paul share the depth of his concern for the lost of his brethren.

He describes his concern for Israel is a great heaviness in his heart.

Great means out of the ordinary concern.

Heaviness means emotional pain

Continual sorrow in his heart

Continual means his concern is without interruption

Sorrow means mental and physical pain

Paul is saying he has out of the ordinary emotional pain and mental and physical pain in his heart for Israel.

Paul says in Romans 10 1

Romans 10:1 KJV 1900

1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

I could wish accursed (3)

Paul makes this plea, as it were, because of the hard thing he is about to teach.

We know what is coming next. It is the doctrine of predestination and God sovereignty over you and me. We do not like to embrace the idea that God has control over us.

Paul is expressing his true feelings in a loving way. He is preparing the way so that he does not seem to hate the Jews or get some kind of joy from what is happening to them. Because it seem that God is abandoning them for the Gentiles but the truth is the Jew must be justified the same way the Gentile is justified and that is through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone. That is the message that Peter preached to the Jews.

Acts 4:12 KJV 1900

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

A person is justified by faith and not by the deeds of the Law. Romans 3

Paul says, “I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren.” Not “I do wish.”

It is not just a mere facial expression but he describes as a deeply felt continual pain in his heart for the Jew.

He is saying it would be better for one to die and many be saved.

This is the heart of a missionary. “I will give my life to bring the gospel to many that they might hear and obey the gospel message.”

It is the illustration that Jesus gave, “except a grain of wheat die, it cannot bring forth much fruit.”

You see the Christian’s heart must be, “I give my life to Christ so that many may hear and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

He says he could wish to be cut off from the church if that would do good for the Jews, for there may be some hate the church because of Him.

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

He would suffer much affliction and persecution and more for the sake of the Jew coming to faith in Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:21–33 KJV 1900

21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 KJV 1900

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Matthew Henry says Paul gives us the reason of this affection and concern.

My brethren and my kinsmen according to the flesh. (3)

Even as his countrymen have been against him in many harsh ways, Paul forgives them and continues to seek their repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

He does so especially because of their relationship to God (4-5)

Romans 9:4–5 KJV 1900

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Applications

Do you need a heart checkup? A heart that will endure whatever it takes so other may hear and believe?

Who will you suffer for in order for them to receive Christ?

Do you have family that needs to hear the good news of the gospel?

Do you need to forgive someone so they can hear of repentance and faith from you? Family member? Neighbor? Co-worker? You are never more like Christ than when you forgive!