Romans 15:22-33
Notes
Transcript
Church we are almost there
We are almost through the entire letter of Romans
Remember what an interesting journey we have been on and you can almost feel like the church in Rome reading it
Paul sort of feels like he is in a rush to tell you everything he needs to tell you before the end of the letter
Before I wrap this up let me quickly give you all that I need to give you
The book of Romans is very doctrine heavy
Doctrine is a churchy word but it means a set of beliefs that are taught
Meaning this is what we believe
We do believe that you are saved by a personal relationship with Jesus
We believe that it is no longer about your ability to keep the old Jesus law but what Jesus did on the cross and in the grave
That salvation is to everyone who believes
To the Jew first and then the gentile
That gentiles who repent of their sin and trust in Jesus are saved and graphed into the family of God
Here is what is amazing about doctrine and the teaching of what we believe
It should and Paul shares that idea that the teaching of Doctrine leads to evangelism
That the teaching of what we believe and why we believe leads those who believe it to evangelism
So as we finish out Romans 15 we need to go back just a bit
19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand.”
I wanted to go back in because I think it lays the foundation of where Paul is headed
Paul is not in Rome when he is writing this letter
Paul says that from Jerusalem to Illyricum he has fully preached the Gospel
Those are roughly 1461 miles apart
From Jerusalem to roughly current day Albania Paul preached the Gospel
Paul desired to see people come to know Christ that is why he did it
we also know that Paul didn’t just preach revivals and then leave
Paul was planting churches as he went on his missionary journies
Paul has been a busy busy man
22 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while— 25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.
Paul explains the reason he hasn’t been able to come and fellowship with the church in Rome
Because He has been so very very busy planting other churches
He shares this with them for them to understand the importance of what is happening around the world for evangelism
2 times a year we ask for special offerings
In the Spring it is called the Annie Armstrong Easter offering and that goes to support everything evangelism in North America, church plants, college ministry, church out reach opportunities
Then in the Winter we have the Lottie Moon Christmas offering to go to the International Mission Board, and it goes to everything outside North America since it has its own mission fund
And dare I say but the local church needs to know what is going on and needs to be involved in what is going on
We have special ties to IMB with Mike and Tisha Jones
We have very special ties to NAMB, Joy’s dad was a church planter, Jess was a church planter, Jess’s dad was a church planter, and church we sent out Matt and Janara and Matt and Kayla and Ed and Crystal to plant a church in Holton KS
We could agree with Paul things have been a bit busy
Show HOLTON Video
If only they had the technology to make a video of all the churches Paul was a part of planting
Paul has planted churches in that region
I want you to understand why He goes on to another region
Paul expected that church that He planted to grow and to begin to evangelize in their own local area
He didn’t want to become defendant on just him preaching the Gospel but to raise up believers to become evangelists like Him
The Paul sort of gives his next plan
I have covered this area and planted in this area
Things are looking good
So I want to go and try my hand in Spain and see what it is like to plant churches there
I so desire people to know Christ that I am willing to step out of my own comfort zone to reach people for Christ
Are you starting to catch a glimpse of the fire that burned in Pauls heart for the lost
Now begin to pray God give me a heart for the lost
Paul was wanting to go and plant in Spain
Paul is about 60 years old when he writes this
And notice he is willing and desiring to go to a far place in the earth to reach people for Jesus and knowing he will have to learn and new language and all the challenges that come with planting a church
Do you understand what Paul is calling the church in Rome todo
He is encouraging them to be part of planting church which is to evangelize
To share the Gospel, help people grow in Christ, to disciple them to grow them even stronger in their faith in Christ and teach them to turn around and do the same
That is exactly what Paul did in his missionaries journey that is exactly what he is calling the church in Rome todo and that is the doctrine he is essentially call all churches todo
It boils down to do you care enough about lost people to be obedient to Christ
To love God and love people
Do you love people enough to tell them about Jesus and what He has done in your life
Do you love people enough to pray for them that they come to know Christ
Do you love people enough and God more to be obedient to help disciple the new believers
That is something you will have to answer
I can tell you the church here at Maranatha Baptist Fellowship does and will continue to work to be even more of a light
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.
Paul again shares his thoughts and hopes for churches
The Gentile churches have been sending support to the Jewish church in Jerusalem
Sharing they are part of the family of God
It is no longer Gentile and Jew
Paul only shares that to the church in Rome to show that what He has been sharing and teaching them to do
So yes the Church in Rome should be supporting the church in Jerusalem and vis versa
Yes we should be and will be supporting Holton Baptist Fellowship and church when they come of age to say so they should go and do what we did
And to continue to support the work here in North America and even the IMB
Paul continues to share that you can’t do this alone
28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
Paul says that when he has finished and helped the grow enough to be a self sustaining work
That He will go meet them in Rome as He heads to Spain
Staying focused on the larger goal of reaching people for Christ
But understanding that it takes people pouring into your life to continue to stay focuses on larger goal of reaching people for Christ
Paul knows that the journey and work is tough so to stop in Rome and be refreshed is just what he needs
Yes the work of ministry is tough and taxing, you need people pouring into your life helping ensuring you grow to continue on with the good fight to continue to run the race
Which is why Paul has reminded them to welcome the younger believers
You older wise believers will tell you that you can’t lead alone you can’t pastor alone you can’t do ministry alone
So find someone that will refresh you so that you can continue to stay in the fight to continue to run the race God has set before you
One of those things to do is to rest
To take a sabbath
To take time away to intentionally rest and be refreshed
Then Paul finishes the chapter
30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; 32 so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
We are to work together
To be unified
I understand we don’t all think the same but we can all be unified for one goal and purpose
That is what we are called to do
Then of course church to be praying for each other
It is hard to be angry with someone you are praying for
So church be praying for the church here at Maranatha
Be praying for Holton and other churches
Be praying for Mike and Tisha and other missionaries
lastly to be praying for your own heart
That God would give you a heart for the lost and that you would be obedient to take the good news to the mission field where God has so precisely placed you and I
So church as we move to our time of invitation
This is your opportunity to respond
Maybe you want to begin a personal relationship with Jesus this morning
Would you come forward and speak with someone about that
Maybe you need to spend time in prayer at the altar with someone or by yourself
Maybe God is calling you to join the church
The altar is open
