Sermon Tone Analysis

Romans 15: 22-33

My Way is No Way…God’s Way is THE WAY

*/READ YOUR BIBLE?/*

Secular:

*   Miracle Foodmart… /clean-up/

*  Ice  Cream Pallet…

*  Floor cleaning 5hrs  instead of 7.5hrs

* Their plan – Sweep, Machine, Wax weekly…strip monthly

* My Plan – Sweep, Machine, Rinse, Wax daily… strip bi-weekly

* Inspections went well… (Ontario winter… slushy…messy)

* Unfortunately it wasn’t for me to reinterpret things in light of the results… (one inspection didn’t goes as well)

* Didn’t know my place…

Biblical:

Romans 15:22 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.

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.

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.

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.

Personal:

* Divorce… remarriage… premarital sex…

* God told me too…

* Nope…

* I’ll pray about it…

* Waiting for…?

For what…?

* Is it about… time before God… in his Word…seeking counsel… or are we putting of obedience?

Bridge:

* Central Idea… Be faithful to God’s call on our life

* Romans 15:16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

*  Right attitude as demonstrated in Christ… John 5:30 "I can do nothing on My own initiative.

As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

*  God’s purpose… not Jesus, not Paul, not me, not you…

*  Acts 20:22 "And now, behold, */bound in spirit/*, I am on my way to Jerusalem, */not knowing/* what will */happen/* to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, */saying that bonds and afflictions await me/*.

24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

*  Bound in Spirit… God’s purpose

* Not about our plan…

* Not about our ease

* About something true

* Right attitude…

* It is about /Finishing the Course/

* Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God… 29 For this purpose also I labour, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

* Whole life… body, mind, and soul…

* Our heart, our time, our habits, our abilities, our spiritual gifts… all committed to the calling of Christ in our life!

* Regardless of Cost… Faithful to Purpose

* The 5 Characteristics in faithfully caring out our ministry are Providence… Planning… Priority… Privilege… Prayer

Body:

*Providence*

Romans 15:22 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you;

* The first characteristic in faithfully caring out our ministry is to see the Sovereign work of God around us… to recognize Providence.

* Providence is God’s Sovereign will exercised…

* In things like the gifts in creation… water, wind, sunlight, trees that grow and bear fruit, animals for meat and fine leather ware… even in the laws of nature themselves

* It is also exercised in the miraculous… parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan river… in earthquakes… in skies darkening…

* In attempting to understand providence we often wander into a strange ritual of seeking God’s Sovereign will…  something not promised to us.

* Haven’t you heard

* Perfect will for your life… like a thread?

* Or a series of doors…?

* Fleeces…?

* Not ours to know…

* Matthew 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

* Mark 13:32 "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

* So what good is God’s providential (sovereign) will… It reminds God is the LORD GORD ALMIGHTY… creator and sustainer of the universe… who has dominion over his created world and all that is with in it.

* We can see clearly God’s sovereign will in the rear view mirror…

* The Israelites were told to head for the Land promised them… (through Moses… Promises to Abraham)

* They didn’t know until it was time that seas and rivers would part before them.

* They knew (weren’t always obedient) … but the knew God’s plan revealed to them… and were to be *obedient to the revelation of God*.

* Paul knew that he was called to minister the Gospel in Christ name… despite the “challenges” which might have been read as a Providential “NO” he persevered because the *revealed will of God was clear and was his guide*!

*  So he continued to attempt to spread the gospel… according to his passion for the Word… and God’s Providence ultimately exercised dominion over all that happened!

* 2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ?--

I speak as if insane-- I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

29 Who is weak without my being weak?

Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.

31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32 In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

* So as Paul headed toward Rome… God prevented him….

Cut Into… a Trench… A Barrier

* God’s divine intent can not be thwarted…

* Paul desired to go to Rome…

* God planned other things…

* /Acts 16:7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;/

*  Story of Joseph…

* Not about a brat and some band of bad brothers

* It is about God’s providence

* Pit, Slavery, Potiphar, Wife, Pharaoh, Famine, Providence…

* /Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives./

*  Even the misbehaving… will be used by God!

* Our OBLIGATION is to his revealed will!

* Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

*  It is arrogance when we think it is about us!

* US who save… US who plan… US who redeem

* James 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."