True Love 2 (Romans1:8-16)

Introduction

Last week it was great to dig into Romans together. We discussed the introduction of the book together and we went the first 7 verses or the greeting to the Romans. remember Paul has longed to make it to the Romans but has been held up and imprisoned in Jerusalem where they wanted to kill him. The theme of romans is the righteousnes of God. Paul discusses this repeatedly and our need in our unrighteousness.

Does anyone even remember what it is like to write a letter anymore? I remember when I just got out of High School. I went for a summer and worked at a camp in Colorado. I had never been gone from home that long. I loved Colorado. I spent a summer in the highest point in the rockies and man was it beautiful. But it wasnt East Tennessee. I really started to miss home and my friends and a significant other back home and there was no phone service. So occasionally I would get a care package. My mom would send me pictures of my dogs and my family and my jeep. I would write letters to my family and friends and those letters meant so much and honestly I would write things that I would never say. When you write you have time to think (even though I should think before I speak). That got replaced with texting and then emojis and before you know we will be comunicating telepathicaly or something ridiculous.

All that to say this is the mode in which Paul is writing this letter. It is one of admiration and encouragement and a longing to be with them.

Lets begin where we left off in verse 8

Romans 1:8–10 NIV

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

Paul does this a lot but I dont want us to miss this. He does this in Ephesians, the Philipians, the colossians, and in Thesalonica. He reminds them he is constantly praying for them.

If you want to be a leader that loves You must be a leader that prays.

Paul doesnt begin these letters of encouragement by puffing them up with what he can physically offer or physically give but he reminds them that as their leader he is constantly interceding before God for them this would be great encouragement to the recipients who read this and it should be encouraging to us today. Yall. We need prayer and we need to pray for one another. I cannot tell you how many times that I have been in desperate need for my soul. I have been covered in fear and anxiety or overwhelmed and it has radically changed my heart. Not always changing my circumstances but always changing me.

Let me tell you a story / this is uncomfortable for me as I am not one that leans toward the supernatural / I believe there were certain things God used in a certain economy of time and now other things as well / I also believe God can do what he pleases and whatever he must. He is held to His word and not my theology alone.

Intercessor at passion

Guys we need to encourage people with prayer, let me challenge you to call text or write someone this week and ask to pray for them. Join us at 9 on tuesday mornings for prayer. You dont have to be any certain age.

Vere 11

The New International Version Chapter 1

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, c that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

Two things to notice here

Paul states that he cannot wait to see his brothers and sisters in Christ in order to Impart some spiritual Gift. What does that mean Paul explains this in 1 Cor 12:7

The New International Version Chapter 12

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, r and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

These are gifts that the Spirit are about to give in order to help build the church in Rome. and it is for one anothter to be encouraged by Faith.

You should not only be in prayer but also sharing in your gifts to encourage one another.

Here is the other thing to see in verse 13

The New International Version Chapter 1

13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, c that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

If what had happened to Paul had happened to me. I could think of a billion excuses to not come. I could have said look. This has just been hard, they have tried to kill me and I have been beet down and it obviosuly isnt Gods will

(SIDE NOTE) CROSS

God has purpose when things are great

There can be purpose in your suffering

Even salvific purpose.

Notice I said can, there is another option and it what I mentioned before

God is going to be glorified regardless but rather your service and obedience better than your damnation

Have the vision and the trust to know that God is GOING to use this suffering with purpose

verse 14

The New International Version Chapter 1

14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

Paul was obligated or compelled to preach. Yes Paul was called as an apostle which is un-like you and I, but Like you and I he was compelled by the gospel and we will see why in a moment.

When the Gospel changes you, you will proclaim it

Covid-19 cure

This is also to everyone he says greek and non greeks, and the leaned and simple

Everyone, every nation, every color, every socioeconomic status, All people are to be proclaimed.

We are a divided country

We will end with this paragraph starting in verse 16

The New International Version Chapter 1

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” n

A few things to point out here. This is such a concise a powerful statement from Paul. he often speaks of mystery and things being revealed and that can sometimes be seen as hard to understand. He doesnt want there to be any confusion with the language he uses here.

He is compelled to preach to everyone and everywhere that the Gospel is the power of God that brings salvation. Salvation is initiated by God and carried through by God.

What is the Gospel. Every believer ought to be able to answer that. No it isnt matthew mark luke and john. It is the good news that what?

it says in vs 17 that the righteousness of God is revelaed and how is it revealed? in Jesus Christ. So it is the good news of Jesus

We needed Jesus because of our Sin, God sent Him, He lived perfectly, He died, perfectly, and resurrected.......dont stop there. He is coming back again

In light of this, what does the church and the world need more of right now?

More than a cure for a pandemic, more than money, more than food and water even. They need the gospel. that has always been the need and will always be the need until the gospel has been completed at Jesus’s return.

This is good news for me as a pastor and should be good news for you as a disciple maker. There is no super power you must have or gift but everyone with an ability to communicate can display the power of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must stand firm. Never backing away.

Thats why Paul was so fearless.

Popeye

live with the power