The Heart Of A Godly Leader (Rom. 1:8-15)

Romans 1:8 NKJV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

The Heart Of A Godly Leader

Romans 1:8-15

We can well understand Paul’s concern for the churches that he founded, but why would he be concerned about the believers at Rome?

He was unknown to many of them, yet he wanted to assure them that he was deeply concerned about their welfare. Note the evidences of Paul’s concern.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 515.

I: A Godly Leader is Thankful (vs. 8)

“The whole world”—meaning the whole Roman Empire—knew of the faith of the Christians at Rome. Travel was relatively common in that day and “all roads led to Rome.”

It is no wonder that the testimony of the church spread abroad, and this growing witness made Paul’s ministry easier as he went from place to place, and was able to point to this testimony going out from the heart of the Roman Empire.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 515.

II. A Godly Leader is Prayerful (vs. 9)

They did not know of Paul’s prayer support, but the Lord knew about it and honored it. (I wonder how many of us know the people who are praying for us?)

One of the burdens of Paul’s prayer was that God would permit him to visit Rome and minister to the churches there.

He would have visited them sooner, but his missionary work had kept him busy (Rom. 15:15–33). He was about to leave Corinth for Jerusalem to deliver the special offering received from the Gentile churches for the poor Jewish saints.

He hoped he would be able to travel from Jerusalem to Rome, and then on to Spain; and he was hoping for a prosperous journey.

Actually, Paul had a very perilous journey; and he arrived in Rome a prisoner as well as a preacher.

In Jerusalem he was arrested in the temple, falsely accused by the Jewish authorities and eventually sent to Rome as the Emperor’s prisoner to be tried before Caesar.

When Paul wrote this letter, he had no idea that he would go through imprisonment and even shipwreck before arriving in Rome!

At the close of the letter (Rom. 15:30–33), he asked the believers in Rome to pray for him as he contemplated this trip; and it is a good thing that they did pray!1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 515.

III: A Godly Leader is Sensible (vs. 10)

I long to see you!” This is the pastor’s heart in Paul the great missionary. Some of the saints in Rome were very dear to Paul, such as Priscilla and Aquila (Rom. 16:3–4), who risked their lives for him; “the beloved Persis” (Rom. 16:12); and others who had labored and suffered with Paul.

IV: A Godly Leader is Humble (vs. 11-12)

But he also loved the believers that he did not know, and he longed to be able to share some spiritual gift with them. He was looking forward to a time of mutual blessing in the love of Christ.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 516.

V: A Godly Leader is Flexible (vs. 13-15)

Two different Greek words are translated “ready” in the King James Version. One means “prepared,” as in Acts 21:13. “I am ready … to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

The other one, used in Romans 1:15, means “eager, with a ready mind.” Paul was not eager to die, though he was prepared to die.

But he was eager to visit Rome that he might minister to the believers there. It was not the eagerness of a sightseer, but the eagerness of a soul-winner.

After reading these five evidences of Paul’s concern for the Christians at Rome, these saints could not but give thanks to God for the Apostle Paul and his burden to come and minister to them.

Actually, the Epistle to the Romans in which Paul explained the Gospel he preached, was his letter of introduction that prepared the believers for his visit.

No doubt the false teachers had already gotten to Rome and were seeking to poison the Christians against Paul (see Rom. 3:8).

Some would accuse him of being anti-Law; others would say he was a traitor to the Jewish nation.

Still others would twist his teaching about grace and try to prove that he taught loose living. No wonder Paul was eager to get to Rome! He wanted to share with them the fullness of the Gospel of Christ.

But would the Gospel of Christ work in the great city of Rome as it had in other places? Would Paul succeed there, or would he fail?

The apostle no doubt felt these objections and raised these questions in his own mind, which is why he forged a third link between himself and his readers.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 516.

Leadership Lessons from Paul

1 Leadership is about people: Paul loved the Christians at Rome

2 Leadership is about prayer: Paul prayed for people he had never met.

3 Leadership is about purpose: Paul had a plan but submitted it to God.

4 Leadership is about persistence: Paul continued on despite changes in plans.

5 Leadership is about patience: Paul bloomed where he was planted, trusting in God’s timing.

6 Leadership is about passion: Paul was passionate about the spiritual needs of people.