Run Your Race

Romans 15:22–29 NKJV

22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

The reason Paul has been hindered.

Romans 15:17–20 NKJV

17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,

Paul’s calling and ministry.

At the end of the message last week I left you with the question “What ministry does God have for you to do?” Christian, God has a purpose for your life, a calling, you can be certain of that. God has a specific purpose for you. If you don’t know what that purpose is then start with Rom 12:1-2. We often want to know what God’s will is before we surrender to it but Paul teaches us in Romans 12 1-2 that we must first surrender then we will prove God’s will. Once we offer our bodies to the Lord as a holy and acceptable sacrifice then God’s purpose will begin to take shape before us. Most likely you will not know His will for you from beginning to end as though it is all laid out before you but it will begin to unfold in front of you.

Paul knew that God’s purpose for him was to preach the Gospel to the gentiles to go where the gospel had not yet been preached. and even though he desired for many years to go to Rome God’s purpose had so far hindered him from doing so. Paul was not his own rather he saw his life as belonging to God.

Plans to Go To Rome

Romans 15:23–24 NKJV

23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

His ministry was fulfilled in the regions he had been ministering and he believed that the Lord was leading him to Spain. It is believed that eventually Paul did make it to Spain after his imprisonment in Rome and before he eventually was martyred in Rome during Nero’s rule.

His plan...

He would stop at Rome on his way to:

1. Enjoy fellowship with them

Romans 1:9–12 NKJV

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

2. Receive help on his way to Spain

Romans is a missionary support letter. Paul wanted to give them an opportunity to invest in the ministry in Spain

A Long Detour To Jerusalem

Romans 15:25–26 NKJV

25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.

So the question here is why if Paul had so greatly desired to go to Rome on his way to Spain to continue the ministry that God had called him to did he take a 3000 km detour to Jerusalem? It is believed that Paul was in Corinth when he wrote Romans so Jerusalem was almost 1500 km in the wrong direction.

If you have read Paul’s other letters then you know that this project of collecting and delivering money to the Christians in Jerusalem was very close to Paul’s heart.

But surely Paul could have arranged for others to deliver this gift to the Christians in Jerusalem.

Not only was this a detour on his way to Rome and Spain but there something else that is not mentioned here that would have been a great reason for Paul to have not taken this trip to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:8–11 NKJV

8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

The Holy Spirit had revealed this not only to this prophet but to several others that they had met on their way to Jerusalem. And as it transpired Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and spent 2 years in prison.

But look what is goes on to say

Acts 21:12–13 NKJV

12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Regardless of the warnings Paul was determined to go to Jerusalem, ready to be bound and even to die and here we get a glimpse at why, “for the name of the Lord Jesus”.

Paul was convinced that this was an important part of his ministry and purpose. Although he had completed preaching the gospel in these regions taking this gift to Jerusalem was necessary to finish his ministry before he moved on to Spain. In fact, look what he told the elders at Ephesus...

Acts 20:22–24 NKJV

22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

The Gift

Romans 15:26–27 NKJV

26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

Paul had a unique ministry as and apostle to the Gentiles. He was a pioneer missionary taking the gospel to people who had never heard of Christ. but during these early days in the church there was controversy over the Gentile believers. First whether or not they could be saved and could receive the Holy Spirit then whether or not they needed to become proselytes (Convert to judaism). Paul wanted the Jewish believers to see the fruit of the gospel in these Gentile churches. As he says in vs 31 “that my service to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.

Paul says in verse 27 that even though it was their duty to minister to them in material things that they were pleased to make contribution. This was a fruit of the Gospel and evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

2 Corinthians 8:1–7 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

Generosity is a grace of God and fruit of the Spirit. Paul desired to see unity between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. It pleased him that the Gentile churches gave willingly and cheerfully to help the poor Christians in Jerusalem and he saw the delivery of the gift as an important conclusion to his ministry in these regions. So what makes a person travel so far out of the way knowing the great risk of imprisonment and death? Paul knew his calling and purpose in serving the Lord. He did not count even his life dear to him only that He finish his race.

2 Timothy 4:6–8 NKJV

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

When we surrender our body to the Lord and He reveals His will to us nothing else matters not life or death or imprisonment only that we can say at the end I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have keep the faith.