WHAT'S THE USE?
Romans 15:14-33
Paul closes letter with nearly 2 chapters of concluding personal matters!
How do you make that exciting and interesting for 21st C. listeners?
He reveals EIGHT BASIC PRINCIPLES of his ministry.
These principles reveal Paul’s heartbeat—what makes him tick—his attitudes, his desires, his vision.
Each principle could be a sermon in itself.
Rather than spend 8 weeks, I want to quickly look at these 8 principles.
Then I’d like to come back to consider what made Paul tick.
MOTIVES FOR HIS LETTER:
PAUL IS CONFIDENT THAT GOD’S PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF MINISTERING TO ONE ANOTHER 15:14
Paul has spoken firmly and counseled them frankly, in strong tones.
They might think he didn't have confidence in them.
He speaks frankly because he does have confidence in them.15:14
Paul acknowledges the work God has done in us
We have kindness and knowledge—all we need to exhort others.
We’re full. We aren’t lacking anything in that regard
They are full of goodness => actions; good deeds
They are full of knowledge => not lacking in understanding of truth
Therefore, we’re capable of sharing what we’ve learned with others.
They are capable of correcting one another => counseling; encouraging to love and good deeds
1st principle: Count on God’s people to minister to one another
PAUL WANTS THE RESULTS OF HIS MINISTRY TO GOD’S PEOPLE TO BE PLEASING TO GOD 15:15-29
–ALL WE DO! It’s ALL about pleasing Him–It’s all for HIS glory!
He wants to remind us of some things we should already know 15:15-16
He’d rather risk boring us, than risk that we might forget–so he’s going to tell us the same thing over and over again!
2nd principle: Don't be afraid to repeat what people have heard before—to remind people of God’s truth.
God has given him a gift: privilege of ministering to Gentiles–pagans.
He must fulfill responsibility God gave when He called him
God has given him the privilege of proclaiming good news-to lost, pagan people–to those who had NO hope!
That’s a calling to sacred, priestly ministry.
He wants to bring an acceptable offering to God: PAGANS whose lives have been transformed by the power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Like priest, Paul wants to offer a "sweet savor" offering to God, pleasing aroma ascending into His presence—an offering of Gentiles who’ve heard gospel and trusted Christ.
Mission is well-established. It’s gone on for years.
He wants to remind us—it IS the mission! —to bring pagans to God!
What we do to bring our friends to Christ is priestly service to God:
Pie given to neighbor may be offering to God [hopefully NOT burnt offering!]
Kind word spoken in love, may be acceptable sacrifice.
Sharing what Christ has done for us may be spiritual worship.
Through “priestly service,” we present lost people to God.
Transformed pagans become a “pleasing offering” we present to God!
Paul will only boast about what Christ has done 15:17-29
His boast is not about what others have accomplished,
nor what he himself has accomplished,
but about what Christ has done through him. 15:17-18a
Christ has been at work through him in bringing people to Himself.
HE’s the Savior!
HE’s the One Who draws people!
Christ has done the work.
Christ alone deserves the glory.
3rd principle: Bragging should focus on what GOD has done –NOT OUR accomplishments!
“If I'm going to go around talking about what's happening, I want to focus on what GOD is doing.”
Many Gentiles have heard the gospel and obeyed the Word of God.
Pagans were transformed—words and lifestyle are different
Christ and the gospel have done something significant 15:18b-19
People from Jerusalem to Yugoslavia heard about Jesus’ love
Paul proclaims Christ where His name isn’t known 20-21
He doesn’t want to go where others have already gone 20a
He doesn’t want to build on somebody else’s foundation 20b
His dream: People who have never heard the good news come to understand the truth 21
4th principle: Target people who’ve never heard the gospel
LOST people should be our priority!
Our focus isn’t people who already know Him—it’s people in darkness.
Those who’d never heard were able to hear, as prophesied Isa. 52:15
William Carey’s passion: though he could scarcely make living repairing shoes, and had little education, he spoke to group of ministers, urging them to send missionary to India— to send many, to many parts of the world. One responded: "Sit down, young man, if God wants the heathen converted, He’ll do it without your help or mine." But Carey couldn’t sit still. God had lit the fire. Carey launched missionary movement, setting off for Calcutta, in 1792, dedicating his life to serving pagans.
Livingstone’s passion: When he volunteered with London Missionary Society, they asked where he’d like to go. "Anywhere, as long as it’s forward." When he reached Africa he was “haunted by smoke of thousand villages.”
Paul desires to enjoy fellowship with them on his way to proclaim good news in Spain 22-24
In spite of this desire, his dream hindered him from going to visit them.
His dedication to ministry among those who had never heard kept him from visiting Rome.
Now he had finished his job. There was no more territory to cover.
It wasn't that he’d finished the work; there was still much to do.
But each church could now carry on it’s own work
It wasn't that there were no more cities to reach either.
Many people hadn’t yet heard, but each center had a church.
Responsibility of reaching surrounding communities was theirs.
Now Paul could set out for another new center: Spain.
He wants to enjoy their fellowship and be helped by them on his trip
Paul’s ministry to those who hadn’t heard gospel in Asia Minor, and Greece, was accomplished; he began to look farther away.
Why Spain? Spain was becoming a major cultural center
Barclay: “Many of greatest men in the Empire were Spaniards. . . Seneca, the Stoic philosopher, who became Nero’s prime minister, was a Spaniard. Paul may have been thinking that if he could touch Spain for Christ tremendous things might happen."
5th principle: Priority should be given to strategic centers 23
To achieve that goal, he had to go through Rome.
He could achieve two purposes at same time:
(1) He could have ministry among them
(2) He could involve them in his ministry to Spain
While traveling to Spain, Paul wants to enjoy fellowship with God’s people–share God’s blessings with them–AND be sent on his mission by God’s people.
[ First he must visit Jerusalem 15:25-27 ]
Paul desires to deliver a contribution from the Gentile churches to poor believers in Jerusalem 25-27
Churches of Macedonia and Achaia begged to help the suffering saints!
6th principle: Our motivation should be to SERVE ONE ANOTHER 25
Paul was going to Jerusalem TO SERVE–priority in ministry was to serve saints--NOT be served--Not be boss, or respected leader!
He’s taking offering to help poor
Macedonian churches insisted they be given privilege of helping.
They recognized obligation to Jerusalem church
Gentiles received from Jerusalem, when they had nothing.
Now it's their turn to share material goods
7th principle: God's gifts are intended to be shared with one another
THOSE WHO RECEIVE SPIRITUAL BENEFIT,
OUGHT TO REPAY WITH MATERIAL BENEFITS.
God has given us possessions to share with people who have none.
People who receive spiritual blessings owe a material debt to those who minister to them. 27
That’s what missions is about.
We’ve received benefit, because someone cared about “pagans” on other side of world.
Because of benefits we’ve received, we use our resources to help someone else hear.
After mission to Jerusalem, Paul expects to visit them on his way to Spain 28-29
He wants to be identified with this act of love for God’s people in Jerusalem 28
When he has completed his mission to Jerusalem, He wants to share the blessing, together with them 29
PAUL URGES US TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER IN PRAYER FOR ONE ANOTHER 15:30-33
Concerns came to mind regarding what might happen in Jerusalem.
As Paul prayed to go to Rome, he was in for a surprise.
He asked, “Lord, lay it on hearts of Romans to support me on this journey!”
He never imagined Roman government would send him!
His trip to Jerusalem resulted in a plot to kill him, hearings, 2 yrs in jail in Caesarea, and 2 yrs in jail in Rome.
He had reason for asking them to pray for his trip!
8th principle: Join together in ministry by praying for one another
Paul’s prayer reveals 2 concerns:
1) He’s afraid of unbelieving Jews who were rejecting gospel.
He didn’t know how far they’d go to stop him
2) He’s concerned about brethren in Jerusalem.
Jews dedicated themselves to destroy his credibility.
He wasn't sure what to expect from brethren there
His concerns lead to 3 prayer requests:
Pray for protection from those who oppose the truth
Pray he’ll be delivered from oppression–from opposition of people who reject truth.
Pray that our ministry will be welcomed by God’s people
Pray that our ministry will result in joy and refreshing fellowship with one another.
He wants us to continue enjoying peace only God can give.
Focus on ministry to ONE ANOTHER
Paul understood why God called him.
When writing Philippians, he’s in jail–isn’t sure whether he’ll get out
Yet, in Phil. 1, he’s pretty sure he hasn’t finished job.
He’d rather die and graduate.
Living is Christ; therefore dying improves situation–removes barriers.
If he dies, “absent from body is present with the Lord.” => dying is gain!
Nevertheless, he’s confident they still need him.His work isn’t done yet!
In 2 Timothy he’s back in jail again.
He states firmly: “I have finished the race!”
He knows he’s completed work God called him to do => have to know what God called you to do!
What was Paul about? What made him tick? WHAT WAS HIS PASSION?
How should Paul’s vision in 1st C. affect us today in 21st C.?
God gave Paul, Jewish theologian, heart to reach lost pagans–wandering in darkness.
He isn’t interested in “sheep stealing”
Doesn’t want to go where someone else is preaching about Jesus, and start a new church that’ll do things his way. Not trying to get people to leave their church and come to his!
He wants to go where Christ isn’t known and tell good news—so people who’ve never heard might learn salvation is by faith in Christ alone.
That’s Paul’s passion=>share good news with people who don’t know Jesus!
If Paul was going to get excited and brag about something,
. . . it wouldn’t be about the beautiful facilities God gave them
. . . it wouldn’t be about quality of singers or their beautiful music
. . . it would be about what GOD was doing in bringing lost people out of darkness, into the light.
In his dreams, Paul was planning where he might go next with good news.
He had to go to Jerusalem on business—take love offering to saints there—
then, it was on to Rome—And from there, to Spain—
Everywhere Paul went he told lost people about Jesus
God’s heart is set on the lost.
O.T. looked ahead to day when people in darkness would see great light.
Jesus came to seek and to save lost people. He died for lost people!
Paul’s heart was set on the lost.
What’s OUR heart set on? [Who moved?]
In our day, it seems the only thing it’s appropriate to be passionate about is sports.
We’re passionate when Indiana makes it to Final 4!
We’re passionate about the Tigers, or Green Bay, the Bulls or the cubs!
But we’ve lost our passion about what’s really important!
What’s happened to our passion for Jesus?
We scream with enthusiasm about the Pacers! Do we even whisper about our enthusiasm for Jesus?
Paul was passionate—he was a priest with a mission.
He wanted to bring an offering—lost people—to Jesus.
We boast about “the priesthood of the believer.” When’s the last time WE brought Him a sacrifice?
God doesn’t hold us accountable for results,
but He does hold us accountable for sharing good news!
Paul began assuring readers—assuring US—that we have plenty of knowledge to instruct others.
We just need to tell others what God has shown us!
People in Warsaw who’ve never heard the good news about salvation through faith in Christ alone.
God hasn’t called us to go after Christians in Warsaw, and get them to come to our church.
But He has called us to look for lost people, those who are still in darkness, and share the light with them!
PRAY FOR TWO!