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4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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PAUL’S FINAL
COMMENTS ON HIS PLANS (Romans
15:28-33) 5/17/09 Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor I.
PAUL WILL VISIT
ROME ON WAY TO SPAIN (28-29) A.
Paul has
written of his desire to preach where Christ had not been preached before (Ro
15:20-21; i.e. Spain Ro 15:24, 28). He has written of his longtime desire to
visit the believers in Rome (Ro 15:22-24a). He has even expressed his
apostolic authority to the church to share in the common burdens of other
believers. Here Paul was referring to the monetary contributions to which
Paul was to deliver to the suffering believers in Jerusalem (Ro 15:24b-27). B.
“Therefore (oún - a consequential conjunction,
vs. 28), because Paul was collecting monetary contributions for the
saints in Jerusalem, he had to first complete this ministry until he could
visit Rome. 1. Paul would not visit the believers in Rome until
“after he had completed” (aorist
participle of epiteléō - to successfully complete) this ministry. 2. This ministry would not be complete until “after he
had delivered this fruit, i.e. collection” (aorist participle of sphrágizō - to seal or can be
commercial terminology referring to a safely accomplished transaction, i.e.
“seal the deal”). Even though it
was monetary, to Paul it was “fruit” (karpós, - not “loot,” but “fruit”) unto God. 3. Then and only then would he think about his next
ministry to Spain, to which on the way he would visit Rome. C.
Paul’s goal for
visiting the believers in Rome would be to be a blessing. He would not be
just a blessing, but come in the fullness of the blessing in Christ. 1. “Fullness” (plếroma - to fill up or be full) would speak of the great blessing from learning
truths from God’s Word. Paul would give them the deep teaching of God’s Word.
2. Paul stated in Ro 1:11 that he wanted to impart some
spiritual gift to the believers in Rome. He was not speaking in reference to
the spiritual gifts (cp. Ro 12:6-8), but the common encouragement of each
other’s faith, to which they all would come away blessed. This was one of
Paul’s intentions for seeking to come to them. II.
PAUL ASKS THEM
TO JOIN IN PRAYER (30-32) A.
Paul makes one
last final appeal (parakaléō - lit. “one called alongside,” to encourage or
exhort) that the believers (i.e. “brothers” - adelphoí) in
Rome would pray for him (30). 1. He appeals to them “through” the common ground of
Jesus Christ their Savior and “through” the love that the Spirit gives toward
other believers. 2. They were to strive together in their prayers.
“Strive together” (sunagonizomai) contains the
Greek word agonizomai
(Eng. agonize), which means to contend or struggle. From
it, we get our English word “agony.” Paul was asking the believers in Rome to
wrestle in prayer to God on Paul’s behalf (upèr). B.
Paul needed
them to strive together with him in prayer because he was facing persecution
from unbelievers (apeithéō - disobedient to God and unbelieving) (31). 1. Acts records some of persecution waiting for Paul in
Judea (Ac 20:22-23). He was concerned that the Jerusalem church would not
receive its gifts from the other churches if he were arrested. 2. In addition, Paul did not want the preaching of the
Gospel to be impeded in any way (Ac 20:24). He only wanted to finish his
course faithfully before God and man. In fact, Paul was concerned that his
ministry would be “acceptable” (euprósdektos - meaning well and received or
well-received) to the saints so
that kingdom would be furthered. C.
The final
personal purpose (“in order” - hína)
in fulfilling his ministry would be that Paul could finally spend the long
awaited time with the believers in Rome (32). 1. When that day finally comes for Paul to visit the
Roman believers, he will come in “joy” (chará
- joy and rejoicing). 2. But Paul also knows that if and when his visit
materializes, it will have come to pass through the “will of God” (cp. Ro
1:10). Man has his thoughts and is permitted to prayerfully plan as long as
he knows that God gives the final answer (Pr 16:1, 9; 19:21). 3. If and when that visit happens, it will be a time of
refreshing (sunanapaúomai
- tighter find rest and refreshment)
for Paul longing heart. III.
PAUL GIVES HIS
FIRST BENEDICTION (33) A.
Paul will give
another benediction at the close of chapter sixteen. However, he ends his
didactic and personal portions with a fitting benediction (33). B.
His benediction
revolves around the God of peace. He is a God of peace because: 1. He works all things together for good (Ro 8:28). 2. He will not give condemnation to the believer (Ro
8:1). 3. He has a sovereign will, which will be carried out
for every believer and every church. 4. He desires that His peace sustain every believer (“with
you all” - Jn 14:27). C.
Most of Paul’s
benedictions end with an “Amen.” “Amen” is transliteration from Greek (amến) which was a
transliteration from Hebrew (amen).
It meant “let it be so,” “of a truth,” or truly. It is used at the end of a
strong doxology (Ro 11:36), at the end of prayer (1Co 14:16), and in
affirmation to declaration of truth (Ps 106:48; Jn 1:51). It was also a name
of Christ (Re 3:14). IV.
OBSERVATIONS
AND APPLICATIONS A.
Prayer and
God’s Will 1. There is no question that prayer is a part of
ministry. The spiritual leaders, according to Ac 6:4 are to be “continually
devoted” (proskarteréō) to the ministry of prayer. Even the congregation
itself is to be continually devoted (proskarteréō) to prayer (Ac 2:42). Furthermore, every believer
is to be continually devoted (proskarteréō) to prayer. 2. But the question still remains what purpose is there
being devoted to prayer if God has His own will? The answer is that God has
His own will, but He often accomplishes His will through the prayers of the
saints (2Ch 7:14; Lk 18:1-7; Ja 5:16-18). There are even times when God
withholds things from believers because they have not asked (Ja 4:2b). God
sovereignly chooses to accomplish His will through the prayers of His people. B.
Prayer and the
Ministry (Ro 15:30) 1. Pray
for difficulties in ministry (2Co 1:11; Phil 1:19) 2. Pray
for salvation in ministry (Ro 10:1) 3. Pray for edification in ministry (Eph
1:18) 4. Pray for the furtherance of ministry (2Th
3:1) 5. Pray for opportunities in ministry (Col
4:3) 6. Pray for words to speak in ministry (Eph
6:19a) 7. Pray for boldness to speak in ministry (Eph
6:19b) 8. Pray for those in ministry (1Th
1:2-3) 9. Pray for those being ministered to (Col
1:3-4) |
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