Download UNDERSTANDING PAUL`S PRIORITIES Romans 15:14

UNDERSTANDING PAUL’S PRIORITIES
Romans 15:14-24
over the place trying to do everything. Entrust those God has filled and
given wisdom to with ministry and then affirm them.
ANDREW CARNEGIE, was a poor Scottish immigrant turned powerful
industrialist. He became one of the richest men of the nineteenth
century-and one of the most generous. It's estimated he gave nine out
of every ten dollars he earned in oil, railroads, and steel to charity, an
astounding total of $350 million over his lifetime. A strong supporter of
free libraries and education, he believed that the rich had a moral
responsibility to use their wealth to benefit others.
“You yourselves are full of goodness.”
Carnegie spread his wealth around, making philanthropy his life's
priority.
The Apostle Paul, on the other hand, made his life's priority spreading the
good news of the riches of eternal life.
No doubt, Paul was an astounding theologian, a teacher, a pastor & an
apostle, but His primary calling was as an evangelist to those who had
never heard of Jesus Christ.
Paul began the book of Romans by making it clear that this was his primary
calling but then he returns to this theme in chapter 15. Why?
Because as Paul prepares to sign off, he wants to explain why he sent the
letter instead of visiting with them face to face. His priorities based on his
calling are part of that explanation. However, before getting to that point he
begins by offering …
I. HIS ASSESSMENT
Romans 15:14-15 NIV, “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you
yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent
to instruct one another. 15 I have written you quite boldly on some
points, as if to remind you of them again because of the grace God
gave me”
As we will see as we work through the text, Paul offers this assessment to
justify why he thought they were good and capable of ministering to the
believers until he finished what he was doing.
Obviously, Paul believed in his Christian brothers and sisters. He had faith
in them. And it was an encouragement for them to hear this assessment.
If as ministers we don’t believe in people and then verbally affirm them, we
decrease the effectiveness of our own ministries. We would be running all
Notice that he isn’t saying that they are good, but that they are full of
goodness. I’m not splitting hairs here.
Remember what Jesus said to the person who asked what good thing he
needed to do receive eternal life in Matthew 19:16–17 NIV.
“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good
thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him,
“Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.”
God is good. We are not good.
Goodness comes only as a result of salvation and following Christ
[sanctification]. In other words, Paul was convinced that they were
following Christ and therefore they had been filled with "goodness." God's
goodness infused in them, for only God is good.
They also are "complete in all knowledge." How does one get "complete
in all knowledge?"
I guess that means they were committed believers who were intentional
about their discipleship. They were absorbing as much knowledge as
possible.
They were involved in small groups, and they didn’t forsake assembling
together on Sunday mornings.
Over time that sort of involvement connects you to believers and that
provides you with the resources that help you gain more and more
knowledge of God.
And as Paul suggests here, once you are filled with goodness and
knowledge you can effectively encourage others in the faith.
In verse 15 Paul admits that he has boldly advised them in other areas as a
reminder.
“I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of
them again because of the grace God gave me”
Paul reminded his readers that it was because of God's grace that he had
his special position.
And even though the O. T. priesthood has been done away with, there is a
New Covenant priesthood that I spoke to you about last week
His advise might have been considered intrusive if it had not been born out
of God's grace and calling.
1 Peter 2:1-5, 9 NIV, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all
deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn
babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your
salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you
come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God
and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into
a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Verse 9, " But
you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who
called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Paul's words were more that human speech. They were words of the Spirit
given out of Paul's gift as an apostle.
If we are going to offer more than man's wisdom, the advise we give to
others must be born out of God's Spirit, God's Word and God's grace also.
So, as we assess ministry, don’t forget to encourage and affirm those who
are doing ministry well, and be bold in your advice when necessary. When
you provide that instruction, you may need to remind them of your calling
and the importance of their participation so you can fulfill your assignment.
That is where Paul goes next as He reiterates…
II. HIS ASSIGNMENT
Romans 15:15-16 NIV, “I have written you quite boldly on some
points, as if to remind you of them again because of the grace God
gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the
priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles
might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy
Spirit.”
Verse 16 tells us that as a minister of Jesus Christ Paul's assignment was a
priestly duty.
As he preached and shared the good news of Jesus with Gentiles and they
came to believe, Paul viewed them as an offering that was acceptable to
God and sanctified or set apart for God’s purposes by the Holy Spirit.
He was a minister [leitourgos, a public, civil or temple servant] to the
Gentiles. The term "liturgy" is related to this word.
This ministry was carried out as a priestly duty [hierourgounta means "to
work in sacred things"].
We may not relate to the "priest" designation very well because it conjures
up images of bearded Old Testament men in special clothing in the temple.
Since we are all part of this priesthood of believers, we all are to declare
the praises of God. That is why Jesus used the phrase "fishers of men" for
those who followed Him.
While some believers have been called to "vocational" or "full-time"
ministry, every Christian has been made a priest of the gospel. This is our
real vocation, no matter how we may earn our paycheck. We are all
ministers of the gospel.
So Paul assesses the competency of others who are doing ministry and
affirms them in that service. He reminds them of his assignment and then
he takes time to consider …
III. HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Romans 15:17-19 NIV, "Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service
to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ
has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by
what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and miracles,
through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around
to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.”
Paul was not glorying or boasting in what he had done, but in what God
had done through him. Paul was merely a honed instrument in the hand of
God.
Just like us, Paul was dependent on God for accomplishing his ministry
task. Christ is the One who works through His servant, and when God uses
such poor instruments as us, it’s proof of His magnificent power and glory.
Being proud of God's work done in us and through us is not a sin. Besides
that, it confirms our call in our own minds and it the minds of others.
If you are not sure whether your pride is selfish or holy, ask yourself this
question: Are you just as proud of what God is doing through other people
as of what he is doing through you?
It is told that the CHANGE IN THE LIFE of D. L. Moody came when he
went to a meeting and heard a preacher say: "If only one man would
give himself entirely and without reserve to the Holy Spirit, what that
Spirit might do with him!" Moody said to himself: "Why should I not be
that man?" And all the world knows what the Spirit of God did with D.
L. Moody.
It is when a man ceases to think of what he can do and begins to think of
what God can do with him, that things begin to happen.
Verse 18 reminds us that the result of hearing the message of the Gospel
should be obedience.
"I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has
accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what
I have said and done"
Notice that "obedience" is a synonym for coming to faith in Christ.
In what sense are they to be obedient? The preaching of the good news of
Jesus coming to die in our place includes a command from God that is
either obeyed or not. What is that command?
Acts 17:30-31 ESV, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now
he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has
fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man
whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by
raising him from the dead.”
Paul recognized that all credit for what the sharing of the Gospel
accomplishes goes to Christ.
And yet Paul understood that obedience to God was linked to the message
he spoke and demonstrated in power. He said…
“to obey God by what I have said and done by the power of signs and
miracles, through the power of the Spirit.”
He shared the gospel in the power of the Spirit so that it could accomplish
its great work.
God wants to use you as His instrument too. The Word is alive and
powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). Just start sharing
the Scriptures and watch and see what God does.
Paul began his letter and ended his letter with this same focus.
In his salutation he said…
Romans 1:5 ESV, “through whom we have received grace and
apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his
name among all the nations,
Through the power of the Spirit, He confirms His word, convicts the sinner
of what sin is and of what is right and impresses on them the reality of a
coming judgment.
With that conviction bearing down on their hearts, they bow the knee and
respond in obedience to His command by repenting (agreeing with God
about their sin) and receiving His Son.
In his benediction he said,
Romans 16:25-27 ESV, “Now to him who is able to strengthen you
according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to
the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, 26 but
has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been
made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal
God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God
be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
Verse19 announces that the gospel had been proclaimed in power all
around the eastern Mediterranean.
“by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.
So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully
proclaimed the gospel of Christ.”
The apostle had been used by God through the power of the Spiritnto
perform signs and miracles. This happened at Cyprus (Acts 13:11, making
Elymas blind), at Iconium (Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12) at Lystra (Acts 14:8-10,
19-20), at Ephesus (Acts 19:11-12), at Troas (Acts 20:9-12), and at Malta
(Acts 28:1-8).
It was by signs, wonders, and miracles that the words and works of the
apostles were authenticated as being from God.
your own competence, you cannot effectively call attention to Jesus
and his glorious sufficiency.”
Amen!
2 Corinthians 12:11–12 ESV, “For I was not at all inferior to these
super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true
apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs
and wonders and mighty works.”
Hebrews 2:4 ESV, “God also bore witness by signs and wonders and
various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to
his will.”
The power of the Spirit is what made the connection between the miracles,
the message, and the converts.
Even for us today, it would be fool hearty to try to teach, lead or inspire a
group of people without the empowering, indwelling or controlling of the
Holy Spirit. As I said before, it is the Spirit that convicts people of sin,
righteousness and judgment. It is the Spirit of God who brings life to the
lifeless. It is the Spirit of God that brings to bear all the power and authority
of God to each person's situation. He alone, has the ability to point out a
person's deepest need and lead them to the fountain of living waters.
Paul had preached the gospel from Jerusalem all the way around to
Illyricum (1,440 miles). Illyricum was a Roman territory on the Adriatic Sea
between present day Italy and Greece. It covered much the same territory
as Albania and Yugoslavia do today.
Paul traveled everywhere, simply preaching "the Good News of Jesus
Christ." He knew what his assignment was and he had seen what God had
accomplished through him and that is what fueled…
III. HIS AMBITION, 20-21.
Romans 15:20-21, “It has always been my ambition to preach the
gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on
someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: “Those who
were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will
understand.”
J. I. Pracker (British-born Canadian Christian theologian) wrote: "You
cannot at the same time give the impression that you are a great
preacher" -- or theologian or debater or whatever -- "and that Jesus
Christ is a great Savior.” He said, “If you call attention to yourself and
The geographical extent of his ministry led Paul to declare what motivated
him continually onward forward in his gospel outreach.
Paul had a deep-rooted desire to be a true pioneer evangelist, opening
virgin territory to the good news of God's grace in Jesus Christ.
This was so that he would not be building on someone else's foundation (1
Cor. 3:10).
In the early 19th century, US President Thomas Jefferson completed
the LOUISIANA PURCHASE, expanding the borders of our fledgling
republic "from sea to shining sea." The problem, however, was that no
one really knew what was in that vast expanse of land. Maps would be
needed, with clear instructions for the pioneers who would travel to the
Pacific. Explorers Lewis and Clark became, in effect, pioneers
preparing the way for the most massive land migration in US history.
They cut a new trail that others would follow.
The apostle Paul's commitment to ministry was framed by a similar priority,
“to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named." To cut a new
trail with the gospel that others would follow. Timothy, Titus, Mark, and
Silas were just a few who followed the trail Paul blazed.
Today that commitment is seen in Jesus followers who take the message of
the Savior to the uttermost parts of the world.
But God has given you a message to share also. Don't keep it to yourself.
Share your personal story of coming to faith in Christ with people you know.
It is told that when DAVID LIVINGSTONE volunteered as a missionary
with the London Missionary Society they asked him where he would
like to go. "Anywhere," he said, " so long as it is forward." And when he
reached Africa he was haunted by the smoke of a thousand villages
which he saw in the distance.
It was Paul's great motivation to carry the good news of God to men who
had never heard it.
Paul quotes from Isaiah 52:15 in verse 21 to tell his aspiration. " it is
written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who
have not heard will understand.”
This was Paul's Scripture confirmation for going to those who have not
seen and who have not heard in order that they might see and hear and
understand.
This passage’s ultimate fulfillment will be at Christ's return. So guess what?
It is a verse we should still site as confirmation for our ministry at CCOD
too.
People who have had no news of Christ, who have not heard the gospel,
are found everywhere. They can be found in every country, every city and
town, and in every community and neighborhood.
God does not call every believer to be an evangelist, but He calls every
believer to be a witness.
IN CONCLUSION: His Arranged Priorities, 22-24
With his priority well established, Paul explains that while he wanted to visit
the church at Rome, he had delayed his visit because he had heard many
good reports about the believers there and he knew they were doing well
on their own. It was more important for him to preach in areas that had not
yet heard the Good News. This should be our priority in Hampden.
Romans 15:22-24 NIV, “This is why I have often been hindered from
coming to you. 23 But now that there is no more place for me to work
in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see
you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while
passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I
have enjoyed your company for a while.”
Ask God to show you how you can be used to extend the gospel to regions
where Christ is not yet known.
I Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be
prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and
respect.”