Congregational handout; outline sermon text on following pages SERMON NOTES Paul s Service Plans Romans 15:22 33 August 22, 2004 A. Introduction 1. how far do we plan ahead? live for the day? (Matthew 6:34) 2. the need for vision (looking to the future) Proverbs 29:18 B. Paul s Long Range Vision Romans 15:22-24, also verse 28 1. background: Paul had been prevented from coming to Rome by the pressing need to E elsewhere 2. he planned to go to Spain and stop at R en route expecting that the Roman Christians would... 3. to Spain? testimony of Clement (mentioned in Philippians 4:3) but we really 4. though Paul was inspired by Holy Spirit in his writings, this doesn t mean he necessarily knew his own future a. sometimes others prophesied this (Acts 20:23, 21:4, 10) b. sometimes his plans were altered by the S (Acts 16:7) C. Paul s Short Term Goal Romans 15:25 28 1. he needed to go to J taking gifts to the P 2. Galatians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 16:1 4 these gifts came from the C taken up on Sundays in the Gentile churches 3. Acts 21:17, Paul was G received by the Jerusalem church D. Paul s Immediate Need Romans 15:30 33 1. was that the Christians in Rome strive together in P for him 2. he had four requests a. verse 31: that he be delivered from the O b. verse 31; that his service might be A c. verse 32: that he may C to the Christians in Rome d. Verse 32: that they may R one another E. Paul Seeks God s Will Romans 15:32b 1. Proverbs 19:21, 27:1; also, Genesis 11:4, 7: How do man s plans compare with God s? 2. What is the lesson that James 4:13 16 would have us learn? 3. Do theses lessons only apply to individuals? F. Conclusion: 1. Ecclesiastes 12:1, 2 Corinthians 6:2; what is a most dangerous plan to make?
{1}. Romans 15:22 33... Paul s Service Plans A. Introduction 1. Buying a Car in Russia {2}. a. The story is told of Russian, let us call him Ivan, who saves his rubles for twenty years to buy a new car. After choosing the model and options he wants, he s not the least bit surprised or even concerned to learn that it will take two years for the new car to be delivered. He thanks the salesman and starts to leave, but as he reaches the door he pauses and turns back to the salesman. Do you know which week two years from now the new car will arrive? b. The salesman checks his notes and tells the man that it will be two years to the exact week. The man thanks the salesman and starts out again, but upon reaching the door, he turns back again. c. Could you possibly tell me what day of the week two years from now the car will arrive? d. The salesman, mildly annoyed, checks his notes again and says that it will be exactly two years from this week, on Thursday. e. Ivan thanks the salesman and once again starts to leave. Halfway though the door, he hesitates, turns back, and walks up to the salesman. f. I m sorry to be so much trouble, but do you know if that will be two years from now on Thursday in the morning, or in the afternoon? g. Visibly irritated, the salesman flips through his papers yet another time and says sharply that it will be in the afternoon, two years from now on Thursday. h. That s a relief! says Ivan. The plumber is coming that morning! 2. well, that kind of planning ahead may seem to be excessive a. but Christians are often guilty of such excesses (A) we will wait until we are such an age and then we will have two children: a boy and a girl (B) we will save up a down payment for 5 years and then buy a house in Aurora (C) we will retire at 55 and have the freedom to travel around the world b. and, corporately, as churches we are sometimes guilty (A) by 2007 we ll have an attendance of so many hundred (B) our budget in 5 years will be so many $100,000
(C) in 3 years we will buy land and build in 5 years 3. now, it is good and healthy to have a vision for the future a. Joshua had such a vision, given by God, in entering the land of promise b. Ezra and Nehemiah had such vision in rebuilding the temple and the walls of Jerusalem c. this is one reason God sent prophets to Israel: Proverbs tells us Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 29:18 (ASV) d. and, in today s passage from Romans, Paul gives us an example of some healthy Christian planning B. Paul s Long Range Vision... Romans 15:22 24, 28 1. this is summed up in these words which we have already read: 23b since I have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I go to Spain for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while 28b I will go on by way of you to Spain (NAS) 2. just a word or two about the background a. as we saw in our message last week based on the verses preceding today s passage (A) Paul s desire, which was confirmed by the calling of Jesus Christ, was (1) not to build where other s had already built (2) and although he did the work of a pastor (a) by writing to the churches (b) and by teaching through his writings (c) and by setting men to lead local churches (d) yet it was not to be a pastor-teacher (B) but rather to evangelize (1) to reach those that had never heard the gospel (2) to reach into the regions beyond (3) ever progressing further and further from the birth-place of Christianity, even to Illycrium b. and in today s passage he adds two results of this desire (A) first, until this point in time, it had prevent his going to Rome, for there were still unevangelized
fields at hand (B) second, now, where he has been ministering in Greece and in Asia Minor, there remain no more such fields c. thus, Paul can legitimately turn his attention, (A) not primarily to Rome and the church there (B) but as a stepping stone to a more remote, untouched field, on the western border of the world, Spain d. this is Paul s long-range vision preaching in Spain (A) to achieve it, he counted as we read, on the help of the Christians in the church of Rome; their involvement (B) so, too, for the vision of this church, we count upon the involvement, the help of each and every one of us 3. to Spain? a. wait, you say, the last I remember hearing about Paul is in the 28th chapter of Acts where he is in Rome in his own rented quarters preaching to people there for two years; I ve never read anything about his getting to go to Spain! (A) so some think that it was during this two years that Paul wrote his prison epistles to Timothy and Titus as well as the earlier ones to Ephesus, Colosse & Philippi (B) and that Paul never actually got to Spain b. but other students believe that he did get to both Crete and to Spain after that first imprisonment, based on the evidence of both tradition and the writings of Clement (A) who is mentioned as one of Paul s companions in Philippians 4:3 (B) and wrote in about A.D. 95, He {Paul} taught righteousness to all the world, and when he had reached the limits of the West he gave his testimony before the rulers, and thus passed from the world {3}. (C) taking limits of the West to be Spain; certainly to be much further west than was Rome c. but, we really just don t know if Paul ever reached Spain
4. does this pose any problem respecting Paul s inspiration? a. certainly not whether Paul reached Spain or not does not affect the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by which he writes this book of Romans (A) Paul records truly his desires to preach in Spain (B) and his inspiration in writing Romans is not affected by the fact that his desires may not be fulfilled (C) Paul learned of his own future, (1) sometimes directly (2) sometimes from others as he says in Acts 20:23 (NAS) except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. with the recorded examples being found in Acts 21:4 & 21:10 with prophecies to him (3) and sometimes not at all (D) and often he was prevented by God from carrying out his own evangelistic intentions, as in Acts 16:7 (NAS): and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; but rather, as Paul soon found out, they were sent to Philippi in Macedonia b. so, the inspiration of Paul s epistles stands, even though Paul, like Abraham and like us, served by faith, travelling into an unknown future with a known Lord C. Paul s Short Term Goal... Romans 15:25 28 (NAS) 1. this we find summarized in verse 25: but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints and verse 26 tells us it is to take a gift to the poor among those saints a. if Paul s priority was evangelism, why go to Jerusalem? (A) Paul is going to Jerusalem bearing funds to the needy (B) could this not have been delegated? b. the mission must have been very important that he did this (A) to overcome Jewish prejudice against the Gentiles (B) to knit Jews and Gentiles more closely together (C) Christians to supply needs even those in remote places
2. this mission is touched upon in a number of other places a. Galatians 2:10 (NAS): They only asked us to remember the poor the very thing I also was eager to do. b. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (NAS): 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. 3 And when I arrive, whomever you may approve, I shall send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me. c. so, Paul believed that in order that the evangelism of the Gentiles proceed, that there might be one church without distinction between Jew and Gentile, this generosity of the Gentiles should be borne testimony by his personal words 3. so, what happened with this short-term goal; was it realized? a. yes: in Acts 21:17 you find Paul, and his associates being received gladly by the church in Jerusalem b. but, then came Jews (not Jewish Christians) from Asia minor the same antagonists who had pursued Paul and his party from city to city making false accusations against Paul, and causing such a stir, that Paul had to seek protection in his Roman citizenship, under which he was taken to Rome in an appeal directly to Caesar c. Paul, then, in achieving his short-term goal, realized a part of his long-range vision, albeit, perhaps in a way that he had never anticipated that of reaching Rome d. let us, too, as a church as we seek to reach goals for Christ, not be disturbed if things work out different than planned, but rather see the hand of Christ Jesus in all we do. e. any Church plan must always submit to its Head, Jesus D. Paul s Immediate Need... Romans 15:30 33 (NAS) 1. Paul urges them in verse 30, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me Paul has needs, and to meet these needs, does he turn to a committee to come up with solutions or to a fund-raiser to provide the finances; no, he turns to prayer
2. let us look at the four prayer requests that he makes a. verse 31, that he be delivered from his opposition (A) just because you are engaged in the service of God (B) this does not mean (1) that you will be free from any opposition; indeed, quite the opposite that is when to expect it (2) nor does it mean that God automatically protects (C) what it means is that this is the very time when you must most seek God in prayer (1) for protection against self (2) for protection against Satan b. verse 31, that his service (the gift to the poor saints) he brings may be acceptable (A) nor, need we think, that our efforts for God (1) will be acceptable to everyone, even Christians (2) for Satan and well is he called the adversary and the accuser will seek to stir up discord (B) so, pray for acceptability of our service by others c. verse 32, that he may come to the Christians in Rome (A) so, we have a long-range vision for God (B) do we just proceed with it on our own? (C) no, this, too must be bathed in prayer d. verse 32, that they may refresh one another (A) doesn t this seem to be a good objective (B) why pray for this? (C) because if it is to be truly realized, God must be in it 3. so, as we as a church, seek what seem to us to be clear-cut and obvious service to God a. let us not be so presumptive as to assume that we will succeed by merely planning and stating such plans b. but rather that both in the planning and the carrying out of those plans, every part is brought to God in prayer; so,
E. Paul Seeks God s Will... Romans 15:32b 1. embedded in the request for prayer, you probably noted these words, by the will of God I know that you heard me make this quotation before: Man proposes but God disposes a. men and women often make plans, they will do so and so or they will go to such a place; for example, it had been my plan some five or six weeks ago to publish a number of pieces of information on our church, on baptism, and on church membership well, it s still on my to do list! b. Proverbs tells us in 19:21 (NAS) Many are the plans in a man s heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand. and if 27:1 (NAS): Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. c. the men at the tower of Babel said Let us build a city, a tower, let us make a name for ourselves; God said,... let Us go down and confuse their language and they ceased building the city & tower (Genesis 11:4, 7) 2. so James tells us in 4:13 16 (NAS): 13 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapour that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that. 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. a. and this should apply to each one of us as individuals (A) as we make various plans in our lives (B) that we will make this change in our house (C) or we will go there for our vacation (D) or we will do that when we retire b. but it is important that as the corporate body of the church of Jesus Christ that we do the same (A) just because Paul is serving as a missionary (1) doesn t mean that his each and every decision (2) is automatically part of God s directive will (B) and so, just because we here are Christ s local church (1) doesn t mean that our each and every plan (2) is automatically what God wants us to do
(3) and that such service will be blessed by Him c. hence: individually and corporately, it is important for us to seek, to pray for, to wait upon, God s will; so that His blessing may rest upon and be evident in what is done F. Conclusion 1. if you have come here this morning, without knowing Christ as your own personal Saviour, saying in your heart, I will leave that until I am old and ready to settle down then I would plead with you not to put it off any longer: Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, I have no delight in them (Ecclesiastes 12:1 NAS); and 2 Corinthians 6:2 tells us Now is the day of salvation don t wait! 2. those who have been blessed with salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, I exhort that you when you make your plans be they for the day or the far-off future, then do so seeking in prayer and meditation that such plans be in the will of God 3. and for our church, as we make plans for our fall programs and also seek to find where God would take us in the future in terms of our ministry, our location and similar concerns, I would entreat that each and every one of you seek before the Lord Jesus, the Head of the church, what your contribution and part will be in carrying out this ministry. 4. Let us sing, with purpose, in closing, Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
1. 2004 by Garth Hutchinson, Faith Fellowship Baptist Church of Aurora (Ontario): may be distributed or quoted freely, only let this be done to the glory of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). Various English versions of the Holy Bible are used in this sermon. Some (for example, the AV, ASV, and NAS) seek to be strictly translations, while others (and especially PHIL) contain paraphrasing which involves a certain amount of subjective interpretation. Nevertheless, there is little material difference in meaning among these. Some prove slightly clearer on some verses than others. Looking at more that one version sometimes sheds additional light on any particular verse. Explanatory additions to the Bible text are shown in [square brackets]. The versions are identified as: ASV American Standard Version of 1901 AV Authorized (King James) Version NAS New American Standard version 1975 The Lockman Foundation NIV New International Version 1984 by the International Bible Society NKJV New King James Version 1979 Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers PHIL New Testament Translation 1972 by J. B. Phillips RSV Revised Standard Version 1946, 1952 by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. WEY The New Testament in Modern Speech 1902, 1912 R. F. Weymouth Further sermons and illustrations may be found at the web-site, www.holwick.com. Materials in this sermon from Rev. David Holwick s database are identified by Holwick followed by a sermon or illustration number. 2. Adapted from Russian Saver Buys a Car contributed by Roddy Chestnut, Holwick Illustrations #6101 3. 1 Clement 5:7, quoted by Everett F. Harrison, Romans, in loc, The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Zondervan