THE JOY IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL
Romans 15:14-27
ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SERVE
V:14. 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 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.
- Paul gives us his mission statement.
- He was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews).
Acts 13:2
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, \”Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.\”
- Although it is not known, it believed that the church in Rome
Got its start After Pentecost.
- Paul had not made it to Rome when he wrote this letter but knew
Of its progress from Jews who had been expelled from the city
By Claudius in 41 BC. Aquila and Priscilla were two who were expelled
Acts 18:1-2.
- Paul worked with them making tents.
- At the time of the letter to the Romans, the church in Rome was mostly
Gentiles.
- Paul wrote to the church at Rome as if he had been their teacher
And knew their spiritual growth.
- He wrote as if he knew the church was prepared to teach others the
Word they learn well.
- It is our job to minister the Gospel of Jesus to others so they are
Prepared to offer themselves to Christ as living sacrifices.
FIND THE JOY IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL
V:17. 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 took pleasure in his service to God in teaching the Word to the lost.
- It should give us joy in seeing the spiritual growth of others that
We have had the opportunity to proclaim Jesus.
- We should keep in mind that it was the Word the convicted the
Hearts and minds of others and that God used us in that work.
- Like a mother seeing her child develop, we should take pleasure
In the growth of others in the Lord.
- We should reflect on our own lives and give God credit for what He has
Accomplished through us.
- We are a living testimony that others need to hear to encourage
Their spiritual growth and development.
- We are a work in progress.
- There is a time when we need to look in the mirror and ask the question
Have we used the talents and gifts that God has given us to the best of
Our ability to glorify Him in our work?
- Everywhere we go, we have the job of proclaiming the Gospel.
Did we do that?
- To everyone we have met, we had the job of uplifting and encouraging
Them in the Lord. Did we do that?
- Paul took pleasure in boasting in the Lord in the work he had accomplished.
- It is ok for us to boast in the Lord for what He allowed us to accomplish.
- Our boasting in the Lord provides us with encouragement to
Continue serving the Lord.
- We should make a decision each day to serve the Lord with
Gladness.
DEVELOP AN AMBITION TO SERVE
V:20 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.\”
- When getting up in the morning, do you have the ambition to proclaim
The gospel to someone who has not heard it?
- We cannot know who has heard the Gospel. But can say we
We took the opportunity to proclaim it.
- One of the things I do in preparing to teach is to meditate on the
Word and allow the Holy Spirit to speak an understanding fresh to
Me.
- Not that I don’t value commentaries, but If I base my understanding
Solely on another man\’s commentary, then I gain nothing fresh.
- The job of the Holy Spirit is to teach the Word to us,
John 14:26-27
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
- The Holy Spirit didn’t stop teaching once some theologian completed
His/her commentary.
- Each one of us is a life that the Holy Spirit teaches.
- It is good to read what the Holy Spirit has guided others to write.
The Holy Spirit will use the efforts of others to guide us to a
New and deeper understanding.
- The audience we have may be totally different from others and need
Fresh anointing from the Lord through us.
BE PREPARED FOR GOD TO OPEN NEW DOORS
V:22. This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
V: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 thereafter I have enjoyed your company for a while.
- When one door closes, God opens another door of opportunity.
- As long as we have breath, we have the Lord’s work to do.
- Paul had long wanted to go to Rome, but God had work for him
To do where he was.
- God will give you the desires of your heart, but in His time and
When you are ready.
- We don’t know what God has in store for us, but we must enjoy the
Journey, He has chosen for us.
- God will prepare the place and the time for us to move into the
Next stage of our journey with Him.
- We should see every assignment as an opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of others as we serve the Lord.
- We assist others with our service as others assist us with their
Service of the Lord.
- We have all been designed as equal partners in the spread of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- The church in Rome was already growing but would benefit from
Paul’s teaching.
TAKE A BLESSING TO OTHERS IN NEED
V: 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews\’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
- God sets up occasions for us to visit other locations.
- In Paul’s case, it was the contributions from other churches
That he was entrusted to deliver to the poor saints in Jerusalem.
- Our reputation of honesty and dedication is important in the
Spread of the Gospel.
- Think about how God protected Paul in his journey by ship and on land
To deliver the donations to the Church in Jerusalem.
- God is our refuge in times of uncertainty and unknown dangers.
- Nothing can stop the work God has for us.
- Each one of us has been designed as a blessing to others.
- While others may bless us with their service, we may bless others
With our kindness and generosity.
- God gives each of us the responsibility and the ability to be a blessing to others.
THANK GOD FOR USING US FOR HIS PURPOSES.
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst. Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North Houston,
