Romans (Part 44) - Kingdom Minded
[Romans 15:22-33 ESV]
22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Be Kingdom Minded, so that you will be of true earthly good.
KINGDOM MINDED PEOPLE… MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THEIR CALLING
[Romans 15:22 ESV]
This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. What was the reason that Paul was kept from visiting them?
[Romans 15:20 ESV]
and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named…
[Romans 15:23 ESV]
But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions…
[Romans 15:19 ESV]
… from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum
I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
What’s Paul saying?
[Romans 15:24 ESV]
I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain…
[Romans 15:25 ESV]
At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem…
[Romans 15:29 ESV]
I know that when I come to you I will come
in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
Kingdom Minded people make their plans and life decisions based on the calling that God has given them.
[Matthew 6:33 ESV]
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
KINGDOM MINDED PEOPLE… GIVE THE MATERIAL FOR THE SPIRITUAL
[Romans 15:25-27 ESV]
25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
Why is Paul going to Jerusalem? What duty is he fulfilling?
[Romans 15:27 ESV]
For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
[2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV]
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
What should be their response?
What should be our response?
[Romans 10:15 ESV]
… “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Kingdom Minded people value the spiritual, which lasts for eternity; so they’re willing to give of the material, temporal.
[Romans 15:24 ESV]
I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain,
and to be helped on my journey there by you,
once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
helped
… seems already to have become almost a technical Christian term for helping missionaries on their way. It undoubtedly meant more than good wishes and a valedictory prayer. In most cases it also involved supplying them with provisions and money, and sometimes providing them as well with an escort to accompany them at least part of the way. —John Stott
Kingdom Minded living is contrary to the majority.
WHAT DO I TRULY VALUE?
I will go down into the pit, but brother Fuller
and the rest of you must hold the rope. —William Carey
KINGDOM MINDED PEOPLE… STRIVE IN PRAYER FOR OTHERS
[Romans 15:30 ESV]
I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
If you are in the Kingdom, your prayers are important!
The power and purpose of prayer is not restricted by distance!
What are Paul’s prayer requests?
[Romans 15:31-32 ESV]
31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea
and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints
32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy
and be refreshed in your company.
Were Paul’s prayers answered?
His first request: … be delivered from unbelievers in Judea…
[Acts 21:27-28, 30-33 ESV]
27 … the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
… 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. …
[Acts 23:12-14 ESV]
12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.
How did God deliver Paul?
Was Paul’s second prayer request answered?
… that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints
[Acts 21:17 ESV]
17 When we had come to Jerusalem,
the brothers received us gladly.
And was Paul’s third prayer request answered?
32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy
and be refreshed in your company.
It was God’s will for Paul to get to Rome.
[Acts 28:14-15 ESV]
14 … And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there,
when they heard about us, came as far as
the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us.
On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
[Philippians 4:22 ESV]
All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
Are You Kingdom Minded?
Are you guided by God’s calling first and your desires second?
Are you giving of your material possessions for the spiritual?
Are you striving and struggling in prayer for other Believers?
What is it that you need to do?
What has God been pressing on in your heart?