ROMANS UNWRAPPED 14

We have been looking at Paul's global mission, as directed by the Lord Jesus Christ; the resources, the object, the scope, the dignity of worldwide evangelism. Now we look at


e)  the OBLIGATIONS of the mission:

Paul took his work for God seriously, and there were certain features that marked him which should mark us today. The details are contained in the section, Romans 1 vs. 8-15, and are presented as follows:
v 8 " I thank my God.........."
v 9 " I serve God with my spirit......."
v 9 " I make mention of you in my prayers....."
v 11 "I long to see you......"
v 14 " I am debtor....."
v 15 "I am ready......".
It will suffice, today, to comment on each of these, to capture for ourselves the mind-set of the man to whom was entrusted the greatest task on earth, from the highest authority in heaven.

1) Thankfulness to God in service;
Paul tells us in Romans 1 v 21 that one of the marks of a God- rejecting world is rank ingratitude "neither were thankful". It should be the mark of Christians to be thankful in everything; thankful not only for the blessings of God to themselves, but also in the lives of others. Paul demonstrates this quality, in all his epistles, bar two, Romans 1 v 8, 1 Corinthians 1 v 4, 2 Corinthians I v 3, Ephesians 1 v 3, Philippians 1 v 3, Colossians 1 v 3, 1 Thessalonians 1 v 2, 2 Thessalonians 1 v 3, 1 Timothy 1 v 12, 2 Timothy 1 v 3, Philemon 4.
The two epistles, where he omits to say thanks, were Galatians ( serious doctrinal error ), and Titus ( serious moral error ).

2) Worship of God in service;
The word used for "serve" is latrueo, notably used to describe priestly service, service in a temple, and conveys the idea of worship. Paul preached the gospel as an act of worship to God. His whole life and service was for God, for God's approval, in adoration of God. Paul did not serve men, but rather served God on behalf of men; this should also be our attitude.

3) Prayer to God in service;
In the service of the gospel it is the greatest privilege to bring all our requests to God, and this marked Paul's ministry.   He talks about "making mention of you in my prayers,"  he asks for divine providence, to give him a prosperous journey in the will of God, he prayed without ceasing, he prayed for all saints, he prayed for their enlightenment, for their inward strengthening, for their spiritual growth, for their spiritual discernment, for their increase in knowledge of the Lord.

Essentially, every aspect of the work whether it be travel arrangements, supply of necessities, the salvation of souls, the spiritual growth of the saints, Paul made it all a matter of prayer and so should we.

4) Genuine concern for the welfare of the saints in service;
"I long to see you, "  Paul had a tender love, genuine concern for all the saints, and everywhere, this is imprinted on his writings.   His desire to see them (for he had never seen them) was real, and involved not only a desire for company, but that he might have an influence on them spiritually, which he defines in three ways
a)  "to impart unto them some spiritual gift"
b)  "that I might have some fruit among you"
c)  "that you might be established"

Paul was concerned, not only to see folks saved, but to see them established.   All preachers and church leaders today should take note.   It is not enough for us to supply a means of them repenting before God and thus being saved, we are to take them forward and teach them and help them to understand the things of God in line with the great commission "go make disciples of all nations...........teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Matthew 28 v 18.   Too many of us are content to see folks saved and little else.   At the point of salvation the work of the preacher and the church leaders has only begun.

5) Obligation  -  a sense of debt in the service of God;
Paul said "I am debtor"   because he owed everything to God he became aware that it was his bounden duty to preach to everyone.   He mentions Greeks and Barbarians, which is just two extremes of the intellectual spectrum, and thus just means everyone.  In 1st Corinthians 9 v 16  he says "though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me, ye woe is me if I preach not the gospel."   Do I have that sense of obligation?

6) Readiness in the service of God;
"As much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you which are at Rome also"   The word "ready" is a military term and conveys the picture of a soldier on call 24/7 ready to move when and where his master calls him.

If we could work into our lives the features of God's service displayed by the apostle Paul we would surely achieve more than we do.

Go labour on spend and be spent
Thy joy to do the Master's will
It is the way the Master went
Should not the servant tread it still.     by John Wesley Harding

Tomorrow d.v. we will look at The Motivation.