ROMANS UNWRAPPED 227

"Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem maybe accepted of the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.   Now the God of peace be with you all.   Amen."                                                Romans 15v30-33

The global enterprise of the gospel requires co-operation on the part of all believers; so Paul requests the prayer fellowship of the Roman believers for the work.   He has made known the need for sharing material things and the need among believers for socializing for the purpose of comfort and encouragement.   He now invites the spiritual aspect of fellowship by requesting their prayers.  The wording that he uses in verse 30 is that  "Ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me."  

The idea is that they become prayer partners in the work.   The phrase "strive together" means to draw alongside, to engage in the same work by prayer.   This is a fundamental aspect of Christian living, which is often overlooked, but which is probably the most important, if efforts are to be successful.   The word "strive" is sunagonizmai,  and means to agonize together.   The same thing is found in the gospel records of the Lord with His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22v44)   " And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly."   In Mark 14v37 He said to Peter, when He found them sleeping during His prayer time  "Could you not watch with Me one hour?"   All the Lord wanted of His disciples was for them in real prayer to share His burden.   This is what Paul is asking of the believers at Rome.    The Greek word which gives rise to our word  "agony" suggests a real deep attitude of reality in our prayers.   This is something in which every believer male and female can be involved, while the work goes on, and if we understand the Bible correctly this is probably where the power lies in the propagation of the gospel.   He makes three requests:

• That they pray for Paul's safety in the mission.
• That his service would be accepted by the saints in Jerusalem.
• That he may be enabled to visit Rome by the will of God.  

There are lessons to be learned in each of these, but first we return to the early part of verse 30 to see the great motivation for all of this.   He says "for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake." ; then he says  "for the love of the Spirit."   This raises our spiritual effort in prayer to the highest standard possible.   We are serving Divine beings in their global mission to the world.   We do so keeping an eye on the glorious Persons we represent.   We serve the Lord Jesus Christ.   The word for Lord is kurios which means Sovereign Lord.   There is none higher than him, there is no greater calling in life, there is no more honorable occupation than this, and whether we are preaching or administering or praying, it is for His sake, for His glory, for His honour, that we do it.    If we cannot preach, if we cannot administer, we can all pray.   Earnest prayer, agonizing prayer, is worthy of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Secondly he says  "For the love of the Spirit."   Paul made it clear in Romans chapter 8 that the inward working of the Holy Spirit within our hearts was the real power for Christian living.   Since love is the primary fruit of the spirit in the believer's life (Galatians 5v22), by engaging in this prayer fellowship with all God's servants, we are demonstrating the love which only the Holy Spirit can generate in our lives.   Thus we have the highest motivation of all;  the Lord, the Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ on the throne in heaven masterminding the world's evangelization, and the Divine Spirit indwelling us to produce loving care for others, which is what the gospel is all about.  

In these three prayers requests, the apostle asks the believers at Rome to consider three aspects of the work.   Firstly, to recognize the dangers involved in gospel outreach and he first requests they pray for his deliverance from unbelieving Jews who sought his life.   This is the reality of the world in which we live and it is no different today.   Secondly, he wants them to pray for his acceptance by the Jewish believers.   This is important, because acceptance by people is necessary for the furtherance of the work of God.   When acceptance of God's servants is denied by God's people, no progress can be made in the things of God.   This is an aspect not oftened discussed, but it needs to be, because it is a truth that is imprinted on the sacred writings.   The Old Testament is full of examples where God's servants were either accepted or rejected.   When Israel rejected the prophet Samuel the Lord placed His hand on the shoulder of Samuel and said  "They have not rejected you, they have rejected Me saith the Lord." (1st Samuel 8v7)   Acceptance by the people of God of the grace of God from the servants of God is the necessary soil on which spiritual growth can take place.   Rejection of God's provision of grace in any way, may mean Divine intervention in chastisement; so acceptance by God's people is important.   Thirdly, having completed the service in Jerusalem he wanted them to pray for his safe return and ultimate visit to Rome.   It is a great joy to the servants of God when God answers prayer in safe keeping and prospering of the work.   Paul also looked forward to being  "refreshed" by the saints at Rome during his visit.   It is important for God's workers to be refreshed and to rejoice in the goodness of God together.  

Paul hoped to come to Rome  "by the will of God"  In the event he did come to Rome  "by the will of God" but not in the way he expected.   God's ways are not always our ways, and the work goes on better when we allow God to do His own work through us, in His own way.   He closes the exposition with these wonderful words  "The God of peace be with you all, Amen."

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