Introduction:
One of the great human emotions is that of – the yearning desire to see something, accomplish something, be with someone, etc. that you currently can’t see, can’t do, or can’t have now.
Paul had longings and he reveals one of those longings in his opening words in the letter to the Romans.
We’ll see that Paul’s longing was to and to have an opportunity to in a special place.
In the flow of Romans this follows his personal introduction and serves as a transition to the theme of the letter: .
Paul’s Praise, 8
It was typical in correspondence of this time to include a few kind words about the person who is being written to. Paul follows what was accepted practice, but he’s not exaggerating nor simply flattering his readers. His praise was sincere.
Sometimes Paul will mention a number of things that he praises a church for and gives thanks to God for.
In writing to Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:4–7)
In writing to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:2–4)
Here: Paul highlight just one thing, but a great thing it is. .
It was not just that they believed in the gospel, but that their faith was making a difference in their life and they were sharing it with others. The faith was growing because of the faith and faithfulness of the believers in Rome.
Wouldn’t that be a great thing for North Park Church to be known for? That we have a faith that is well-known among other believers? To get that reputation we need to our faith and our faith.
Paul’s Prayer, 9-10
First, notice the of Paul’s praying.
He says it is .
Paul told the Thessalonian Christians: Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and Paul practiced what he taught. The Roman Christians were in his heart and mind and he continually lifted them up to God in prayer.
Second, notice the of Paul’s praying.
When Paul mentions he is praying for a church he tells them some of the things he has been praying for. Usually these revolve around their spiritual health and growth. A good example of this is in what he prays for for the Philippians (Philippians 1:9-11).
Here Paul is not praying so much for the Roman believers (though certainly he did), but praying for . That was not selfish praying.
Note that he is praying for this according to the .
He wants to visit Rome, that this is part of his unceasing prayers, but he will not try to do so outside the will of God. Obviously, it had not yet been God’s will for him to make his much desired visit.
Paul’s Plan (Intention), 11-13
Paul’s mention of wanting to come to Rome naturally leads him to share his reasons for wanting to doing so.
He begins by reinforcing what he’s already said.: he to see the Roman believers. (Here Paul’s longing is revealed.)
Paul’s longing is a longing for contact, for fellowship, for mutual encouragement. He knows that he will not only enjoy visiting the Roman believers, but that his visit will fill an unmet desire in his life, a longing.
He then mentions three things he is looking forward to doing in Rome.
1. He wants to them: to impart a to them that will help strengthen or establish them.
2. He wants to experience with them.
3. He wants to (fruit) among them
He then returns to explain his delay in visiting them.
He asserts: It is not because he hasn’t to visit or hasn’t .
He declares: he intended (planned) to come , but so far had been prevented from doing so.
Paul’s delay was not from lack of interest nor of lack of concern for the Roman believers. In fact, he’s prayed, planned, and tried to visit, but God so far had shut the door.
Did he want to go to Rome? Yes, he did! He longed to see the Roman believers and share a blessing with them, be encouraged by them, and reap a harvest among them. He’d been praying for the opportunity and even planning for it. It just hadn’t come up, yet.
Paul’s Passion, 14-15
It is one thing to follow God’s plan and his will. It’s another thing to feel passionate about God’s plan and will.
Paul says:
I am (a )
What is the nature of that obligation? To .
To whom does he feel obligated? .
He feels he owes it to all people to share the good news so they can become recipients of God’s grace and live in God’s favor.
I am
To do what? To in Rome.
Paul’s calling was to take the gospel to the world, especially Gentiles (verse 1: set apart for the gospel of God).
Paul’s passion was to take the gospel to the world.
Paul’s calling, his life work, and his passion aligned. When those two things line up mighty things can happen.
Conclusion and application
We can learn something about the and the of God from Paul’s experience that could be helpful to us.
Paul has waited and is waiting on God’s will.
He wants to go to Rome but won’t go until it is God’s will for him to go.
God’s will must involve three things all at once: God’s , God’s , and God’s .
Paul did eventually get to Rome, but not as he probably imagined.
He imagined: traveling with Silas, Timothy, Luke, and other Christians overland and then my sea and over land again to Rome, then going on to Spain to preach the gospel.
He imagined being able to stay at the home of Aquila and Priscilla.
He imagined working alongside Aquila in the market and reasoning and proclaiming Jesus with whoever came by.
He imagined having many meeting with the Roman believers in many homes throughout the city, getting to know them, teaching the Jewish scriptures and telling of the revelations God had given him.
He imagined visiting many of the synagogues in Rome and showing how the Jewish scriptures were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.
He imagined, perhaps, getting a chance to stand in a corner of the Forum and proclaim faith in Jesus to a listening crowd.
Instead:
He arrived after a perilous sea voyage, , to a rented home, facing trial.
Going to Rome turned out to be God’s plan, and he went in God’s way and at God’s time, but undoubtedly not as he imagined.
We can learn something about for sharing the gospel with our one from Paul’s motivation.
Our motivation is simple. We to give them a chance to say Yes to Jesus and experience eternal life now and for eternity. It’s an obligation, a debt we have to discharge.