ROMANS 15:16-33

Sunday Morning:  March 18, 2007

Text:  READ Romans 15:16-33

PAUL, MINISTRY TO GENTILES

Romans 15:16  That I should be the minister [people servant] of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering [temple worker] the gospel of God (Christ, His Son), that the offering up [presenting] of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

HANNA

Luke 2:37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

JESUS AND PAUL TAUGHT

John 18:20  Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world (Jews); I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

A LIVING SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

PRESENT SAVED GENTILES PERFECT

Colossians 1:27-28  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

BOASTING IN THE WORK THROUGH CHRIST

Romans 15:17  I have therefore whereof I may glory [boast] through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

PAUL BOASTED

2 Corinthians 1:12  For our rejoicing [boasting] is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

CROWN OF BOASTING

1 Thessalonians 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing [boasting]? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

PAUL TAUGHT OBEDIENCE

Romans 15:18  For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word (teaching) and deed (example),

PAUL’S EXAMPLE

Romans 1:5  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

THE REVELATION OF PAUL’S GOSPEL

Romans 16:25-26  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,  26  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, … made known to all nations [Gentiles] for the obedience of faith:

PAUL’S MINISTRY WAS EXTENSIVE

Romans 15:19  Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

FOR THE ONES BELIEVING

Romans 1:17  For therein (Gospel of Christ) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

AMONG THOSE NOT TAUGHT

Romans 15:20-21  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:  21  But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of (little to unlearn), they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand [send together].

THIS GENTILE SAW AND UNDERSTOOD

Acts 16:30-33  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord [God] (gospel of the kingdom), and to all that were in his house.  33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

MUCH WORK IN PREACHING

Romans 15:22  For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

WORK IN THIS AREA DONE

Romans 15:23  But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

THROUGH JERUSALEM TO SPAIN

Romans 15:24-25  Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.  25  But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

BRETHREN CARING FOR BRETHREN

Romans 15:26  For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

GENTILE DEBT TO JEWISH SAINTS

Romans 15:27  It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

REAP YOUR CARNAL THINGS

1 Corinthians 9:11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

WHEN I AM DONE I WILL COME

Romans 15:28  When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

CHRIST IS IN THIS JOURNEY TO YOU

Romans 15:29  And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel [not in Nestles] of Christ.

I NEED YOUR PRAYERS

Romans 15:30-31  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;  31  That I may be delivered from them that do not believe [present active, disobedient] in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

WE WILL BE REFRESHED WHEN I GET THERE

Romans 15:32  That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU NEED PEACE

Romans 15:33  Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED DO

Philippians 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

LET THE GOD OF PEACE WORK

Hebrews 13:20-21  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,  21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.