Click here for the Romans 1:11-15 PODCAST
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. ~ Romans 1:11-15
Today, we continue our study of Romans which was written thirty years after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first seventeen verses of Romans provides an introduction that points us to the goal of the book which is service. In our last blog/podcast we considered four of the seven characteristics which aid us to serve God and others best. Today, we will consider the final three.
In v.11-12 of today's passage we read, "11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith."
The fifth characteristic which aids us at being servants is fostering a loving heart for others. Serving must never be done to gain attention from others. This calling is doing the will of God from the heart. "For God so loved the world that He gave..." That is what love does, it gives. The number one quality of love is giving; it gives of its time, talents and treasures. The Apostle Paul wanted to give to the believers in Rome something that would establish them in their walk with the Lord.
The phrase "spiritual gift" reveals that the source of the gift was the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul wanted to give the believers in Rome a gift from the Holy Spirit. And, his purpose was "to make them strong" in their faith in the Lord Jesus. Paul greatly desired to provide for them the means to make them more spiritually mature. That is what makes a church strong, the exercising of our spiritual gifts for one another's benefit.
The Apostle also expected them to minister to him with the spiritual gifts that they had been given by the Holy Spirit. Thus, Paul expected they would mutually be strengthened by one another's faith in Christ. This is how God wants the church to operate, each of us ministering to each other, building up one another by our faith and sharing and exercising the gifts God has given. The professionalization of ministry has undermined this idea for many, many years. This explains why many churches lack maturity in the faith.
In v.12, we see the sixth characteristic that enables us to serve best. The way the Apostle wrote v.12, it is revealed that he had a humble disposition. I say this because the Apostle wasn't just planning to go into the church at Rome and exercising his spiritual gifts, he wanted the ministry to be a mutual thing. That takes humility which is the sixth characteristic designed to make us the servants God wants us to be.
Humility is born out of a heart that has lost sight of self. When we are truly humble, there will be no hint of superiority when we are around others. This idea of mutual ministry is born in such a context. And, this is what makes a local body of believers stronger in the faith.
To be humble means simply to consider the needs of others more important than our own. The Lord Jesus considered that our need was so great that He left heaven to come here to meet our need. When we get to heaven, we will know then the enormity of that decision that the Lord Jesus made to humble Himself. The humble hearted servant is always thankful, prayerful, willing to be the solution to the problem if it's God's will. And it all comes out of a loving heart that seeks to wrap itself around others, not only for what it can give, but also for what can be given. In fact, when we prevent others from giving to us, we are stunting their spiritual growth.
In v.13 of today's passage we read, " I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles."
The seventh characteristic that aids us to be servants is
Paul didn't go to Rome because he was prevented by the Lord from doing so. It was not the Lord's will at that point that he go to Rome, even though Paul desperately wanted to. Paul's view of the ministry was a quest for the will of God which always produces spiritual fruit.
Ministry is not an end in itself, it is a means to an end. The purpose of ministry is to get people to engage with God. The product of the growth of our faith is a desire to see others experience what we have experienced with God. I have never understood why Christians want to bash others for their sinfulness. We should be so broken hearted for them that we compassionately and patiently work with them until they enter into or go further into a personal relationship with God. Ministry is to touch the hearts of people with the truth of God.
In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome."
It is out of a sense of obligation that we are motivated to serve God and others. And, we owe the same to the best as we do the less. The word "eager" literally means "a great readiness of mind." The Lord Jesus once said, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." The word translated "willing" is the same word used here translated "eager."
The Apostle Paul yielded himself into being expendable because, he knew the love of the Father. When we are defined by God's love, we will be compelled deeply from the heart to help others in any way we possibly can. The Apostle wrote, "For to me to live is Christ; to die is gain." All of this leads us to life’s true purpose which is: To know God and to make Him known.
