Plans

Romans 15:22-33

Often a friend or family member will ask what are your plans for this year, do you have any big trips planned?  The apostle Paul had written to the house churches in Rome laying out his plans to visit Rome on his trip to Spain.  First, he shares that often he had a desire to come to Rome and visit with them but had always been hindered, but now that his work was over in Macedonia he was free to visit, after a trip to Jerusalem to bring aid to the saints.  He was bringing an offering from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

In verses 26-27, Paul addresses the contribution from the Gentile churches in Macedonia and Achaia to be given to the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.  Verse 27 states the following; “They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them.  For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessing, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.  When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”

 I want you to give serious thought to verses 30-32; something is going on behind the scene that has driven Paul to ask for this prayer from the churches at Rome. “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all.  Amen.” 

  

It will be of help to look at the ACTS of the apostles in chapter 20:17-21 where Paul called the elders of the church of Ephesus to come to him so that he could once more recall his ministry to them and how he testified to both the Jews and the Gentiles of repentance toward God and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  I believe this thought found in verses 22-23 was in his mind; “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”   It might be somewhat hard for you or I to dismiss that voice, but in Acts 21:10-11, where the prophet named Agabus came to Caesarea where Paul was staying with Philip the evangelist and the following is the account.  “While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

 It is this writer’s opinion that Paul had no doubt that he was going to be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles, but that did not change his desire to first be a witness to Spain, but it seems clear he never reached Spain, but what a witness he was in Rome.  You and I have the Holy Spirit prompting us each day to do the work of ministry, Jesus gave Him these names, the Spirit, the Helper, the Comforter and He is always talking, but often we have other plans and we turn up the noise around us, so as to do as we desire, and wonder why the Holy Spirit never speaks to us.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice