Scripture: Romans 15:1-13
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 40:31
Introduction
- Last week I spent a lot of time explaining the ins and outs of the underworld.
- The behind-the-scenes look at our world through the lens of Revelation.
- I couldn’t help but feel like maybe I was laying down too heavy of a trip.
- Revelation is a real head-scratcher with all the symbolism and code.
- It’s really interesting if you know how to decode it.
- I feel like we need to cleanse our palate with a message of hope
- So, we are turning to Paul’s letter to the Roman church.
- As I have said before, the Roman church was not planted by Paul or any of the other disciples.
- The people who planted the church in Rome were likely inspired by Peter.
- Roman Jews had made pilgrimage to Jerusalem during Pentecost.
- They were so moved by Peter’s bold preaching that they went back and started the Christian church at Rome.
- Paul had always wanted to travel to Rome to synchronize the Romans with the rest of the Christian church, but was never able to do so.
- The book of Romans is the next best thing to Paul traveling there.
- It is packed full of church doctrine and practices.
- It is also a method for Paul to encourage and motivate the Roman church.
- Apparently, it was very effective because the Roman church persists to now.
- Let’s break down these few verses from Paul and look for some hope for us.
- We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- Sometimes it helps to count our blessings – we are very blessed here.
- We find hope when we step back and think about all God is doing with and through us to help those less fortunate.
- Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
- We have discovered great joy here by helping our neighbors and giving them hope.
- This joy we have found is infectious and spreading to other neighboring churches.
- The hope that we give to others comes back to us multiplied.
- For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
- Unfortunately, as I mentioned last week, there is an insidious plot against us as we increase our reach for Christ.
- In spite of the many good things we do, we still have our detractors.
- This verse is from Psalm 69:9 and written by David about himself, but prophetically applies so well to Jesus.
- When we face insults, remember what Jesus put up with for US.
- For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
- It’s important to note that when Paul refers to Scriptures, he refers to what we now know as the Old Testament.
- I sometimes get asked why we are preaching from the Old Testament when we should be focusing on the Jesus-era in the New Testament.
- Even the founding fathers of our faith, like Paul, recognized the encouragement we found in the Old Testament.
- May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
- Remember that all the comfort and hope in the Old Testament is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
- Jesus always put others first and valued the relationships He formed.
- so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Do you ever feel the energy when you are part of a group that is really meshing well?
- I feel it a lot when I’m singing in the choir or playing in a band.
- I feel it a lot around here when I see everybody pulling together.
- Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
- This is one that I feel we do really well here at Biltmore.
- We accept anybody who comes to us with love and kindness.
- This praises God and brings Him glory and He, in turn, blesses us.
- For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed
- Jesus came to the Jews to save the Jews first.
- Paul’s focus was to minister to the Gentiles as he says in verse 9.
- and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
- This is an identical quote from both 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49.
- God may have sent the Good News or “Gospel” to the Jews first. But He meant for it to apply to everyone.
- The more we accept everyone, the more we live out the Gospel.
- Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
- This is from Deuteronomy 32:43
- It is the Song of Moses which the Lord commanded him to write down.
- The actual quote is “Rejoice, you nations, with his people.”
- And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
- This quote comes from Psalm 117:1: “Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.”
- Clearly the point is that God’s love, mercy, and grace is for everyone.
- And again, Isaiah says in 11:10, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
- I think you get the point: Paul is reaching out to connect with the Roman church.
- This church was initially formed by Jewish pilgrims back from seeing Peter preach at Pentecost 50 days after Easter Sunday. Acts 2:40-41:
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
- The church is a mixture of Jews and Gentiles as he writes in his introduction to the book of Romans in 1:6-7:
And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.