I'm thankful to see so many visitors, and I know that some of you may be scratching your heads right now why I'm already up here to preach.
We've only sung two songs. We do things a little differently here, and
!
Not that we think that we're any more right than other people. We're just trying to find the best possible way we can magnify Christ in the way we do things and the
flow of things. So,
we move quickly into preaching and the proclamation of the Word, and we'll sing some more in response
to the truth contained therein. We're still in Romans chapter 15. We've been working our way through. We've got
three more weeks,
I believe, Lord willing, following this Sunday to finish up the book of Romans, and
I've got to tell you, honestly, I don't have a clue where we're going after that. So,
be in prayer for me and the other leadership of the church, and we will know what will be best for the church as we begin to work through
another book of the Bible together. But we have found ourselves in Romans chapter 15, and we're going to look today at verses 22
through 33. But before I read that to you, let me just remind you where he's been so far in this letter. And I keep saying this to you
constantly, but context is so incredibly important as we study the Bible.
So many people want to hone in on a verse,
which is good and valuable. We can wring so much
truth out of a verse, a phrase,
a word even, but we can't forget
the context, where he's been,
what he's been talking about,
that's led us to this point.
Paul's letter to the Romans would have
taken about an hour to read publicly,
and that's how it would have been originally received.
Written to the church, and somebody would have stood up and read it.
We received a letter from the Apostle Paul.
I'm going to read it to you. And it in and of itself would have been
a sermon in that way, and we've now broken it up
over, oh gosh, I think almost
two years. So I don't want you to forget
where he's been, and this is
an oversimplification, to be sure.
But he's essentially said up to this point
that salvation comes
by grace alone, through faith alone,
in Christ alone,
forever.
It's the simplicity of where we can say
where he's been so far.
He has proposed to us
that we're all sinners,
Jew and Gentile alike.
All of us have sinned.
All of us are enemies of God.
Left to our own devices,
we have willfully
rejected him.
We have placed ourselves
on the throne,
and we have worshipped ourselves.
We have become humanistic in that way.
And the only way
to find redemption,
the only way
to be in a right standing with God,
to live within his will,
to have life now
and forever,
is through faith
in his Son,
Jesus Christ.
And we see that this is
wholly a work of God.
Left to our own devices,
there is no way
we would ever freely
choose him.
But God works
a work in our hearts.
He causes us
to believe.
And because of that,
we have surety.
We can see beyond
the troubles of this world
to eternal glory.
I'm in chapter 8
in my mind right now.
We can know
that nothing can separate us
from the love of God
because salvation
is his work
in our lives,
in us and through us.
And so Paul kind of finishes
the formal treatise
at the end of chapter 11
with the great exaltation
to God,
a praise of him.
And then he moves
in chapter 12
to work out
some of the practical things.
Now, in light of these
great truths,
how then should we live?
And he sums it up for us
that we ought to
then let love be genuine.
Right?
Abhorring what is evil,
holding fast
to what is good.
And he shows us
how this works out
in various contexts
with various peoples.
Even when it's difficult.
Even when it means
that we have to sacrifice
of our own rights
and privileges
in the gospel.
This is how we ought
to live.
And he finishes
then for us
in chapter 15
verse 13
his doctrinal portion
of the letter.
And he turns then
in verse 14
of chapter 15
to the epilogue.
He's starting to
wind it back down
for us.
But there's still
so much goodness
to be wrung out of it.
And we looked
over two weeks
from verse 15
through 21
we looked at
Paul's satisfaction
in the sovereign goodness
of God
to sanctify his people.
Therefore,
his boldness
and his part
in that ministry
his humility
in response
to what God
was doing
in and through him.
His activity
the part
that he played
in bringing about
the perfection
of the church
and then his ambition
we saw his desire
to be a pioneer
to take the gospel
to people
who had never
heard it.
And so today
I want to show you
pretty much
the same things
summed up
in a bit
of a different way.
And these texts
are challenging
because there's not
an explicit teaching
in them.
Paul's intention
here is not
as he's writing
this inspired
is not to say
and I want you
to believe
this thing
let me pin it
for you right now.
But there are
things that are implied
things that we can
pull out of it
which can be
difficult sometimes
to prepare for
and to study
but also can be
very rich
as we look at
the example
laid for us
as he continues
to write
this epilogue.
And so
I want to look
at three words
and I just want
to put these
in your mind
before we read
the text together
and pray.
Those three words
are providence
planning
and participation.
I came up
with those
on my own
and I feel
like I should
get some kind
of a merit
badge of some
sort for having.
I don't usually
have three points
that all start
with the same
letter
but I want you
to engage
your minds
and plant these
in there
and remember
providence
planning
and participation.
And so let's
read beginning
in verse 22
through 33.
This is the reason
why I have so
often been hindered
from coming to you
but now since I
no longer have
any room for work
in these regions
and since I have
longed for many
years to come to you
I hope to see you
in passing
as I go to Spain
and to be helped
on my journey
there by you
once I have
enjoyed your company
for a while.
At present however
I am going to Jerusalem
bringing aid to the saints
for Macedonia
and Achaia
have been pleased
to make some
contribution for the poor
among the saints
at Jerusalem
for they were pleased
to do it
and indeed
they owe it to them
for the Gentiles
have come to share
in their spiritual blessings
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 appeal to you brothers
by the Lord Jesus Christ
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.
Let's pray together.
Father God
I ask your blessing
on this time
as there may be
some in this room
that have never
first believed
in the gospel
of Jesus Christ
I pray that will
cease to be the case
this day
that they will
repent
and believe
that is the call
confess
with their mouths
believe in their heart
and they will be saved.
And for those of us
who have believed in Christ
I just pray that we'll
continue to do the same
repent
turn from our sin
get ourselves
keep ourselves
off the throne
of our lives
and turn to you
ask you to reign
and rule
in our hearts
again this morning.
I pray Father
as we talk about
these practical ways
that ministry
has carried out
in our life
Christ will be magnified
in it all
that we might serve
him in word and deed.
And we pray this
in Christ's name.
Amen.
So the first word
I mentioned to you
was providence
and before we dive
into that
I want to say to you
there are some things
I will not address
in this text
some things
that are worth
your study
some things
that maybe spill over
into a sermon again
for next week
but I just want you
to know that I
recognize that I may
be skipping over
some parts
of the text
but I want you to
notice
firstly
in this text
providence.
In verse 32
there's a little phrase
Paul says
so that by
God's will
it was his
earnest desire
to go and visit
the church
that was in Rome.
He wanted to go there
he wanted to be there
but more than that
subservient to that
was his desire
to serve God
so that he would be
taken there
by God's will.
And in verse 22
he says
this is the reason
why I have often
been hindered
from coming to you
this reason
being Paul's
God-given ambition
to preach the gospel
where Christ
had not yet been named.
So there again
God's will
was the reason
that he had been
hindered so far
from fulfilling
this desire
from visiting
the church
that was in Rome.
And we can say
of Paul
as we should be able
to say of all of us
that his life
was characterized
by a devotion
to the will of God.
He took as his
supreme example
our Lord
Jesus Christ.
John 5
verse 30
Jesus says
I seek not
my own will
but the will
of him
who sent me.
Let's look at
another example
from Paul's ministry.
Turn with me
to Acts chapter 16.
We're going to
begin reading
in verse 6.
This is after
Paul has taken
on Timothy.
Timothy joins
Paul and Silas
on their journey.
They're traveling
from Lystra.
Verse 6 says
And they went
through the region
of Phrygia
and Galatia
having been forbidden
by the Holy Spirit
to speak the word
in Asia.
When they come up
to Mysia
they attempted
to go into Bithynia
but the spirit
of Jesus
did not allow them.
So passing by Mysia
they went down
to Troas
and a vision
appeared to Paul
in the night.
A man of Macedonia
was standing there
urging him
and saying
come over to Macedonia
and help us.
And when Paul
had seen the vision
immediately we sought
to go into Macedonia
concluding
that God had called us
to preach the gospel
to them.
So notice here
the providence
of God working
as Paul
and his companions
have a desire
to go into
these various regions
they're prevented.
And we don't know how
he says
they're forbidden
by the Holy Spirit
in verse 6
and I'm losing my spot
and in verse 7
but the spirit
of Jesus
did not
allow them.
So we don't really know
how exactly
that took place
but God intervened.
They intended
to go someplace
and yet
the providence
of God
the controlling
will of God
in this world
moved them
prevented them
to go there
and took them
instead
someplace else
to Macedonia
a new place
for the gospel
to be advanced.
So God
providentially
rules the world.
Hebrews chapter 1
verse 3
says of Jesus Christ
that he upholds
the universe
by the word
of his power.
This is where we get
this idea
of providence
that all things
are held in sway
by the power
and word
of God.
That nothing
happens
apart from him.
The universe
finds this very tilt.
The planets
find their axis
and their spin
by the power
of his word.
This is a reality
that's true
in all of our lives.
There's a big picture
there.
The universe
Jeremiah 10 23
says
I know
O Lord
that the way
of man
is not
in himself
that it is
not in man
who walks
to direct
his steps.
We see here
the spirit
of God
changing
the scene
making sure
that they don't
go one place
and that they
do go
another
and God
providentially
rules all things
and he does it
one of two ways.
He does it
through acting
supernaturally
superseding
the very laws
of nature.
We can see
that to be the case
in a number
of Old Testament
stories.
Take for example
the story
of Jonah.
God caused
a storm
to arise
and they threw
Jonah overboard
and he caused
a big fish
to swallow
Jonah.
And I would
presume that
normally
you would die
in the belly
of a big fish.
But Jonah
was preserved
for three days.
He acted
supernaturally.
During the Exodus
as he leads
the Israelites
out of
Egypt
they're led
to a tight
place where
they can't go
any further
and there's
a sea
in front
of them
and there's
an army
bearing down
behind them.
What does God
do?
He acts
supernaturally.
He parts
the Red Sea
and he leads
them through
the path
he intended
them to go.
God acts
providentially
supernaturally.
He also acts
providentially
by orchestrating
everyday circumstances
and I think this is
the more common
realization
of this.
That things in
our lives are
working whether
we recognize
it or not.
I warned you
a couple of
weeks ago
to not define
God by
your experience.
Just because
you experience
something to be
true doesn't
necessarily
make it true.
Here the word
of God
speaks to us.
God orchestrates
our everyday
circumstances.
I use
meeting my
lovely wife
Sam as an
example of that.
I did not go
searching the
world for a
five foot three
cute brunette
named Sam.
That was not
my aim in life.
I didn't have
a plotted course
and I was
searching and
scouring for
Sam.
But God
orchestrated the
details.
My sister and
brother-in-law
happened to begin
attending the
church that Sam
was at.
Her father was
the associate
pastor there.
They were
asked to teach
the Sunday
school class
for college
and career
for young
people and
Sam just
happened to
be in that
class.
Jamie and
Chris thought
she would be
very good for
me and they
providentially
encouraged me to
come to that
class and spend
time with them
and meet Sam.
And I can look
back on that and
I can say without
a doubt that God
providentially brought
us together as
he does all
things.
By my experience
I could say it
was a coincidence.
I just happened
to visit with
them.
They asked me
to come.
I visited and
we bumped into
each other and
that was all
good.
And fine.
I do not
believe in
luck or
coincidence.
But as a
believer in
Christ I do
believe in
providence.
Now to
just demystify
the will of
God for you
a little bit.
We hear a lot
these days about
the will of
God and that's
a great desire
for all of us.
We really want
to know what
is God's will
for my life.
And what we
fail to realize
is that he
has revealed
in large part
his will
for your life.
That in the
scriptures we
find the
rule for
godly living.
And if we're
not doing
this first
and foremost
how can we
ever expect
to discover
the hidden
will?
Those little
things.
Where should
I live?
What job
should I
take?
Who should
I marry?
We don't
look at the
revealed will
of God.
And remember
context.
Context.
Where have
we been?
Romans chapter
12 verse 1.
Look there
with me.
Romans chapter
12 verse 1
and 2.
Remember Paul
just finished
his doctrinal
treatise.
He says
verse 1
I appeal to
you therefore
in light of
all these
truths,
all these
things we've
said,
therefore
brothers,
by the
mercies of
God,
he sums
it all up
that way,
right?
Salvation by
grace alone,
through faith
alone,
in Christ
alone,
forever,
by the
mercies of
God,
to present
your bodies
as a living
sacrifice,
holy and
acceptable
to God,
which is
your spiritual
worship.
Some
translations
render that,
which is
your reasonable
worship,
the obvious
reasonable
response to
what God
has now done
your whole
being to
God.
Verse 2
Do not be
conformed to
this world,
but be
transformed by
the renewal
of your mind,
that by testing
you may discern
what is the
will of God,
what is good
and acceptable
and perfect.
Now most of us
are fairly familiar
with this,
right?
And certainly
this has a
broader meaning.
If we're not
being conformed
to the world,
being transformed
by the renewal
of our mind,
if we're offering
ourselves wholly
to God,
we'll be able
to sort out
those little
details.
Who should I
marry?
Where should I
live?
Types of
things.
But most
people sit
around waiting
for this
grand revelation
for that.
You say,
God, I'm
transforming a
mind.
I'm offering
myself as a
sacrifice to
you.
Why won't
you speak to
me and tell
me exactly
what it is
you would
have me do?
But I
think we
missed the
point.
And what
Paul's really
doing is
he's setting
us up to
hear everything
else he's
about to
say.
Right?
Do not
be conformed.
Be
transformed.
Let me show
you what the
transformed
Christian life
looks like.
He's about
to tell us
all about
that through
chapter 15
verse 13.
He goes to
that.
He talks about
there being a
genuine love
for the
saints,
chapter 12
verse 10
through 13,
for all
people,
chapter 12
verse 14
through 16,
for your
enemies,
chapter 12
verse 17
through 21,
and then on
through 15,
even when it's
difficult or
causes sacrifice
on your part.
This is the
good,
acceptable
will of
God.
We can
all live
every day
confident
that we're
living in the
will of
God.
We do
this.
We wake
up in the
morning and
we say to
God,
I'm unworthy
of your
salvation.
Left to
my own
devices,
I'm a
wretched,
wretched
sinner,
but because
you have
come and
you have
dwelt in
me,
you have
changed my
heart,
I want to
die to
myself this
day.
It is my
reasonable
service to
offer myself
as a
sacrifice to
you.
Work in
me,
genuine love
for people.
Help me to
know how
it is I
ought to
respond
appropriately
to the
gospel in
this day,
and then
walk it
out.
Get obedient
to what God
puts before
you in
that day.
So God
is providential
in everything
that's happening
in our lives.
As I said
to you,
we still play
a part,
we still have
a means
to his
ends.
How does
that exactly
work out?
I don't
know.
But yet
the scriptures
speak.
Second
word,
planning.
So we
see that
God is
providential
at work,
working out
his perfect
will in
this world,
and yet
we see
Paul here
making plans,
and we're
to do the
same.
Verse 24,
he says,
I hope
to see
you in
passing
as I
go to
Spain,
and be
helped
on my
journey
there by
you,
once I
have
enjoyed
your
company
for a
while.
He had
a plan
to go
to Spain,
to take
the gospel
there,
go beyond
the borders
of Rome
itself,
go on
to Spain,
to the
eastern
part of
the empire.
He had
planned that
they would
help him
along the
way,
and that
he was
going to
stick around
for a little
while,
enjoy their
company.
Verse 28,
when therefore
I've
completed this,
talking about
bringing,
and have
delivered to
them what
has been
collected,
I will
leave for
Spain,
by way
of you.
Remember at
the very
beginning of
the letter,
Romans 1,
verse 11-13,
we see,
for I long
to see you,
that I may
impart to you
some spiritual
gift to
strengthen you,
that is what
may be mutually
encouraged by
each other's
faith,
both yours
and mine.
I do not
want you to
be unaware,
brothers,
that I have
often intended
to come to
you,
but thus far
have been
prevented,
in order that
I may reap
some harvest
among you,
as well as
among the
rest of
the Gentiles.
1 Thessalonians
chapter 2,
verse 17-18,
he says,
but since we
were torn
away from
you,
brothers,
for a short
time in
person,
not in
heart,
we endeavored
the more
eagerly and
with great
desire to
see you
face to
face,
because we
wanted to
come to
you,
I,
Paul,
again and
again,
but Satan
hindered us.
You see that
he made
plans,
he wanted
to go
places,
right?
He desired
to do
things,
and for
Paul,
all these
things were
bound up
in the
overarching
will of
God for
his life
that he
present the
gospel to
the Gentiles,
right?
But yet,
God,
in his
providence,
shaped his
plans.
We can
continue my
analogy of
Sam,
right?
Once I
met Sam,
I made
plans to
be around
her.
I
intentionally
tried to
be involved
in things
that she
was being
involved in.
In fact,
I actually
took a
job,
moved in
with my
sister and
brother-in-law
for six
months so
that I
could be
close to
where Sam
lived,
so that I
could get
to know
her.
Our
plans are
important.
They
matter in
these
things.
And as
such,
we should
be making
strategies to
reach our
classmates,
our
coworkers,
our
neighbors,
etc.
We ought
to be coming
up with
ways,
intentional
ways,
to reach
them with
the gospel
of Christ.
If we
are
disciple-making
disciples,
that is the
overarching
definition of
who we
are,
and it
should be,
it's the
reasonable
thing,
in light of
what Christ
has done
for us,
then we
should be
planning how
it is we
should advance
the gospel
in the world.
Keeping in
mind,
all along,
God is
providential.
He's going
to shape
those plans.
He's going
to shake
them up on
you at
times.
And at
times,
he's going
to carry
them out
exactly the
way you
plan for
them to
be.
Third word,
participation.
It's not
just enough
to plan
it,
we actually
have to
start doing
it,
right?
You can't
just make
a plan,
say,
God's in
control,
God's
providential.
There's an
old little
saying which
has some
bearing of
truth,
but is
often taken
too far
for somebody
to say,
just let
go and
let God.
There's some
truth in
that.
Yeah,
sometimes we
get too
overbearing,
we want
to control
everything,
we want
to do
everything
under our
own
might and
power.
And the
point I
think of
that is
to say,
you really
can't
accomplish
it all
on your
own,
so let
go of
it,
let God
work in
and through
you to
accomplish
things,
but it
doesn't
mean sit
on your
hands and
just hope
things work
out.
Counsel people
who have a
desire,
they want to
be in the
word of
God more,
they want
to see a
hunger in
their life
for that,
say to
them,
you already
have it,
right?
You have a
desire to be
in the
word of
God.
Pray in
the morning
that God
gives it
to you
once again,
that he
renews it
in you
afresh,
and recognize
that your
very prayers
are evidence
of your
desire to
do so.
So don't
sit around
after your
prayer and
hope that
suddenly your
hand is
moved to
pick up the
Bible,
and you
open it
up and
you begin
to read,
just respond.
God,
I pray
that you
would give
me a
desire for
your word.
I have a
desire for
your word.
Open it
up and
in the
process.
Again,
we are the
means to
God's end.
And I want
to show you
in this text
three ways
in which
we participate.
Now,
recognize Paul
here is talking
about his
particular
mission,
right?
The very
thing that
he was
aiming to
do.
He was
aiming to
go from
the eastern
part of
the Roman
Empire,
where he
has said
previously,
he's
accomplished
the work
that God
had put
before him.
He had
fully
preached
the gospel.
Now he's
wanting to
go to the
western part
of the
empire,
passing
through
Rome
to
Spain.
We don't
know for
sure if
he ever
made it.
I found
some
evidences
last week
I told you
that it
seemed like
maybe he
did,
and then
he went
on from
there to
Britain.
I,
this week,
found some
evidences
that he
didn't.
It would
seem that
the Christian
faith didn't
reach Spain
until 200
years after
Paul.
So,
I don't
really know
if he
ever made
it or
not.
That's
the point
of what
I'm
saying to
you.
But,
this is
centering
out.
Something
we ought
to be
doing,
and this
is how
we should
be doing
it together.
So,
we should
be participating
together in
God's mission
in the world
and the
particular ways
he's given
it to us.
The first
way is
financial.
Our
participation
should be
financial.
In verse
24,
he says
that he
hopes to
be helped
on my
journey
there by
you.
Which
includes
financial
help.
It actually
goes a
little bit
beyond that,
in fact.
The idea
here of
being helped
is the
idea of
being
escorted,
being shown
the way.
Paul fully
expected that
when he
got to
Rome,
that some
of the
believers
from Rome
would give
him supply
to travel
to Spain,
as well
as take
him there.
Somebody
who knew
the road
from Rome
to Spain,
wherever he
was going
in Spain,
would actually
take him
along the
way,
would give
of themselves
to help
him fulfill
his task
in the will
of God.
We also
see Paul
delivering a
financial gift
to Jerusalem
on behalf
of the Gentiles
in verses
25 to
27.
We're not
going to
look at
that much.
But you
see that
there's this
giving of
oneself
movement
happening.
Turn with
me to
2 Corinthians
chapter 8.
Another great
example of
this type of
sacrificial giving
to support
the ministry
of God.
2 Corinthians
chapter 8
verses 1
through 8.
We want
you to know
brothers about
the grace
of God
that has
been given
among the
churches
of Macedonia.
For in a
severe test
of affliction
their abundance
of joy
and their
extreme
poverty
have overflowed
in a wealth
of generosity
on their
part.
For they
gave according
to their
means,
as I can
testify,
and beyond
their means
of their
own accord
begging us
earnestly
for the
favor of
taking part
in the
relief of
the saints.
And this
not as we
expected,
but they
gave themselves
first to
the Lord
and then
by the
will of
God
to us.
This
great
outpouring
of the
generosity
of the
churches
of Macedonia
because they
wanted to
be involved
in the
work of
God
and
relieving
the
suffering
amongst
the
saints.
So our
participation
needs to
be
financial.
There's
lots of
opportunities
to do
that
where we
live.
This
church
needs
that
kind
of
participation.
All of
these
people
going
all
over
the
world.
I
can't
even
begin
to
tell
you
all
the
places
that
people
are
headed
out
this
summer.
We
have
an
immense
number
of
people
for as
small
as
we
are
going
all
over
the
place
and
every
single
one
of
them
need
financial
assistance.
God
uses
money
to
get
things
accomplished.
Again,
means
to an
end.
We
see the
parable
in
Luke
chapter
12.
We
studied
this
in
our
community
group
this
past
week,
week
before
last.
The
parable
of
the
rich
young
fool.
This
parable
of
this
man
who
profits
well.
He
didn't
do
anything
wrong
to
profit.
The
parable
doesn't
record
it
that
way.
He
was
profitable.
And
what
he
did
with
it
is
he
built
more
barns
and
he
said
to
his
soul,
relax,
eat,
drink,
be merry.
He
stored
it
up
for
himself.
He
spent
it
on
himself.
And
God
calls
him
a
fool.
And
then
it's
recorded,
so
is
the
one
who
lays
up
treasure
for
himself
and
is
not
rich
toward
God.
I
think
the
real
question
is
not
how
much
would
God
have
me
give?
Lord,
how
much
would
you
have
me
give
to
your
purposes?
!
But
how
much
of
what
you've
granted
me
is
for
me,
for
my
temporal
blessing?
And
how
much
of
it
is
for
the
kingdom?
How
much
of
it
ultimately
and
finally
belongs
to
you?
I
think
we
ask
that
question
wrongly
so
often.
I
really
hope
that
of
all
of
you
in
this
room
it
won't
be
said
of
you
fool.
You
spent
your
money
on
yourself.
What
a
stupid
!
stupid
thing
to
do.
Be
rich
towards
God.
Lay
up
treasure
for
yourself
in
heaven.
So
our
participation
is
going
to
be
financial.
Our
participation
ought
to
be
prayerful
both
in
our
lives
and
others.
Verse
30
says
strive
together
with
me
in
your
prayers
to
God
on
my
behalf
as a
request
of
Paul
that
they
strive
together
in
prayers
for
his
work
the
word
that
we
get
strive
from
here
in
the
Greek
means
to
fight
or
to
struggle.
It's
where
we
get
the
English
word
agonize
from.
We
must
fight
to
pray.
The
enemy
does
not
want
us
to
pray.
God
as
we've
said
before
is
providential.
God
is
accomplishing
what
he
will
accomplish
with
or
without
us.
But
he
is
using
us
as
the
means
to
his
end.
He
has
included
us
in
his
purposes
and
a
way
he
does
that
is
he
gives
us
prayer.
He
uses
the
prayers
of
his
people
to
accomplish
his
will.
He
moves
us
to
pray
that
we
might
be
involved.
How
can
we
possibly
be
involved
in
the
global
purposes
of
God
here
in
Dahlonega,
Georgia?
The
simplest
way?
We
can
pray.
We
can
pray
That
God
will
advance
his
kingdom
across
the
world
and
we
can
rejoice
as
it's
being
done
because
he
uses
the
prayer
of
his
people.
Our
flesh
works
against
us
to
this.
Have
you
ever
had
those
times
where
you
set
the
time
apart
to
pray
and
no
matter
what
you're
so
distracted
your
mind
goes
a
thousand
different
directions.
Like
thoughts
you're
like
why
am
I
thinking
about
this?
This
makes
no
sense.
Right?
Seems
like
Colossians
chapter 4
verse 12
records
Epaphras
who is
one of
you
a servant
of
Christ
Jesus
greets
you
always
struggling
the same
word
always
struggling
on your
behalf
in his
prayers
that you
may
stand
mature
and
fully
assured
in
all
the
will
of
God.
Ephesians
chapter 6
verse 18
and 19
We're
instructed to
pray at
all times
in the
spirit
with
all
prayer
and
supplication
to
that
end
keep
alert
with
all
!
prayer
is a
work
and it
ought to
be carried
out.
The
Christian
life
really
ultimately
is fairly
simple.
It's not
a complex
thing for
us to
unravel.
It's
fairly
simple
but it
is not
easy.
We
must
strain
and
strive
and pray
for the
grace
to pull
these
things
off.
As I
said to
you
before
work
as if
it
all
depended
on
you
and
praise
God
when it
happens
because
it
was
his
work
in
you
to
accomplish
it.
So
what
must
we
pray
for?
What
are
godly
prayers?
What
are
prayers
offered
up
within
God's
will?
And
we
can
look
here
at
what
Paul
asked
them
to
pray
for
him.
Three
things.
And
I
think
these
are
good
general
guide
as
we
begin
to
think
about
our
mission
in
the
world.
How
it
is
that
we
ought
to
be
success
and
he
asks
for
satisfaction.
Beginning
in
verse
31
he
says
that
I
may
be
delivered
from
the
unbelievers
in
Judea
safety
and
that
my
service
for
Jerusalem
may
be
acceptable
to
the
saints
success.
He
was
going
to
deliver
the
financial
means
that
he
wanted
them
to
see
it
as
acceptable
so
that
God's
will
may
come
to
you
with
joy
and
be
refreshed
in
your
company.
So
he's
asking
them
to
pray
for
safety
for
success
and
for
satisfaction.
Those
are
God
honoring
prayers
that
as
we
travel
as
we
go
as
we
leave
this
place
and
go
to
our
homes
visit
with
our
neighbors
go
to
work
tomorrow
do
all
those
things
that
we
might
have
safety
that
we
might
have
success
in
our
ministry
to
others
and
that
we'll
be
satisfied
in
whatever
the
outcome
of
these
things
are.
That's
kind of
a weird
way of
saying
it
but
I
wanted
to
keep
the
sound
of
those
words
the
same
so
financial
prayerful
and
communal
verse 24
he says
once I
have
enjoyed
your
company
for a
while
speaking
of
when
he's
going
to
go
on
to
Spain
he
wants
to
come
and
enjoy
their
company
for
a
while
in
verse
32
he
wants
to
be
refreshed
in
their
company
remember
again
Romans
chapter
1
verse
11
and
12
Paul
longed
to
be
with
these
Roman
believers
whose
faith
was
being
told
of
around
the
known
world
he
had
heard
of
the
faith
of
the
Roman
believers
and
he
longed
to
be
with
them
that
his
faith
would
be
encouraged
that
he
might
be
built
up
to
go
on
in
this
journey
that
was
ahead
of
him
in
church
that's
what
we're
called
to
as
well
why
do
we
do
this
like
why
do
we
get
together
on
Sunday
morning
is it
just
simply
a
command
given
to
us
we
know
we
should
Hebrews
chapter
10
verse
24
let us
consider
how to
stir up
one
another
to
love
and
good
works
not
neglecting
to
meet
together
as
the
habit
of
some
but
encouraging
!
ritual
rite
that
you
gain
by
coming
together
with
the
church
on
Sunday
why
do we
meet
together?
we meet
together
that we
might be
encouraged
that we
might be
built up
we might
have the
truth
replanted
in our
hearts
so that
we'll get
back out
there
and fight
the good
fight
living
the
Christian
life
actually
living
the
Christian
life
and I
hate
that we
even
have to
put
a
qualifier
on that
but
genuine
faith
carried
out
in the
world
is not
going
to be
easy
it's
going
to be
a
fight
it's
going
to be
a
struggle
it's
a
war
out
there
this
is
base
camp
we
all
come
back
together
we
remind
ourselves
why
we're
fighting
right
this
is
a
good
war
this
is
!
a
war
worth
fighting
right
we
have
a
great
king
he's
going
to
accomplish
it
we
need
to
get
back
out
there
and
fight
we
let
the
word
minister
to
us
and
heal
our
wounds
from
that
week
we
were
made
for
Christian
community
and I
would
say
to
you
that
Christian
ministry
doesn't
happen
apart
from
the
context
of
the
church
that
the
things
that
you
do
are
directly
an
extension
of
the
body
church
those
that
you
gather
with
on a
weekly
basis
and so
therefore
we ought
to meet
together
right
in
Hebrews
chapter
10
we
just
read
to
you
let
us
consider
how
to
stir
up
one
another
to
love
and
to
good
works
as
our
flesh
bears
down
on
us
as
we
have
this
battle
within
us
between
our
spirit
and
between
our
flesh
We
need
one
another
we
need
!
to
encourage
one
another
and
that's
for
all
of
us
it
includes
me
most
certainly
I
need
your
encouragement
and
you
guys
have
no
idea
how
much
you
encourage
me
I
know
that
most
maybe
none
of
you
have
walked
up to
me
this
week
and
said
Nathan
I
just
want
to
encourage
you
with
told
me
something
but
I
love
to
see
the
way
you
serve
each
other
the
way
you
!
each
other
to
hear
the
stories
of
how
you
are
sharing
your
faith
on
campus
and
at
work
that
is
such
an
encouragement
to
me
it
prods
me
on
spurs
me
to
continue
to
press
on
in
the
faith
we
need
one
another
so
our
participation
should
be
prayerful
it
should
be
financial
and
it
should
be
communal
and
I
absolutely
love
the way
he
ends
this
little
part
of
his
letter
verse
33
says
may
the
God
of
peace
be
with
you
all
amen
and
his
desire
here
is
that
this
little
wish
for
them
is
that
the
God
of
peace
will
reign
in
their
hearts
that
even
though
he's
got
these
plans
he's
planning
to
come
he wants
these
prayers
for
these
various
things
that
God
is
ultimately
the
God
of
peace
and
he
doesn't
mean
here
that
God
is
a
God
that
comes
and
brings
peace