A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 4 Chapter 1:10 – 11

 

  1. Verse 10 “Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.”
    1. “Making request…” means - to beg, that is to petition God as an urgent need.

a.       To beg tells us this was truly something Paul wanted; it was not just a prayer and a hope. It was his earnest desire to see them.

b.      However we know that Paul was hindered for his desire.  Romans 15:22 “For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.”

c.       We see Paul still lingering with this in Acts;  Acts 19:21 “After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

d.       We see that it was the will of God that he go to Rome in Acts 23:11 “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

e.       Well Paul went to Rome but as a prisoner.  Acts 28:14, 15 “Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. (15.) And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.”

f.       Paul was a prisoner in Rome for two years.  Acts 28:30, 31 “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, (31.) Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” It is believed it is at this time Epaphras came to him about the Colossian church and he wrote that letter among others. Paul wrote the Books of Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians during his imprisonment in Rome.

    1. “…if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.”

a.       It was by the will of God most certainly, Jesus told him to go, however it was not pleasant for the two years he was in jail.

b.      However the Lord took good care of him and continued to use him while he was in prison. He preached the gospel and penned a couple of books of the Bible.

c.       Paul was a man who took everything as the will of God and used every event to work for the Lord; we need more Paul’s today.

d.       We learn from Paul nothing happens in a Christians life except God allows it to happen. James 4:13 - 15 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14.)  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (15.)  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

  1. Verse 11 “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;”
    1. “For I long to see you…” – this describes his desire to see and visit this church.

a.       Paul’s great desire was to visit and work with this church, not to visit Rome, the Emperor, or etc. Remember Paul, since the Lord saved him in Acts 9 had one single desire, to work for Jesus Christ 24/7 until he died. We need more dedication like this today from God’s men. I would to God I had Paul’s heart and will toward the Lord.

b.      J. Vernon McGee said in his “Thru the Bible” commentary: “He wants to come to Rome to teach the Word of God. Paul loved to teach the Word of God. When a preacher does not want to teach the Word of God, he becomes a clergyman, he becomes an administrator, he becomes a promoter, but he is not a minister of the Word anymore. I know several men in this position. One man said, "I don't enjoy preaching anymore." I said, "For goodness sake, get out of the ministry. You have no business in the ministry if you don't love to teach the Word of God!"

    1. “…that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift…”

a.       THIS IS NOT DIVINE HEALING, THIS IS NOT RAISING THE DEAD, THIS IS NOT TO MAKE THEM HEALTY – WEALTHY – AND WISE!!!

b.      Paul explains what he means by this statement in the next verse. (12.) “That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” That is that we may worship the Lord together and study God’s word together, that we may fellowship in Divine truth together. Paul was not a Benny Hinn.

c.       There is nothing as wonderful as sharing our faith together with those that doctrinally agrees with us, it is a sharing of spiritual gifts.