Effect of the gospel

Romans 1:11-13; 9/1/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang 

Introduction

 

Gospel life refers to the vitality generated by people’s encounter with the gospel,  leaving behind testimonies and prayers.  As spiritual life continues to move forward, it will inevitably bear fruit in life.  Let’s look at the first point:

Spiritual gifts         

As long as people come to the church, they will definitely experience the spiritual gifts assigned to each person by God.  Because the essence of serving the church and serving God is the interaction of God’s gifts in people’s life.  First, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Paul was in Corinth, but in his letter to the Romans he said to the brothers and sisters in the Roman church: “I long to see you.”   Why?  Where does this love come from?  Even after exhausting our search in the disjunctive limb of logic, we cannot find a reasonable explanation for human phenomena.  This can only be done by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, there is no other choice.  This is the letter to Romans that Paul wrote during his third missionary journey, and was written together with 1 and 2 Corinthians.  Judging from the contents of these three books, Paul at this time was already at a high level in terms of his serving experience and spiritual gifts.  Then, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to go to Rome to help the brothers and sisters grow in Christ.         

Secondly, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit.  The inspiration of the Holy Spirit must have a meaning in Christ and must be consistent with biblical truth.  Paul said that his purpose in going to Rome was to “impart to you some spiritual gift.”   How are spiritual gifts imparted?  Is it a little strange?  Judging from Paul’s subsequent interactions with brothers and sisters when he went to Rome, Paul should have told the Roman church about his own experience of serving God through testimony sharing for the church’s reference.  Then the Roman church needed to pray, ask God, pray to God,  and wait for God’s time until God would send down the gift.  That gifts come from God, not from men, is a core value of the Bible.  If you don’t be cautious, there will be cracks left, which will become an opportunity for Satan to deceive people and destroy the church.        

 Finally, the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  What is the ministry of the Holy Spirit?  To put it simply, it is the scope of the Holy Spirit’s work in the church.  So, according to the Bible, what are the ministries of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?  Generally speaking, they include preaching, missionary work, faith, personal evangelism, gospel preparatory work, leading people back to the church, prayer, teaching, management, reconciliation, sympathy, healing, exorcising demons, serving, offering, helping people , encourage people, comfort people, blame people, etc.  What Paul refers to in the text is “that you may be strengthened.”  From a human perspective, it seems that through Paul’s teachings, the faith of the Roman church was strengthened.  But from the perspective of the Holy Spirit, it is actually just the work of the Holy Spirit Himself, and humans have nothing to boast about.  Let’s look at the second point: 

 

 Mutual faith

 Faith operates in the church and is used by God through men of God who receive gifts.  When God gives His gift, the next step is the coordination between people.  The basis of mutual coordination is mutual faith, trust, and faithfulness in life. First, the grace of dwelling together.  As the saying goes, it is easier to meet than to live with.  Why? It’s very simple.  When meeting each other for a short time, time goes by in a flash.  But if they live together and get along with each other, each other’s weaknesses and shortcomings will be exposed.  The next step is the choice of tolerance or rejection.  Without the power of the Holy Spirit, people have no tolerance.   So on the other hand, the fact that Paul was able to live among the brothers and sisters in Rome and love each other showed that they had the gift of the Holy Spirit among each other.  This is the grace of living together.  That is to say, the harmony and love between us have little to do with our character, and personality, but are due to the grace of living together given by the Holy Spirit.        

 

Secondly, the test of unity.  The gospel is the power of God to save everyone who believes.  What power?  How to embody the power of the gospel?  The Bible says that the effect of the gospel on people’s hearts emanates from everyone’s heart, especially in relationships between people.  Among the many mentalities, faith in God and trust between members are the primary concerns.  Paul came all the way from Jerusalem, walked the waterway for several months, and experienced many risks before entering the territory of Rome.  When the brothers and sisters heard that Paul was coming, they met him on the way.  It turns out that this was all prepared in advance in Paul’s letter three years ago.  We have to say that God’s eternal power and divinity are clearly known and cannot be refuted.       

Finally,  mutually encouraged.  When Paul said that they were unified in fellowship and loved one another, it showed that the work of the Holy Spirit was among them.   We may not know the reason when a person is comforted, but when the entire church is comforted together, it is definitely the work of the Holy Spirit.  Sister Fangfang’s operation was successful and she was discharged from the hospital on Thursday.  I am grateful, rejoiced, and comforted together with other members of the church.  I saw a painting drawn by Sister Lina on Facebook, which showed the Lord Jesus holding a little girl.  I knew that Lina had found comfort from the Lord Jesus.  She was comforted, and the church was comforted with her.  At the same time, we also received assurance of faith in the Holy Spirit.  Let’s look at the third point:

 

Fruit of the gospel 

It turns out that the effect of the gospel is caused by spiritual gifts and the fruit of the gospel is produced through mutual faith.  First of all, keep going.  The Great Commission scripture says: Therefore go!  This is the premise of the gospel, which is to preach the gospel!  You can’t just talk but be unwilling to go out and remain at the point of talking empty words.  Paul just kept going.  After going to Asia, he still wanted to go.   We go to Northern Europe every year, and we still will go there.  Paul went to Troas several times.  When he was preaching, a young man was sitting upstairs and fell asleep.  Then he fell and died.  Paul prayed for him, and he rose from the dead.  For those who obey the Great Commission, signs and wonders will follow them.  Before Paul left, he had made up his mind, and had decided to go to Rome to visit the brothers and sisters.        

 Second, the desire to bear fruit.  To bear fruit, of course, is to bear the fruit of the gospel.  The question is, do you really want to bear the fruit of the gospel?  How much do you desire?   The prophet Jeremiah said: “If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9)”  That is to say, our first thought or intention when meeting everyone is to preach the gospel to him!  Why? Because this is our destiny in life!  Paul said: “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Cor. 9:16)”        

 Finally, thus far have been prevented.  Paul’s obstacles at that time were firstly the persecution and secondly the need to bring the donations collected from various places back to Jerusalem.  From the time he arrived in Macedonia, he was constantly told that he would be bound in Jerusalem.  But Paul still held on to the mission he received when he was called, so he encouraged himself: “For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. (1 Cor. 9:17)”  Because if he goes to preach the gospel, there will definitely be obstacles. However, a person with a mission will not be hindered by difficulties!  If there is an obstacle today, then go tomorrow!  You don’t have to do anything great, just do what you normally do, as Paul said: “as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.” Ordinary people keep an ordinary mind and do ordinary things.     

Conclusion    

Thank the Lord! The effectiveness of the gospel is in the heart, not in the outward appearance.  Gifts are used to serve God and the church, not to show off to fall to the ground or cry and laugh.  A normal heart refers to faith, faith in God.  The fruit of the gospel is lived out, not shown off.  Most importantly, the fruit of the gospel must be accounted to God.        

Let us pray……   

    

 

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 

12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 

13 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.