Declare the path of mission

Romans 15:22-33; 8/24/2025; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

Paul poured out his heart to the brothers and sisters in the Roman church, expressing his frustration and concern.  He likely wrote this in or near Corinth, during his third missionary journey from AD 53-58.  He was announcing his missionary journey, the direction God would lead him in his future missionary work.  Let’s look the first point:

After Rome came Spain

This is the inevitable conclusion of the book of Romans: to keep moving forward to fulfill the Lord’s Great Commission!  Rome, though great, was not Paul’s ultimate concern.  First, despite obstacles, we must continue on our journey!  During our short-term mission trip to Europe, we reached a consensus: to bring the gospel into our lives and let the mission guide our lives. If these are the core values of our lives, obstacles will not become obstacles!  Paul said, “This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. “  Can we experience the same feelings as Paul did?  Was it discouragement and disappointment?  Or sadness and grief?  The fact that he encountered numerous obstacles demonstrates his perseverance and his refusal to give up!  Despite obstacles, he continued to go!  While the Europeans may not have been Paul’s blood relatives, the core value of prioritizing spiritual roots over blood ties influenced Paul’s direction.  There are always more solutions than problems; the mission drives us to overcome every obstacle.

Secondly, Rome and Spain are steps.  Doesn’t that seem strange?  Paul was in Greece, and before he even reached Rome, he began to yearn for Spain.  And, he kept thinking about it for years.  Our church’s short-term missions over the years have been repaying the gospel debt.  The gospel to us Chinese was brought to us by Europeans,  so there is a sense of gratitude in our missions to Europe.  However, the mission cannot stop at repaying gratitude.  Missioning to Muslims is a vision that God placed in my life many years ago.  Until this year, our missionary Steve visited us in May and put the opportunity of missioning to Islam before us.  So, missionary work in Turkey next year has become the path before us.  Are you ready?

Finally, it was because there was no place to preach.  Paul said, “Now there is no place to preach here,” which does not mean that everyone in Greece has believed in the Lord. Rather, it means that the gospel has been preached in Greece, Macedonia, Achaia and other places.  The local churches are also preaching the gospel in the local area.  As a missionary apostle, Paul was driven by the mission and while he was heading from Greece to Rome, his heart was running to Spain, which was farther away.  Over the years, our church has used Dallas as its starting point and Northern Europe as its base for discipleship, and has been heading towards Europe.  In the past three years, starting with the violin-making town, we have spread the gospel to France, Italy, Germany and other countries.  We have seen that more and more churches have begun to pay attention to European missions, especially preaching the gospel to Europeans.  Let’s look at the second point:

 Paul still has concerns

The Roman Church was founded by the Apostle Peter.  Paul once said: “and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,”  Therefore, it’s not difficult to imagine that Paul’s concern for the Roman church stemmed from the spread of his letters.  First, even if it was just passing through, it was important to meet.  Meeting spiritual beings is inherently a grace.  Paul had no direct connection with the Roman church, and logically, there was no need for much contact.  However, Paul was chosen by God to be the writer of the Bible.  Moreover, by the time Paul wrote Romans, his books like Galatians were likely already widely circulated in the Roman church.  This inevitably led to some interactions and connections, allowing for direct or indirect acquaintances and even close relationships with the brothers and sisters.  Therefore, whether Paul was staying briefly or passing through Rome, he longed to meet them.  For meeting believers is, in essence, meeting the Lord, meeting the Lord in their lives!

Secondly, there is the satisfaction gained from fellowship.  In other words, fellowship among believers is what the Bible calls the satisfaction found in fellowship. God delights in His people eating and drinking together and enjoying the Lord’s grace together.  When brothers and sisters meet together, there are many options for dining.   While buying food at the supermarket is the most economical option, it also misses the opportunity to fellowship with brothers and sisters.  How do we determine the relative value of these two?  Fellowship, sharing food and drinks, and sharing the cost will be more expensive, making it more costly than buying food at the supermarket.  However, fellowship holds eternal value, while saving money only brings the pride of moral boasting and the satisfaction of feeling good.

Finally, the joy that comes from seeing someone off.  Even if you have met someone and had a meal together, you may not be completely satisfied.  Even Paul said that he was slightly satisfied in his heart.  A person may be satisfied but may not enjoy that satisfaction.  Even if he is not very satisfied, he can still long for satisfaction in the Lord.  Seeing someone off is sometimes a sad thing.  Therefore, sometimes people are reluctant to see someone off.  However, the Bible says that Paul longed for the brothers and sisters in Rome to see him off.  Paul even regarded the church’s seeing him off as a blessing.  In fact, all this has not happened yet.  Paul just wrote a letter to express his expectations to the Roman church.  How we treat our brothers and sisters, God will have the same attitude towards us.  Let’s look at the third point:

This is my prayer request

Intercessory prayer is a daily ministry in the church and can also be a manifestation of faith in believers’ daily lives.  What are our intercessory prayers every Wednesday?  Is gospel missionary work included in our church’s public prayers?  What can we learn from Paul’s intercessory prayers?  First, care for the poor among the saints.  At this moment, Paul was returning from his third missionary journey.  Having collected donations in Macedonia and Achaia, he prepared to return home to Jerusalem.  Frankly speaking, Paul’s relationship with the church in Jerusalem was not particularly harmonious.  However, Paul’s love for his brothers and sisters in the church was not affected by personal relationships; he still cared for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.  This is Paul applying the “debtor principle” to his missionary work.  Because the Gentiles received the gospel from the Jews, it is only natural for the Gentiles to repay the Jews.  Just as we preach the gospel to Europeans, it is because we Chinese received the gospel from Europeans.

Second, we carry the abundant grace of Christ.  The only way to prove that we carry the abundant grace of Christ is through our testimony in Christ.  Paul wanted to tell the brothers and sisters in the Roman church about their countless wonderful testimonies along the Aegean Sea, through Galatia and the Turkish mountains of Asia, around Macedonia, down to Athens and Corinth.  They had endured persecution amidst turmoil, found comfort in exhortation, and even been protected from harm by God amidst the Jewish plots.  These wonderful testimonies were the welcome gift Paul wanted to bring to the brothers and sisters in the Roman church, his purpose being to encourage the church, strengthen believers, and persevere in their faith until the day of the Lord’s return, when they could confidently give an account to the Lord.

Finally, they found rest together with joy.  How could people still be joyful after suffering so much injustice and persecution?  Not only joy, but Paul said that he would go to meet the brothers and sisters in the Roman Church with joyful happiness.  Isn’t it a bit unreasonable?  When people suffer, shouldn’t they be bitter in their hearts, complain out loud, and even have a gloomy face?  However, at this time, Paul was no longer controlled by his own emotions, but was “following God’s will.”  Our benefits are not outside the Lord, and our rest can only be in Christ.  Because without Christ, we will have nothing!  Stop boasting about our love and ability!  Aren’t all we have received from the Lord?

Conclusion

Well, thank the Lord!  Paul, in Corinth, wrote to the brothers and sisters in the Roman church, announcing his journey to Rome and on to Spain!  Today we are sharing God’s Word,  sharing testimonies from our European travels, and announcing our upcoming missionary journey to Turkey and Islamic countries next year.  May God prepare our hearts to fight the good fight for the Lord!  May we fish for men, allowing Christ to capture all His people.

Let us pray ……

 

22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.

23 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,

24 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.

25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.

26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.

27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[b] I will leave for Spain by way of you.

29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing[c] of Christ.

30 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,

31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.