Eternity Daily Bible Study - No. 495 Series: Romans 1-8 "A Righteousness That Is By Faith" Verses: Romans 1:8-12 Topic: Ministering Spiritual Things Date: 8th August 2005 [Eternity-DBS was irregular last week due to an unusually heavy workload, it should resume a normal pattern this week.] Romans 1:8-12 - First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established-- 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Paul did not desire to see the Romans for political or financial reasons, but for spiritual reasons. His aim was to "impart to you some spiritual gift" and he talks about praying for them, encouraging them and also being encouraged by them. The primary aim of ministry is "spiritual fruit" - conversions, baptisms, repentances, fillings and callings - lives changed and transformed by the powerful grace of God! Attendance is not a spiritual fruit just by itself - Jesus had some large crowds that quickly fell away. Offerings are not spiritual fruit, unless they come from sincere hearts. And vast edifices and programs are not spiritual fruit unless they result in changed lives and in people living for the glory of God. Let's go verse by verse: "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." Paul is thankful for their FAITH - not their wealth or power or prominence or political influence. Paul is thankful that the Roman Christians were trusting in Jesus! "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son" Paul says that he serves God "with my spirit". That is the deepest kind of Christian service! Sentimentalists serve God with their hearts, intellectuals serve God with their mind, radicals serve God with their will - but apostles serve God with their spirit! Such a person is conscious of God moving powerfully within them and of their own anointing and of the movements within them toward grace and healing and the working of miracles. They are led by the Spirit and know intuitively the right spiritual words to say, and when to heal, and what anointing is on them at what time. They have gone beyond feelings and formulas and methods and paradigms and simply minister from their spirit under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. "That without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers" - Spiritual ministry begins and ends in prayer, no matter what takes place in-between. Paul is yearning and praying and groaning for the work of God in Rome to progress and senses that he should be there and he prays earnestly for them, and for a chance to see them. Paul does not give up on them, he prays 'without ceasing' - that is not irregularly or in fits and starts but daily, persistently and consistently. "Always in my prayers" - pray was a habit with Paul, a deep ingrained lifestyle and the Romans were always mentioned in his hours of travail for the Kingdom. "Making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you." Now this verse indicates that Paul subjected his travel plans and ministry itinerary to "the will of God" and that God's will included such mundane details as where and when Paul would preach the gospel. The spiritual minister listens for God's voice on such issues. Not that every appointment needs divine validation, but there should be a sensitivity and a receptivity to God setting our agenda - not man. There needs to be flexibility for "divine appointments" and also time to bring the schedule before the Lord for His sense on things. Many a time I have felt a "check" in my spirit about a certain thing and sure enough that appointment did not come to pass. "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift". Ministry is about impartation - imparting Christ, imparting the gospel, imparting knowledge of the truth, imparting moral example, imparting spiritual gifts and imparting the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 So affectionately longing for you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you have become beloved to us. To impart means to take something that is yours and then give it to another person so that it becomes fully theirs. It is transferring ownership and is used in that sense in the King James Version: Luke 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Paul ministered with his spirit (which was filled with the Holy Spirit) and from that ministry Paul imparted spiritual gifts to others. This may have occurred through the laying on of hands: 1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the gift in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the body of elders. 2 Timothy 1:6 Therefore I remind you to inflame anew the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. Paul quickly avoids any sense of superiority and "guru status" when he adds: "so that you may be established-- that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." Paul wanted to impart spiritual gifts so that the Romans might be established and so that both they and Paul would be mightily encouraged as they fellowshipped together in Christ. Paul would give encouragement to them and also receive encouragement from them - it was a two-way street. Spiritual gifts are given to make the church a strong and established community of encouraging people rejoicing in their faith in Christ. Blessings In Christ, John Edmiston (johned@aibi.ph) __________________________________________________________________ REFER OTHERS: If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily bible study. 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