No matter what, God is there

Romans 15:1-8; 13-20

Years before Chan Gailey became the coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the late 1990s, he was the head coach of Alabama’s Troy State football team.

They were the unlikely team playing for a National Championship.  It was the week before the big game . . . interview requests were pouring in from everywhere.

A few days before the championship, Gailey was heading to the practice field when his secretary called him and wanted to transfer a call to him.  Somewhat irritated, Gailey told her to take a message because he was on his way to practice.  She responded “Are you sure?  It’s Sports Illustrated.”

“I’ll be right there,” he said.

As he made his way back to his office, he began to think about the article.  It would be great publicity for the program at Troy State, in fact, 3 pages wouldn’t be enough to cover the great story.

Coming even closer to his office, he started thinking that he might even end up on the cover.  “Wow . . . should I pose or go with some kind of action shot,” he wondered.  He wrote that his head was spinning with all the possibilities.

When he picked up the phone and said hell, the person asked, “Is this Chan Gailey?”

“Yes, it is,” he replied with a measure of pride.

“This is Sports Illustrated, and we’re calling to let you know your subscription is running out . . . do you want to renew?”

·        Coach Gailey concluded that story by saying, “You are either humble or you will be humbled by life.”

Follow the Bible, no matter what (1-4)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 15:4

There is a parallel passage in 1 Corinthians 10: ⁶ Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. ⁷ And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” ⁸ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; ⁹ nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰ nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹ Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

And again in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

·      Fellowship with Believers, no matter who (5-7)

Be likeminded…with one mind and one mouth glorify God…
Therefore receive one another 15:5-7

This too has a parallel reading in other writings of Paul. Philippians 2 says, ¹ Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 

·        Fulfill your calling, no matter the cost (13-20)

​​“by the power of the Spirit of God,
so that from Jerusalem and round about to
Illyriccum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."

Now THERE’S a memory verse for you!

With the Gospel, we have a ministry (14-16)
Even though Paul did not specifically know the Roman church, he knew many of them and their character: verse 14 said they were

1.                       good,

2.                       knowledgeable, and

3.                       able to instruct others.

I’m sure he was thinking of Priscilla and Aquilla, of Phoebe, who came from Corinth. Many of the Jews had been cast out of Rome in the late 40s, coming among other places, to Athens, just about the same time as Paul was coming to Greece. (ACTS 18:1-2)

​​“ that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God,
(NIV, ‘He gave me a priestly duty of proclaiming the Gospel”;
ESV, ‘the priestly service of the gospel of God’
BBE, ‘doing the work of a priest in the good news of God,’ 
that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

What is your purpose for being on earth? 

In other words he's saying the God of Hope is going to give you hope by the power of the Holy Spirit and then he says this and I want you to look at the map.

Paul said “I am confident in you my brethren that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another. Paul had never been to Rome. In the late 40s A.D. Emperor Claudius the Caesar of the time cast out all of the Jews but it wasn't just his will to do this; it was God's doing.

All of the Jewish people left Rome and came to Corinth,  came to Athens, including Priscilla and Aquila. At the same time Paul was being obedient, going on missionary journeys. You've heard of the first missionary journey, the second missionary journey. Paul was going to all these places while all of the Jewish people are being cast out of Rome. There in Corinth, he's able to meet with them and convince them to accept Christ.

 God is working through all of this and Paul said I have this burden for the Gentiles to convert them so he's telling the Jews but also telling the Gentiles he said I've written you boldly on some points reminding you because the grace given to me that I as a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles ministering the gospel that may be an offering to the Gentiles might be acceptable and Sanctified in the Holy Spirit

Paul gives five instances of the Old Testament which says that the Gentiles are to be included in Grace. We say, “well duh,” we're all Gentiles. God wants to save all of us. But they didn't know that at the time. Paul's trying to convince them for the Jewish people to accept the Gentiles and the Gentiles to accept the Jews and then he says this: that I as a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles ministering in the gospel of God might be able to give an offering to the Gentiles.

Now what's my point? The point is fulfill your calling no matter what the cost. Paul said I want to fulfill my calling but what's your calling? What's your purpose of being here what's your point of being here on Earth?

God has a reason for you to be here you know if we read verse 19 . It’s not a very great memory verse not all that Earth shattering. You wouldn't find that on a coffee cup or on a t-shirt but I want to tell you here's what it is Paul saying, “Hey! I'm doing my part how about you? How about you?

I remember that one evangelist named David Ring.  He was famous for saying, “I have cerebral palsy! What's your excuse?”

He would say it, even less intelligible than I could imitate. But he would win people to Christ. (for more on David Ring, go to David Ring's homepage)

So what, even if you have an excuse, so what if you have a problem? Paul had a ministry and he said “I have fully preach the gospel of Christ.”

Paul was saying to them I know you maybe he had seen them in Athens he said you're good and you're knowledgeable and you're able to instruct others but I'm sure there for all of the Priscillas and Aquilas and Phoebes that we see in chapter 16, there was a number of people who said “Man, if you'd just give over your life to the Lord you could be doing so much more.”

 I want to ask you what's your excuse? Paul fulfilled his ministry at a cost at a cost. What's your excuse?

When we look in Acts chapter 18, verses 1 and 2, it said that they were ministering the gospel and Claudius had expelled out the Jews so that they could come to Christ perhaps through Paul's ministry, then go back and fulfill their ministry.

Paul said “I hope I will just be stopping at Rome and going all the way to Spain.” Now why Spain? That was the extent of the Roman Empire. Paul wanted to go where the gospel was still news. The good news was still news. I want to ask you if Paul was willing to do that, are you? Am I? Is this Church willing to serve God no matter what. Are we willing to Fellowship together no matter who?  Are we going to share the gospel no matter the cost?

It's tough. it's scary, but God can move that mountain!