Romans | Lecture 3 : BC303-Rom-20260818

Good morning everyone >> and welcome to the class on Romans. Welcome um online students. Thank you all for joining us and also uh like to welcome our in uh e-learning students who will be listening to this uh lecture later on. So last week we began uh by studying the introduction to the book of Romans. We also um uh began look studying chapter 1. Okay. Uh we studied till verse four. So today we'll continue uh with chapter one. A very interesting chapter. Uh we'll continue from verse five. So before we begin, can one of you please lead us in prayer please? Anyone? Anyone can lead us in prayer please. Thank you. >> Thank you heavenly father Lord. Thank you for this wonderful day. Thank for giving to each one of us Lord. Lord as we are going to Lord listen your uh subject course Lord and give us wisdom and knowledge to understand what ma'am is teaching to each one of us Lord. Open our hearts and open our minds to receive your word of God into our hearts Lord. Lord I am praying that I'm submitting this entire session into your mighty hand. Lord let there be a your presence and I'm also praying for the ma'am Lord as he's teaching to each one of us Lord give good health to him to her Lord. I'm also praying those who are watching it online Lord uh help us to receive your word God in Jesus name I pray. >> Amen. >> Thank you. Okay. So what did we look at in verses 1 to 4? Romans chapter 1:es 1 to4. What did we study? Come on everyone's turning to your notes now. What did we study in Romans chapter 1:es 1-4? Who is Paul? >> An apostle and a a born servant. Okay. And what does he say? He's called by whom? called by God and separated by God for the work of the gospel. And what is he proclaiming? What is he proclaiming? Verses 1 to4. Come on, look at your Bibles. All of you have your Bibles open. What is he proclaiming? >> What is he proclaiming? >> The gospel of Christ. the gospel of Christ and when was this gospel uh proclaimed you all of you know that we are studying Romans right all of you are aware that today's Tuesday [laughter] okay Tuesday and we're studying Romans so what is he proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and when was this gospel proclaimed in the old Testament by whom? By the prophets. Okay. And how does he call uh refer to the Old Testament? >> Holy scriptures. >> Scriptures. Yes. So he's declaring the message about Jesus Christ. And how is Jesus Christ declared? Was declared to be whom? Oh, if you do don't look at your Bibles, you will not know the answer. >> The son of >> God. Okay. What else? Son of God. And what else? >> Seed of David. So, what is he talking about when he says it's a seed of David? Huh? Why is he saying of David? In the earthly life, it was the King David's family. >> Okay. So, he's talking about his natural human life. Okay. And then what is he talking? Why does he mention son of God? Why does he say son of God? Because he was raised from the dead. Sorry. Yes, >> he was raised from the dead. >> Okay. He was raised by the from the dead. But why does he say okay seed of David talking about his natural lineage and when he why is he saying son of God? >> Because he came through the power of the Holy Spirit. Okay. >> Came through the power of the Holy Spirit. Okay. He >> was born of the flesh. Okay. Seed of David. Why does his son say son of God? He's talking about who he is. Okay. Who he is? He is the He's not just a human being who came in the line of David, but he's the son of >> God. Yes. Okay. And what else does he say? With power and by resurrection. Okay. So all of you have forgotten what we learned last week. So please when you come next week to class read and come so that you are able to get some kind of understanding and there'll be a continuity in what we are going to be learning. Okay. So we'll continue from verse five. Can one of you please read verse five please? Through him we received grace and [clears throat] apostorship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake. >> Okay. So what is Paul saying here? Through Christ what have we received? >> Grace only grace >> and apostilhip. Okay. So apostilhip has to do with what? What is the meaning of apostilhip? That we have received apostilhip means what? >> Goel go >> to preach the gospel. Yes. So apostilhip has to do with commission. Okay. Has to do with commission. It has to do with the work that God has called us to and the mission that God has given us. Okay. So, apostilhip has to do with the commission. It has to do with the work God has called us to do and the mission that God has given us. So, what is the commission that we are given? What is the commission that we have been given? Look at verse five. To preach the gospel. >> What does verse five say? Ah, why should we preach the gospel? Verse five. >> Yes. So that people can be brought to the obedience. So all people can be brought to obedience to the faith in Jesus Christ in all the world. Okay. So that is why apostilhip has been given to us. What is grace? Why is grace given to us? >> It's unmmerited favor. Favor of God. Okay. Think as Bible college students. Now, what is the meaning of grace here? When you ask a lay person, they'll say it's unmmerited favor. Okay? I'm not saying that's wrong. But here in this context, what does grace mean? Is that divine enablement? >> Divine >> enablement. >> Uh divine enabling >> enablement. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Divine enabling. So grace is God's empowering for to do what? Uh to fulfill the commission that God has given in our life. To fulfill the commission, the work, the mission that God has given to us. And what is the mission he's given to us here in this context? Yes, it's preach the gospel. But here what is the >> to bring people to the obedience to the faith. Okay. So even as we have been given the you know a commission even as we've been given the work to do the mission that God has called us to. Okay. What has he given us also? He's given us the grace, divine enabling, divine empowerment to fulfill what he has called us to do. So here we see that Paul uses this phrase in obedience to the faith. Okay? In obedience to the faith. And if you see, he uses this phrase again in other places as well. If you turn to Romans chapter 15 verse 18, quickly turn to your Bibles to Romans chapter 15 verse 18 there he he talks about making Gentiles obedient to the faith right and how he will make the how to make the Gentiles obedient to the faith through what >> to signs miracles and wonders. Okay, look at Romans 16:26. Does it talk about obedience to the faith? Romans 16 verse 26. >> Yes. And there in what context it's saying in that there what context is it saying obedience to the faith? It's talking about bringing people to the obedience to the faith. So coming to the faith, it means what? Coming to the faith means what? So when you come into the your faith in Jesus Christ, what does it mean? What is the word that he uses here in verse five? >> Grace. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, what does it mean? We're coming to what? >> Coming to obedience. >> Look at verse five. >> Obedience. >> Yeah. We are coming to what? We're coming to the place of obedience. So obedience to the faith is not emphasized when we say come to your come to faith in Jesus Christ and you will be saved from your sin. Obedience to the faith does not just mean when you say come to the faith come to faith in Jesus Christ and you will be blessed or you will be saved or you will be healed or you will be set free. Of course, all those things are aspects that you receive when you come into obedience to your faith in Jesus Christ. You will be, you know, um you will receive salvation. You will be saved from your sins. You will be blessed. You will be healed and you will be free. But here he's saying when you're talking about come to faith in Jesus Christ is basically talking about what? It's coming to a place of obedience, right? Which is something very very difficult for us. Yes. There will be healing. There will be blessings. There will be forgiveness of your sins. But when we come to faith in Jesus Christ, Paul is saying that you know, you come into a place of obedience. That means you come to a place of surrender. You come to a place where you're submitting and yielding yourself to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That is why the Bible very clearly says that you will make Jesus as your what? Two things. When you accept Jesus Christ, you accept him as your >> Lord and Savior. But many people forget what what aspect of this Lord and Savior. They forget Lord. Savior. Oh, he saved my sin. Oh, I'm I'll be healed. I'll get the blessings. My sins are forgiven. I wash I'm washed away. I got a passport and a ticket to go to heaven. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. You know, but they don't want to make him the lord of their lives. What do you mean when you say lord? Jesus is the lord of my life means what? Owner of your life. Owner means what? >> Huh? >> God rules in whom? >> In your life, right? That means he is Lord means what? He rules. He reigns. He has ultimate control, right? You don't make him to sit next to the driver's seat and you drive the car, but you give him the driver's seat. He drives your life. He rules and reigns in your life. Okay? So, it is saying, Lord, I'm following you and you alone for the rest of my life. And this is something that we need to make clear when we preach the gospel. Many times when people preach the gospel they say you know come to faith in Jesus Christ you know you'll be your sins will be forgiven you'll go to heaven you'll be set free you'll be healed you'll be blessed yes all of that is true but the important thing is what you need to give him the place in your supreme authority come to a place uh in your life and come to a place where you're yielded submitted and under his lordship in complete obedience Did you get that? So you see how Paul very carefully is using the words and how well he is writing. Uh so we'll move on to verses 6 and 7. Can somebody please read verses 6 and 7 please including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. >> Amen. Okay. So uh verse six he says Paul is saying believers God has given us this call and this commission. What is a call and commission to preach the good news the gospel among all nations and call them to obedience into the faith in Christ Jesus. And he's saying you are also called to be part of that commission, right? You are also called of Jesus to be part of that commission. And you've also been brought to a place of obedience to the faith. Okay? So be obedient to the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Okay. Uh verse seven, he goes on to mention why he is writing to the Romans. Why is he writing to the Romans? Why do you think he's writing to Romans? >> To correct them. >> To correct them, to encourage them, to strengthen them, to edify them in the faith. Okay? So, it's always interesting when you look at Paul's letters to see how he looks at the people of God. Okay? and to look at what is his view of the church or what is the view of believers. So here how does he look at the people of God? How does he look at them? Verse seven saints. Okay. >> Beloved of God. Okay. It's very interesting to see how he looks at the believers, how he looks at the at the the church or the people who belong to the church. He says he calls them as beloved of God and saints. Okay. So as beloved of God, Paul is saying you are deeply loved by God. Okay? And you are special to God and you are called to be his holy one. Saints means what? Holy set apart for God. Okay? So he's saying that you are deeply loved by God. you are special to God and you are called to be holy ones. So this is a way he looks at the church or this is the way he looks at the people of God. Okay. So some of us who are serving in church you know or ministering in church or even when we go to church just to worship how do we look at the believers in our church or how do we look at the [cough] sorry how do we look at the believers in the church? How do we perceive believers in the church or when we speak of our fellow believers in the church? How do we speak of them? Right? So, think of your own words, how you think uh have spoken about other believers in the church, how you look at them, how you perceive them. So, we can here learn from Paul that he chooses to see them as how >> beloved of God and those who are called to be holy. Okay? called to be saints. Not people who are perishing, sinful, far away from the love of God, from the from the forgiveness of God, you know, but he looks at them as beloved people and those who are called to be holy. So that is something that we can learn from Paul, you know, how we perceive, how we look at people at church, our fellow believers and also how we uh speak of them. And then he says grace to you and what peace from our father and the lord Jesus Christ. So this is like a well wisher well wishes that he is just giving to them. Okay. Any questions so far verses 1 to verse uh 7. No. Okay. We'll move to verse eight. Can one of you please read verse eight please? First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because your faith is being reported all over the world. God whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his son in my witness. How constantly I remember you in my prayer at all times. >> Okay. There only verse eight. Okay. Yeah. So verse eight he says I thank my God through Jesus Christ to you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. So he goes on to talk how he what is he talking about here? He's talking basically about how he's you know he thinks about them thinks about their faith. Okay. And he goes on to tell them that he's praying for them. Okay. So, first he's offering a prayer of what? Thanksgiving. That he's thankful to God for their what? >> Faith. Yes. So, the church at Rome uh was it a church that um was very comfortable church? No. It was a church that was going through what? What were they facing? Division, >> persecution. >> They were first facing persecution. Right? Remember they were sent off. The Jews were sent off and uh they were severely being persecuted. Okay? So the church at Rome was being persecuted severely. But Paul had heard and continues to hear of their faith even in the midst of persecution. and he's thanking God for that kind of faith that they have even in the midst of struggles, difficulties and persecutions. So we can learn here that you know even in difficult circumstances, even when we face storms, even when we face adversity, even when we face challenges, what can we do? What can we do in the midst of all of those times? >> Thank God. >> Thank God. Yes. Thank God, right? Thank God for how he has brought us out in the past. How he can bring us even through this situation and even through this situation. Thank God that he's teaching us his goodness, his faithfulness, uh to be having patient trust in him, you know, um and how he's going to do a miracle and a breakthrough. Okay. So we can learn and from here that we can even thank God for people that we serve and minister to okay that they might not be you know in leaps and browns growing in their faith but at least there are little baby steps that they taking towards their faith. So as ministers of God even as people who are serving we can thank God for the people that he has entrusted to us to serve them. Okay. What else does he thank God for? Look at verse 9. Okay, we read verse N. What else is he thanking God for? First, he's thanking God for what? For their faith. Verse 9, what is he thanking God for? Uh, for their witness. Okay. In the midst of persecution, in the midst of struggles. And what is Paul saying? What is he praying for them? What is he praying for them? That they will be strong in their faith and even in their witness in the midst of persecution. And he's and he's saying even as I'm praying for you, who is my witness that I'm praying for you? Who's my witness? >> God is my witness. So people can say, "Hey, Paul even doesn't know us. He's not even come here you know he might just be saying he's praying for us but he's saying that means when he says I'm praying for you and God is my witness that means seriously he has been praying for the church at Rome people he's not met the churches he has not planted he's not gone there but he's still praying okay so that teaches us something what does it teach us what does it teach Yes, we need to pray for what? >> For what? Do we need to pray for? Hello. What do we need to pray for? Pray for the churches right in our city, in in your city, in our nation, in the nations of the world. It's always easy to talk about what's happening, what's not happening, you know, but it's very difficult to really pray and ask God to move in his church among his people. So, he's saying, I'm praying for you. And who's my witness? God is my witness. Now, what I want to point out is verse 9. And in verse 9, I want to point out this phrase, whom I serve with my spirit. Okay? whom I serve with my spirit. Okay. Now, when we serve God, we think of serving God as what? As a more like a physical work. Yes or no? You know, and you think, okay, I'm I'm going to serve in church whether it is you're going to do a lead in a declaration or leading prayer or you are welcome team or ushering team or you know prayer team whatever you know book table whatever you say okay I have to dress in a certain way. I have to dress like this. I have to do this. Okay. Or if you're preaching, I have to preach like this. So, we're thinking more of what our outward features, right? Yes. Do you think that is important? Yes. It's very, very important. But what is Paul saying more than our thinking about our outward features? He's saying how does he serve God? With my spirit. So, we need to serve God how? with our spirit. Very interesting, right? He says, I'm not just serving God with my body. But he's saying first, I am serving God with my spirit. So the question we need to ask is when we are serving God, what is the condition of our spirit man? Whether you're leading worship, you're playing an instrument or you're just in a welcome team, setup team, prayer team, ministry team, ushering team, whatever. You know, you need to ask yourself what is the condition of your spirit man? Are you growing in your spirit man? Is your spirit man being edified, growing, you know, enriched, built up, strengthened? Because ministry work is what kind of work? Is it more physical work? It's a spiritual work. It is something that you're doing with your spirit man. Why do we say ministry is a spiritual work? This is what you're doing with your spirit. Why? Why? Why is ministry spiritual? When you're doing >> God is spirit. >> Sorry. >> God is spirit. Okay. So God is spirit. So what? So we are serving God. >> You're serving God who is spirit. Okay. >> So >> God is spiritual. >> God is spiritual. God is spirit man. Okay. >> Spirit beings. Sorry, not spirit man. Spirit being. So when God when we minister, who speaks to us? >> The Holy Spirit. God speaks to us. Where does he speak to us? in our spirit man, right? So our spirit man is connected to God and it's we receive everything in our through our spirit senses and through our spirit it's then sent to what our mind our emotions and our bodies right so very important that you know we keep our spirit in good shape and strong and edified even as we are serving God. Okay. So part of the spiritual work he says is that he says I'm praying for those I want to go and serve. So look at that. He's saying I'm serving God in my spirit. Okay. Uh and then he's saying part of that spiritual work he's saying is I'm praying for those who want that I'm going to go and serve. Okay. Verse 10. Can anyone read verse 10 please? always in my prayers asking that somehow by God's will I may now what now what last succeed in coming to you okay are you reading KJV okay somebody read KJV it's there in your yeah making request if by sum means how it lasts I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. >> Yeah, the KGB is next. >> Making request if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto unto you >> to come unto you. Okay. So here is what actually happened. What is Paul is what is Paul writing here? Okay. What is his desire? >> Will of God to do what? >> To go to >> loudly. You have to speak loud. I can't hear >> to go to God. Okay. >> To go to >> to go to Rome. Yes. So he's saying I'm praying that I'll find a a way in the will of God to come to you to go to Rome. Okay. Doesn't matter even if you make a mistake at least you answer. That's okay. Okay. Yeah. So Paul was um uh you know how does Paul go to Rome in what condition? As a visitor as a traveler. What do you think? as a apostle. Here comes all the apostle. [laughter] Does he go like that happily to Rome? No. How does he go to Rome? >> As a prison. >> Businessman. [laughter] Here comes a businessman. Paul the apostle. Sorry V. What do you say? >> He goes as a prisoner. >> Yes. He goes as a prisoner to Rome. Okay. So, Acts chapter 22, we read that Paul was accused by the Jews in Jerusalem. Okay. And then he was taken to Cesaria and escorted by, you know, 200 Roman soldiers, 70 horsemen, 200 spearmen just for one prisoner. Okay? And he was held as a prisoner for 2 years in Cesaria. Okay. Acts chapter 24 27. And from there Paul appealed to Caesar. Acts 25 11 and 12. And so Paul was sent to because he appealed to Caesar he was taken as a prisoner to where? From Cesaria. He was taken to where? Where is where was Caesar living? Rome. Right. So Paul was sent to Rome. Acts 27 verse 1 and 2. So how was his journey to Rome as a prisoner? Happy journey. >> Very hard. >> Very hard. Okay. They were stranded at sea for 14 days. In the end there was a shipwreck and they landed in Malta. Okay. And Paul got bit by a viper there. Viper is a very very most dangerous snake. Okay. But he experienced no harm. And then another three months of sailing and finally arriving at Rome. Acts 28:14. And then the believers came to Rome. Uh from Rome came and met him. Before he actually reached home they Rome they came and met him. And Paul spent two full years in Rome not as a free man not as a visitor but under house arrest as a prisoner but house arrest where other people could come and uh meet him. Okay. And um and he was a because he was under a house arrest, he was able to freely minister to all who came to him and I'm sure you know all the believers were blessed and the church was strengthened. Okay. So it was really about 3 years after this letter was written that Paul actually got to go to Rome. His long desire to go to Rome and meet the believers at Rome. Okay. But he was brought there as a >> prisoner. Did he think he'll go to Rome as a prisoner? No. Did he have a very pleasant journey? >> No. But Paul was able to spend two full years there at Rome and impart to the life of the church at Rome. Okay. And strengthen them, edify them and build them. So what do we what can we learn from this this small period of Paul's life? What can we learn? Even >> even in hardship, even in that situation, even in that circumstances, what did he do? >> He's continued to do his commission and his calling and his mission. So no situation, no place, nothing is too difficult for us to minister the gospel. Right? Even in prison, you know, Peter and Paul and everyone ministered as well. Okay? So u we also see that sometimes when we journey in life things can become very very difficult and we will find it difficult to fulfill the will of God and the purposes of God but we can still do that in spite of the hardship. Okay and that is prosperity and that is success. So prosperity and success is not defined or is not determined by the comfort of our journey or how easy our journey is but how we fulfill the purpose the calling that God has given to us. Why can we do it in spite of the challenges and the difficulties? What did we look at in verse five? Why can we do it in spite of the challenges and difficulties? Yes, we have the grace of God. What does the grace of God do? >> Divine enablement and divine empowerment. Amen. Okay. So, there's no situation, no circumstance uh nothing that even people can do uh that can come against or stop us from fulfilling God's purpose for our life. Fulfilling God's purpose for our life. Okay. Romans chapter 1 11 and 12. Any questions before we go to verse 11? No. Okay. Anyone ready to read verses 11 and 12, please? Online students, anyone who quickly like to read that? We like to hear your sweet voices. Online students, for I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gifts 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. Amen. Thank you, Julianne. So, [clears throat] here we see that what why is Paul longing to go to Rome? >> He wanted to impart some spiritual gift. >> Spiritual gift. Okay. To impart some spiritual gift. Why do you think he wants to go and impart to them spiritual gift? Do you think the church at Rome is a baby church? Just a church that is started? No. Where from? When did the church start at Rome? Introduction. All of you have forgotten. When did the church start at Rome? Remember in the in the introduction we said >> after Pentecost. >> Yes. Thank God for Julianne. You know at on the day of Pentecost. Remember almost 27 years before when they all had come and gathered and they all Peter preached the sermon and they heard the gospel you know they accepted Christ they were strengthened the faith built up in the faith and then they would have gone back. Yes, Lenita. Uh so why does I mean if if this was not a baby church uh pastor Selena I mean why is he writing that uh he wanted to impart spiritual gifts that they may be established if they are already established why does why what is the need for Paul to write that >> good question so let's look at that okay so it was not a baby church the believers were there you know they were uh may even you know receive Jesus Christ their personal savior would have baptized in the spirit, grown in the teachings of the apostle, come back, establish a church there. They'd have grown and you know, uh I'm sure some of the apostles would have gone there and strengthened the church at Rome. But yet Paul says, "I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift." Why? >> That you might be established. So what does Paul mean by spiritual gift? Okay. when Paul does not uh identify a particular gift like prophecy or speaking in tongues or healing or administration. Rather he explains what he means in verse 12 he says he wants to impart this spiritual gift. What is the reason? Verse 12. Look at verse 12. >> Yeah. to encourage and for the mutual faith of both you and me. So he says that it is so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith both yours and mine. So Paul wanted to share what God had entrusted to him through his ministry. And what is the ministry God has entrusted to Paul? >> Apostilhip. Part of the apostilhip was what? What does an apostle do? >> What does an apostle do? >> Huh? >> Go to places, preach, teach, encourage, spiritual insights, establish this the church. So he's saying he's doing part of what God has called him to do, his ministry. What is his ministry? Preaching, teaching, encouraging, also giving spiritual insights. Why does he do that? so that believers can be strengthened and established in their faith. And so he says, look at this. He says, I want to impart to you. Now the Greek word for impart is metadi, which means to give a share of. Okay, I have something I want to give a share of. Okay, so meta means uh with the doi means give. Okay. So he says I want to give a little bit of what I have received myself. And the same word uh you know impart that he uses in Romans chapter 12 8, Ephesians 4 28 and also Luke 3 11 where you know a person is told to share what he has with someone else who is in need. Okay. So what is Paul saying here? Paul's saying in essence that I'm carrying something that God has entrusted to me what God has given to me and I want to share that with you so that you will be strengthened in your faith. Okay. So here also we see uh Paul showing great humility. Okay. Why do I say Paul is showing great humility here? So if he wants to impart gifts that's a matter of great pride right saying hey I want to come and impart spiritual gifts it's a matter of great pride a church that is also an established church but why do we say that he's showing great humility look at those verses there why >> he he also suggested that he also wants to be encouraged >> yes he's saying I not only encouraging you but also I want to be encouraged mutual encouragement mutual strengthening of faith. Okay. So he did not see himself as the only one who's in a position to give to them but he says that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. So Paul would minister to them. Okay. But he's saying even their faith is going to encourage and strengthen Paul who is a apostle. Okay. So there is a powerful principle for here for us when we minister. Okay. What is that principle? We all know what God has entrusted to us. For some of us it is the gift of praying. Some of us a gift of encouragement. Some of us it's a gift of uh edifying others. Some of us is a gift of healing. Uh prophesying word of wisdom. Word of giving a word of wisdom. Knowledge or preaching or teaching. All of us have been given different gifts by God to minister to people. And what should we do? Even as God has entrusted this to us, we should intentionally use it and share it with others. Okay? Why? So that people can be built up and strengthened. Okay? So here we are saying why is Paul saying I'm waiting to come and impart some spiritual gift to you. It's not that they did not have all of their spiritual gifts or he's not going to give them you know uh [clears throat] help them grow even as they are you know maybe I said they're not babes in their faith but what is he saying here he's saying and what is it showing here that even us who have been Christians for many years I might be teaching but I also need encouragement right I also need spiritual encouragement so when I go to church on Sunday and I hear other pastors and preachers me God speaking to me. God is strengthening me. I also go through difficulties. I go through challenges. We also need spiritual input that strengthens us, that establishes us and builds us up in the faith, right? Wherever we are, we might be giants spiritually, right? But even the giants need spiritual edification. the people to strengthen them, encourage them and build them up in their faith. Yes or no? Yes. So Paul is knows that they are not a baby church, but he's saying yes, I'm going to go and come here. I'm going to come to you and I'm going to strengthen you and I am also going to be strengthened by your faith and what you are going to even sew into my life. So Paul carried something and he knew what what he wanted to impart. How did he know what he wanted to impart to the church at Rome? How simple? >> Through the >> Holy Spirit. Exactly. Yes. The Holy Spirit would have spoken to them because he says, "I minister through the I serve God in my spirit." Yes. See, you need to connect the dots. Okay. What Paul is saying, right? And he was intentional about what he wants to give. Okay? And this also connects us to Romans chapter 1 15 and 16. Look at Romans chapter 1. Everyone look at Romans chapter 1 15 and 16 quickly. Paul is saying there that he's eager to preach the gospel to them. Okay. So what is one of the spiritual gifts that he wants to give them? What is one of the spiritual gifts that he wants to give them? >> Preach the gospel. >> Gospel. Yes. Gospel is not just the good news that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, but it's more than just that as well. So he's saying he's also eager to preach the gospel to them. So the spiritual gift is also connected with Paul's ministry of the gospel and spiritually strengthening uh that would result and what you know what would result from that preaching of the gospel that they would be spiritually strengthened and edified in their faith. Okay. Did I answer your question, Reanita? >> Yes, pastor. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. We'll move on. Any more questions? Any doubts? Anything you all want to say? No. Okay. We'll move on to verses 13 to 15. Can somebody read verses 13 to 15, please? >> No. I do not want to uh to be unaware brethren that I often plan to come to you but was hindered until now that I might have some fruit among you also just as among the others Gentiles. I am an debitter both to Greek >> I'm a debtor >> detor both to Greeks and to barbarians uh both to wise and to unwise. So as as much as is in me, I'm ready to preach the gospel to you who are in room also. >> Amen. Thank you. So this the second time he's letting them know of his desire. What is his desire? >> He wants to come and see them. Okay. So in ministry we also have desires right to do things. So also Paul had desire and his desire was to go and minister to whom? >> Rome. >> Yeah. In Rome but also to all believers in all in the churches in all cities. Okay. And how does he plan it? Look at what he says in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse1 17. Please turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse1 17. What does it say? How does he plan things? According to the flesh. >> According to the flesh. Does he plan according to flesh? 2 Corinthians 1:17. How does he plan? How does he plan according to the flesh? What is 2 Corinthians 11:17? Read. You are looking so puzzled. [laughter] No, read first. 2 Corinthians 11:17. Somebody who has a mic. Therefore when I was planning this uh did I do it lightly or the things I plan do I plan according to the flesh that uh with me there should be SS and no >> so does he plan according to flesh? No. If he doesn't plan according to flesh then how does he plan? >> According to the spirit. >> Yes. According to the spirit. Thank you. So he was depending on the leading of the holy spirit. So what do we learn? depend on the Holy Spirit. When we plan, we plan according to what the spirit is leading and guiding us. So the spirit will lead and guide you whom to go, where to go and when to go. Whom, where, and when to go. Okay. Verse 14, he says, I'm a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and the unwise. Okay. He says, what is meaning here? He says, "I owe something to these people." What does he mean when he says, "I'm a debtor." Debtor means what? I owe something. You're in debt. You borrow something from somebody, you owe them back something. So, he says, "I owe something to this people." So, what does he mean? Okay. So, we look, we know that Paul was an apostle to whom? To the >> God called him to minister to whom? >> The Gentiles. the Greeks. Okay. So, he was Paul a Gentile. >> Who was he? >> He was a Jew. >> He was a Jew. But the Lord made him an apostle to the Gentiles. So, we see that God appoints us to serve certain people, certain people, groups, certain age groups. Okay? And we see that major part of Gentiles were the Greeks. Okay? And the Greeks were highly intellectual people. Okay. And they used to think a lot and reason a lot. But he says he also ministers to Greeks and who else? Barbarians. Barbarians are people who are not highly educated. Okay, we'll stop here. We'll come back after the break and we'll continue. Thank you.