Great Expectations-Rom. 15:22-33

It is a good thing to set appropriate expectations. It is a great thing to see these expectations met. I expected to get up this morning, expected to stand before you today to preach this message, expect that God will speak through His Word, and I expect (or maybe hope) to get something to eat after we dismiss. We are people hard-wired with expectations for ourselves and others both for this day and years from now. This applies to everything from jobs to vacations, family to finances, heaven and earth, and everything in between. This is even true of biblical works like the Epistle to the Romans. Last week we took a long look at the intentions Paul had for himself and this work. This week we are going to look at what he expected as a result of this letter. What were Paul’s expectations in lieu of his message to the church in Rome? We will answer this question by asking and answering two more questions of Romans 15:22-33 that pertain to what Paul wanted to see after penning this important book. As a result, we will learn about Paul’s example and what we ought to expect of ourselves as we persevere in this brave new word.

A. QUESTION #1: WHAT DOES PAUL EXPECT TO DO?-15:22-29-“…For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you  whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ…”

Paul really wants fellowship with the saints in Rome. You can almost hear it when you read “I have often been prevented from coming to you,” and “I hope to see you in passing.” In fact, the apostle looked forward to being with the church and its members—“when I have first enjoyed your company.” This reveals that when it came to his leadership, Paul was hands on. When it came to his relationship with the church, Paul desired intimacy. He not only planted churches and wrote to churches from afar, he was actively involved in their health and progress. Here, Paul plays the part of cheerleader and supporter for this body of believers.

Unfortunately, many leaders in the church today have assumed a different role altogether. Rather than looking forward to fellowship and seeking to support and encourage the saints, people have traded cheerleading for criticism and partnership for passive participation. Don’t confuse Paul’s itinerary for a mere disclosure of his travel plans. Paul is teaching the church how they ought to be involved where they are by example. If he was excited to be with other believers in real partnership, so too should we as believers.

Not only was Paul eager to be with the saints in Rome simply for the joy of their company, Paul also reveals that he is interested in their support of his ministry. He says, “for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you.” Paul understood that sentiments and social courtesies only went so far in accomplishing the ministry to which God had called him. He depended on the support of churches financially and practically and never attempted to hide this fact.

Philippians 4:14-18-“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”

Paul hoped, in part, that the church in Rome would support his ministry in the same way.

Paul’s plan moving forward is simple. Though he has been prevented from making a trip to Rome up to this point, Paul perceives a window of opportunity opening. After making a quick trip to Jerusalem in support of the ministry there, he is going to make the long journey to Spain and stop by Rome on his way. This is, at least, his intent moving forward.

All of this helps answer the first question that we asked of this passage: “What does Paul plan to do?” Paul plans on stopping by Rome in the near future to satisfy his desire to fellowship with the saints 

and be blessed with their support of his pioneer evangelism ministry.

B. QUESTION #2: WHAT DOES PAUL HOPE TO SEE? -15:30-33

In the meantime, Paul explains exactly what he hoped to see in the church both while they awaited his arrival and when he finally showed up. First, Paul reveals that he hoped the church would spend time in fervent prayer. To make his appeal to pray more emphatic the apostle says, “Now, I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit…” (15:30). What Paul is asking is given added weight by invoking two members of the Trinity (and hinting at a third). Not only that, but “urge” means “to ask for earnestly and with propriety. In the present tense, urgency is added to the connotations surrounding this verb—lit. “I am urging you.”

If all of this wasn’t enough to stress what is being called for, look at how Paul frames his desire—“to strive together with me in your prayers to God,…” (15:30b). The verb is “sunagwnizomai”—a word that is as difficult to say as it is to accomplish. The word means “to join with someone else in some severe effort.” Nowhere else in the New Testament is this word used. Some believe that the verb may involve the idea of wrestling, as Jacob wrestled with God at Bethel (Gen. 32:24-32) (Schreiner, Romans, 782). Taken together with “urge” earlier, the call of Paul to pray becomes even more acute.

When we consider what it means to really pray, we can appreciate how difficult Paul’s request is. 

Prayer is hard work—especially given the many distractions our flesh and the enemy throw our way to keep us from doing it. Add the concerns of the world around us, the responsibilities we have, and the discouragement that comes from waiting for prayers to be answered and the struggle to pray becomes exceedingly relevant. This is why Paul “urges” the church to fight for prayer in their lives. After all, there is no ministry partnership more important that prayer ministry partnership, for in it, the church joins together with God Himself in seeing the Lord's will accomplished. As far as it concerned where Paul was heading and what Paul was doing, the apostle is primarily concerned about solidifying relations between Jews and Gentiles in the areas that he was heading to in his ministry.

Specifically, Paul asks that the church would pray for two things. First, “for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea” (15:30b-31). Who are these disobedient Jews of which Paul speaks? These refer to non-Christian Jews who had a real problem with the apostle because he, who was once one of them, had turned against their understanding of Judaism to follow Jesus and establish Christian churches. These were a nasty bunch and later from the book of Acts we learn how appropriate this prayer for rescue was. After his arrival in Jerusalem, Paul was assaulted and nearly killed in the temple according to Acts 21:26-36. During his imprisonment a Jewish plot to kill him was unsuccessful (see Acts 23:12-35) and Paul ended up in Rome only by appealing to Caesar (see Acts 25:10-12). It would seem that the prayers of the saints in places like Rome for Paul’s rescue were answered. His life was spared in an unexpected way, leading him to (where else?) Rome!

It is important to acknowledge that Paul’s prayer for rescue was not an appeal for long life, but for an uninhibited ministry. Paul is not asking to be spared for his life’s sake, but for the sake of those who need Jesus—the very people to which Paul was sent by God to share the good news.

The second request that Paul mentions to the church in Rome is “that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints” (15:31b). Once again, the book of Acts confirms the need for this. “Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Paul is informed that many Jewish Christians were leery of him since he was reported to teach against the Mosaic law by those who hated him (Acts 21:20-25). Because of this, James and other Christian leaders encouraged him to participate in a purification ceremony in the temple to stifle such concerns. Paul consented to such a ceremony in Acts 21:26-27 (see Schreiner, Romans, 783).

This indicates that Paul was willing to do anything to preach a compelling message, even if it meant jumping through unnecessary hoops so that his presence may not cause offense (see 1 Cor. 9:20-22). Obviously, like the request for rescue mentioned earlier, God heard the prayers of his people and granted Paul acceptability before many of his contemporaries.

The first thing Paul hoped to see while the church awaited his visit was fervent prayer. The second thing Paul hoped to see/experience would have to wait until he arrived.

Paul hoped to experience refreshing rest upon meeting the saints in Rome. The basis of such rest is identified in the first part of verse 32—“so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God.” In this Paul suggests that there is no rest apart from real joy and no real joy apart from the will of God. Paul believed it was God’s will for him to see the church in Rome, understood that there was great joy to be experienced in accomplishing this, and, as a result, anticipated rest—“and find refreshing rest in your company” (15:32b).

I’m not sure about you, but when I consider what I find restful, I imagine myself relaxing on my own in some beautiful place coming in and out of consciousness with nothing weighing heavy on my mind. That is not the kind of rest that Paul envisions here for himself. The rest Paul prayed for was less a vacation and more participation in the kind of fellowship and joy that exists when members of the church mutually minister to one another. This is implicit within the language used. “finding refreshing rest” is really one word that means “to experience restorative rest together with someone else” (Louw Nida). Rest in this context is, in other words, not the absence of people and activity, but being around the right people involved in encouraging activities. Therefore, if church isn’t restful for you, you are doing it wrong.

After answering what he’s doing and what he hopes to see, Paul, as in verse 13, erupts in a benediction of sorts that helps identify the close of a thought and the introduction of another—“Now the God of peace be with you all, Amen” (15:33). Paul’s prayer here is appropriate given where he is headed and what is expected. There was still a great deal of tension between Jews and Gentiles in the Roman empire (both in Rome and in Jerusalem—i.e. where Paul was headed first). Therefore, Paul prays for peace to reign throughout the whole community.

So What?

As Paul discloses what he hoped to do and see, I wonder if the same attitudes and concerns are at the forefront of your mind today. Again, as we have stated many times in our study, the context in which Paul was writing—the Roman Empire—is not unlike our own here in 21^st century America. Are you, like Paul eager to fellowship with believers and make plans to that end? Are you fighting for your prayer life and actively participating in the greater ministry partnership available—communication with God? Are you finding rest, yes REST in the joy of performing God’s will with and among others who are like minded? Or, is church just something you feel like you have to do every week? Is prayer neglected or forgotten in the business of life? Is an extended vacation the end goal of your life? Friends, like Paul and the first century church, we have our own share of issues. Let us therefore adopt the same attitudes and practices that Paul does and encouraged the church to do so that we might be successful in what God has commanded of us in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth! There is too much at stake to neglect the meeting together of believers. To have success in the war we must win the battle for fervent prayer time. And we will always be stronger as a fellowship community than we will ever be alone. Is this too much to expect?