We go on to Romans 15:22-33

Paul was deeply concerned for those whom he was sent to. If we are going to be effective in serving G-d, we must love the people that we are called to minister to. Paul encountered a lot of opposition in his ministry, as many did not want him to successfully carry out the will of G-d. Like Paul, we need to be individuals that persevere and overcome when we face opposition from the enemy. The enemy does not want us to carry out the purposes of G-d – he does not want us to show love, commitment, or concern for others. 

v22: Much hindered: Paul had a great desire to go to Rome, but he had as yet (at the time he penned the book of Romans) been unable to fulfil that desire. It was a matter of timing. 

v23: No longer having a place in these parts: Paul had done ministry throughout these regions and had fully evangelised them (Roms 15:19). Paul was sensing that the time was nearing for him to eventually be able to go to Rome to minister to the congregation there. For many years he had desired to do this. 

v24: I shall come to you: On the way to Spain Paul hoped to pass through Rome. Rome was a necessary stopping point to regather supplies etc for the remainder of the journey to Spain. 

• If first I may enjoy your company for a while: There was a physical reason for them to stop in Rome – they needed to restock their supplies – but this reason was only a small part of Paul’s reason for wanting to go there. Although Paul needed the physical supplies, he was more concerned about being spiritually, inwardly, equipped by them. He wanted to spend time with them so that he could be encouraged and edified by seeing them and having fellowship with them, ministering to them etc. Paul was hoping for this to be a time of renewal for him. Paul knew that by ministering to others it would have a positive impact on himself – renewing him spiritually, and therefore empowering him to be an even more effective servant to others. 

v25: Israel and Jewish individuals were always at the foremost of Paul’s thoughts. Although he was called primarily as an apostle to the Gentiles this did not stop Paul from understanding his obligation – ‘to the Jew’ first (Roms 1:16). There should always be an emphasis on sharing the gospel with the Jewish people. 

v26: It pleased those: They thought about this thoroughly and reached the conclusion that this thing that they wanted to do seemed to fall within the will of G-d. 

• Make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints: Those in Macedonia and Achaia were burdened for the saints who were battling poverty in Jerusalem. 

v27: Debtors: The Gentiles in these regions of Macedonia and Achaia had a sense of obligation to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. 

• Their duty is also to minister to them in material things: The Gentiles had received spiritual wealth from the Jews (through Jewish individuals like Paul etc) so the Gentiles wanted to contribute and help those who were suffering financially (materially). 

v28: This: Paul is referring to this financial contribution, that was entrusted to him for those in Jerusalem, 

• Fruit: Fruit is a product, an outcome, that shows that growth has taken place. The Jewish believers had ministered spiritually to the Gentiles. G-d’s revelation, His Word and His gospel had come to the Gentiles through Jewish people. This had produced spiritual fruit in the lives of the Gentiles. From this fruit, the Gentiles, as they walked in spiritual truth, desired to be a physical (financial) blessing back to the Jewish believers. 

v29: In the fullness of the blessing: Paul was going to them in order to be a blessing to them. 

• The fullness of the blessing of the gospel: The blessing of the gospel is not only for salvation, but in its fullness, it has great power to make much change in the lives of people. The gospel transforms us. Here we see a connection between the gospel and blessing. The full blessing of the gospel is that we get to participate in what G-d is doing. We get to share a role in the purposes, the will and the work of G-d. When we are committed to doing the will of G-d and when we are participating in the purposes of G-d it is going to give us joy, contentment and that peace that passes all understanding. When we are faithful to the Word of G-d the result in our lives is great spiritual satisfaction. 

v30: Brethren: Fellow believers

• Through the L-rd…through the … Spirit: When we recognize the L-rdship of Messiah in our lives it brings about the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 
• The love of the Spirit: If we are going to be faithful servants of G-d, we need to love those that we are ministering to. In the natural we do not have a love that can love others as we love ourselves. This kind of love (a love that desires to bless others, to be an assistance to them, to help them overcome the enemy etc) is only received as an outcome of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who works in our lives to give us a true and sincere love for others. 
• Strive: This is a word of effort. It has within it the concept of persevering, enduring, overcoming.
• Prayers to G-d for me: Paul was encouraging these believers to pray for him.

v31: Note: We do not have to guess what Paul wanted the people to pray for in regard to himself. In this verse he shares with them his two prayer requests. 

• Delivered from those…who do not believe: These people encountered the truth of the New Covenant, but they refused to believe and rejected that it was revelation from G-d. Their rejection led to them being in opposition to what Paul was doing. 
• Judea: Another term for Israel and the regions around Jerusalem. This is where the Pharisees and the leaders of Judaism were based. They refused to be convinced by the truth of G-d’s revelation and were antagonistic towards Paul.
• Service: Ministry.
• Acceptable: Well pleasing. Paul wanted to have an effective ministry to the saints in Jerusalem. 

v32: Come to you…by the will of G-d: Paul desired to be used by G-d, according to the will of G-d, so that he could accomplish the purposes of G-d. 

• Refreshed together: Paul was hoping to be encouraged by them, spiritually equipped, so that he would be refreshed to keep on doing the work of G-d. 

v33: Peace: Peace is not simply the absence of violence or conflict – a place which is tranquil and quiet. Biblically, peace is related to the fulfilment of G-d’s will. This is what Paul was committed to. He was committed to the will of G-d being fulfilled in his life and, through his life and ministry, that the will of G-d would be fulfilled in the lives of others as well. 

• The G-d of peace: G-d works in order that His will should be fulfilled in our lives.
• Peace be with you all: This is Paul’s utmost desire – that these individuals in Rome would also be used as servants of the Living G-d, doing that which was according to the will of G-d. Through their service, Paul desired that the G-d of peace would be with them. Paul wanted G-d to work in their lives to empower and equip them so that His will could be fulfilled and so that they could be recipients of His peace (Phil 4:7).