THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE FAITHFUL
Part 2
III. A LONGING TO IMPART,
Romans 1: 11-13. (NKJV) 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. 13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
In verse 11 Paul states that his first longing is to impart spiritual blessings to them.
“Long to see you” in the original expresses a very intense yearning with something of regret that he had been kept from them for so long. Then the Apostle states why he was so anxious to visit Rome. Paul’s longing to go to the church was so he might give. He desired to confer some spiritual grace upon them that would strengthen their faith.
The gift or literally grace is spiritual in nature for it is derived from the Spirit and not simply the mind. It is a strengthening in the spiritual giftedness and graces of God, which they had already received, by the gift God had bestowed upon the Apostle for establishing people who in turn establish churches.
Some church gatherings today have lost the impact of the divine gift and have little more to offer than formal worship, pleasing music, gratifying entertainment, or intellectual discourse. May those churches and ministers who will not be filled with God’s Spirit, not be filled with God’s people.
God has also called and gifted me for this ministry to impart strength and establish you in His will. Though not of the caliber or giftedness of Paul, these messages from my heart and life are also rich in spiritual treasure for those who will receive them in the Spirit with which they are given. Even though lacking full sufficiency for the great task of preparing people for life and life eternal, God knows how honest I’ve been in presenting you, His message. Yet that desire alone is not enough. We must ask ourselves some probing questions. Are we being strengthened in faith to meet the day-to-day challenges, burdens, annoyances, sorrows, and opportunities of life by coming here? Is Christ becoming dearer and more real and nearer to you? Are our lives more transparently consecrated to Him? If our meeting together has not challenged and helped us become more like Christ then we have gathered in vain. And the sooner these walls crumble, this voice ceases and these pews are emptied the better.
Verse 12 states the reason for and the mutual blessing it would be for him to minister to them. “This is, to be encouraged together with you through one another’s faith both yours and mine.”
Paul knew he had much of the grace of God to give, but he also knew he needed to receive encouragement from others. He not only expected his spiritual gifts to cause spiritual graces, or a strengthening of their spiritual gifts and life, but he also anticipated being refreshed by their faith from their fellow-shipping together also.
Paul knew that like Elijah, after pouring out the power of God, he is apt to be discouraged. And Sunday after Sunday when one stands before a congregation and sees some solidly indifferent, and others slipping away from their faithfulness, and sees empty places where loved ones used to sit, he needs to be encouraged. If one has ice in the pew, it brings down the temperature in the pulpit. It is difficult to be alive with fervency amidst people that are all but asleep. It is difficult to keep a fire lit when it is kindled on top of an iceberg. [And if you do you may end up in hot water.] Your minister needs your up-building if you are going to be built up.
Scripture records (Mt. 13:58) of Jesus that, “He did not many works among them because of their unbelief.” Christ Himself experienced a hampering and restricting of His power that came from being surrounded by a chilly unsympathetic environment. And if you want your minister to preach better, and to do his work more joyfully and faithfully, the means is largely in your hands. Icy indifference, ill-natured interpretations, rasping criticisms, swift forgetfulness of messages and labors, all these things kill the life of any minister.
The true encouragement to give a man when he is trying to do God’s will is not a pat on the back and mentioning what a remarkable sermon, but to say your words have led me to Christ and He is giving me the grace to start living them out.
Beloved ones, the encouragement of the minister is in the conversion of his hearers and the growth of his disciples. I pray that I may come to you more and more with the expectant and humble spirit of knowing that I have a word from Christ and that you are becoming more and more receptive, not to my words, but to Christ’s truth. Then we will become helpers of one another and encourage each other in the warfare and work to which we have been called and separated out to perform.
DISCOURAGEMENT is a problem for many Christians. If they are not distressed about health, family, or work, they may be discouraged about their spiritual service. They compare themselves to others who are gifted with musical talents or the ability to teach the Bible or lead the church. They see people who are able to give generously and pray with evident effectiveness, but they think they can’t do these things. As a result, they feel they are useless to God. They need to realize, however, that every Christian is qualified to carry on at least one helpful ministry – the ministry of encouragement.
Renowned preacher Robert Dale was walking one day in Birmingham, England, where he was pastoring the great Carr’s Lane Church. He was under a dark cloud of gloom when a woman came up to him and exclaimed, “God bless you, Dr. Dale. If you could only know how you have made me feel hundreds of times!” Then off she hurried. Dale later testified, “The mist broke, the sunlight came, and I breathed the free air of the mountains of God.”
The apostle Paul knew how important it was not only to be encouraged by others but to be an encourager
Philippians 2:19-21 (NKJV) 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
Acts 20:2-3 (NKJV) 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
Acts 27:35-36 (NKJV) 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
That is a ministry all of us can be involved in. Even if you have nothing else to give you can always give encouragement.
Paul prayed for the chance to visit these Christians so that he could encourage them with his gift of faith and be encouraged by theirs. As God’s messenger, he could help them understand the meaning of the Good News about Jesus. As God’s devoted people, they could offer him fellowship and reciprocal encouragement. When Christians gather, everyone should give and receive. Our mutual faith gives us a common commitment and a common purpose for encouraging one another.
Paul’s second longing was to share in the Gospel harvest. He had not yet visited them because God would not allow him to until it would be a spiritually fruitful visit as verse 13 states. “And I do not want you to be unaware brethren, that often I have planned to come to you – and have been prevented (cut off) thus far – in order that I might obtain some fruit among you even as among the rest of the Gentiles.”
The expression, “I would not have you ignorant,” is a mode of expression the Apostle uses to call their attention to something they should take special note of ;
Romans 11:25 (NKJV) For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
1 Corinthians 10:1 (NKJV) Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
1 Corinthians 12:1 (NKJV) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
2 Corinthians 1:8 (NKJV) For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NKJV) But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
Many times, the Apostle had made serious plans to visit them but had been prevented by duties that demanded his attention. Yet Paul was confident that God would permit him to come but only when the time was ripe for fruit-bearing.
Our FAITH visitation teams understand this being prevented from visiting some folk. It seems that every time we intend to visit some of you we have been prevented. We need your prayer to be assured that it is God preventing us so that a more fruitful visit can occur later rather than Satan’s impediment.
The fruit Paul speaks of is certainly conversion fruit and the building up and pruning of disciples that they might be fruitful (Jn. 15), but also the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in
Galatians 5:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
CONCLUSION
Paul showed his love for these Christians by expressing his gratefulness and prayers for them. Our Christian faith gives us a common commitment and a common purpose for encouraging one another. Let us become encouragers of each other, for the greater glory of God.
It may seem insignificant, to say a word or two,
But when it is encouragement, what wonders it can do K.DeHaan
